Otnb fall2014 by Our Town Magazine

FESTIVALS

IRELAND TRAVEL

LARRY BEHNKE

9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM

Fall 2014

NEWBERRY & JONESVILLE

Food 4

the Soul L.E.A.N. 4 Life Aims to Feed Your Relationship with God

pl plus Farmers Market A New Pavilion for High Springs Events

Springs Threat Volunteers Work to Measure Nitrate Levels

Wobtoberfest Beer. Keg Racing. A 5K run. Music. And it All Goes to Support Charities.

Preserving the Past Dudley Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25th Annual Cane Day

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2 | Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 | 3

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Fall 2014 | 9

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Fall 2014 | 11

CONTENTS FALL 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ VOL. 12 ISSUE 03

>> FEATURES 36

Festival Time!

As North Central Florida slowly (very slowly) slips into winter and the weather gets cooler, festivals abound.

Babe Ruth World Series

Wobtoberfest Beer. Keg Racing. A 5K run. Music. And it All Goes to Support Charities. BY EMILY BEHRENS

Hallowed Ground

Brady Bunch Hits Another One Out of the Park

Remembering Those We Lost On 9/11

BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

12 | Fall 2014

ON THE COVER

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY / LOTUS STUDIOS

Tioga neighborhood resident, Beth Dalton is the director of a health and wellness (501c3) non-profit/ ministry called L.E.A.N. 4 Life. Learn more about the ministry and its funding initiative, Tasty Gator.

>> CENTER STAGE

The Sound

of Music

By Emily Behrens

Live Music

Local Events Bring Excitement to North Central Florida

Music can be heard all around Our Town and the best part is, it doesn’t cost a penny to relax and listen to the local artists. Learn about the High Springs Music in the Park Series, the Alachua Acoustic & Arts Festival, and the Tioga Town Concert Series happening near you.

WRITTEN BY EMILY BEHRENS

Folkin’ Around in the Springs Folk music is coming to High Springs and bringing good times and positive energy along with it. On September 26, seven folk artists will perform throughout downtown High Springs. The event, Folk in the Springs, is part of the Music in the Park Series that was started in April 2012. A concert or performance occurs every month as part of the series. The folk event is the ﬁrst of its kind for the series and will be the largest one so far said Michael Loveday, the Music in the Park coordinator. Loveday said he was inspired to design this daylong folk event after hearing so much folk music himself and wanting to bring it back to the area. The artists include Elaine Mahon, Alan Height, Daryl Brewer, Don Austin, Sno Roger’s, H.R. Gertner and Brian Smalley. Loveday chose the artists because he had either heard them perform before or they had previously

performed at the Music in the Park Series. The seven artists will perform at six different, unique locations throughout Main Street including the Secret Garden and the High Springs Museum. Each performance location will be within a half mile of another one so that attendees can enjoy artists and easily be able to experience all of them, Loveday said. Loveday said he picked locations that many residents and visitors might not know about. “If you were just driving through Main Street, you would never know certain spaces were there,” Loveday said. Additionally, a few shops and restaurants in the downtown High Springs area that are normally closed on Sundays will be open to give the event a community-oriented feel, Loveday said. The event is a way to bring folk back to the area and showcase downtown High Springs, Loveday said. “A lot of people come for the springs, get something to eat, and then they’re gone,” Loveday said. “They don’t know about the other wonderful things here.” Opening performer Elaine Mahon said she is glad to

22 | Fall 2014

PHOTO BY FRAN BEGGS LITTON

Caption Needs 20 Words

Fall 2014 | 23

www.VisitOurTowns.com

>> UNDER THE DOME

Bizarre

By Ericka Winterrowd

World of Behnke

Larry Behnke

Envisioning Your Dreams to Life

Larry Behnke is not your typical High Springs resident. After Ripley’s Believe It or Not bought the lamp he made out of finger nail clippings, Behnke knew his positive frame of mind had paid off. Learn about the artist as he invites us into his world. It’s so bizarre, it’s so Behnke!

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

wo roads diverged in a wood and Larry Behnke took the one less traveled by — the one that remained in the wood, where the house of his dreams existed. All he had to do was believe it and build it. But like his mother always used to say, “All things come to those who wait.” And Behnke didn’t have a problem with waiting. Behnke was an early baby boomer, born in 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Seven weeks after his sister was born in 1953, the unthinkable happened and their father died of pancreatitis. His mother managed to keep the house but lost the family car; she put food on the table by opening a beauty shop in one of their two bedrooms. Since they couldn’t afford another car until he was 16, Behnke did all the shopping for his family on a bicycle. “I didn’t know we lived in poverty, my mother never let us think it,” he said. His mother would repeat the words, “All things come to those who wait,” and Behnke believed it. “I would later evolve the saying to, ‘What you think

94 | Fall 2014

>> CHARMED, I’M SURE

Ireland

PHOTO COURTESY WIKICOMMONS

156

By Emily Behrens

The gardens at the Powerscourt Estate (top) are regarded as being amongst the best in the world.

The Emerald Isle Take a journey to the lush greenery of Ireland as one of our writers recounts her magical trip. Learn about the best hotels to hit up on your way from Galway to Killarney, and the Guinness Storehouse — seven floors dedicated to the famous handcrafted pint.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most visited natural attractions. Approximately one million visitors come to County Clare in western Ireland to see the magical ﬁve-mile stretch of cliffs. At their highest point, the cliffs measure 702 feet.

Magic STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BEHRENS

f you’ve ever started a vacation with a flat tire, don’t worry. You might be about to have the adventure of a lifetime. After finishing a studying abroad program in Paris and London with the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, I met my mother in Dublin for a mother/daughter trip around Ireland. Our first night was spent relaxing in Wicklow County at the marvelous Powerscourt hotel in Enniskerry. A friend of mine stayed with us that night, as her mother was not arriving to Ireland until the next morning. Little did we know that her mother would be unable to rent a car because of an expired driver’s license. Then, on our way back to the airport to trade in our car and pick up my friend’s mother, we had a flat tire. We understood this to be a sign that we should give up — renting a car was not in our best interest. I convinced the moms that we could rely on public transportation to get around the country. Needless to say, it is not completely necessary to rent a car if you visit Ireland. There are plenty of other public transit options that are cheaper and just as easy to use. And so began our adventures in Ireland. Because of the aforementioned car troubles, we ended up staying an extra night at the Powerscourt hotel. It is a must-see for anyone traveling to Ireland. Its location just south of Dublin makes it an easy getaway outside of the city. The hotel itself is

156 | Fall 2014

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 157

The articles printed in Our Town Magazine™ 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. © 2014 Tower Publications, Inc.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 13

Published quarterly by Tower Publications, Inc. www.towerpublications.com

PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre charlie@towerpublications.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com fax: 352-416-0175

156 >> FEATURES 72

Preserving the Past Dudley Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25th Annual Cane Day BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

Threatened Springs

MANAGING EDITOR Ericka Winterrowd ericka@towerpublications.com ART DIRECTOR Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com DESIGNER Neil McKinney neil@towerpublications.com

Volunteers Measure Nitrate Levels BY ELLIS AMBURN

104 Food for the Soul Feeding Your Relationship with God BY BRIANA ERICKSON

110 Farmers Market A New Pavilion for High Springs BY ELLIS AMBURN

116

BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

Crystal Henry ............................................................ NAKED SALSA Kendra Siler-Marsiglio ..................................... HEALTHY EDGE Terri Schlichenmeyer .......................................... READING CORNER Donna Bonnell ......................................................... EMBRACING LIFE Albert Isaac ................................................................ DIFFERENT NOTE

14 | Fall 2014

Nancy Short 352-372-3245 nancy@towerpublications.com Pam Slaven 352-416-0213 pam@towerpublications.com Helen Mincey 352-416-0209 helen@towerpublications.com Annie Waite 352-416-0204 annie@towerpublications.com

INFORMATION Community Calendar Gator Football Schedule Library Happenings Worship Centers

ADVERTISING SALES Jenni Bennett 352-416-0210 jenni@towerpublications.com Melissa Morris 352-416-0212 melissa@towerpublications.com

COLUMNISTS

128 136 138 146

INTERN Emily Behrens

Constant Care Palms Medical Opens in High Springs

30 52 89 92 166

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ellis Amburn Emily Behrens Briana Erickson Crystal Henry Darla Kinney Scoles Ericka Winterrowd

148 Alachua County 2015 School Calendar 150 Charity Winners 168 Advertiser Index

ADVERTISING OFFICE 4400 NW 36th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 15

SPECIAL >> HIGH HONORS

Moss is the Boss n August, Moss Caballero, a sophomore at Santa Fe High School, was named a national finalist for the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Agriscience Fair. The competition is for FFA members interested in the science and technology of agriculture and held each year during the National FFA Convention. In order to qualify, students must be in grades 7-12, conduct a scientific research project pertaining to the agriculture and food science industry and present their findings to a panel of judges with a display and report. To make it to nationals one must be selected as a winner at their state agriscience fair. Moss not only has the distinct honor of being named Florida’s state winner and a national finalist, he finished top three in the nation at the National Agriscience Fair bringing home third place for his work on Environmental Science/ Natural Resource Systems Division. This year his work is being recognized in Social Systems Division with his research project focusing on the dairy industry — testing the different kinds of milk sold in grocery stores. “When you make it to nationals only 15 students out of the 50 states make it into the National Agriscience Fair,” said the High Springs resident in a recent telephone interview. “That is an amazing accomplishment that I will never forget. And being able to do it for a second year means so much to me and my family.” Moss will compete in Louisville, Kentucky during the 87th National FFA Convention on October 29 through November 1. Moss said he proudly represents his chapter,

16 | Fall 2014

school, community and the state of Florida as he heads for nationals, hoping to bring home first place and the gold. “It’s going to be fun but for now it’s all about going for the gold, and doing my best. This is what I’m trained for,” he said. “I mean, I’ve studied so hard for this. I’ve done so much experimenting. I take so much pride in this, because this is not just a competition for Moss Caballero, this is a competition for the Santa Fe FFA chapter, Santa Fe High School, Alachua County, High Springs, the entire state of Florida,

WRITTEN BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

and our great nation of the United States of America. So this really means a lot to me.” Moss resides with his parents, Marco and Heather Caballero, and younger sister Mariana. His grandmother is Jacqueline Moss McCall, part of a long-established family of High Springs and owners of McCall’s T.V. Sales and Service and Sea Glass Travel. “We are very proud of him,” Heather said. “He’s worked very hard on his projects both years. And we’re very excited to be a finalist again the second year in a row.” s

MESSAGE >> FROM THE EDITOR

Fun, Fall, Festivals… …and the winds of change are a-blowin’. Change, in this case, is a good thing, as we welcome a new member to the Tower Publications family. It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Ericka Winterrowd, our new managing editor. If her name looks familiar it’s because Ericka has been part of Team Tower for about a year now, starting first as an intern and then staying on as a freelance writer. Welcome aboard, Ericka! Ericka recently returned from a trip to New York where she visited the 9/11 Memorial, and she shares her experiences with us within these pages. We also bring you a brief overview of some of the local festivals to be enjoyed in the coming months. We hope to see you out and about, partaking in barbecue cook-offs and Halloween costume contests, sampling sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches and checking out classic cars while listening to a variety of different bands performing in our communities. And speaking of bands, there will be musical celebrations throughout the coming months in Jonesville, Alachua and High Springs. Read all about the upcoming folk festivals in this issue. It’s looking to be a good time for both young and old. We also bring you a profile on one of our own: Larry Behnke. In the interest of transparency I should point out that Larry is a friend of mine and occasionally still contributes his talents to this magazine. However, this should not be a reason to avoid sharing his story with our readers. Learn more about this local artist and how he landed in High Springs 30-some years ago. Speaking of transparency, I should note that yet again my youngest makes a cameo appearance in this issue. It has been suggested that we hold a “Where’s Waldo” kind of contest, only in this case it would be to find the redhead. (Feel free to flip through back issues, but, to be frank, there are no prizes). So, from Cane Day to Wobterberfest, from ballgames to farmers markets to even a mother-daughter Ireland travel experience, there’s plenty to be found within these pages — and in Our Towns. We hope you have a joyful fall season! s

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 17

WRITING >> CONTRIBUTORS Ericka Winterrowd

Crystal Henry

is a graduate student in multimedia journalism at UF, where she also received her BFA in theatre performance. She enjoys gardening, collecting gnomes, and fawning over a Malti-Pom named Doodle.

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

emwinter@ufl.edu

Emily Behrens

Briana Erickson

is a third-year public relations student at UF. Her passions include travel and playing the piano. You can find her constantly searching for the perfect cup of coffee.

has had an insatiable curiosity and an eager appetite for stories since before she could write. She is a sophomore journalism major at UF and aspires to become a crime writer for shows like Dateline NBC or 20/20.

emilyebehr@gmail.com

bri.rose561@gmail.com

Darla Kinney Scoles

Donna Bonnell

remembers taking a high school journalism class and falling in love with the process. Oodles of years, one husband, three daughters and multitudinous stories later, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still in love with it all. That, and dark chocolate.

is a freelance writer who moved to Newberry in 1983. She enjoys living and working in the town she now calls home. dbnewberry@aol.com

darlakinneyscoles@gmail.com

Ellis Amburn is in the Hall of Excellence at TCUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Schieffer School of Journalism. Involved daily in volunteer community service, the High Springs resident is the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor and others.

Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D is a neuroscientist, medical writer, columnist and the Director of Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council Board of Directors. kendra.sm@gmail.com

ellis.amburn@gmail.com

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Fall 2014 | 19

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20 | Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 | 21

>> CENTER STAGE

The Sound

of Music

Local Events Bring Excitement to North Central Florida

WRITTEN BY EMILY BEHRENS

Folkin’ Around in the Springs Folk music is coming to High Springs and bringing good times and positive energy along with it. On September 26, seven folk artists will perform throughout downtown High Springs. The event, Folk in the Springs, is part of the Music in the Park Series that was started in April 2012. A concert or performance occurs every month as part of the series. The folk event is the first of its kind for the series and will be the largest one so far said Michael Loveday, the Music in the Park coordinator. Loveday said he was inspired to design this daylong folk event after hearing so much folk music himself and wanting to bring it back to the area. The artists include Elaine Mahon, Alan Height, Daryl Brewer, Don Austin, Sno Roger’s, H.R. Gertner and Brian Smalley. Loveday chose the artists because he had either heard them perform before or they had previously

22 | Fall 2014

PHOTO BY FRAN BEGGS LITTON

Many of Brian Smalleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs are inspired by Florida. He hopes to inspire love and peace as he travels and performs.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 23

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NE 1st St

NE 2 nd A ve NE 2n dS t

NE 1st St

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Ave

NE 1st St

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ELAINE MAHON Secret Gardens at Wisteria Cottage 12-1 pm

SNO ROGERS James Paul Park 2-3 PM ALAN HEIGHT Old School House/ Train Station 1-2 PM

DAYRL BREWER The Firehouse 3-4 PM

DON AUSTIN The Gardens at the Library 4-5 PM

BRIAN SMALLEY The Great Outdoors 6-8 PM H.R. GERTNER R The Great Outdoors 5-6 PM

Elaine Mahon Secret Gardens at Wisteria Cottage 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Alan Height Old Schoolhouse/Train Sta 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Sno Roger’s James Paul Park 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Daryl Brewer The Firehouse 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Don Austin The Gardens at the Library 4:00pm – 5:00pm

see an event of this kind come to the area. “I’m really supportive of anybody that makes this effort to support live music,” Mahon said. “The people that work hard to preserve this music have a labor of love because they’re not getting anything [back] in their pocket.” Mahon said she believes people should come and hear the performers because it’s fun to hear great music and artists that you would not have heard otherwise. Brian Smalley, a highly respected local folk artist, will be headlining the event at 6 pm at the Great Outdoors Restaurant. Folk in the Springs is free and open to people of all ages. Loveday said he is excited for this event to combine the musical arts with the history that is present in downtown High Springs. “It’s a nice little place to come and enjoy downtown on a Sunday afternoon with friends and family,” Loveday said. “It doesn’t cost anything to come and relax and listen to local artists.”

Alachua Acoustic & Arts Festival

H.R. Gertner The Great Outdoors 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Brian Smalley The Great Outdoors 6:00pm – 8:00pm

24 | Fall 2014

Downtown Alachua comes alive with crowd-pleasing music and homemade crafts every second Friday of the month. Known as the Alachua Acoustic and Arts Festival, this exciting event was originally started in August 2014 to bring business to the downtown Alachua area. It now draws a crowd of about 200 people each time, said Leon Barrows, one of the main sponsors of the festival.

Historic Main Stre et

Alachua Acoustic & Art Festival

View Artist’s painting on location at the Main Street Shop s.

Live Music

in Allen Hitchcock Pa rk. PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

Bonnie Del Rosal of the Garden Gallery and Leon Barrows of the Music Junction strike a pose at the Allen Hitchcock Theatre Park, where music and art come together each month.

At press time, three live musical acts were scheduled to perform September 12 at the Allen Hitchcock Park on Main Street, including an Americana band; Sweet Harmonies, a national recording artist; and lastly, a “jam session” of about 12 musicians at the end of the night. Local artists were set up in various stores in the downtown area with door prizes given away at the event, including some of the local artists’ work. Barrows said attendees should expect to have a great time while enjoying quality music and viewing local artwork in downtown Alachua at upcoming events.

Sponsored by Alachu a’s Music Junction & The Garden Gallery

Door prizes to be awa

G Door reat Prize

rded at 8pm in Allen Hitchcock Park. Must be present to win.

Tioga Town Concert Series For those that enjoy listening to live music while dining at restaurants and shopping, the Tioga Town Center Concert Series provides venue offers the perfect opportunity to do all three. Each month, a live musician or band will be performing at the stage in the rear of the Tioga Town Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax near the stage. The concerts are free, but food and drinks will be

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 25

PHOTO COURTESY OF T.J. BROWN

T.J. Brown (TOP) sings at a concert at the Tioga Town Center. He and his band are excited to return to the center again for another family-friendly performance. ABOVE: Photo by Minerva Archer. Chris McCarty on stage.

available for purchase. T.J. Brown is one of the singers set to perform on September 26. Brown said he is excited for his series performance because he will have a live band as opposed to the solo sets he normally does. Brown’s band covers many Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston songs as well as country, R&B and even Reggae. Attendees can expect to have a good time and hear uplifting, positive music, Brown said. “We try to keep it so everyone can talk and have a good time while enjoying the music at the same time,” Brown said. “My son will be on the stage jamming out and the other kids love to hear that.” s

26 | Fall 2014

CONCERT SERIES

PERFORMERS 7:00pm – 10:00pm

September 26 TJ Brown Band

October 24 Chris McCarty

November 21 The Barstool Prophets

ELAINE MAHON Secret Gardens at Wisteria Cottage 12-1 PM

DAYRL BREWER The Firehouse 3-4 PM

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Brought to you by the High Springs Music in the Park Series.

BRIAN SMALLEY The Great Outdoors 6-8 PM

H.R. GERTNER R The Great Outdoors 5-6 PM

DON AUSTIN The Gardens at the Library 4-5 PM

SNO ROGERS S ark James Paul Park 2-3 PM

ALAN HEIGHT Old School House/ Train Station 1-2 PM

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M S R A E R K M E R A F of High Springs T Special Events

September 25th USDA Check Ceremony 10AM Free Drinks and Refreshments

October 25th Fall Festival and Car Show City Wide Event 10AM - 5pm

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Naked Salsa Surrogate Saga Part Two

started on my journey to surrogate motherhood the same way I started my journey to actual motherhood: sprawled out on a table with no pants on. As I lay back on the table, draped in a sheet in the doctor’s office, I looked around the room. The walls were adorned with newspaper articles documenting successful fertility treatments and diagrams showing the intricacies of the female anatomy. The ultrasound technician came in, smiled and put a protective sleeve and some gel on the wand that would reveal our destiny. It wasn’t quite as romantic as it sounds, but nonetheless I watched the grainy black and white ultrasound screen as my lady parts morphed into view. “Beautiful,” the tech declared. I wasn’t sure how to respond to my uterus being called beautiful. Umm, thank you? Should we go have a few drinks now? I’m not sure of the protocol. She laughed and explained that my womb was in tiptop shape and that I could sit up and get dressed. As I put my clothes back on I got all tingly and excited. This was the first time since I’d talked about being a

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surrogate that it actually felt real. Even after meeting the intended parents I still felt like it was just a dream. That magic wand and that grainy ultrasound made it all real. We were getting ready to make some magic. After the ultrasound the Hubs and I got some bloodwork drawn to make sure we weren’t all sketchy, and then they scheduled my next procedure. Apparently the uterus wasn’t the only star of the show. They needed to make sure my fallopians weren’t all tied up like balloon animals, because the embryo would not be pleased. The procedure also allows them to get a better view of my uterus, and they just can’t get enough of that big beautiful thing. So they scheduled me with a lovely physician I now lovingly refer to as Dr. Ramrod. Dr. Ramrod is technically a woman, however I don’t think she actually has any lady equipment. For if she did she would have been a bit more delicate when jamming her equipment up there to check out my lady straws. It was at Dr. Ramrod’s office I realized what the compensation might be for. One of the most frequent questions I get about my surrogate journey is if I’ll be compensated for it. It’s a sensitive subject because I

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wouldn’t ask someone what they get paid at their job, but some folks think it’s fine to ask what I’ll be paid for this journey. All I can say is that I don’t know a soul who would go through this entire process for the money. It’s kind of like writing. You definitely do it for the love of the craft. The compensation is for your time, and I’m thinking probably for all the times you get something crammed up your netherbits. When I finally do get this little bun in my oven I’ll get sick. I’ll have my head in the toilet for several weeks, and that will take my time away from my own children. I’ll be exhausted, and again that will mean more naps and fewer days at the park with my kids. The Hubs will have to go without any conjugal visits for weeks after the transfer and weeks after delivery. And let’s not even mention the pictures I’ve seen of the injection sites from surrogates who have started their transfer meds. The long and short of it is that this is work, and I will get some compensation. The upside is that the intended mother of this baby will not have a stretchmark to her name. She won’t worry about gestational diabetes or preeclampsia or any of the threats on the human body that come with pregnancy. I’m pretty sure she would pay for the privilege to get fat and lose her ankles, but the reality is that it’s not possible. So the next step in our journey is the contracts. I agreed to the standard fee sheet that basically says all the medical costs are on them. Luckily, my insurance doesn’t exclude surrogacy, so they’ll just have to pay co-pays. But I’m not looking to rake in the dough on this operation. My goal is to help a couple who wants to build their family. Once contracts are done we will get our calendar, which basically tells me when I get to start jamming giant needles in my body once a day. But I couldn’t be more excited. These people are going to make phenomenal parents, and I’m so lucky to be able to be a part of that. Stay tuned for the next chapter in our journey, and cross your fingers that I’m done with Dr. Ramrod. s

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Imagine what you can turn into something inspirational. Do you dream in color? Well we do, because as sure as paper can be recycled into more paper, your leftover paint can be processed and transformed into new, fresh paint. Or it can simply be donated to someone in need. All you have to do is drop your extra paint off at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Center, and we’ll take care of the rest, free of charge. So don’t throw paint cans away. Instead, turn them into a thing of beauty.

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Fall 2014 | 31

The Gift of Light: Healing Power of Laser Therapy T

hey are in supermarket scanners, compact disc players, and they can shoot down satellites. They can measure the distance from the Earth to the moon within a millimeter and repair your vision with just one treatment. This technology can cut steel, produce three-dimensional images and transmit telephone messages around the world. Theorized by Albert Einstein in 1916 and invented in 1960, lasers have proven to be a versatile hightech solution to many of life’s challenges. Today, more and more people are learning that therapeutic doses of laser light can also relieve pain and expedite healing for a wide range of health complaints. An increasing number of doctors nationwide are offering laser therapy to their patients. With its increasing popularity and use, that means more people are asking questions about lasers including how they work, how safe they are and what it feels like to get treated. Dr. Jack Agliata, a chiropractic physician with close to three decades of healthcare experience, is certified in laser therapy. He is excited to talk to patients about the benefits of this powerful technology. WHAT IS LASER THERAPY? Laser therapy is the application of low levels of laser light to areas of the body that have been injured or damaged. Contrasted with high-powered lasers used in health care that cut tissue, such as surgical or hair-removal lasers, therapy lasers produce

32 | Fall 2014

beneficial photochemical and photobiological interactions that can help relieve pain and repair injured/damaged tissue. HOW LONG HAVE LASERS BEEN USED BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS? Therapy lasers have been used in Europe since Dr. Mester’s discovery in 1967. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave market clearance to the first therapy laser in 2002. Since then, progressive chiropractors, osteopaths, medical doctors and others have been offering laser therapy to their patients in increasing numbers. HOW DO LASERS WORK? The photons of laser light penetrate through your skin and are absorbed by special components in your body’s cells called chromophores. Just as photosynthesis creates energy for plants, the absorption of the photons by your cells causes increased production of cellular energy. For patients, that means relief from acute and chronic pain, reduced inflammation and muscle spasms, improved range of motion and restored function. “The cool thing about laser therapy is that the compromised or injured cells are more readily affected by therapeutic laser than the normal cells,” Dr. Jack said. Patients suffering from headaches, neck pain, carpal tunnel, low back pain, the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, post-surgical pain and more have been helped with laser therapy.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WORK? Some patients notice improvement after the very first treatment session; with others it may take a few treatments. The effect of laser therapy is cumulative, meaning that each successive treatment builds on previous ones. WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO GET A TREATMENT? Higher-powered (Class IV) therapy lasers produce a mild, soothing, warm feeling. You may notice a tingling sensation in the treatment area as blood vessels dilate, or that muscle spasms are reducing in strength and duration. Laser therapy is a painless treatment. HOW DO YOU KNOW ITS NOT CAUSING CANCER OR OTHER TISSUE DAMAGE? There are two ways that laser light can damage tissue; if it is very concentrated (high power density) or if the photons are very high-energy. Therapy lasers use power densities that are far below the levels that cause tissue damage. Ultraviolet light has very high-energy photons capable of ionizing molecules, but therapy lasers use visible and near-infrared light, which only cause molecular vibrations. Dr. Jack said theoretically, laser light is safer than sunlight.

LASER THERAPY FOR NECK PAIN: GOOD NEWS A recent review of studies, the results of which were published in the medical journal Lancet, concludes that low-level laser therapy is immediately effective in as few as one visit for acute neck pain. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been found effective for up to 22 weeks following multiple treatments for chronic neck pain. The results included information from 16 previous studies and found laser therapy to be effective overall, even in comparison to other widely used therapies such as pharmacological interventions.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS? Some patients may experience soreness in the area of treatment, as toxins are released and blood flow is restored. Dr. Jack said laser therapy experts agree that therapeutic lasers have no undesirable side effects in the hands of a qualified therapist.

For more information on laser therapy, contact Dr. Jack Agliata at 386-454-4055. His office is located at 105 NE 1st Ave just one block from the Great Outdoors in High Springs.

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Festival Time!

Fall is finally upon us, and as North Central Florida slowly (very slowly) slips into winter and the weather gets cooler, festivals abound. Here are some of the things happening in our area.

HIGH SPRINGS Car Show & Fall Festival Sat, October 25 • All Day www.highspringsrotary.org.

aturday, October 25 offers a double dose of family fun in High Springs. On opposite ends of the city’s charming Main Street shopping area are two festivals. Along the railroad tracks more than a hundred beautiful old cars and trucks will be on display. On the other end of the city, in the John Paul Park by city hall, is the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fall Festival.

CAR SHOW Each year, the High Springs Rotary Club sponsors the Car Show, now in its 22nd year. The group also puts on a pancake breakfast and sells sandwiches for lunch. Registration begins Saturday morning from 8:00 to

36 | Fall 2014

11:00 as a steady stream of fine machines lines up at the Visitors Center building — although participants are urged to pre-register their cars. Pre-Registration ends at 4:00 pm on Friday at Bennett’s True Value Hardware. Please join the fun from 7:30 am until 9:30 am for a delicious pancake breakfast. The breakfast is by donation and all proceeds this year will go to the Rotary’s Dictionary project to give each 3rd Grader in our county a Dictionary. Beginning at 10:30 in the morning they’ll be serving up their famous sausage hoagies with grilled peppers and onions. In lieu of the traditional Friday before-the-show Cruise-In, participants are invited to visit The Diner of High Springs for a Post-Show Cruise-In between 3 and 3:30, Saturday afternoon. The Car Show runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

FALL FESTIVAL

NEWBERRY The city sinkhole, also known as James Paul Park, will be surrounded with family activities beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. So put on your sun hats and walking shoes and join in the fun for the annual High Springs Fall Festival. You will find a variety of vendors featuring food, crafts, fine art, nonprofit groups and the local business expo. Bring your best home-baked pie by noon to enter the Pie Baking Contest. Children of all ages will enjoy the Kids’ Korral bounce houses and slides, bungee swing, pumpkin decorating, coloring and other activities. Wear your Halloween costumes at 2:00 p.m. for a chance to win a spot for you and your family in the Christmas Parade. Shop the Farmers Market and enjoy music from local musicians all day long. Free admission 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. For more event and contest information call the Visitors’ Center at 386-454-3120 or visit highsprings.com.

Fall Market Festival Saturday, October 4 9:00AM to 4:00PM newberrymainstreetevents.com

he Annual Newberry Fall Market Festival will be taking place on Saturday, October 4, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The mission of this festival is, “Enhancing a downtown through sound economic development that promotes our future while preserving our past.” For the eighth year in a row, the annual Newberry Fall Market Festival will be making its way to downtown Newberry, complete with food, vendors and the

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 37

famous BBQ Cook-off. Prizes will be given to the top Pro BBQ and top Amateur BBQ contestants. In the past, the festival has attracted about 60 vendors. Guests can expect kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rides and bounce houses. There will be shaved ice, cotton candy, funnel cakes, kettle corn candy apples and other treats as well as crafts and clothing. The festival will be held in downtown Newberry on South Seaboard Road by the railroad tracks. Live music will be happening all day. After the festival, festi visitors are invited to stay for the dance and fund-raising event from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

ALACHUA Harvest Festival Sunday, October 19 11:00AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00PM www.business.com/festivals

et ready for lots of fall themed events at the 24th Alachua Main M in Street Festival. Main Street will be closed to traffic and visitors can stroll through downtown from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to take in the sights and sounds of the season. Twice a year since 2003, residents, visitors, shopkeepers, and vendors come together for a leisurely afternoon of music on two stages, lots of fun food, and many free child-friendly activities. Previous festivals have included children attractions such as the Human Water Balls, the Trackless Train and Inflatables. The ABL is still early in the planning stages, but children at previous festivals have enjoyed a bounce house, giant pinball, bungee swings and more. Up and down Main Street visitors will enjoy a relaxing afternoon of fun, friends and family. This event is presented by the Alachua Business League, whose mission is to promote business-to-business support, organize events and activities to promote local business, and to maintain a business development network. The festival typically draws close to 200 vendors, who offer a variety of items.

Be sure to get out of the house and visit some (if not all!) of these fun-filled festivals! s

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here’s a new artist in Alachua. This Miami native, who has done work for celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal and rapper Pitbull, pours his soul into his work. But you won’t find his creations displayed on a wall. You’re more likely to see his canvases walking down Main Street.

knew that his artistic abilities needed to be refined, and so enrolled in college for graphic design. He learned to use the computer to illustrate his designs, and things really took off.

Javier Sanchez has always loved the arts. “I’ve been born with the blessing to be able to draw anything I see,” Javier said. He was working as a successful tattoo artist in Miami doing work for big name celebrities and running a thriving tattoo shop. When the economy took a turn business slowed down almost to a halt. He was forced to start working a maintenance job and eventually close his beloved shop. But it wasn’t long before another shop owner asked Javier to come in and save his tattoo business that

“I’m optimistic and I’m determined to make this shop the way I had it in Miami.” was suffering because of a bad round of dishonest employees. Javier whipped the shop into shape, but he wanted to broaden his abilities and his knowledge. His son encouraged him to take his artistic abilities online to seek out new designs and techniques. But Javier wasn’t completely familiar with the digital world. He’d dropped out of school in 9th grade to find a job, so the first thing on his agenda was to head to Miami Dade to complete his G.E.D. But he didn’t stop there. He

40 | Fall 2014

Meanwhile the shop that he’d worked so hard to restore to its glory was broken into and his things were stolen. He knew it was time to move on, and he decided to head to Central Florida to be closer to family. When he first arrived he took a job at Winn Dixie in High Springs, but he just wasn’t fulfilled. He realized he needed to open a new shop. Every day after work he would leave and go straight to his tattoo shop, and he said so far it’s gone really well. “I’m optimistic,” he said. “And I’m determined to make this shop the way I had it in Miami.” He said word has already spread, and people now come from all over Central Florida because his prices are so reasonable and his work is outstanding. He gives discounts to local heroes like firefighters and EMTs. He does tattoos for breast cancer survivors to cover their scars. He’s open every day and doesn’t take a day off. This new artist is ready to share his talents and become a part of the Alachua community.

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>> BATTER UP

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Brady Bunch Hits Another One Out of the Park

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD his past August, the Babe Ruth Softball (12 and under) World Series was held at the Hal Brady recreational center in Alachua. What made this event so unique was that in its third annual year it was also paired with the Babe Ruth-Cal Ripkin Baseball (12 and under) World Series, creating a week full of America’s greatest pastime. The Babe Ruth Baseball/Softball programs use regulation competitive baseball and softball rules and strive to teach mental and physical development, a respect for the rules of the game, and basic ideals of sportsmanship and fair play, according to the Baberuthleague.org website. The mission of the organization: In all aspects, Babe Ruth League, Inc. is committed to providing participants the very best educational, sports experience possible. Their fundamental belief is that children with a desire to play baseball or

softball should be afforded that opportunity. This was the fourth World Series for the Alachua girls’ Santa Fe All Stars softball team and the third year in a row that Alachua has hosted the event. The event also marks the second World Series for the boys’ Santa

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” —BABE RUTH

Fe Force baseball team. There were 22 softball teams and 12 baseball teams that competed this year. This includes invitational teams along with the regional champions throughout the country who traveled here. The farthest team to travel was from Washington.

An Alachua resident for 24 years, Hal Brady is the director of recreation parks for the City of Alachua. With close to 1,000 volunteers, Brady said this past World Series was the biggest volunteer tournament they have ever had.

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www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 43

Hal Brady is the director of recreation parks for the City of Alachua. Originally from Cincinnati, Brady has been an Alachua resident for 24 years. “Well, without a doubt, a double world series — first time it’s ever been done in the country,” Brady said. The City of Alachua hosted a World Series in 1992 and had more than 20 inches of rain for the week. Brady said this year’s World Series was comparable to that because of the amount of rain they had to deal with. “This is probably the biggest volunteer tournament

44 | Fall 2014

we’ve ever had,” Brady said. “We’ve had volunteers from all over and they’ve been unbelievable.” Brady said that they reached out to others for help with the rainy conditions; and even the University of Florida lent a helping hand. “I went up there and told them I was in trouble and they gave us 10 rollers to get that water off our fields,” Brady said. “Little did I know that there are a lot of people from the University who live in High Springs and the Alachua community.”

Babe Ruth League serves over one million players from ages 4-18 in Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, and Babe Ruth Softball. The Babe Ruth Buddy Ball Division encompasses players ages 4-20 who have special needs, giving every child a chance to play ball.

Between the two World Series there were close to 1,000 volunteers, he said. “A lot of the volunteers come here on their own dime,” Brady said. “And a lot of people don’t know that. People throughout the whole country come to volunteer their time; our umpires get paid no money, just expenses to help them with laundry and getting around. And we have well over 20 umpires here.” Brady said that Polaris donated a golf cart limousine that carts up to six people from field to field.

While the recreation complex is named after him, Brady is quick to give credit to all the volunteers, not just himself. “This has been a volunteer base, and I’ve been here for over 30 years,” Brady said. “But the volunteers are the ones who are the hard workers; what we do is help them.” Brady said that the Santa Fe baseball team took care of all the playing fields, moving around one giant tarp on six different fields.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 45

Then there were the arrival and departure pickups and drop-offs for all the different teams who traveled to and from Jacksonville, Orlando, and Gainesville airports. All is well-orchestrated by selfless volunteers who believe in events that bring families together. Brady said that he has to give the National Babe Ruth organization a lot of credit for making this event so popular. “What they’ve done is they’ll set up the gymnasium and take photos of the girls coming into the World

46 | Fall 2014

Series and have these giant posters that are set up along the fence,” he said. “They’ve made all the professional signs that are on every one of the fields and it really made the complex and the World Series a great event, and boy do the kids just love it.” Babe Ruth also gives MVP awards, which are referred to as the Ron Tellefsen awards. Tellefsen was the founder of International Babe Ruth, and now his son, Steven, runs the organization. Babe Ruth representatives come in and interview the MVP and they put it on

Both Santa Fe Force baseball team and Santa Fe All Stars softball team came in third place this year. Teams left the tournament with souvenirs including trophies, medals, commemorative pins and helmets.

their Facebook site. “It’s really a big hit,” Brady said. “They have someone interviewing them, asking them what they thought of the game.” Brady said that the whole event is very memorable and souvenirs are given as a reminder of the World Series. “We, of course, give them souvenirs. Every coach, they get a souvenir helmet that has a World Series sticker on it and the girls sign it and give that to their coach. And then throughout the tournament we have

special pins that are made,” he said. “This year’s pin is really special because it has a baseball and a softball on it and we also have a little gator on there too. It says World Series 2014.” Another key factor in making this event happen is the support from local merchants. “The people of Alachua, the merchants, the businesses, our special sponsors — it’s just been unbelievable. You can’t ask any better from them,” he said. “Freddie Wehbe who owns every Domino’s around

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 47

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY HARRIS

The Santa Fe Force boys’ baseball team opened tournament play at Skinner Field, located in Hitchcock Baseball Park across the street from Alachua City Hall. World Series Tournaments are played in seven divisions of baseball and two divisions of softball. For teams at each of the nine World Series tournaments, Babe Ruth League pays their travel expenses from a major airport.

has been unbelievably fantastic. SunState Federal Credit Union, Hitchcock’s Markets — they are our major sponsors, and then you have a whole bunch of other people that if we didn’t have them we couldn’t do it, whether it’s the Alachua Lions Club locally, the ABL, and our Chamber of Commerce.” At the end of the tournament, both Santa Fe softball and baseball teams came in third place. “Our head baseball coach came through, Al Beckelheimer, also the president of the league,” Brady said. “They came in third in the nation, they got a nice trophy.” Alachua resident Kelly Harris is a Santa Fe Force mother. She said one of the greatest things about the World Series was seeing children and families from all different parts of the Unites States. “I asked my son what he thought of the whole experience, going to the World Series,” Harris said. “And he said it was better than he ever could have expected.” Harris said another aspect of the World Series that meant a lot to her was the way the community came out and was there for everybody. “I know the chief of police was here. I know that was important,” she said. “What was also amazing to see

48 | Fall 2014

was the Santa Fe High School baseball team cheering on the kids. They really worked phenomenally helping to keep up the fields and cheering on our boys.” It should come as no surprise that back in the day Brady was a ballplayer himself — a first baseman and catcher. “In that day you were allowed to say ‘swing, batter batter, swing.’ You can’t do that anymore,” he said. “I played at a school that actually Pete Rose came from, which is Western Hills in Cincinnati.” If Brady could pinpoint the heart of this World Series he said it would be the warmth of all of the participants. “City staff and other departments, and of course the volunteers that helped us, they all have a lot of heart. That’s for sure,” Brady said. Although it is not yet determined whether or not the Babe Ruth World Series will be held in Alachua again next year, one thing is for sure — the memories of this year’s World Series will linger for a long time. “Kids from all over the country get to meet one another while playing one of the best sports in the world,” Brady said. “Those friendships will continue on after the game is over, and I think that’s just great.” s

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COLUMN >> BY KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

Healthy Edge Boost Your Kids’ Focus with New Brain Science Findings ver heard of the insula? It’s a brain region that helps us switch attention from one thing to the next. The “attention switch” in the insula can temporarily get worn out with over-use. Read on for brain hygiene tips to boost kids’ focus. As you know, life in the Information Age is fast. To keep up, it seems that we have to be able to switch from task to task with break-neck speed. Yet, did you know that quickly switching our focus with little downtime and trying to keep up with it all take its toll on our ability to prioritize, organize, and focus? With the fast-paced world, it’s up to us to help kids learn how to refresh their minds so their ability to focus is optimized. Plus, kids oftentimes can’t identify or articulate when or why they aren’t able to fully pay attention. As parents, we can teach them those tools. Science shows that there are three major reasons that reduce kids’ abilities to focus. REASON 1: Too much mental activity without enough down time. When we’re attentive and completing tasks, our minds are functioning in the central executive

52 | Fall 2014

mode. If we aren’t in central executive mode, our minds are oftentimes wandering. Mind wandering isn’t bad… It provides our brains a needed break and allows us to solve complex problems creatively. If your child’s mind isn’t given an opportunity to wander enough, it may wander off itself. REASON 2: Too frequently “switching” between activities. Here’s where the insula comes in. Daniel J. Levitin, Ph.D., Director of the McGill University Laboratory for Music, Cognition and Expertise, and Vinod Menon, Ph.D., Director of the Stanford University Cognitive & Systems Neuroscience Laboratory found that the switch between mind wandering and attention is housed in the insula. Think of it like shifting between drive and reverse in a car. The insula can quickly help you get between two modes of thought: externally oriented attention and internally oriented attention (self-related thought). If your kids are using the switch too much in a given period, they can wear it down temporarily. Our attention switches needs down time! Here’s why the insula is even more important for kids:

Dr. Menon’s team found that kids insula use differs from that of adults; for instance, kids rely more on their insulas than adults do when solving math problems. The insula is important for kids to keep attention and initiate problem solving. REASON 3: The degradation of our “attention filter.” Our minds evolved the capacity to orient our attention to threats or what’s important in our environment. However, with today’s constant information flow, we can become overwhelmed, and then, confused about what’s truly important. What this means: We need to help our kids learn how to determine what the small stuff is and how to let it go. According to Dr. Levitin, here are some great ways that can help kids refresh their brains: Partition kids’ time into project periods. For instance, designate time for homework, and, within that time, partition blocks of time for each respective subject. If your kids keep up with friends through electronic media, have them do it during a designated time. Checking email and Facebook while doing other work strains attentional resources. Get physical. Help your kids get into fitness activities that work with their and your schedules. Even stretching for five minutes can help get their creative juices flowing and recharge their brains. Get outside. As with exercise, nature helps kids activate parts of their brains that are different from those responsible for the central executive mode. Take a walk or eat lunch with your kids outside. Listen to music. Get your kids to play their favorite songs for you. Listening to music (and dancing!) can improve attention and social skills. For more information, check out “Attention is a Mental Muscle” at www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screentime-damages-the-brain; it’s an interview with Daniel Goleman, the psychologist who pioneered emotional intelligence. s

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>> I LIKE COLD BEVERAGES

Beer. Keg Racing. A 5K run. Music. And it All Goes to Support Charities.

WRITTEN BY EMILY BEHRENS amilies and residents of Gainesville and the surrounding area — and beer lovers — are invited to participate in World of Beer’s (WOB) WOBtoberfest. WOB held a WOBtoberfest last year but for this year’s festival — held on September 27 at Tioga Town Center — proceeds are going to charities instead of the venue itself. WOB chose five local charities to benefit from this year’s WOBtoberfest. WOB chose the charities because it had worked with them in the past. “We’ve decided to involve the community and see how much we can give back to the community from our event,” said Kerry Brock, the Tioga World of Beer’s general manager. “We decided to see what we can do to benefit the local community, in this case through charities.”

The event will start with a 5K at 10 a.m. The run’s fee is $30 for advanced registration and $35 the day of the event. The race will begin and end at WOB and will be an officially timed run for avid runners that want to come and race against the clock. DJ Bubba, from Bubba’s Extreme Tailgate Parties, will be the disc jockey until 5 p.m., followed by musicians Richy Stano and Shane Moore who will open for the US Stones, a Rolling Stones tribute band. “The difference about playing for charity and playing for an event is that it is more about exposure — not for yourself, but the charity you’re playing for,” Moore said in a telephone interview. “We play everything from the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix all the way up to Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Citizen Cope.” The concert is free, but tickets are available for a VIP

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JARRYD MEYER

Patrons gather at the World of Beer for a previous WOBteberfest celebration. For this year’s event, ﬁve local charities will beneﬁt from the proceeds.

54 | Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 | 55

Join World of Beer for an Oktoberfest-themed day to benefit these local charities while enjoying food, games and fun for the whole family. LOCAL CHARITIES Haven’s Hospice A non-profit community organization that provides exceptional hospice services to those with advanced illness and in need of emotional, mental or physical help. 352-378-7484 www.havenhospice.org/gainesville-attic.aspx

Children’s Home Society This organization aims to reduce child abuse, heal emotional wounds from previous abuse and prepare children and teenagers for life after foster care. 866-427-5451 HelpFloridaChildren@chsfl.org www.chsfl.org/MidFlorida

Puppy Hill Farms An animal rescue organization that strives to save cats and dogs and reduce euthanization in Alachua and Bradford County. 352-478-1444 puppyhill@hotmail.com www.puppyhillfarm.com

Tyler’s Hope The Tyler’s Hope Foundation hopes to raise awareness about dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions and sometimes forces the body into painful movements. The organization raises funds to advance research for a cure and create effective treatments. 386-462-5220 www.tylershope.org

Gainesville Fisher House Foundation Made possible by the efforts of the Veterans Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Gainesville, the Fisher House provides members of the Armed Forces, veterans, retirees, and their families a “home away from home” and shelter and support during a medical crisis. 352-375-4027 (office) GFisherHouse@gmail.com www.gainesvillefisherhouse.org

56 | Fall 2014

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JARRYD MEYER

As in previous events, visitors can expect a wide range of activities including live music, children’s activities, and beer.

area during the show that will include food and a bar. Since the event is near the end of summer, Stano said it will be beautiful evening. “There will be a lot of energy between the crowd and the performers,” Stano said. For a small admission fee, children can enjoy six bounce houses, a rock wall, carnival-style games and an electric train. As the name implies, the event will have a German Oktoberfest flair and will include a lot of games and keg racing. Beer trucks and food vendors will also be available outside for the public to enjoy. More information regarding the event and a link to VIP concert tickets and the 5K registration will be available on Tioga WOB’s Facebook page. Last year’s WOBtoberfest attracted between 1,500-2,000 people. WOB expects 3,000 people this year, with the 5K generating 1,500 people alone. The Florida Gators are not playing that weekend which will allow for more people to attend the event. Local businesses are stepping up to help with the event’s expenses. Gatorland Toyota is a major sponsor. “If the event is successful, we’ll do an even bigger one next year,” Brock said. s

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>> FORGET-ME-NOT

Hallowed Ground Remembering Those We Lost On 9/11

“She had a business suit on, her hair was all askew. This woman stood there for what seemed like minutes, then she held down her skirt and then she stepped off of the ledge… I thought, how human, how modest, to hold down her skirt before she jumped… I couldn’t look anymore.” — JAMES GILROY, LOWER MANHATTAN RESIDENT.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD t’s interesting how memories can sometimes fade. If you asked me where I was at a certain time yesterday I would probably have to think a while — and I’m not sure I’d be able to recall exactly what I was doing or how I felt. There are moments, though, where time seems to bow down in complete awe, when our hearts are stunned and everything around us seems to stand still. Sometimes those moments are beautiful and sometimes they are filled with such ugliness, sometimes both. It is during these moments when we have no choice but to remember, because forgetting would be a sin.

60 | Fall 2014

My father was sitting in geometry class the day President Kennedy was shot. Thirtyeight years later I would be sitting in algebra class when the twin towers were struck. I wonder where my grandparents were when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I’m sure they would remember. On September 11th, 13 years ago, I was 15, and the only thought in my mind was trying not to look like such an obvious freshman. I’d like to say I was also trying to flirt with the cute boy who sat next to me in class, but I didn’t have enough courage for that. It was just a normal day, and in New York City it was one of the most beautiful blue

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skies, not a cloud in sight. But it did not remain a beautiful day. On that day, September 11th 2001, life as we knew it changed for every American. We were all affected, near and far. When I walked up to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City this July, it was almost too much to take. I broke down. The area surrounding me felt like hallowed ground and in that moment I was so very small. It was as if the 15-year-old me came out to say hello, to let me know that she still remembers. Resting in the shadow of where the Twin Towers once stood, are two massive reflecting pools â&#x20AC;&#x201D; each nearly an acre in size. The Memorial features the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. Here, visitors are able to read the names of every person who

62 | Fall 2014

died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks, which are inscribed into bronze panels trimming the Memorial pools. This scene is a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the terror attacks at the World Trade Center site, at the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pa. The National 9/11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to them, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993. Nestled near the Memorial is the Museum, which is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center site. With over 100,000-square-feet of

“Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning.” This art installation is composed of 2,983 individual watercolor paintings, each a distinct attempt by artist Spencer Finch to remember the color of the sky on the morning of September 11, 2001. Finch’s work centers on the idea of memory. What one person perceives as blue might not be the same as what another person sees. Yet our memories, like our perception of color, share a common reference.

exhibition space, visitors have the opportunity to not only learn about the events that took place that day, but also about the lives of those lost. The Museum’s mission is to tell the story of 9/11 through a collection of authentic artifacts, multimedia displays, narratives, and archives — so that we will never forget. Exhibitions are divided into three parts: Foundation Hall, which visitors enter first, and then the historical exhibition and the memorial exhibition. In Foundation Hall, visitors will have the chance to witness surviving artifacts such as the “slurry wall,” a retaining wall of the original World Trade Center that has withstood the devastation of 9/11. Also present is the “Last Column,” which stands 36-feet high and

serves as a symbol of perseverance. Visitors are able to gaze at the mementoes, memorial inscriptions, and posters of missing people placed there by rescue workers and others. The historical exhibition presents the events of the day as they transpired on 9/11. Here, visitors will come to understand how such a normal beautiful day was overshadowed by escalating panic, confusion, and horror as our country came under attack. The Museum also provides insight into the human drama that existed within the twin towers, the hijacked airplanes and the Pentagon, by using images, artifacts, video, first-person testimony and real-time audio recordings from that tragic day. Visitors will learn about the experiences of people near

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Fall 2014 | 63

and far from the attack sites as well as the heroic actions of first responders and civilians aiding one another. I think every American would agree that after that day there would forever be a “before 9/11” and an “after 9/11.” The exhibitions prove that. Visitors enter a series of galleries that chronicle what led up to the attacks on 9/11, as the Museum examines the World Trade Center as a symbol as well as a target. It then addresses the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the evolution of the terrorist network al-Qaeda. From presentations on global responses, collective grief and the search for the missing in the immediate days and weeks after the attacks, the Museum also explores the valiant efforts of recovery and rebuilding at the three attack sites. Incredible acts of compassion and public service are preserved through archival footage and oral testimony. The final chapter of the historical exhibition discusses the immediate aftermath of 9/11 up to the present moment. Visitors will examine the challenges of the post-9/11 world as well as the significance of this event in our history.

64 | Fall 2014

One of the most moving exhibitions is “In Memoriam,” which commemorates the lives of those who perished on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. Here, visitors have the chance to learn about the men, women and children who died. As I entered this exhibition through a corridor filled with portrait photographs of the nearly 3,000 victims, the massive scale of human loss hit me. The “Wall of Faces” creates a quilt-like image filled with patchwork portraits of women in wedding dresses, men with graduation-day smiles, and some who are just wearing regular everyday clothes — all with a look of contentment. As I yearned to learn more about the faces that were staring back at me, I noticed touchscreen tables that allowed visitors to discover additional information about each person. I scrolled through photographs, read bios and listened to audio remembrances by friends, family and coworkers. Each face I learned about came alive. It was like meeting a new friend. I remember looking at the photographs of the brides and thinking that they must have been so excited that day; they must have thought they looked so beautiful.

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Then I thought about the faces that would never get the chance to have a bridal portrait taken, such as 8-year-old Zoe Falkenberg and her little sister, Dana who was only 3. The girls, along with their mother and father, had boarded hijacked flight 77 bound for Los Angeles. On their way to Australia for a family vacation, they would never reach their final destination. On 9/11 Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. This year Zoe would have been 21, her little sister 16. Memories of a first legal sip of alcohol and taking a driver’s license photo are forever lost. Frozen in time are the images of two little girls — children who would never get to grow up. Rotating selections of personal artifacts are also featured in this exhibit, including a Christmas needlepoint stocking owned by United Flight 93 passenger Lauren Grandcolas — a donation by the victim’s mother. She said that Christmas was her daughter’s favorite holiday and that she looked forward to decorating the tree every year. This hit home as I thought about the stocking my mother made me with a Raggedy Ann on it. I never

66 | Fall 2014

met Lauren Grandcolas but we both have Christmas stockings that our mothers made for us. Suddenly, when I looked at her portrait, I saw more than the word “victim.” I saw the word, “daughter” — I saw myself. There is a room dedicated to the rest of United Flight 93; the flight that never made it to the terrorists’ intended target, but instead crashed in Shanksville, Pa. after the passengers and crew fought back. In a sevenminute video timeline, visitors are able to understand the events and travel path of this flight. Included in the film are written translations of some of the conversations that were captured over the airplane’s black box. There is also audio of the hijackers telling passengers to remain calm and that they were heading back to the airport for more fuel. Voicemails that passengers left for their loved ones are played, and the entire mood of the room changes as visitors silently take in the last moments of these passengers’ lives. CeeCee Lyles was a flight attendant on Flight 93. Her voicemail to her husband was overwhelmingly calm as she explained to him that the plane had been hijacked. She ended her message by saying that she hoped to be

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able to see his face again. At this point her voice began to crack and she finished the phone call by saying that she loved him and then finally, goodbye. Lauren Grandcolas also left a voicemail. Before I entered this room I learned she was 3-months pregnant with her first child. She left a message for her husband and the peace and serenity that this woman carried in her voice was so soothing it almost sounded like a lullaby. She explained that they were having a little problem on the plane but that he shouldn’t worry, and she wanted him to know that she was comfortable. I remember thinking how remarkable it was that these voicemails were so calm under the circumstances. After I left, I began thinking about the word comfortable. What an interesting word to use. Then I started thinking about what it must be like to have a loved one who is dying, witnessing their progression to death. I think what you would want most for them is comfort as they passed on. Perhaps Grandcolas wanted to give that last gift to her husband. I know I’d want to give that to my family — I didn’t know that before this trip. As I made my way outside of the Museum I found

68 | Fall 2014

myself standing in-between both reflecting pools and looking upon a Callery pear tree. With burned, broken branches and snapped roots, this tree was discovered at Ground Zero and became known as the “Survivor Tree.” Severely damaged, this survivor was removed from the wreckage and placed in the care of The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The tree was returned to the Memorial in 2010 after its full recovery and rehabilitation. My eyes feasted on its new, silky limbs, which extended from the gnarled stumps. Its physical appearance is a perfect documentation of the tree’s past and present. As I stood back and marveled at its resilience, I noticed children leaning forward to trace the tree’s scars. In that moment I was witnessing a bridging of generations — those who were not alive during the attacks touching a living piece of history that was. I found comfort in knowing that the events of that day and the stories of those we lost are being passed on, never to be forgotten. I found comfort in that. s

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unincorporated Alachua County will see the refuse fee on the

We believe recycling our waste and rethinking the idea of

upcoming 2015 Tax Bill. The deadline to select a smaller cart

“trash” is essential to extending the life of our landfills. As the

size is September 15th. Those who choose a smaller size after

saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

this date may not realize savings until 2015.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 71

>> PIONEER PRIDE

Preserving the Past

Dudley Farm’s 25th Annual Cane Day

WRITTEN BY ERICKA WINTERROWD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALBERT ISAAC udley Farm Historic State Park will have its 25th Annual Cane Grinding Festival on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The grinding and boiling of cane to syrup will take place amidst entertainment, food, drinks and vendors. Step back in time to see a representative living history “cracker style” working farm. This National Register site spans 150 years of the Dudley family who lived and worked the farmstead. The authentic working farm consists of 18 buildings, including the family farmhouse with original furnishings, a 1880s kitchen outbuilding, a general store and post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. It all began in 1859 when P.B.H. Dudley, Sr. (18141881) came down from South Carolina and bought 360 acres of land between Jonesville and Newberry. Dudley was a plantation employee and cattleman who came to the area before the Civil War. Farm life in the 1800s was brutal, but Dudley and his family carved their niche in the wiregrass and longleaf pine, leaving their legacy to be enjoyed by young and old for generations to come.

72 | Fall 2014

The Dudley family worked this land for three generations. They began with cotton and cattle. Soon they had a country store, a cane-grinding complex and a livestock-dipping vat. Dudley was quick to lend a helping hand, and the farm became a neighborhood community center. In later years, they even ran a post office where people would gather to swap tales and hear the local gossip. When the railroad came through the area, Dudley and his son, P.B.H. Dudley Jr., cut a 12-mile road from the farm to Gainesville. Weary travelers on this road would stop at the farm to rest. A portion of this road still exists in front of Dudley Farm. Dudley Jr. expanded the farm, and as it grew, so did the family. In the 1880s, he built the home and other structures that still stand to this day. The Georgian-style farmhouse — built with longleaf pine like other buildings on the property —accommodated a family of 14 (eight girls and four boys). Myrtle Dudley, the youngest of the family, was born in 1901. Miss Myrtle donated the family homestead to the Florida Park Services in 1983.

A blacksmith demonstrates his skill at a previous Cane Day celebration at the farm, a fun-ďŹ lled event commemorating Miss Myrtle Dudleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 73

These days, the original fences, metal latches and buildings — 18 in all — dot the farmstead. Original furnishings can still be seen within the family farmhouse. Outside, visitors can explore the kitchen outbuilding, general store and post office. There is a hand pump to draw the water from the well and a wooden trough to channel the water to feed livestock. The cane-syrup complex, with a new furnace, is still put to good use in December for annual cane-grinding events, an event commemorating the birth of Miss Myrtle Dudley. Dressed in period clothing, volunteers and park staff work the farm the way it was worked by the Dudley family. In the old days, pioneer kitchens were separate from

74 | Fall 2014

the farmhouse. This kept the homes cool and protected them in case of fire. Morrison said the Dudley family had moved the original kitchen in the early 1950s. It was mothballed to make way for a new kitchen with modern conveniences, but that was not the end of it. The Dudley’s moved the old kitchen, rolling it on logs pulled by mules, to be used as a storage building. Each year, usually after the first frost, volunteers harvest and strip the sugar cane. Using a machete or cane stripper (a doubled-bladed knife), the leaves are stripped to reveal the maroon-colored sugar cane, just as the Dudley’s would have done. Once harvested, workers bring the cane to the syrup-house complex for grinding, leaving the top

A volunteer mans the cane boil in the original sugarcane complex in 2011. Another volunteer exhibits his gun collection, just one of many demonstrations to be experienced.

of the stalks and leaves on the ground to protect the mounds during the cold winter months. Later they are burned and the ashes heaped upon the mounds to provide nutrients to the new crop of sugar cane. Harvesting the cane is a tremendous effort. In the past, family members and hired hands did the work. In the early years, a mule or horse would be used to grind the cane. But in 1930, the Dudleys began to embrace new technologies and traded two mules for their first John Deere tractor. To commemorate Ms. Myrtle Dudley’s birthday, each December the park hosts the cane-grinding event, using a mule or horse to do the work. Sometimes, children do the work for the annual cane-grinding event.

In the days of the Dudleys, the final cane grinding occurred around Thanksgiving. The kids would be home from school for the holiday, and the horses normally used for travel would be hitched to the mill. Now, as then, the cane stalks are hand-fed into the mill, and as the mule walks in circles, the cane is crushed. Sweet juice pours through a burlap screen and into a barrel. A bucket brigade then takes the juice and pours it into the cane kettle, where it simmers for about four hours over a newly built furnace. “The reason we, as a State Park, put it [the authentic furnace] to rest was that it was beginning to degrade,” said Park Services Specialist Sandra Cashes. “If we went and re-did it, it wouldn’t be authentic anymore. For

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 75

Sugarcane is loaded into a wagon and then fed by hand into a horse-driven grinder, the same methods used by the Dudley family for generations. Other demonstrations include woodworking, old time music with roots in the folk music of many countries, toys from the era, and volunteers making grits and cornmeal.

history’s sake and educational reasons we decided to preserve it.” Cashes said that while the new furnace (built in 2012) doesn’t exactly mirror the original, it is a working sugar cane furnace. Cane events are big affairs. Hosted by the Friends of Dudley Farm, this event offers something for the entire family. There are traditional activities such as craft demonstrations, wagon rides and old-fashioned games. Syrup and other farm products will be on sale. Visitors can tour the farm and hear live music — as they take a step back in time. “I’m always adding new vendors. In the beginning it would just be a handful of them,” Cashes said. “But we are growing. Last year we had 15 vendors, and now we’re trying for 20 this year. I expect they will come.” Cashes said vendors offer basket weaving, floral arrangements, local honey, and goat’s milk soap. “We also have a gentleman that makes walking sticks, and nursery vendors that sell fruit trees, historic rose bushes or antique roses,” she said. The new Cane Complex was made possible by the Citizens Support Organization, Friends of Dudley Farm Inc. Cashes said. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have that cane complex,” she said. “They are a nonprofit and paid for it entirely.” So bring the family out to Dudley Farm Historic State Park and see a slice of living history. s

76 | Fall 2014

Division of Waste Management

Help milk cartons educate your

child.

Imagine what you can turn into something educational. Your empty milk carton may not look like much now, but since it is 80% recyclable paper, it can be recycled into high-grade paper. In fact, the milk cartons you recycle today can be transformed into the schoolbooks your children will learn from tomorrow. The next time you ﬁnish a carton of milk, remember to toss it in the blue recycle bin. After nourishing your child’s body, your milk carton can be recycled into a book to nourish your child’s mind.

(352) 338-3233 alachuacountyrecycles.com www.VisitOurTowns.com Fall 2014 | 77 77

ANNUAL

Saturday, December 6 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Park admission is $8 per vehicle (up to 8 occupants.)

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78 | Fall 2014

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Help your cans learn to

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0THNPUL ÔH[ `V\ JHU [\YU PU[V ZVTL[OPUN WV^LYM\S Do you ever dream that you’re flying? Well we do; because we know that recycled aluminum cans can be reborn as the wings of an airplane. In fact, aluminum is the perfect recyclable, requiring no preparation other than rinsing. Unfortunately, in the landfill, an aluminum can will take about 400 years to break down. So the next time you see an empty aluminum can, drop it straight into your blue recycle bin, because that’s the only way the perfect recyclable can have another life, and take to the skies.

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>> H2WOES

Threatened Springs Volunteers Measure Nitrate Levels

WRITTEN BY ELLIS AMBURN orth Central Floridians have a drinking problem, and it has nothing to do with alcohol. It’s far worse. They’re running out of drinking water, and what’s left is being polluted, according to the nonprofit Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute. Overpumping by agricultural, municipal, and private wells in Alachua County and Jacksonville is the culprit, according to Robert L. Knight, founder of the institute and president of Wetland Solutions, Inc., in Gainesville. Twenty-three bottling companies operate in the state, which boasts 1,000 artesian springs. Some bottlers pump 500,000 gallons a day, according to Stop Nestle Waters.org. As the level of the Floridan Aquifer’s fresh water lowers, underlying salt water encroaches, and the specter of expensive desalinization looms. Under normal circumstances the 100,000-squaremiles-long aquifer would have time to recharge, but as Florida’s Springs website states, “We are withdrawing water from Florida’s underground aquifer faster than it can replenish.” To make matters worse, nitrates from fertilizer,

82 | Fall 2014

septic tanks and animal waste are contaminating North Central Florida’s vanishing water supplies. Nitrate concentration in the Lower Santa Fe River increased from a 1960s level of 0.05 milligrams per liter to 0.7 in 2013, spurring the state to add the river to its “Impaired Waters List.” “The springs are going down at an unbelievable pace,” Knight said. Over the past 20 years some of the Santa Fe’s springs nitrate concentrations have risen 3,000 percent. “It doesn’t look good for Poe Springs,” said Chris Bird, head of Gainesville’s Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD). To save Poe the county would have to reverse its net pumping, and towns along the Santa Fe River would have to stop watering lawns. Farmers, who use half of the water, would switch to crops using less. Ginnie Springs’ nitrate level is four times state limits because of fertilizer use. Farming in the area could change to crops using less fertilizer. Septic tanks should be checked for leaks.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 83

Silver Springs could go dry if pumping continues at the current rate, according to Charles Lee of Audubon of Florida. Concerned citizens are trying to stop the nitrate plague, but “it’s politically impossible” because of pressures from agriculture and municipal utilities, Knight said. Nitrates can bring on such diseases as blue baby syndrome, cancer, pneumonia and legionnaires’ disease, according to the US Environmental Agency’s Q&A website. ACEPD’s Jim Myles confirmed the blue baby syndrome in a recent telephone interview. Interviewed at random on the streets of High Springs, site of Poe and Ginnie Springs, residents expressed anger over the ineffectuality of elected officials and public apathy in the face of a potential water meltdown. “The springs crisis is reversible, so do something about it, said Alison Howata, who lives on the Santa Fe

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River. “Those bottlers should purify their [own] water. They don’t have to take it from our springs. As for fertilizer, merchants need to say, ‘We won’t stock it unless you do something to keep it from putting nitrates in our water. Give us nitrate-free fertilizer.’” Basti Gonzalez reflected, “Communities and their mayors have to say, ‘We’re not going to tolerate this.’ We’re going to have to change, get people involved.” Getting people involved is the purpose of a new EPD grassroots project designed to encourage people to “contribute in helping the springs,” Jim Myles said. “EPD came up with the idea of getting new information about the health of the springs, wrote the proposal for the grant funding, and got it.” Administered by the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Project Florida Springs financed the program by selling eponymous license plates to car owners. From the beginning, Myles said, “the focus was on public involvement and outreach… to get an idea of the spatial distribution and variability [of nitrates] within the Santa Fe River Springshed.” Alachua County also contributed funds for the grant, covering ACEPD staff and services. Myles defined nitrate as a “soluble form of oxygen nutrient from fertilizer, waste water, and animal waste that goes through the soil to groundwater and causes algae blooms. Excess nitrate causes impairment to the ecosystem and environment.”

Homeowner volunteers will test for synoptic nitrate levels in 100 wells and springs in the Santa Fe River Springshed (synoptic means a broad survey of a subject at a specific time). Florida sets the standard of 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter for drinking water. “Getting 100 samples within a one-week period has never been done before,” Myles said. The first week of testing was scheduled for September 2014, the second for May 2015. The Protect Florida Springs nitrate tests encompass parts of three counties — Alachua, Columbia and Gilchrist. The Internet provides plentiful documentation of the potentially health-threatening effect of nitrates, including congenital heart disease and immunodeficiency in infants, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. People over 50 have an increased susceptibility to Legionnaires’ disease, especially those with heavy alcohol consumption, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and end-sage renal diabetes. Vegetarians and vegans are vulnerable because leafy vegetables result in increase nitrate consumption. Also at risk is anyone with food allergies, asthma, hepatitis and gallstones. In an August telephone interview, Jim Myles said results of the nitrate tests would be made known to the public. s

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n EPD’s Protect Florida Springs nitrate testing, homeowners will take specimen samples with assistance from AquiferWatch during the week of May 18-22, 2015. Samples should be delivered by the volunteers to the LakeWatch laboratory or to one of the drop-off locations on the same day of collection. Homeowners will then be told the condition of their water and what they can do to preserve and enhance it. Those residing in the project area who have a well they want to be tested and studied may contact Rick Copeland of AquiferWatch at rick@aquiferwatch.org 850-559-7199. Recruitment of homeowner volunteers for the 50-60 wells within a 10-mile radius of Poe Springs is being

86 | F 86 Fall alll 2014 2014 20 14

handled by Fritzi S. Olson, executive director of Current Problems, Inc. “If you are interested in sampling your well for nitrates,” she wrote in an email, “send me your name, e-mail, and phone number. Someone from AquiferWatch will then contact you to arrange for a site visit [and] … see if your well is appropriate… If [it] fits their criteria, you [may] collect a sample… during the week of… May 18-22, 2015. When the project is completed, a presentation will be made to the Santa Fe River Springs Protection Forum in the fall of 2015. The laboratory data will be provided to the homeowners along with a map summarizing all of the sample results. If you have questions please feel free to contact me either via e-mail aar@currentproblems.org or phone 352-215-7554.”

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Helping Hand I

t was Tuesday night around 10, when Norma fell. Instead of trying to get to a phone, she pulled a cord and a friendly familiar face was right there to help her get up and into her walker. He stayed with her until she felt comfortable. He gave her some Ensure and made sure she could get to the bathroom. He made sure that she was okay, and let her know that he was just one tug on the cord away should she need him again.

When his own mother chose a Holiday community in California, Atrium manager Ron Stevenson said it was of the utmost importance that she be somewhere safe and secure.

Choosing the right community to spend your golden years isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about comfort. Residents want to know that they are secure, and children want to know that their parents are going to be safe and well taken care of.

The Atrium of Gainesville offers the safety and security of accessibility as well. Walk right from your apartment to the drug store, beauty shop, exercise room or library found right in-house. Fun activities await in the card and billiard rooms, and with four in-house dining facilities to choose from, everything you need to lead an active and healthy life is found right under one roof.

The staff at the Atrium of Gainesville not only focus on the comfort and well-being of their residents, but also on their security. With pull cords in every room, residents are only a tug away from assistance should an emergency arise. Managers on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week ensure that a familiar face will be there to help them in the middle of the night.

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88 | Fall 2014

Not only can residents rely on the comfort of 24-hour emergency assistance, but they can feel secure knowing that the facility doors automatically lock at 8:15 p.m. and unlock at 7:15 a.m. Only residents are allowed access with the swipe of a key card.

BY RON STEVENSON

offers home health physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as skilled nursing services. Their in-house outpatient clinic run by their excellent therapy and nursing staff is available for your convenience as well. One of the new additions to the Atrium family is Candid Care. They are a non-medical personal care service that assists with everyday living for residents. They provide medication reminders, weekly laundry and on-call assistance. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll even accompany you to and from your meals. The Atrium family is all about comfort, safety and security. Residents can rest easy knowing that help is there if they need it. And kids can rest assured that Mom and Dad are well taken care of. For more information on the safety and security the Atrium of Gainesville has to offer, call 352-448-9008.

Two of the companies partnering with the Atrium also add to the comfort and security of the community as well. Senior Living Solutions

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> TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER BOOK REVIE REVIEW EW >>

Lulu in Honolulu by Elisabeth Wolf c.2014, Sourcebooks $6.99 / $8.50 Canada 280 pages our parents are lucky to have you around. They rely on you to do so much: you keep your room clean, you can cook super-easy meals, and you’re very good at keeping your little brother quiet. You help your parents quite a lot…or, at least you try. But in the new book “Lulu in Honolulu” by Elisabeth Wolf, Lulu Harrison’s parents really wish they’d left her in L.A.! It was supposed to be the family vacation of a lifetime, with a little work on the side: beautiful Fiona Harrison was directing a new film on location in Honolulu, and her handsome husband, Linc, was the lead actor. They brought along 16-year-old, bikini-obsessed Alexis, who’d been a model once; and 11-year-old Lulu, who had frizzy hair, freckles, and a total inability to hula.

That’s not good, when you’re spending the summer in Hawaii. But it was okay. Lulu, “the world’s most freckled fi fish sh out of water,” was perfectly happy to wear SPF-50 clothing, dorky shoes, and thick sunscreen while she attended Ohana Day Camp. The Camp was where she met her best friend, Noelani, who was the finest hula dancer Lulu had ever seen, but who seriously lacked koa (bravery). And that was okay, too, because Lulu had enough koa for them both. Take, for instance, when Ohana Day Camp was competing in the hula-off. Lulu knew that her famous family could boost the chances of a team win — if only they would attend the competition. What happened went viral online. If that was the only thing that happened to Lulu, it still would’ve been an awesome summer, but, of course, it wasn’t. Both her parents were overworked and the film was over budget, which meant that they didn’t have any free time. Lulu tried to help with a few schemes that seemed like great ideas, but she just made things worse every single time. Then Fiona got fired, and she threatened to send Lulu back to Los Angeles. Alexis was mad too. Was there any way to get her ohana (family) to forgive her? I struggled for the better part of an evening to read “Lulu in Honolulu,” and I wasn’t sure why. The story’s basically good; young girls will get a kick out of Lulu’s well-meaning personality and her adventures were fun. Finally, I realized what I really didn’t like about this book. First, its formatting makes it seem slow. Author Elisabeth Wolf presents this tale as though it were a movie script, which means it’s filled with directions and asides that don’t play well. Kids might like the hook for a while, but I didn’t. I also greatly disliked Lulu’s too-busy-for-her, richand-famous, gorgeous-and-they-know-it parents. On the first page, this 11-year-old character compared herself to them, and came up woefully short. That made me sad. Overall, I’m always a big Know Your Audience advocate, and that goes doubly for this book. It’s not totally horrid. It’s worth a try, but remember this: your 8-to-10-year-old might love “Lulu in Honolulu,” or she might not even want it around. s 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.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Fall 2014 | 89

Fletcher’s Center West

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

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COLUMN >> DONNA BONNELL

Embracing Life The Seven Mile Bridge

hile I have been a happy resident of Newberry for over 30 years, my roots are Miami and The Florida Keys. When reminiscing about the Florida Keys, my mind has a wonderful way of focusing on that simple carefree time with sublime bliss. Occasionally, however, something will trigger the recollection of an imperfect incident nearly forgotten. Those episodes, safely stored deep in my memory bank, patiently wait to be revisited and shared. Such is the case of a night (in the early 1970s) that I slept on the old Seven Mile Bridge. The day began as planned; we left Miami at sunrise. Packed like sardines in a tiny tin-like car, our fearless group headed to Marathon Beach. Most of us had worked very late the night before. Having little or no sleep was never a factor considered. Our mini-beach party was groovy! A breathtaking sunset marked the end of the flawless day. We could have been on a billboard or picture postcard (popular advertisements of that era) enticing vacationers to visit the fabulous Florida Keys! Dusk quickly followed and my perfect storybook tale took a troubled turn. Back in ‘the day,’ we used baby oil to enrich our tan, not sunscreen for protection. The only thing enhanced that day was the severe burn on my fair skin. The salty breeze stung like flames when it gently blew across the ocean. It was time for me to go home, but not my friends. They decided to go night fishing on the bridge. Even though I was already feeling the effects of sleep deprivation and over-exposure to the sun, I did not have a choice. We all came in one vehicle. Moreover, I understood their lure. A full Moon, accompanied with millions of bright twinkling stars, lit the sky. Such an enchanting evening made it impossible for me to convince my comrades to leave. Hence, we made our way to the then-called Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge. For readers not familiar with this tidbit of history, the bridge was constructed from 1909 to 1912. It was a section of the Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West Extension, also known as the Overseas Railroad. It connected Knight’s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. The railroad suffered severe hurricane damage in

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1935. Subsequently, the federal government purchased and refurbished the bridge for motor vehicle use. Now known as the old Seven Mile Bridge, family folklore contains stories of ancestors on work crews responsible for its construction. Legend also includes the deaths of relatives due to abysmal living conditions and an extremely harsh environment. That evening I experienced a minute morsel of the excruciating existence they endured. As the wind subsided, invasion of the insects followed. The swarms of invisible sand gnats and monster mosquitos were merciless. Their target was my body. My only defense was wet sandy beach towels. Using the soggy scratchy clothes as a blanket, I curled in a fetal position and laid down on the narrow walkway between the Atlantic Ocean and the road (on the Seven Mile Bridge). Fortunately, due to fatigue coupled with the hypnotic swish of autos driving past and God’s grace, I fell fast asleep. Still today I am thankful for the guardrails made with recycled tracks from the demolished damaged railway. They protected me from plunging into the dark ocean. Sometime that night my friends woke me up and we safely drove home. The next few weeks were miserable. Over-the-counter medications, including Asprin, Calamine Lotion, CamphoPhenique, Merthiolate, Mercurochrome and Solarcaine were the remedies of choice in that decade. I had them all. Only those who have experienced any part of a similar ordeal can relate to the painful burning and outrageous itching. If you ever used those treatments, visualize the blood red topical solutions covering self-inflicted sores (from excessive scratching) and the pink paint-like lotion slathered everywhere else. I was not pretty and became even less attractive when the blisters scabbed and my skin peeled. Nowadays I rarely sunbathe and am usually prepared for those bad biting bugs. Recently, however, I found myself faced with an unexpected attack of sand gnats. My extremities were covered in bullet-like bites, which triggered thoughts of that treacherous night. I knew it was time to tell this story and say kudos to my ancestors who braved the swamp without any amenities. They are the heroes who paved the way for the rest of us to enjoy The Florida Keys! s

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>> UNDER THE DOME

World of Behnke Envisioning Your Dreams to Life

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD wo roads diverged in a wood and Larry Behnke took the one less traveled by — the one that remained in the wood, where the house of his dreams existed. All he had to do was believe it and build it. But like his mother always used to say, “All things come to those who wait.” And Behnke didn’t have a problem with waiting. Behnke was an early baby boomer, born in 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Seven weeks after his sister was born in 1953, the unthinkable happened and their father died of pancreatitis. His mother managed to keep the house but lost the family car; she put food on the table by opening a beauty shop in one of their two bedrooms. Since they couldn’t afford another car until he was 16, Behnke did all the shopping for his family on a bicycle. “I didn’t know we lived in poverty, my mother never let us think it,” he said. His mother would repeat the words, “All things come to those who wait,” and Behnke believed it. “I would later evolve the saying to, ‘What you think

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about and thank about, you bring about,’” he said. Behnke learned at an early age to be thankful for the blessings he had, and that a positive frame of mind was the key to envisioning the blessings he hoped would later come. The high points of Behnke’s childhood involve playing in swamps, woods and ponds near his house and watching the Wonderful World of Disney, when they were building Disney World and creating artificial nature scenes. “I remember thinking someday I want the real thing,” Behnke said. “I want to live in real nature.”

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He knew early on that he was an artist at heart, which led him to studying commercial art at Ferris State University of Michigan. After graduation he stayed in Ann Arbor and worked a number of different jobs including a cook, bartender and waiter at The Del Rio Bar. Then, in 1973, things changed. “I had an out-of-body epiphany while listening to an Alan Watts tape on the radio,” Behnke said. “I decided to sell my mobile home and car and move into a 1969 Chevy step van.” He saw it as a perfect way to stop paying rent and utilities while saving money to put toward his

childhood dream — owning country land. He was able to then park the vehicle he lovingly coined the “truck house” across the street, next to The Del Rio. “From there on I worked each year from April to October,” Behnke said, spending winters traveling the Sun Belt searching for the ideal place to spend the rest of my life.” He lived in hundreds of cities, never paying camping fees, and spent most of the time in Berkley, San Francisco, Austin, New Orleans and Key West. By his sixth winter he had narrowed it down — Gainesville. “I circled the area telling realtors my requirements:

water with fish, hills and woods,” Behnke said. “Finally in 1980, a realtor brought me to my home — a 1960 lime rock quarry with fish, manmade hills, woods, and beginning vegetation in High Springs.” The property cost $25,000 for 20 acres. And with that price tag, he was sold. He met and married Patricia Camburn (the couple divorced after 25 years of marriage) and began the task of building a homestead from scratch. He started with the truck house, a dome tent, and a kitchen screen tent. “We tore down an abandoned house on the neighbor’s property,” Behnke said. “Then, we borrowed

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“I chose to build a dome home because it is impervious to hurricanes,” Behnke said. “It is also energy efficient and cost only $52,000 to build.” another neighbor’s truck to haul materials back, such as heart pine and roofing tin. Then, I started building a temporary house, all for a total of $100.” For their showers, they collected rainwater in a large inner tube on the roof, which was heated by the sun. Their bathroom was an outhouse. In 1984 they went from using kerosene lamps to solar electricity. “It was a self-installed system that has worked perfectly with no problems for 30 years,” Behnke said. The initial cost was only $3,000. Next to be built was an underground root cellar (art studio), a haven to any artist seeking room to create. Being under the earth keeps the temperature cool even in the sunniest of summers. Then, in 1992 the couple built a 35-foot diameter, 5/8 sphere geodesic home.

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“I chose to build a dome home because it is impervious to hurricanes,” Behnke said. “It is also energy efficient and cost only $52,000 to build.” He credits his lifestyle and building techniques to constant scavenging and recycling. “I built a cantilevered dock out to the lake with two free telephone poles,” Behnke said. “Ten people set each pole in place with rope handles.” Alachua County resident Dale Beitrusten has known Behnke for 30 years and helped him carry the massive telephone poles. “Larry seeks harmony in everything — in his relationships and with the environment,” Beitrusten said. Always saving rather than wasting precious resources, Behnke lives by the old adage, “use it up, wear it out, make it last.” He said on average he allots $30 a week for food, and he hasn’t eaten beef or pork since 1976. For grid power, including his refrigerator, lights and television, he spends $27 a month. And he still uses solar electricity for light, fans and to pump all water. “It also helps that I don’t have cable, satellite or a cell phone,” Behnke said. My landline and Internet is $50 a month for both.” How does he stay entertained? Dollar DVDs and 10-cent VHS tapes. “I have lots of time for art. That’s my real entertainment,” Behnke said.

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Behnke is a founding member of the High Springs Art Co-Op, which has been around for five years. He has designed 80 local T-shirts and has painted 100 signs in High Springs, so chances are most of us have seen his art around town at some point. Diane Hornby is a member of the High Springs Art Co-Op and is very familiar with Behnke’s work there. “I think he’s a wonderful guy, just fabulous and very interesting,” Hornby said in a recent phone interview. “He does the artwork for most of our announcements and displays. His pieces are always so colorful and fun.” One art piece entitled, “A Nail Thumb Stretch,” was the talk of the town this past June when Ripley’s Bizarre Bazaar came knockin’. “The story begins when I was 12. I’d always loved art and experimenting so I began trying new sculpting materials,” Behnke said. “I took the frames left over from model car parts and glued them together in the shape of a bird. I chewed 200 pieces of bubble gum and affixed them to a coat hanger structure of a human shape.” Then inspiration struck. “Wouldn’t it be cool to make a sculpture out of a part of my body?” Behnke said. He decided on nail clippings because they are durable and sandable. He knew it would take some time to save enough for a sculpture, but then again Behnke is a patient man. For years, he collected his nail clippings as well as the those from his wife and daughter. His friends called him crazy and laughed in his face and told him he’d never accrue enough nail clippings for the kind of project he was envisioning. But 44 years later Behnke had the last laugh as Ripley’s Believe It Or Not paid him $5,000 for his thumb lamp sculpture.

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Behnke had the last laugh, as Ripley’s Believe It Or Not paid him $5,000 for his thumb lamp sculpture. Beginning with Styrofoam and then adding clay, Behnke formed a foot-tall thumb with a five-inch nail. Next, he made a two-piece plaster mold. “For months I painted layers of epoxy (Envirotex) on the inside of the molds and sprinkled on clippings, then let it dry,” Behnke said. He repeated the process until it was 3/8 to a 1/2 inch thick, then he combined the two halves and hid the seam with the remaining nail clippings and epoxy. “It took a long time to sand the whole thing smooth,” he said. “I mounted the Nail Thumb on a wooden base and installed a light bulb inside with a cord and switch.” Lit from within, the sculpture looks like amber and a closer look will reveal the thousands of nail clippings Behnke had painstakingly applied. “One thing I’ve always enjoyed about being an artist is that we’re allowed to be weird,” Behnke said. “We have a license to be slightly crazy as long as we produce art.” He said he has finally been vindicated and validated for the crazy idea he had as a 12-year-old. With a mind as creative as Behnke’s, it should come as no surprise that he is not merely an artist but a writer

and photographer, as well. Before retiring he worked at the High Springs Herald for 20 years, and along with his then-wife, created The Observer in 2003. The couple sold the publication in 2005, but Behnke still writes a bi-monthly column and regularly provides photography. Currently, Behnke is working on a picnic spot and future campground at the end of his lake — Lake Anna — named after his daughter, who is grown and living in St. Augustine. Now on social security, Behnke said he has the gift of time and can fully dedicate himself to his passions. “I have plenty of time for art and fun work,” Behnke said. “It’s the happiest time of my life.” He said he is so grateful for all of his blessings, especially being able to visit his daughter every month, his greatest work of art. If there is one thing he’d like to share with the world, he knows exactly what it would be. “I just want people to know that whatever they want out of life, they can have it if they believe they can have it,” he said. “That’s what I’ve learned so far and I’m only 66.” Here’s to believing, the “Behnke way.” s

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>> SPIRITUAL HUNGER

Food for the Soul Feeding Your Relationship with God

WRITTEN BY BRIANA ERICKSON eth Dalton may be the face of the L.E.A.N. 4 Life ministry, whose mission it is to save one life at a time by eliminating obesity. But Dalton would rather get out from under the spotlight and focus on the bigger picture and message. “It’s nothing that we sought out to do,” the blue-eyed Tioga resident said with a smile. “Ministries just happen, and it’s a divine leading from the Lord. It’s His. We go where he tells us.” The L.E.A.N. (Loving Everyone As Neighbors) 4 Life ministry was established about three years ago and was inspired by the scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV Bible), Dalton said. This nonprofit traveling ministry uses health as a vehicle to reach people. They talk about the importance of a spiritual relationship versus religion. “What’s so really powerful, too, is that through health we’re given an opportunity to teach like Jesus,” Dalton said. They use analogies. One can’t eat right and exercise only once a week and expect a major transformation, she said. “How can people spend just one day a week developing a relationship with Jesus and expect a transformation in their spirit?” The group works to help people understand the dynamic between the physical part of worldly lives and the direct parallel between how things work in the spirit. The L4L ministry travels to art fairs, street festivals and health fairs

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from Gainesville to South Carolina, Jacksonville, and wherever the Lord takes them. “We might go to Texas tomorrow, for all we know,” Dalton said with a laugh. “We like to be bold that way. We go as we feel led.” The L4L ministry’s goal is to make a difference in people’s lives when it comes to both spiritual and physical health. They believe that everyone deserves to live in a body that he/she loves, trusts, and admires, and it is L.E.A.N. 4 Life and the grace of Jesus Christ that will ill make this possible. It’s a message of truth and love. ove. “Our greatest takeaway is forr people to experience the love of the Holy Spirit through us,” Dalton said. “Whether they are believers or non-believers, it doesn’t matter.” They pray. They blow up a phone board with the message of Christ and the steps s for salvation. It’s a brief moment nt of impact, one that leads some to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. pirit. Some who cross their path find d it to be a time of powerful fellowship. ship. For Dalton, that’s success forr a day of ministry. “We plant the seeds, and we let the Lord water,” she said. The ministry is a journey that at transforms on a daily basis. “Being a part of this ministry y is a once in a lifetime opportunity y for us to glorify Jesus,” she said. “How ow it’s expanding or increasing my y faith is limitless, really.” The L4L ministry’s goal is to offer health endowments to those who are ready to make positive, healthy changes in their lives. The endowments offer the opportunity to take part in various health and fitness programs to help them achieve their goals. “In an effort to fund our initiative, the Lord has given us a major blessing through the divine creation of Tasty Gator” Dalton said. Tasty Gator is a nutritious dessert (whey protein) drink.

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“Before we knew it at the time we just had gobs of recipes.” Packaged in Florida, Tasty Gator can be purchased online or at events, with the message of the ministry on the package. “We have our main message about Jesus and salvation to everyone who is ordering from Tasty Gator,” Dalton said. “It’s just become a vehicle.” A gluten-free ice-blended shake, Tasty Gator is a meal replacement, with carbs, fiber and almost 30

grams of protein. They are now available in more than 54 flavors. “It was a divine creation, nothing we ever sought out to do,” she said. “It literally just happened.” The Tasty Gator motto? Live L.E.A.N. and live long. “What people are getting is much deeper than what they expect,” Dalton said. She talked about how Tasty Gator just took off. “When you pray to be served as an instrument, that’s exactly what

you become,” she said. “It doesn’t become your creation, you become the vessel in which He works.” Tasty Gator helps the physical body because it’s balanced, she said, but at the same time people can incorporate whatever L.E.A.N. 4 Life shares with them to help in their spirit. “We know that everyone who is brought into our paths, believers or not, we’re there to love on everybody,” Dalton said. “The impact we have on these people is according to how h the Lord works in their life. We’re We just the instruments.” Part P of the ministry’s goal is to explain exp the importance of proper nutrition n to begin one’s physical day. “And that always turns spiritual,” Dalton said. Dalton said that most people know that eating a balanced breakfast is important to properly ignite their physical ph metabolism. “It’s imperative we get this meal right righ because it can make-or-break our physical performance, our energy ene level, and the way our bodies burn fat throughout the day,” she said. “Well, “W igniting the spiritual metabolism is even that much more important, imp to prepare ourselves for the day ahead.” Dalton D explained the importance of having h a balanced portion of “spiritual “sp food” or “first fruits,” which wh comes in the form of reading and hearing the Lord’s messages and spending time in prayer. Whether it’s eating breakfast or “eating our spiritual food,” both are necessary in order to achieve the transforming results. “I’m not in this ministry by myself. I mean, it’s just everything with this ministry has really evolved so very quickly,” Dalton said, smiling at the thought of L.E.A.N. 4 Life, a divine inspiration that has been made possible through the Lord. “That in itself is its own miracle.” s

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>> THAT’S FRESH

Farmers Market A New Pavilion for High Springs

WRITTEN BY ELLIS AMBURN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD armers markets began about 5,000 years ago when food growers along the Nile toted garden-fresh produce to town and offered it for sale directly to customers without going through a middleman, according to the website of Washington’s and Oregon’s Redmond Farmers Markets. They’ve been working pretty much the same way ever since. In the United States, early settlers relied on local farmers from the surrounding countryside to bring food into Jamestown. The modern version of today’s farmers market — with tents in rows and tables — started in the 19th century with the High Street Market in Philadelphia. Municipal-owned markets gradually shifted to private control. The most famous one today is the Farmers Market

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on Third Street and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, which has 100 stores, boasts the market’s website. Elvis Presley, Regis Philbin, Mae West, Mickey Rooney, Johnny Carson, Ava Gardner, the Shah of Iran, and the Beatles shopped there, and Marilyn Monroe was crowned Miss Cheesecake in 1952. Late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel is a frequent visitor. The world’s largest farmers market is in Tokyo, with 1,700 stalls, the Redmond site added. People love farmers markets because the foods are all fresh, having spent less time in transit and undergone no freezing or storage, and they appeal to local farmers because they can get a larger profit without using wholesalers, food processors, or chain groceries. Farmers also appreciate being spared such overhead costs as land, buildings,

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lighting, and air-conditioning, savings that can result in lower prices for customers. A manager of the McClintock Fountains Farmers Market reported that 90 percent of the money gained at farmers markets stays in the community rather than going to outside corporations. Robert Sommer’s book “Farmers Markets of America” states that farmers market prices beat those of supermarkets 91 percent of the time, and that “there is no question that farmers market produce is fresher and more flavorful.” According to the US Department of Agriculture

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(USDA), the number of farmers markets has risen 300 percent in recent years — from 1,755 in 1994 to 8,144 in 2013. In New York City there are 107 such markets, and Los Angeles has 88. The striking increase in growth since 1994 is in direct proportion to increased public interest in healthier foods and the importance of supporting small sustainable farms on the fringe of towns and cities. Among North Central Florida’s farmers markets is the quaint one held every Thursday along the railroad tracks in High Springs. Manager Basti Gonzalez, a real estate developer and civic volunteer since 2006,

said during a recent interview at the market that a new pavilion will be completed for the High Springs Farmers Market in January 2015. A check signing ceremony will kick off the building project with a presentation of a USDA check for approximately $200,000. In kind, High Springs, which owns the market, provided the land, the architect, and all the ground preparation. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on September 25, along the railroad tracks by the Chamber of Commerce building near Main Street, with music by Michael Loveday.

“There’ll be finger food and cupcakes,” Gonzalez said. “All are welcome.” Designed by architect Callum Gibb, the pavilion’s dimensions will be 100 feet x 30 feet. The building will be made of “steel, masonry, and a log-looking wood,” Gonzalez explained, “and will accommodate 20 vendors. There’ll be water, fans, and a ceiling high enough to catch the breeze.” The latter will come as welcome news to customers and vendors after years of sweltering on the railroad tracks. “I was adamant the Farmers Market would have a home, a place where people could come and talk, bring

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www.DrDouglasAdel.com 114 | Fall 2014

their children and dogs,” Gonzalez said. “Maria Antella spearheaded the project four-and-one-half years ago, bringing Fidel Delgado from USDA in Washington, D.C., to High Springs. He told us what we needed to do and work-shopped with the community and city council.” It’s taken 14 years, several locations, “and many volunteers to help us keep the market afloat,” Gonzalez said. “We [bounced] from The Sinkhole to Plantation Oaks Senior Living to the railroad tracks in a two-andone-half year period.” Beginning in October, Gonzalez will be assisted by Carol Rowan, the new co-manager. Carol has been a vendor at the market for eight years and a volunteer in its management for four. She lives in nearby Fort White, and her stall at the market, Carol’s Bags and More, features purses, backpacks, blankets, scarves, banana bread, and pumpkin bread. Other vendors include Elisabeta Dionisi, who offers a variety of such prepared foods as moussaka, lasagna, spinach pie, baked spaghetti casserole, garlic cucumber dip, fresh-baked bread, baklava, stuffed grape leaves, stuffed cabbage, and baked eggplant topped with chopped zucchini, squash, and roasted red and green peppers. Lee’s Produce, run by Haven Lee of Lake City, offers a huge selection of fresh vegetables and fruits including broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, peaches, pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, and blueberries. Interviewed while shopping in August, Alison Horvata, a longtime market volunteer who lives on the Santa Fe River, said she buys peaches in the summer and strawberries in the spring, and loves the market because “you never know whom you’re going to run into.” Gonzalez agreed. “The market is a place where people can converse and exchange views,” she said. “They ask me, ‘What’s going on in the city? What are the commissioners doing?’” Horvata was happy to learn of the new pavilion because now she can buy fresh cut flowers. “Flowers will not survive in the sun,” Gonzalez explained. The pavilion will supply ample shade. Vendors include Thousand Runs Farm, Jesse’s Seafood, Liz’s Dogs and Barbecue, Rosie’s Produce, Indigo Farm, Green Circle Organic Farm, Flagship Coffees, the Bumpkin Patch, Great Tasting Pigs, Heart and Seoul, Ken’s Solar Lights, Old Tyme Bread House, and Landscape Design Associates. Other farmers markets in the area include Tioga Town Center — the Square, which offers locally grown conventional and organic fruits and vegetables, honey, plants and trees, grass-fed meats, free-range eggs and whole milk, prepared foods, and homemade crafts. The market features local music and is located among a wide range of shops and restaurants. The Haile Farmers Market in Gainesville has tents and tables along the tree-lined streets of Haile Plantation Village, replete with baked goods, prepared food, meats, fish, and produce from local farmers. s

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>> HEALTH

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Palms Medical Opens in High Springs

WRITTEN BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES arlier this year, a door opened for residents in the High Springs area, a door to what Eileen Senecal hopes will become a “medical home” for those living nearby. That door is Palms Medical Group in High Springs. Senecal, Vice President of Development and Outreach for Palms Medical Group, saw their new High Springs medical office develop from a need to a plan and then into a full-fledged facility, with the help from grants and federal public health funds. The center is the 11th such office opened by the not-for-profit health care provider. “We want the people to know that we are here,” said Senecal, who recently hosted a well-attended ribboncutting ceremony, with the High Springs Chamber of Commerce welcoming the facility to the area. “The population here has been underserved in the area of health care. This medical center brings quality, affordable primary care and preventive services to the community.” As a federally qualified community health center, Palms accepts most public and private insurance,

116 | Fall 2014

Medicare and Medicaid. For uninsured patients, a sliding fee scale based on income, determines payment. No one is denied medical care because of lack of insurance or income. Housed in a crisply-renovated building at the corner of First Avenue and First Street, the state-of-the-art, open-concept health center is open five days a week with a full-time staff and an on-site lab for blood draws. “We are part of the Florida Association of Community Health Providers,” Senecal said. “Our offerings include dental services at our Lake City office and two pharmacies in Bell and Trenton, with chiropractic care and behavioral healthcare offered in Trenton as well. Every office provides services for patients from infancy to maturity. Because we are federally qualified, we don’t turn anyone away.” Certified Physician Assistant (PA) Heather Wright has been with Palms Medical since 2012 and now sees patients daily in the High Springs location. “I previously worked in critical care and found I liked the urgent care and family medical type of practice,”

PHOTO BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

“We want the people to know that we are here,” said Vice President of Development and Outreach, Eileen Senecal, who recently hosted a well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony with the High Springs Chamber of Commerce welcoming the Palms Medical facility to the area. “The population here has been underserved in the area of health care. This medical center brings quality, affordable primary care and preventive services to the community.”

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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PHOTO BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

Now open in High Springs, Palms Medical Group offers the community a new “medical home” for most health care needs, including a full range of services for every stage of life. (Ribbon cutting photo by Albert Isaac.)

Wright said. “I enjoy offering the ‘bigger picture’ vision of medicine that family medicine offers. Here in High Springs, we want this office to become the people’s medical home.” A Gainesville resident, Wright said she loves the small-town community where she now works fulltime. She hopes to be able to provide continuity of care with Palms Medical Group’s long-established resources and family practice offerings. “Medicine is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Wright said. “I’ve never varied from that goal, volunteering in

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different areas until I found the PA program and knew it was a perfect fit. This office is a perfect fit as well — and we are starting to get busy, so that is wonderful.” Same-day appointments are encouraged at Palms, where free sports physicals are offered every summer as a service to the community. Women can also receive a $5 pap smear with an appointment. In November, there are plans to provide free blood glucose screenings as part of Diabetes Awareness Month. Access to a Spanish translator is available as well. In addition to offering health care, Palms Medical Group Certified Application Counselors and Navigators help residents choose the best health insurance plans available to them in the Health Insurance Marketplace. “Our goal in this is to get more information out about

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*Same Day Service on Economy Dentures, in most cases, if in by 7:45 a.m. Additional fees may be incurred depending on individual cases. We gladly accept Cash, Checks with ID, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover as payment for our services. Advertised fees effective through 11/21/14. These are minimum fees and charges may increase depending on the treatment required. THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

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PHOTO BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

Patient Care Coordinator Jennifer Sundberg is part of Palms Medical Group’s team of providers and staff, who work together to ensure patients receive timely healthcare in a state-of-the-art facility — regardless of their ability to pay.

the Affordable Care Act and help people navigate the offerings there,” Senecal said. “We also want to reach the younger populations to encourage them to sign up instead of opting out. People get confused and frustrated and give up. We can help them sort through the information and make a good choice in medical coverage.” Serving a currently underserved population in all areas of medical care is the idea that fuels the driving force in all involved at Palms Medical Group’s High Springs location. “The statistics from the Florida Department of Health are a rude awakening to the situations in different counties,” Senecal said. “With no local hospital and

120 | Fall 2014

limited health care options, many in rural Florida go without care.” Patient Care Coordinator at the new office, Jennifer Sundberg, hopes the High Springs facility can change those statistics by providing long-term care to the area. “Why should people come here?” Sundberg asked. “Because we provide a compassionate medical home without regard to anyone’s ability to pay for their visit here.” To make an appointment at Palms Medical Group in High Springs, call 386-454-0568. Walk-ins are also welcome at the 110-112 N.E. First Avenue office. To learn more about Palms Medical Group visit www. palmsmg.org or call 1-888-730-2374. s

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Visit High Springs

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

Rubberstamps, Scrapbooking, Handmade Crafts and Gifts and so much more.. Cardmaking classes and Crops. Stop by for a schedule. OPEN: Fri. 10-8 Sat. 10-6 Sun. 11-5 Mon. 10-8

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info@bambisfarm.com or 954-907-9759 122 | Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 | 123

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Taste of the Town

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

Napolatanos 606 NW 75th Street Gainesville, FL Monday - Thursday & Sunday 4:00pm-10:00pm Friday 4:00pm-2:00am • Saturday 4:00pm-11:00pm

352-332-6671

www.napolatanos.com

ITALIAN — Napolatanos is the longest original owner operated restaurant in Gainesville. Nappys, the name the locals have given Napolatanos has the most extensive menu. Whether you choose pizza, calzones, salad, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak dinners or the best chicken wings in town, Nappy’s uses only the freshest ingredients. Visit on Tuesday & Wednesday for half price appetizers. Save up to $4 on pizza on Thursday and $5 off bottles of wine on Saturday. Outside dining with live music on Sunday evenings. Family meals for pick-up starting at $21.95.

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

386-462-3000 Brown’s Country Buffet is 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. You are sure to find something to satisfy any craving at Brown’s. 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.

Copper Monkey West 14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11am - 11pm • Friday-Saturday 11am - 12am

352-363-6338

mycoppermonkey.com

Restaurant & Pub — 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 and many options for your viewing pleasure. Great food, great price, we’ll see you soon.

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Taste of the Town

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL 352.372-5468 FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION.

Saboré 13005 SW 1st Road, Tioga, FL 32669 (Tioga Town Center) Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 11am – 10pm Fri. & Sat.: 11am – 11pm • Open Mondays for special events only

352-332-2727

www.saborerestaurant.com

FUSION — Saboré [sa-bohr-ay] is a modern world-fusion restaurant featuring a variety of dishes inspired by dynamic cuisine from places like Europe, Asia, and South America. Their recipe is simple: authentic global flavors, quality ingredients, expert craftsmanship, and exceptional service. Saboré offers customers a unique dining experience, shareable plates, delicious dishes, signature cocktails and desserts that will keep you coming back for more. So let us surprise your palate with our global flair and exotic ingredients. Experiencing world cuisine this fresh usually requires a passport.

Northwest Grille 5115 Northwest 39th Ave., Gainesville 32606 Open 7 Days: 11am to 10pm (Friday open until 11pm) Saturday & Sunday: Serving brunch 10am to 3pm

352-376-0500

www.northwestgrillegainesville.com

SEAFOOD — Locally owned and operated, Northwest Grille has been providing the finest quality fish and seafood entrees in a friendly atmosphere since 1996. Whether it’s their fresh, local seafood & fish, or handcrafted sauces and specialty desserts, Northwest Grille has something to please your palate. Meat lovers will enjoy the hand-cut steaks & vegetarians will love the wide range of vegetarian options. Serving lunch and dinner daily, Northwest Grille, offers an extensive brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays with a Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar from 10-3pm. Northwest Grille also Features a liquor bar with specialty cocktails. Happy hour is served daily from 3pm7pm & all day on Wednesday – offering craft beer, wine & $5 martinis.

Newberry’s Backyard BBQ 25405 W Newberry Rd, Newberry Monday-Wednesday 11am-9pm • Thursday 11am-9pm Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm • Sunday 10:30am-8pm

352.472.7260

newberrybbq.com

BBQ — The one and only Newberry’s Backyard BBQ is located in our historic building in beautiful downtown Newberry. Our pork, chicken, beef, and turkey is smoked to perfection daily. Our salads and sides are always fresh. If you are thirsty we have the best sweet tea in the South and a full bar as well. Make sure to bring your kids, we serve their meals on a frisbee that they take home. For your entertainment, we always have live music on Friday nights and Karaoke on Saturday evenings. Always remember big or small we cater all gatherings.

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CALENDAR If you would like to have an event considered for publication in this calendar, please submit information directly. post 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606 | e-mail editor@towerpublications.com | fax 352-373-9178

TIOGA MONDAY MARKET Mondays 4:00pm - 7:00pm JONESVILLE - Tioga Center, 13005 W. Newberry Rd. Market features a selection of vegetables, crafts, organic food, fruits and local specialties.

LADY GAMERS Fridays 1:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. The Lady Gamers meet for fun, friendship and food. Everyone is invited. Meet old friends and make some new ones.

from both emerging and established artists, “ABOUT FACE Portraits with Presence” is one of the most expansive exhibits in the 35-year history of the Thomas Center Galleries. Curated by Anne Gilroy, the exhibit reaches broadly in defining “portraiture.” The collection of work combines classical and traditional work with unexpected interpretations of portraiture in the artist’s enduring quest to capture the presence of a person in both two- and threedimensional media. 352-393-8532.

FREE FRIDAYS

DIABETES SELFMANAGEMENT

Fridays 8:00pm

Through Sept. 26 1:00pm - 3:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. An Eric Clapton Tribute is the first “Free Fridays” concert of the season. From now through Oct., Friday nights come alive as local and regional bands are showcased under the stars in downtown Gainesville. Hundreds come out to enjoy the free live music and shows in a family-friendly environment. www.

HIGH SPRINGS - Library, 135 N.W. 1st Ave. These workshops are free of charge, but seating is limited so early registration is recommended Register on-line at www.aclib.us/highsprings and go to “Branch Events Calendar” or call the library: 386-454-2515.

gvlculturalaffairs.org.

PORTRAITS WITH PRESENCE Through Sept. 20 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave. Presenting work

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INTRODUCTION TO A CAPPELLA SINGING Thursdays, Sept. 4 – Oct. 9 7:00pm GAINESVILLE - Grace Presbyterian Church, 3146 NW 13th St. The Gainesville Harmony Show Chorus is offering a free 6 week course for women,

“Introduction to A Cappella Singing” each Thursday. For more information call 352-870-5555.

GAWN Wednesday, Sept. 17 11:30am – 1:00pm GAINESVILLE Sweetwater Branch Inn, 625 E University Ave. The Gainesville Area Women’s Network luncheon — third Wednesday each month. Attend for great networking and a hot lunch. Register: GAWN.org.

GAINESVILLE NETWORKING CHALLENGE Wednesday, Sept. 17 5:30pm – 7:00pm JONESVILLE - Sabore Restraurant, 13005 SW 1st Rd. Come network with business professionals in a casual setting on the third Wednesday of each month. Invite your friends! Enjoy complimentary delicious hors d’oeuvres!

TOUR OF FLORIDAFRIENDLY LANDSCAPES Saturday, Sept. 20 8:15am – 1:00pm GAINESVILLE - Thelma Boltin Community Center, 516 NE 2nd Ave. The Alachua County Master Gardeners will be offering a tour of Florida-Friendly Landscapes™ in the Duck Pond area. These yards exemplify

water conservation and environmentally friendly landscaping practices. Tour begins at the Thelma Boltin Center. Parking is limited; carpooling/ biking/walking encouraged. Preregister: 352-337-6209.

FOLK FESTIVAL Sunday, Sept. 21 Noon - 8:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - Various locations. A different Folk artist will be performing at a different location throughout downtown High Springs. Come visit places you may have never seen, such as the Secret Garden and the High Springs Museum. The Headliner is Brian Smalley, 2013 Florida Folk Album of the Year Winner. Party afterward at the Great Outdoors Restaurant with specials, appetizers, and dinner with Brian. 352-275-4190.

CONCERT SERIES Friday, Sept. 26 7:00pm – 10:00pm JONESVILLE - Town of Tioga. Bring your lawn chairs for a free concert series in the park. Held the last Friday of each month in the Town of Tioga.

ARTWALK GAINESVILLE Friday, Sept. 26 7:00pm - 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - 104 SE 1st Ave. Free monthly

self-guided tour that combines visual art, live performance and events. Held the last Friday of each month with many local galleries, eateries and businesses participating, Artwalk is an exciting, fun way to experience the amazing wealth of creativity the Gainesville community has to offer.

FLORIDA MONARCH FESTIVAL Saturday, Sept. 27 10:00am – 5:00pm EARLETON - Greathouse Butterfly Farm, 20329 SR 26. Something for everyone! Enjoy delicious food, activities for all ages, educational talks and walks and three butterfly releases, which include a tag and release of monarch butterflies. Enjoy a delightful shopping experience with a variety of vendors, and don’t forget the Butterfly Emporium. Don’t miss this celebration of the enchanting monarch butterfly, and a most enjoyable time for the entire family.

COLOR RUN

Swamp Chomp Friday, Sept. 26

6:00pm - 10:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Girls Place, 2101 NW 39th Ave. Swamp Chomp is a tailgating event where you get to meet and mingle with some of your favorite Gators and fans! Don’t miss out on live music and great food. Sponsorships are available and tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door. 352-373-4475.

Saturday, Sept. 27 9:00am GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Community Plaza. The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality. The start-line window will open at 9:00 am with waves going every few minutes until 9:30 am. Make sure you plan your day with plenty of time. At The Color Run, the start line is its own pre-race party with music, dancing, warm-up stretching

Kyle Kinane at Boca Fiesta Thurs, Sept. 25 8:00pm GAINESVILLE - Boca Fiesta, 232 SE 1st St. The Backyard @ Boca Fiesta & Palomino. Kyle Kinane is a comedian seen on Comedy Central and Conan, as well as peddling his wares in lands near and far. 352-336-TACO. bocafiesta.com.

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and giveaways! The Color Run, a for profit company, works with charities, and is thrilled to be working with Peaceful Paths and Camp Kesem. Visit: thecolorrun.com/

gainesville/2014-09-27/.

WOBTOBERFEST Saturday, Sept. 27 10:00am – 11:00pm JONESVILLE - Tioga Town Center, 140 SW 128th St. Bring the family and come enjoy a 5K, live concerts, many games and of course, beer! The event will have a German flair to it and all proceeds will benefit five local charities. 352-727-4714.

FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE Friday, Oct. 3 8:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - High Springs Playhouse, 130 NE 1st Ave. The High Springs Playhouse is pleased to present “For The Love of Mike”, by local playwright Leroy Clark. This play, directed by Steve Bates, is a fresh take on a theme of enduring appeal as boy meets girl on the rocky road to romance. Traffic accidents, a meddling mother, a failing marriage and dream sequences come together to create a warm and quirky romantic comedy.

YARD SALE

QUILT DAY

Saturday, Oct. 4 8:00am – 2:00pm

Saturday, Oct. 4 9:30am – 3:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS - The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. Collectables, housewares, decorations, ladies boutique and many more items you can’t live without. $5.00 a bag for clothing. Hot Dogs and drinks will be available.

NEWBERRY - Bed Turning featuring popular quilts representative of the Dudley era bring your quilts, 11 am-noon. Question & answers are at 1:00 pm. Historical skills demonstrations such as pine needle basket weaving, palm weaving, tatting, spinning, quilting, inkle loom & cornhusk brooms will be 1 pm-3 pm. Also featuring the Levy Co Quilt Museum, quilts for sale, quiltrelated vendors and more. Come learn how to make the perfect quilt!

NEWBERRY FALL MARKET FESTIVAL Saturday, Oct. 4 9:00am - 4:00pm NEWBERRY - South Seaboard Rd. by the railroad tracks. Kids activities, live music and BBQ Cookoff.

PINK PUMPKIN PEDAL OFF Saturday, Oct. 4 8:30am GAINESVILLE - UF Cancer and Genetics Research Complex, corner of Archer Rd. and Gale Lemerand Dr. Bicycle Rides of 22, 40, or 62.5 miles to support treatment-resistant breast cancer research. Register or donate at www.pinkpumpkinpedaloff.org or call 352-273-5718.

Just 10 miles south of historic St. Augustine 6970 A1A SOUTH ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH

SONGWRITING COMPETITION

LUKE BRYAN FARM TOUR

Sunday, Oct. 5 2:00pm FORT WHITE - RUM 138. Songwriting Competition Promotes Santa Fe River Awareness. This event includes original live music at the Santa Fe River Headquarters, located at the Rum 138 business building. Event time 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Singer/songwriters are invited to write and perform their original songs about the Santa Fe River. Prize awards: 1st Place - $300; 2nd Place - $100; 3rd Place - $50. Showtime: 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Visit www.oursantaferiver.org for complete rules or call 386-454-4247.

BEAUTY EVENT

Saturday, Oct. 4 Time TBA ARCHER - Whitehurst Cattle Farm, 9817 County Road, 346. For the sixth consecutive year country superstar Luke Bryan will launch a series of fall concerts this Oct. known as the Farm Tour. A portion of the proceeds are granted for local college scholarships (“Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship”) to students from a farming family within the communities the tour plays. www.lukebryan.com.

Tuesday, Oct. 7 1:00pm – 7:00pm GAINESVILLE - Advanced Hair Removal & Skin Institute, 7550 W. University Ave., Suite C. Drink, Fun and a Totally New You. For more info visit www.hairskininstitute.com or call 352-331-6797.

ALLIGATOR WARRIOR FESTIVAL Friday, Oct. 17 9:00am HIGH SPRINGS - O’Leno State Park, 410 S.E. O’Leno Park Road.

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Experience both a Native American gathering with dancers, musicians, artisans, and traders and a living history event that includes a reenactment of the 11 Sept. 1836 Seminole War Battle of San Felasco Hammock. The entire family will enjoy the annual Alligator Festival which celebrates the early history of Columbia County Florida, before 1859, when Alligator Town was renamed Lake City.

ALACHUA MAIN STREET FESTIVAL

Newberry Cornfield Maze September 26 – October 25 NEWBERRY - Newberry Cornfield Maze at Hodge Farms, 20015 West Newberry Road. Come out and enjoy a mild scare and get in the fall spirit! Tickets are $8 for children and $10 for adults. newberrycornfieldmaze.com.

Sunday, Oct. 19 11:00am – 5:00pm ALACHUA - Downtown. A relaxing afternoon of fun, friends and family. Music, food, and many free child-friendly activities.

POTSLUCK DINNER & SILENT AUCTION Thursday, Oct. 23 6:00pm

Butterflyfest Saturday, Oct. 4 10:00am - 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Florida Museum Of Natural History. A celebration of wings and backyard things! Explore the lives of bats, bees, birds and butterflies at this fall’s ButterflyFest while celebrating wings, wildlife and biodiversity. Enjoy the Butterfly Plant Sale beginning Friday, Oct. 3 through Oct. 5, one of the Florida Museum’s largest plant sales of the year with more than 150 species available. Food and merchandise vendors available. Visit www. flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest for more information.

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GAINESVILLE - Buchholz High School, 5510 NW 27th Ave. Potluck dinner held to promote awareness for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia, a form of dysautonomia (a condition in which the autonomic nervous system malfunctions). Buchholz student Savannah Fissenden has teamed up with with DECA along with dysautonomia international to help raise money for research and awareness. Cost: $15, which includes an event t-shirt, dinner, silent action with local items and a gift basket from Elizabeth Arden New York and many other companies.

VAMPYRA & SCHEHERAZADE October 31st A leggy Vampyra leads us down a campy road to her private ghoulland while an exotic beauty, preferring to keep her head, tells stories for 1001 nights. Both for you on Halloween night – along with a costume ball!

NUTCRACKER Dec 19th-21st The all-time family favorite.

A MID-SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM February 14th Plan on a romantic evening for two. A performance about fantasy and magic followed by a “Be My Valentine” dance.

BALLET 352 March 20th Gorgeous bodies and spectacular dance to music played by University of Florida Symphony Orchestra.

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HIGH SPRINGS - 120 NE 2nd Ave. Madness and Mayhem Haunted House and Graveyard. This year’s theme will be based on an evil residence being offered for sale by a local realtor. In the evening, after the sun goes down, “Open Houses” will be held where “realtors” offer semi-guided tours of the residence to unsuspecting homebuyers. Door $10; Advance $9; Group +30 $8; Ultimate “Scream Pass” $20. Proceeds to benefit: IrishWaterDogs Warrior Program, Our Santa Fe River, Inc., High Springs Historical Society Museum, Plenty of Pitbulls. www.

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FALL FESTIVAL CRAFT & BAKE SALE

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Saturday, Oct. 25 10:00am – 5:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. There will be unique handmade crafted gifts and decorations, homemade foods and delicious baked goods. The Country Store will be back with all the great crafts and gifts made by the Woman’s Club members and their friends. They will be serving BBQ sandwiches and holding chance drawings for many beautiful gift baskets; the winning tickets will be drawn at the Holiday Expo, Nov. 14th and 15th.

FALL FESTIVAL Saturday, Oct. 25 10:00am - 5:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - James Paul Park behind City Hall. Music, food and kids activities including

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Halloween costume contest at 2:00 p.m. www.

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TRICK OR TREAT ON MAIN STREET Friday, Oct. 31 6:00pm – 8:00pm ALACHUA - Main Street. Bring the kids for a safe, fun night Halloween. Free to all.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS 5K RUN/WALK Saturday, Nov. 1 9:00am ALACHUA - San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. 100% of the proceeds go to teaching Home Based Life Saving Skills at Klinik Lasante in Leogane, Haiti. The event is open to people of all ages.

HOLIDAY EXPO & BAKE SALE Nov. 14 – 15 Times Vary HIGH SPRINGS - The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. Friday, Noon to 6:00pm; Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm. Many new and returning vendors will be offering beautiful and unique items to keep for yourself or to give as gifts. The Country Store will be back with all the great crafts and gifts made by the Woman’s Club members and their friends, serving Frito Pies and BBQ sandwiches. The Chance Drawing for the many gift baskets will be held at 3:00pm.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND SANTA VISIT Friday, Dec. 5 6:00pm – 8:00pm ALACHUA - City of Alachua Municipal

Complex, 15100 NW 142nd Terr. & Main Street. Santa and his helpers will be visiting and welcoming children for pictures. Free to all.

TREE LIGHTING AND PARADE Saturday, Dec. 6 2:00pm – 8:00pm JONESVILLE - Town of Tioga. Celebrate the holiday season with Santa, live music, a holiday parade and the Tioga Town Center tree lighting. Admission to this event is free, but limited. Pick up your free admission pass at the Tioga Town Center office between 9am and 6pm.

CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, Dec. 13 2:00pm – 3:00pm ALACHUA - Downtown. Bring the family to Main Street to enjoy Christmas activities and get in the Christmas spirit. Free to all.

Kids Kicking Cancer Benefit Concert Sat, Oct. 25

WINTER HOLIDAY CONCERT Tuesday, Dec. 16 7:00pm - 8:00pm

4:00pm - 9:00pm

JONESVILLE - Town of Tioga. Free annual Winter Holiday Concert featuring the Chorus ensembles of two local elementary schools: Meadowbrook & Kimball Wiles Elementary. s

JONESVILLE - Town of Tioga. Come out for an evening of live music under the beautiful autumn sky. Richi Stano and Shane Moore will perform live from 5-9 pm. Bring the family and relax as you enjoy a free concert benefiting Gainesville’s Kids Kicking Cancer organization. KKC works with local children facing terminal illness, providing them with martial arts skills and relaxation techniques to help them manage their illness.

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2014 Gator Football Aug 30

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Sep 13

Kentucky

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Sep 20

Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

TBA

Oct 4

Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

TBA

Oct 11

LSU

HOME

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Oct 18

Missouri

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Jacksonville, FL

3:30 pm

Nov 8

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LIBRARY SCHEDULE Alachua Branch Library .....................14913 NW 140th St. .............................. 386-462-2592 High Springs Branch Library ...........135 NW 1st Ave........................................ 386-454-2512 Newberry Branch Library .................110 South Seaboard Dr. ..........................352-472-1135 For further information on scheduled events visit www.acld.lib.fl.us All branches are closed: DEC 24, DEC 25, JAN 1, JAN 20. Early closings: DEC 31.

ALACHUA PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN LEVEL UP! TABLETOP GAMERS CLUB Mondays at 4 p.m. (5-11 YEARS) If you’re looking for a group with which to play D and D, Magic: the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! or even Munchkins, look no further! Every Monday afternoon gather at the Library to start up or continue your favorite tabletop games. Bring snacks, hang out, nerd out and have fun. HOMESCHOOLERS AT THE ALACHUA LIBRARY Tuesdays at 1 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) Local homeschool students and parents meet monthly for interactive activities, educational programs and other interesting educational topics. Coordinated by library staff, these events are open to all homeschool students and parents. LEGO CLUB Tuesdays at 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) Meet to create challenging structures.

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DOG GONE GUY! GOOD READING CORNER Wednesdays at 3 p.m. SNUGGLE-UP CENTER (5-11 YEARS) Come read to Guy, a registered therapy dog who needs some relaxation after his hard work. Children of all ages may stop by to read him a good book or tell him a good tail. Guy loves people, books and a good pat on the head. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (1-5 YEARS) Come join us for stories, song and dance.

MAKE IT, TAKE IT CRAZY HAT DAY Monday, Oct. 6, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) Come celebrate Crazy Hat Day with us. We will be wearing wild and crazy hats and we will help you make one to wear on this crazy day! M.A.P ART Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) The Music & Arts Program for Youth educates children in art fundamentals, while developing positive character traits, values and leadership skills.

M.A.P. MUSIC Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) The Music & Arts Program for Youth educates children in music fundamentals, while developing positive character traits, values and leadership skills.

REPTILE AWARENESS DAY Monday, Oct. 20, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) Join us as we learn from experts about different reptiles, encouraging learning about different types of reptiles, their natural environments and ecological challenges.

FANDOM AT ALACHUA Sundays at 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) What is your Fandom? Sherlock, Dr. Who, Avengers, Anime or more. This is the time and place to meet and share.

MAKE IT, TAKE IT HALLOWEEN CRAFTS Monday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) We will be stirring up the library as we concoct some fun Halloween crafts. Some spooky, some silly and lots of fun will be had by all.

MAKE IT, TAKE IT RED, WHITE AND BLUE CRAFTS Monday, Nov. 10, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) Celebrate our veterans by joining us to make some red, white and blue crafts you can display for all to see. M.A.P PUPPETS Saturday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) The Music & Arts Program for Youth uses storytelling, theater and creative writing to transform students into storytellers. Through puppetry, students learn creative writing skills to harness the power of stories to promote social change through meaningful messages. MAKE IT, TAKE IT THANKSGIVING CRAFTS Monday, Nov. 24, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) Gobble up some clever crafts to make your Thanksgiving a colorful day.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS LEVEL UP! TABLETOP GAMERS CLUB Mondays at 4 p.m. (12-18 YEARS) If you’re looking for a

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group to play D and D, Magic: the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! or even Munchkins with, look no further! Every Monday afternoon gather at the Library to start up or continue your favorite tabletop games. Bring snacks, hang out, nerd out and have fun. ZUMBA: THE FUN WAY TO FITNESS Mondays at 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) Zumba mixes body sculpting movement with dance steps mainly derived from Latin music. HOMESCHOOLERS AT THE ALACHUA LIBRARY Tuesdays at 1 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (5-11 YEARS) Local homeschool students and parents meet monthly for interactive activities, educational programs and other interesting educational topics. Coordinated by library staff, these events are open to all homeschool students and parents. DOG GONE GUY! GOOD READING CORNER Wednesdays at 2 p.m. SNUGGLE-UP CENTER (12-18 YEARS) Come read to Guy, a registered therapy dog who needs some

relaxation after his hard work. Children of all ages may stop by to read him a good book or tell him a good tail. Guy loves people, books and a good pat on the head. TEEN MAKERSPACE AT THE ALACHUA LIBRARY Wednesdays at 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) This weekly meeting gives tweens and teens the chance to create projects, learn coding and establish a Minecraft group. ALACHUA CRAFTERNOONS Thursdays at 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A (12-18 YEARS) Crafts in the afternoon at the Alachua Library! Bring your favorite needle craft, hobby or ideas. Share and learn from other crafters in the community. JOHNSON STEPPERS Thursdays at 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) Practice contemporary dance steps to learn the latest moves or to tone muscles. No experience required. Everyone welcome. Come on. Let’s move it, move it! FANDOM AT ALACHUA

Sundays at 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) What is your Fandom? Sherlock, Dr. Who, Avengers, Anime or more. This is the time and place to meet and share. JEWELRY CRAFTERS First Sunday of the Month, 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) This program will explore the basics of jewelry making. Materials will be supplied. MAKE IT, TAKE IT CRAZY HAT DAY Monday, Oct. 6, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (12-18 YEARS) Come celebrate Crazy Hat Day with us. We will be wearing wild and crazy hats and we will help you make one to wear on this crazy day! LOCAL WRITERS WORKSHOP Second Wednesday of the month, 5:30 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) Writers discuss their craft, with occasional presentations by published authors. TEEN ADVISORY GROUP Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A (12-18 YEARS) Alachua Teen leaders meet to

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organize programs and events. MAKE IT, TAKE IT HALLOWEEN CRAFTS Monday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (12-18 YEARS) We will be stirring up the library as we concoct some fun Halloween crafts. Some spooky, some silly and lots of fun will be had by all. WHO DID IT? IT’S A LIBRARY MYSTERY Thurs., Oct. 30, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (12-18 YEARS) Something very valuable is missing in the library and there have been reports of loud screams coming from the stacks. Teens must come help us solve this mystery. MAKE IT, TAKE IT RED, WHITE AND BLUE CRAFTS Mon., Nov. 10, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (5-11 YEARS) Celebrate our veterans by joining us to make some red, white and blue crafts you can display for all to see. MOCKINGJAY RELEASE PARTY Thurs., Nov. 20, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (12-18 YEARS) What do you think will be the best parts of the upcoming Mockingjay

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movie? Come find out what others think and join in some crafts and games. MYCROSCHOOL Oct. 20 & Nov. 17, 1 p.m. LOCATION TBD (12-18) Help obtaining a high school diploma. REPTILE AWARENESS DAY Monday, Oct. 20, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM B (12-18 YEARS) Join us as we learn from experts about different reptiles, encouraging learning about different types of reptiles, their natural environments and ecological challenges. ALACHUA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (12-18 YEARS) Interested in promoting and support library services in the City of Alachua? Join us as we meet to discuss plans for upcoming events such as the National AfricanAmerican Read-In. Everyone is welcome.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS ZUMBA: THE FUN WAY TO FITNESS Mondays at 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) Zumba mixes body sculpting movement with dance steps mainly derived from Latin music. ESOL (ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES) CLASSES Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for adults who want to learn English. Classes focus on all domains of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Open enrollment format. Basic and intermediate levels. Materials provided. For more information contact Theresa Sterling, Literacy Coordinator, at tsterling@aclib.us or 352-334-3929. ESOL (CLASES GRATUITAS DE INGLÉS PARA ADULTOS) Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. (19 AND UP) ESOL (Inglés para Hablantes de otros idiomas) clases para adultos que quieren aprender inglés. Las clases

se centran en todos los dominios de aprendizaje de un idioma: escuchar, hablar, leer y escribir. Formato inscripción abierta. Nivel básico e intermedio. Materiales de apoyo. Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto con Teresa Sterling, alfabetización, Coordinador, tsterling@aclib.us or 352-334-3929. ALACHUA CRAFTERNOONS Thursdays at 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A (19 AND UP) Crafts in the afternoon at the Alachua Library! Bring your favorite needle craft, hobby or ideas. Share and learn from other crafters in the community. JOHNSON STEPPERS Thursdays at 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) Practice contemporary dance steps to learn the latest moves or to tone muscles. No experience required. Everyone welcome. Come on. Let’s move it, move it! POETS AND WRITERS AMONG US Thursdays at 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM A (19 AND UP) Poets and writers meet

to inspire and be inspired LOCAL WRITERS WORKSHOP Second Wendesday of the Month, 5:30 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) Local Writers discuss their craft, with occasional presentations by published authors. JEWELRY CRAFTERS First Sunday of the Month, 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) This program will explore the basics of jewelry making. Materials will be supplied. DISCOVERING VICTOR HUGO, THE POET AND RICK SKINNER, THE TRANSLATOR Thurs., Sept. 18, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) Local artist/writer, Rick Skinner, discusses two of Victor Hugo’s stunning epic poems, and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their creation during Hugo’s 18 year exile on an island in the English Channel. Skinner also discusses his own astonishing saga in translating and publishing excerpts from the poems. TIM DORSEY: THE

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2014 TIGER SHRIMP TANGO TOUR Wednesday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B (19 AND UP) Learn about the Tiger Shrimp Tango, Triggerfish Twist, Riptide UltraGlide and Stingray Shuffle when the Big Bamboo Tim Dorsey Gator a Go-Goes at the Alachua Branch. Even if you are not coming from the Hammerhead Ranch Motel or Cadillac Beach or haven’t sipped on Serge’s combination of Orange Crush, Hurricane Punch and Torpedo Juice, remember to FOLLOW NO ONE and keep an eye out for the Pineapple Grenades, Atomic Lobsters and Nuclear Jellyfish or you might become Florida Roadkill. If none of this makes any sense, come visit with bestselling Florida author Tim Dorsey! It still might not make sense but fun is guaranteed. Tattoos not required – this time! MYCROSCHOOL Oct. 20 & Nov. 17, 1 p.m. LOCATION TBD (12-18) Help obtaining a high school diploma.

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES FAMILY AFTERNOON @ THE MOVIES Third Sunday of the Month at 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM A+B Every third Sunday we offer a special movie for the entire family. LITERARY ELEMENTS BOOK CLUB Second Tuesday of the Month at 12 p.m. MEETING ROOM A Bring your own lunch and let’s discuss some

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interesting books together.

HIGH SPRINGS PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN MARY’S MARVELOUS STORYTIME Tuesdays at 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (Infant to 5 years) Come join us every Tuesday for books, songs, puppets and dancing. BABYTIME! Wednesdays, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (1 AND UNDER) A 20 minute program for pre-walking babies and their caregivers. An introduction to books, songs, finger plays and movement to enhance baby’s development and socialization. AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES First Thursday of the Month at 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Come watch a favorite movie or new release on our big screen. Refreshments will be served compliments of the High Springs Friends of the Library. AFTERSCHOOL FUN Third Thursday of the Month, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Come play Wii Sports, Resort or Mario Kart. While you wait your turn, challenge your friends to board and card games, or try your hand at a puzzle. HALLOWEEN CRAFTS Tues., Oct. 21, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Have a “hauntingly” good time

making spooooky crafts for Halloween! Enjoy eerie music and all things black and orange while you create. Boo! THE FIRST AMERICANS Tues., Nov. 18, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Explore the culture and customs of Native Americans through stories, artifacts, crafts and activities. THANKSGIVING CRAFTS Tues., Nov. 25, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Create turkey-rific crafts to display and enjoy during the season of harvest and thankfulness.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES First Thursday of the Month 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Come watch a favorite movie or new release on our big screen. Refreshments will be served compliments of the High Springs Friends of the Library. CRAFTER’S CIRCLE Wednesdays at 1 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Do you find the time to work on your craft projects at home? Have some fun with the Crafter’s Circle. If you embroider, quilt, knit or enjoy doing any other “nonmessy” craft, this is the group for you. Regular attendance is not mandatory; just bring the craft you’re working on. Share what you know, or learn from someone

else and enjoy chatting with other craft enthusiasts in the community. TEEN BOOK CLUB Third Thursday of the Month, 4:30 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Join the High Springs Teen Book Club as we read and discuss popular Young Adult titles. Check in each month to see what we are currently reading. Snacks provided by the High Springs Friends of the Library. HALLOWEEN HUNT Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m. OUTDOOR PROGRAM AREA (12-18 YEARS) What hides in the bushes and glows in the dark? Find out when you meet us for the Halloween Hunt. There will be food, games, music and prizes prepared by the ghosts and goblins. BALLOON SCULPTURING Sat., Nov. 15, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Balloon sculptor Randy will teach you the techniques to sculpt balloons into fun and amazing shapes - not just animals! HOLIDAY WREATHS Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. OUTDOOR PROGRAM AREA (12-18 YEARS) Make some divine décor from nature. Use your imagination and create a beautiful wreath for your special space. Bring ribbons and bows too add a personal festive touch to your creation. Grape vines galore will be here waiting for you.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION Thursday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) We are looking for teens to compete in building gingerbread houses out of graham crackers, jelly beans, marshmallows, Twizzlers, Cool Whip and other yummy treats. Last years competition was tight! The imagination was unbelievable and not to mention how much fun it is to construct an edible house. There will be a prize for the most original structure. Materials donated by the High Springs Friends of the Library.

PROGRAMSFOR ADULTS LIVING HEALTHY WORKSHOP Mondays starting in October, 10 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) You will learn how to live a healthy life in these 2 1/2 hour interactive workshops, in this 6-week series. These workshops will educate participants about common chronic diseases, prevention strategies and regaining function. Presented by Elder Options. Please register by calling 386454-2515 or online at www.aclib.us. CRAFTER’S CIRCLE Wednesdays at 1 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Do you find the time to work on your craft projects at home? Have some fun with the Crafter’s Circle. If you embroider, quilt, knit or enjoy doing any other “non-

messy” craft, this is the group for you. Regular attendance is not mandatory; just bring the craft you’re working on. Share what you know, or learn from someone else and enjoy chatting with other craft enthusiasts in the community. BOOK CHAT Wednesdays at Noon MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Please join us to discuss books you have read and enjoyed with other readers. Whether you are a mystery, fantasy or fiction reader we want to hear your story. Maybe we will choose your book for the entire book club to read. And bring a bag lunch, so you can munch while you share - your book, not your food. SCRAPPERS Wednesdays, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Need some space or time to work on your scrapbook project? Want to learn a new technique to display your photos? Come share ideas, equipment, or paper with other scrapbook or paper craft enthusiasts. Beginners welcome! ESOL Thursdays, 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) ESOL (Inglés para Hablantes de otros idiomas) clases para adultos que quieren aprender inglés. Las clases se centran en todos los dominios de aprendizaje de un idioma: escuchar, hablar, leer y escribir. Formato inscripción abierta. Nivel básico e

intermedio. Materiales de apoyo. Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto con Theresa Sterling, alfabetización, Coordinador, tsterling@aclib.us or 352-334-3929. COMPUTER BASICS ONE ON ONE Weekly, 10 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) You will have the opportunity to spend up to one hour with a library staff member that will assist you with basic computer questions. Come get help learning word processing, Internet searching, email, or the library catalog and website. Please register by calling 386454-2515 or online at www.aclib.us.

register by calling the library at 386454-2515 or online at www.aclib.us. INSPIRATIONAL AUTHORS Thurs., Nov. 13, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Local authors Linda Walker and James Frederick Ivey along with J.G. Jakes from South Georgia will each talk about the books they have written and what aspired them to write. They all have their own personal stories to tell. Please come out to meet them and to hear their story. Ms. Walker’s latest book is “Whispering Pines”, Mr. Ivey’s book is entitled “The Physics and Philosophy of the Bible”, and J.G. Jakes’ latest book, a Christian fiction title, is “The River’s Edge”. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of the High Springs Friends of the Library.

A MATTER OF BALANCE Monday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) A free 8-week class than can help reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falling. Presented by Elder Options. Please register by calling the library at 386454-2515 or online at www.aclib.us.

BALLOON SCULPTURING Saturday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Balloon sculptor Randy will teach you the techniques to sculpt balloons into fun and amazing shapes - not just animals!

LIVING HEALTHY WITH DIABETES Friday, Sept. 19, 1 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Join this free 6-week Diabetes Self Management Workshop. In these 6 classes you’ll learn to set your own goals and make a step-bystep plan to improve your health and your life. Presented by Elder Options. Please

HOLIDAY WREATHS Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. OUTDOOR PROGRAM AREA (19 AND UP) Make some divine décor from nature. Use your imagination and create a beautiful wreath for your special space. Bring ribbons and bows to add a personal festive touch to your creation. Grape vines galore will be here waiting for you.

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PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES UF HEALTHSTREET Third Monday of the Month, 11 a.m. OUTDOOR PROGRAM AREA Need your blood pressure checked? Medication counseling? Referrals for medical care services? HIV education? All services are FREE to the community! Stop by the HealthStreet table in front of the library. For more information check out the HealthStreet website http:// epidemiology.phhp. ufl.edu/healthstreet/. FOLK IN THE SPRINGS Sun., Sept. 21, 4 p.m. OUTDOOR PROGRAM AREA - Come on out to the library for the High Springs “Music in the Park” concert series. This month the music is going places! Each hour from 128pm a new entertainer will be performing at a different locale around town. We will have Don Austin in Martha’s Garden behind the library from 4-5pm. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and something cool to drink. Sponsored by the City of High Springs and the High Springs Chamber of Commerce. HARPIST BARBARA KERKHOFF Sunday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. MEETING ROOM Enjoy a Sunday afternoon with harpist BARBARA KERKHOFF. She studied harp with Jeanne Chalifoux, a harpist with the National Symphony. Barb has been

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performing as a freelance harpist since 1985. She plays classical, traditional and popular music.

NEWBERRY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Wednesdays at 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (1-5 YEARS) Stories, songs, and activities for the preschool set. MIDWEEK MOVIE MADNESS SUMMER EDITION Wednesdays at 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Relax and join us on Wednesday afternoons for a midweek movie on the big screen. Watch some of the latest movies and the best of some of the older ones. CRAFTERNOON Tuesdays at 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Let’s get creative and have fun, it’s Tuesday Crafternoon at the Library! Each week we’ll create a clever new craft to take home. FUNNY, SCARY HALLOWEEN STORYTELLING Tues., Oct. 28, 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Enjoy a special Halloween treat. Funny, scary stories will be told by a master storyteller. HAPPY HALLOWEEN AT THE LIBRARY Friday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (5-11 YEARS) Get your trick or treating started here! A safe place to show off your costume if you dare or

show us a trick... and we’ll make sure to give you a sweet treat as you begin your Halloween adventures for the evening.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS MIDWEEK MOVIE MADNESS Wednesdays at 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Relax and join us on Wednesday afternoons for a midweek movie on the big screen. Watch some of the latest movies and the best of some of the older ones. NEWBERRY TEEN BOOK CLUB Third Thursday of the Month at 4 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Read and discuss the latest and most popular books in this book club just for teens! HAPPY HALLOWEEN AT THE LIBRARY Friday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) Get your trick or treating started here! A safe place to show off your costume if you dare or show us a trick... and we’ll make sure to give you a sweet treat as you begin your Halloween adventures for the evening. MYCRO SCHOOL Monday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) High school dropouts come learn about a high school re-entry program available in Gainesville. Professor Gerald Zagaiski will be available to consult about the benefits of the MYcro School public charter high

school which can help you earn a high school diploma, not a GED. The program is flexible and designed for self-paced learning. For more info: call 352-256-3066

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS NEWBERRY WALKING CLUB Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. (19 AND UP) Tired of walking alone? You can build a network of walking friends. A nice 30 to 45 minute walk five days a week can boost brain power, helps control weight, increase cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. Get started walking with the Newberry Walking Club. NEWBERRY NEEDLECRAFTERS Tuesdays at 1:05 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Have a needlecraft that you love, but have a hard time finding time to actually work on your projects? Have some fun with this crafting group which meets at the library Tuesday afternoons at 1:00 pm. If you crochet, knit, embroider, needlepoint, quilt, or enjoy doing any other “non-messy” craft, this is the group for you. Join us any Tuesday. Regular attendance is not mandatory; everyone is welcome whenever you can attend. There’s no registration — just bring the craft you’re working on. Share what you know, or learn from someone else in the community and enjoy the company of other likeminded crafters.

TEMPTING READS BOOK CLUB Fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) We will have book club discussions (with refreshments) featuring popular and recently published books including books recommended by participants. Open to the public. BOOK REVIEW/BIBLE STUDY Thursdays, 10:15 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Join Dr. Gary Brady of the United Methodist Church in Newberry for a review of the book “Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World” by Craig Groeschel. COMPUTERS FOR BEGINNERS Second Monday of the Month, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Have you, a friend, or loved been wanting to get an email account, but have been afraid because someone said you had to touch a mouse?! Don’t be afraid, there’s still time to come find out what a computer

mouse really is and the other important parts of a computer. MORE THAN BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS Third Monday of the Month, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) You’ve finally mastered the basics of computing, like using the mouse, moving the scroll bar and clicking on links to the internet. Now come learn more about setting up an email account, attaching files or photos, and searching the internet. QUIT SMOKING NOW! Thursday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Suwannee River Area Health Education Center presents a program designed to help you quit tobacco use. AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) Have you been curious about your roots? Come learn how to navigate census, military, and other national records to find your African-American

ancestors. SYLVIA ASHWELL, our genealogy librarian will go over specific computer websites to guide you on your search. MYCRO SCHOOL Monday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (12-18 YEARS) High school dropouts come learn about a high school re-entry program available in Gainesville. Professor Gerald Zagaiski will be available to consult about the benefits of the MYcro School public charter high school which can help you earn a high school diploma, not a GED. The program is flexible and designed for self-paced learning. For more info: call 352-256-3066 DISCOVERING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY Saturday, Oct. 18, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) SYLVIA ASHWELL, our local genealogy librarian, will talk about what genealogical resources the library and the Matheson Museum have to offer for genealogists from novice to expert.

Y R NE HE OR OTERS T & AT E TT N- ANC MA O N IST RT S U AS CO

SCORE WORKSHOP: SIMPLE STEPS FOR STARTING YOUR BUSINESS Monday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m. MEETING ROOM (19 AND UP) This is the first session in a series of 5 workshops designed to help entrepreneurs decide if they have the right stuff to move forward with their business ideas.

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES YOGA FOR BEGINNERS Fridays, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM Join us for an hour of simple stretches and relaxation exercises. DIGITAL DOWNLOADS: HANDS-ON HANDHELD Monday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. MEETING ROOM Going mobile? Our eBranch staff will be here to present an introduction to digital downloads and will provide one-onone assistance with mobile, handheld devices. Bring your own device, if you like, and learn more about eBooks and more. s

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WORSHIP CENTERS If we have left out a church or have incomplete / incorrect information, please let us know! Send your corrections by faxing 352-373-9178 or emailing editor@towerpublications.com. We welcome your contributions and suggestions.

HIGH SPRINGS ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCH 386-454-3574 10 S.E. MLK Drive Pastor James McDaniel ANDERSON MEMORIAL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 386-454-3433 935 SE Lincoln Ave. BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-1996 County Road 778 Pastor Clarence Desue CHRIST ANGLICAN FELLOWSHIP 386-454-1845 323 SW CR 778 Pastor Michael LaCagnina CHRISTIAN FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER 386-454-2367 220 NE 1ST Ave. Dr. Lloyd S. Williams CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-454-2930 520 NE Santa Fe Blvd. CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 386-454-1015 US Hwy 27 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 386-454-4282 24455 NW 174th Ave. Pres. Keith Brown HIGH SPRINGS CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-1757 210 NW 182 Ave. Pastor Terry W. Hull

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FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 386-454-1700 16916 NW U.S. Hwy. 441 Pastor Jeff Powell FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-1505 20112 North US Hwy. 441 Pastor Derek Lambert FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 386-454-1037 205 North Main Street Pastor Glen A. Busby FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of HIGH SPRINGS 386-454-1255 17405 NW US Hwy 441 Pastor Benton Mangueira

MT CARMEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-454-4568 1230 NW 1st Ave. Pastor Byran Williams MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH 14105 NW 298th Street 386-454-2161 Pastor Dan Howard MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3447 948 SE Railroad Ave. THE NORTH EAST CHURCH OF CHRIST 4330 NE County Road 340 nechurchofchrist.net

GRACE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 210 Santa Fe Blvd. Pastor Preston Ponce

SAINT MADELEINE CATHOLIC CHURCH 386-454-2358 17155 NW Highway 441

HOLY TEMPLE CHURCH WITH GOD 386-454-0313 615 SE ML King Drive

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 386-454-2360 230 NW 1st Avenue Pastor Mark Swaisgood

IMPACT FAMILY CHURCH 386-454-1563 16710 NW US 441 Pastors Edwin & Angela Anderson JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES 386-454-3509 330 SE 7th Ave. MIRACLE TEMPLE CHURCH 386-454-4298 605 SE 1st Place THE MISSION CHURCH OF HIGH SPRINGS Meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Building 230 NW 1st Ave. 352-870-0247 Pastor Keith Helsel

SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-4978 Shiloh Church Rd. Pastor Earl Tuten SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-454-3126 1505 NW Main St. SPRING RIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-3600 5529 NE 52nd Place Pastor Todd L Wymer SPRINGRIDGE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD 386-454-4400 420 Spring Ave.

THE SUMMIT 352-575-0786 610 NE Santa Fe Blvd Pastor Rick Lawrence thesummitchurch.info ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 386-454-9812 1st Ave. (next to city hall) Rev. Lance Horne SPRING HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Located at High Springs exit 79 off I-75 North of Gainesville (on Old Bellamy Rd.) Pastor James Richardson VISION TABERNACLE 352-339-4942 220 N.E. 1st Avenue Pastor Lawrence R. Haley

ALACHUA ALACHUA CHURCH OF CHRIST 386-462-3326 14505 NW 145th Avenue Minister Doug Frazier ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-497-3121 Jordan Road (Ft. White) BAHA’I FAITH 352-870-3097 Turkey Creek CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 13920 NW Hwy 4141 386-462-2966 Pastor Marty D. Basinger calvarybaptistgainesville.org CHRIST CENTRAL ALACHUA 386-418-8185 14906 Main St. www.ccalachua.com CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 386-462-2549 13220 NW 150th Ave.

CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST, INC. 386-462-4811 NW 158th Ave. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1337 14005 NW 146th Avenue Pastor Doug Felton FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-2443 14805 NW 140th St. Pastor Lamar Albritton FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-1549 14623 NW 140th St. Rev. Virginia McDaniel FOREST GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3921 22575 NW 94 Avenue GREATER NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-4617 15205 NW 278th Ave. HAGUE BAPTIST CHURCH 6725 NW 126th Ave Gainesville, Fl 32653 Pastor Sam Brown HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE 386-462-2017 17306 NW 112th Blvd. LEGACY BAPTIST CHURCH legacybaptistchurch.org 13719 NW 146th St. Pastor Eric Redmond LIVING COVENANT CHURCH 386-462-7375 Pastor Troy Rumore NEW OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3390 County Road 1491 Pastor Terry Elixson, Jr. NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD AND CHRIST 386-462-4891 1310 NW 155 Place Pastor R. L. Cooper

NORTH PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-3317 25330 NW CR 239 Pastor Steve Hutcheson NEW SAINT MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave. PARADISE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ALACHUA 386-462-0162 14889 MLK Blvd. Pastor Rev. James D. Johnson, Sr. SANTA FE BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7541 7505 NW CR 236 Pastor Scott Brown MT NEBO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 386-418-1038 9975 NW 143rd St. Pastor Ricardo George Jr. NEW SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2095 18610 NW CR 237 NEW ST MARY BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-7129 13800 NW 158th Ave. OLD SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST 386-462-4894 16810 NW CR 239 RIVER OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 352-870-7288 14200 NW 148th Place Pastor Greg Evans ST LUKE AME CHURCH 386-462-2732 US Highway 441 S. ST MATHEWS BAPTIST CHURCH 386-462-2205 15712 NW 140 Street Pastor Isaac Miles TEMPLE OF THE UNIVERSE 386-462-7279 15808 NW 90 Street www.tou.org

WESTSIDE CHURCH

MT ZURA FULL GOSPEL

OF GOD IN CHRIST

BAPTIST CHURCH

386-418-0649

352-472-4056

15535 NW 141st St.

225 NW 2nd Ave. Pastor Natron Curtis

NEWBERRY

NEW ST PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH

ABIDING SAVIOR

352-472-3836

LUTHERAN CHURCH

215 NW 8TH Ave.

352-331-4409

Pastor Charles Welch

9700 West Newberry Rd.

NEWBERRY

BETHEL AFRICAN

CHURCH OF CHRIST

METHODIST EPISCOPAL

352-472-4961

CHURCH

24045 W. Newberry Rd.

352-474-6215

Minister Batsell Spivy

23530 NW 3rd Ave. Pastor Theodora Black

NEWBERRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

BRONSON ROAD CHURCH

352-472-4005

Located on 337 Between

24845 W. Newberry Rd.

Newberry and Bronson

Dr. Gary Brady, Pastor

On the County Line

DESTINY

352 486-2898

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Pastor Andy Cook

352-472-3284

CHURCH OF GOD BY FAITH 352-472-2739

420 SW 250th Street Pastor Rocky McKinley OAK DALE

610 NW 2nd St.

BAPTIST CHURCH

Pastor: Jesse Hampton

352-472-2992

THE CHURCH AT

Highway 26 and 241 S.

STEEPLECHASE

PLEASANT PLAIN

352-472-6232

UNITED METHODIST

Meeting at Sun Country

CHURCH

Sports Center

352-472-1863

333 SW 140th Terrace

1910 NW 166th St.

(Jonesville)

Pastor Theo Jackson

Pastor Buddy Hurlston FIRST BAPTIST

ST JOSEPH’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CHURCH OF NEWBERRY

352-472-2951

352-472-2351

16921 W. Newberry Rd.

25520 W. Newberry Rd.

Pastor Richard Pelkey

Rev. Jack Andrews

TURNING POINT OF

JONESVILLE

NEWBERRY, INC

BAPTIST CHURCH

5577 NW 290 Street

352-472-3835

352-472-7770

17722 SW 15th Ave.

Pastor Henry M. Rodgers

Pastor Corey Cheramie

UNION

CHRISTIAN LIFE

BAPTIST CHURCH

FELLOWSHIP

352-472-3845

352-472-5433

6259 SE 75TH Ave

Pastor Gary Bracewell

Pastor Travis Moody

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Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pre-Planning (5 weekdays) Monday, August 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .First Day for Students Monday, September 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday - Labor Day Tuesday, September 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Send Interim Reports Home Friday, October 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday – UF Homecoming Tuesday, October 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of First Nine Weeks Friday, October 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pupil Holiday / Teacher Workday Tuesday, November 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Send Report Cards Home Tuesday, November 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Holiday – Veterans Day * Monday, November 24 -Wednesday, November 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pupil/Teacher Holidays Thursday November 27 – Friday November 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thanksgiving Holidays Friday, December 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Send Interim Reports Home Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter Holidays (10 weekdays) Monday, January 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classes Resume Thursday, January 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of First Semester Friday, January 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pupil Holiday / Teacher Workday Monday, January 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Holiday - ML King Day Tuesday, January 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Begin Second Semester Thursday, January 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Send Report Cards Home Monday, February 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday – Presidents’ Day Wednesday, February 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Send Interim Reports Home Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spring Holidays (5 weekdays) Tuesday, March 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .End of Third Nine Weeks * Monday, April 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pupil Holiday / Teacher Workday Thursday, April 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Send Report Cards Home Thursday, May 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Send Interim Reports Home Monday, May 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday - Memorial Day Thursday, June 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Last Day for Students Friday, June 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post-Planning / Pre-Planning for Summer Sch. Monday, June 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post-Planning for Teachers * THESE DAYS MAY BE USED TO MAKE UP DAYS CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANES OR OTHER EMERGENCIES. FOR THE 2014-15 CALENDAR, THEY WILL BE USED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:

(1) November 24

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(2) November 25

(3) April 6

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Williston Animal Group MAY 2014 WINNER – 977 VOTES

Nelson wasn’t born with a pedigree. His breed was Big Brindle Sweetheart, otherwise known as a mutt. e came to the Williston Animal Group in search of a forever home, but a month went by and no one wanted Nelson. Another month passed and Nelson was still waiting for his family. Lap dogs and teacup dogs went home, but no one wanted this big boy. But Nelson wasn’t alone. The volunteers at the Williston Animal Group made sure that Nelson at least had a temporary place to stay with food, shelter and love. And more than a year after he arrived, the Group found Nelson the perfect home. He now lives in Toronto with his new owner and spends weekends in the country. Instead of sleeping on the streets, Nelson goes running every night with someone who loves him. Susan Benson, executive director of the Williston Animal Group, said stories like these stick out in her mind and remind her of the important work her group is doing. Like so many dogs that come through the shelters, Nelson needed a special person to adopt him. And he needed a special rescue group who wouldn’t give up on him. The Williston Animal Group won the Sunstate Credit Union and Tower Publications May charity of the month contest with 977 votes. Benson said the Williston Animal Group is a 501c3

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non-profit dedicated to saving dogs from the city animal shelter. Founded in 2005, its mission is to rescue dogs in Williston, Levy County and the surrounding area and find them loving homes. They operate on a five-acre facility in Williston, and their plans for the future include a special kennel area just for puppies. Benson said she’d also like to find ways to network with other areas and rescues to save even more lives. Each year they hold a large fundraising party in March called “Party for the Pups.” Benson said their supporters include benefactors in the equine world as well as feed stores and the Veterinary Community Outreach Program at the University of Florida. “We could not do what we do without their support and veterinary care,” Benson said in an email interview. The Williston Animal Group has saved more than 250 dogs in the past year. The group helps people in the community care for their dogs when they have financial or medical problems, and they are always in search of volunteers. The group has helped hundreds of dogs find permanent loving homes over the past year. “I like to think that we have helped quite a few people along the way as well,” she said. s Learn more at www.facebook.com/WagWillistonAnimalGroup.

TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

www.facebook.com/SunStateFCU and click on “Charity of the Month”.

We recently ran a Facebook contest asking SunState Federal Credit Union members to tell us their favorite part about being a member. Here are some of their responses… IN ORDER TO PROTECT MEMBER IDENTITIES, THE NAMES AND PHOTOS SHOWN HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

Jessica Hall

Melissa Huxton

August 23 Gainesville, FL •

Septmber 1 High Springs, FL

•

Great customer service! Everyone is always pleasant and smiling! Love the Nickel Back program.

•

Excellent customer service, no charges for checking accounts, no minimum balance, free checks – they exist to serve people like me and it shows!

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Tara Torres

Jennifer McCormick

August 11 Gainesville, FL •

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July 14 Jonesville, FL •

•

Mobile banking is AWESOME.

The Nickel-Back program is totally awesome!

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Chris Pennybrook

Alison Tridell

August 19 Alachua, FL •

October 6 Newberry, FL •

•

Getting a nickel back every time I use my credit card. And the bill pay system is super easy. Love it!

Efficient, prompt & friendly service by EVERY staff member. A NO HASSLE credit union.

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Toni Smith Brandon Christianson August 23 Gainesville, FL •

September 10 Gainesville, FL •

•

The customer service is great as well as their app on smartphones.

I have been with this bank 20+ years and would never bank anywhere else.

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SunState Federal Credit Union is committed to the financial well-being of our members. Isn’t it time you brought your money home to SunState Federal Credit Union?

Proudly serving our members and our community since 1957

352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.org www.VisitOurTowns.com Fall 2014

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Dance Marathon at UF JUNE 2014 WINNER – 749 VOTES

Plenty of college students have a good time dancing the night away, but students at the University of Florida do it for the kids in a Dance Marathon. ance Marathon at the University of Florida won the SunState Federal Credit Union’s June charity of the month contest with 749 votes on Facebook. This year is the 21st anniversary for DM at UF, and the group is looking for ways to involve the entire Gainesville community in their fundraising efforts. DM at UF works to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and the main way the group does this is through its annual dance-a-thon at the O’Connell Center on the UF campus. More than 800 students fight fatigue and press on through the wee hours of the night during this 26.2-hour dance marathon. The long hours symbolize the tiring obstacles children with serious diseases or illnesses face. Throughout the event there are themes each hour and line dancing songs for which the participants can learn choreography. The line dance serves to boost morale as the dancers start to feel the fatigue and want to sit down. They also have entertainment, such as local performers and artists throughout the night. And hospitality sponsors donate food and refreshments for dancers to enjoy. They even play games before it gets late, so that kids can participate as well, said Melissa Dukes, public relations overall for DM 2015. The idea

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is to get the entire community involved in the fundraiser and to have something for everyone. Dukes got involved with DM two years ago, and last year she applied to be a captain for the public relations team. The DM volunteers are split up into teams, each with a captain and a specific task. The teams come up with a vision for that year that will serve to motivate participants. The participants work all year to fundraise and reach out to the community. Last year, DM at UF raised $1,528,330.16, and that money went to help children in need. According to the DM website, the program has raised more than $8 million dollars in the 20 years that it has been at UF, making it the most successful student-run philanthropy in the Southeastern United States. “We always say ‘FTK’ – it’s For The Kids,” Dukes said. “It’s the heart of our organization. It’s what we do.” She said last year, a portion of the funds went toward the expansion of the NICU at the UF hospital. “That’s what keeps us going… seeing miracles happen for these kids,” Dukes said. s For more information visit floridadm.org.

TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

www.facebook.com/SunStateFCU and click on “Charity of the Month”.

When we say “Your Team” We mean it!

When you join the SunState Federal Credit Union team, you become more than just a player, you become an owner… and a member of the SunState family. That’s right, every member of SunState Federal Credit Union is also an owner of the institution… and is treated as such! SunState is committed to the financial well-being of the membership; that, and state-of-the-art electronic account access, is the SunState difference. SunState Federal Credit Union - dedicated to you, in everything we do.

Proudly serving our members and our community since 1957

352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.org www.VisitOurTowns.com Fall 2014

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CHARITY OF THE MONTH

UF Health Pediatric Hearing Loss Institute JULY 2014 WINNER – 2,264 VOTES

When Danielle Austin’s son Abbott was diagnosed, she didn’t know where to turn. bbott had bilateral profound hearing loss, which means Abbott couldn’t hear. “We were lost,” Danielle said. Their family had no history of hearing loss, and the only people she knew with hearing aides were older people. She scoured the Internet looking for answers and support, but what she found were just bits and pieces of information, much of which was outdated. “There were little pieces of the puzzles everywhere, but I had to piece them together,” Danielle said. She saw that many people chose sign language over cochlear implants, so when they made the choice to use implants she fell into an even smaller group. She advocated for her son and at just over 5 months of age he became the youngest child in the state of Florida to receive a cochlear implant. He needed therapy, but the resources for pediatric hearing loss in Tallahassee were few and far between. They decided to seek help in other parts of the state, and they found it in speech pathologist Brittany Lane. Once a week they drove to Gainesville for Abbott’s therapy with Brittany. Then they went once every other week. Abbott is now 4 years old, and with Brittany’s help he now tests on the same level as his hearing peers. “If you didn’t see the implants, you’d never know that he was deaf,” Danielle said. Abbott’s mother feels very fortunate that they got implants for him so early, and the governor has since appointed her to councils to help with infant hearing loss. She said she talks to parents all the time who are lost, and even if they do have Internet access to information they are just frozen by the diagnosis. Brittany and Danielle agree that the amount of support and education about pediatric hearing loss is lacking in North Central Florida. “Parents are the best advocates for their children,”

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Danielle said. “They need to be as educated as possible.” In August, the UF Chapter of Delta Zeta will offer a conference at the Emerson Alumni Hall on pediatric hearing loss through the department of speech language and hearing sciences in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. With 2,264 votes on Facebook, Delta Zeta’s efforts for pediatric hearing loss were awarded the SunState Federal Credit Union charity of the month. The conference’s target audience includes professionals such as audiologists and speech language pathologists, as well as parents, educators and caregivers for children with hearing loss. Their goal is to provide education on auditory training, speech therapy, education placement and social skills through six scheduled speakers. Extra funds raised through the conference will go toward a fund to help provide therapy for children with hearing loss. Danielle said any time professionals and parents can get together in a forum like this it is invaluable to education and awareness. She said she would have loved to have had access to something like this when Abbott was born, and she’s very excited about the awareness it will spread. s

TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

www.facebook.com/SunStateFCU and click on “Charity of the Month”.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as easy as click... click... click!

With SunState Federal Credit Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free online bill pay, taking care of your monthly bills has never been easier. With easy-to-use features and convenient access to your account, you can send one time or recurring payments to companies or individuals as easy as click, click, click! SunState is committed to the financial well-being of our members; that, and state-of-the-art electronic account access, is the SunState difference. Dedicated to you, in everything we do, even one click at a time.

Proudly serving our members and our community since 1957

352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.org www.VisitOurTowns.com Fall 2014

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PHOTO COURTESY WIKICOMMONS

The gardens at the Powerscourt Estate (top) are regarded as being amongst the best in the world. The Cliffs of Moher are one of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most visited natural attractions. Approximately one million visitors come to County Clare in western Ireland to see the magical ďŹ ve-mile stretch of cliffs. At their highest point, the cliffs measure 702 feet.

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>> CHARMED, I’M SURE

Ireland

Magic STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BEHRENS

f you’ve ever started a vacation with a flat tire, don’t worry. You might be about to have the adventure of a lifetime. After finishing a studying abroad program in Paris and London with the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, I met my mother in Dublin for a mother/daughter trip around Ireland. Our first night was spent relaxing in Wicklow County at the marvelous Powerscourt hotel in Enniskerry. A friend of mine stayed with us that night, as her mother was not arriving to Ireland until the next morning. Little did we know that her mother would be unable to rent a car because of an expired driver’s license. Then, on our way back to the airport to trade in our car and pick up my friend’s mother, we had a flat tire. We understood this to be a sign that we should give up — renting a car was not in our best interest. I convinced the moms that we could rely on public transportation to get around the country. Needless to say, it is not completely necessary to rent a car if you visit Ireland. There are plenty of other public transit options that are cheaper and just as easy to use. And so began our adventures in Ireland. Because of the aforementioned car troubles, we ended up staying an extra night at the Powerscourt hotel. It is a must-see for anyone traveling to Ireland. Its location just south of Dublin makes it an easy getaway outside of the city. The hotel itself is

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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Ireland is known for its narrow, charming streets and natural beauty. Visitors can wander its enthralling cities and ﬁnd something unique on every corner. The Blarney Castle (bottom right) is one of Ireland’s largest tourist attractions. Built almost 600 years ago, visitors come to kiss the Blarney Stone to receive the “gift of gab,” or the ability to speak eloquently.

modeled after the adjacent Powerscourt House, which was designed in 1730 around a medieval castle that was already established on the land there. The 1st Viscount Powerscourt ordered the house’s construction so that he could assert his position as an important societal figure in the country. Centuries later, the Powerscourt House is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland. The Powerscourt hotel’s interior is warm and inviting; plush couches and dark wood accents greet you upon your arrival through the massive front doors. For those that love to unwind, it is home to a world-class spa and pool featuring Swarovski crystals. One of my favorite aspects of the hotel was the food. Both mornings we enjoyed a splendid buffet of Irish delicacies and bold coffee amongst the beautiful backdrop of the lush Sugarloaf Mountain. Never before have I had breakfast with such a breathtaking view. To top things off, the gardens adjacent to the hotel are some of the best in the world. There are multiple, unique sections to them and it’s worth spending half a day viewing them; you’ll return home with beautiful pictures to show off. This is a great

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May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields and, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. – IR IRIS ISH H BL BLES ESSI ES SING SI NG

spot to spend an anniversary. We left the next day for Galway and had a surprisingly difficult time purchasing train tickets because we couldn’t find a kiosk that would dispense the ones we needed. We eventually asked a police officer who sent us the right way. Since we had six heavy suitcases, boarding the train was a mess, but after dragging our luggage through the narrow aisles, we met two wonderful people, locals of Galway, who advised us where to eat, what to see and, most importantly, where the best pubs in Galway were to be found. Upon our arrival, we spent time in the city center enjoying local fish and a few drinks with the locals. When planning

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a trip to Galway, pack light and leave plenty of time at night to explore the charming city center. The next morning was our tour to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. We were lucky enough to have a sunny day and I was grateful that I could see out of the bus windows. For those traveling near Galway, definitely use the Galway Tour Company to see the beautiful countryside. It may seem touristy to book such things, but the company conveniently picks you up from wherever you are staying in Galway. You also don’t have to worry about driving through narrow country roads and you get to enjoy the Irish humor of the bus driver while relaxing and staring at the countryside all

day. I consider this tour to be one of the most exciting things we did in Ireland. The cliffs were spectacular and stunning. Additionally, we saw many fishing villages, centuries-old churches and many other landscapes that we would have missed had we used a rental car. After our tour to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, my mother and I left for Limerick. This night was originally planned as a stop to split up our rental-car drive from Galway to Killarney. Since we still had the hotel reservation, we spent our night in Limerick enjoying Irish coffee and a relaxing room. We woke early the next morning to depart for Killarney, the town I had been awaiting the most.

We stayed at the Dromhall hotel in Killarney for two nights. The hotel had an antique, charming feel and was conveniently located only 10 minutes from the main Killarney restaurants and pubs. We ate at the Flesk Restaurant on our first night and I had Chicken Cordon Bleu, which was the best meal of the entire five weeks I was in Europe. After dinner, we took advantage of the shuttle our accommodation provided and enjoyed the fantastic Celtic Steps show. The talent of the singers, musicians and dancers mesmerized me. The host was extremely friendly and truly made the audience feel at home by using multiple languages that were represented

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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The Dunguaire Castle is located on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay. The Hynes clan built the castle in 1520. According to legend, if a person stands at the front gate and asks a question, he or she will have the answer to it by the end of the day.

amongst us. It was incredible to see world champions perform traditional Irish dances and I was sad when the finale happened. The next day we took a tour to the Ring of Kerry. Because I had researched attractions in Ireland months beforehand, I was most excited for this day. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to have another beautiful day for the tour, but it made it more genuine as it rains in Ireland all the time. During the tour, I truly felt like I had experienced Ireland in its purest form. The country’s mountains and scenery are unlike any other. As we drove through many narrow roads, it honestly felt like a leprechaun would jump out at us at any moment. The only way I can describe that day is that it was magical; the forests, shrubbery and the locals combined with the weather made me feel like I had gone back in time and was seeing the country through the eyes of someone who lived in Ireland centuries ago. Unfortunately, my mother became ill in Killarney, but the staff at the Dromhall went out of their way to make her feel better. They brought her hot tea and a light breakfast the morning we were to leave and graciously let us check out beyond the normal time. Because she wasn’t feeling well, it took us a while to gather our belongings and call a cab to take us to the train station. However, the cab was taking longer than

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expected and I started to worry that we might miss the bus to Cork, our next destination. The Dromhall’s manager knew we did not have much time and asked one of the staff members to take us in the hotel’s car. This was completely unexpected, yet one of the nicest gestures we experienced in Ireland. We caught our bus on time thanks to the helpfulness and quick thinking of the Dromhall staff. While we only stayed in Cork one night, we were able to see a lot of the surrounding areas the next day. Upon arrival, we found a cab driver that suggested he take all of us on a private tour the next day to see the Blarney Castle, Cobh, and Kinsale. Hiring a private driver is astronomically expensive, but since it was going to be a Sunday, his day off, he gave us a bargain that allowed us to afford this luxury. Additionally, we had never even heard of Cobh or Kinsale and wouldn’t have experienced them if we had picked a different cab at the bus station. This was another instance of being in the right place at the right time during our Irish adventures. While the Blarney Stone is one of Ireland’s largest tourist attractions, I honestly did not pay much attention to the folklore surrounding the stone and would advise that your time could be better spent elsewhere throughout Ireland. Cobh is a small, harbor town from which millions

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Cheers! Irelanders consume an average of 131.1 liters of beer per year! The country is second in per-capita-consumption after the Czech Republic. Dublin’s pub ratio is 1:100 people. Ireland’s national symbol is the harp. It is the only country to have a musical instrument as its symbol.

of Irish immigrated to the United States. The town was quite sleepy, since it was Sunday, but had a lovely historical atmosphere. It draws many tourists that could be seen walking along the rocky walls and listening to the ocean’s waves beating against the edge of the town. Likewise, Kinsale combined Irish charm with a seacoast feel. Known to have some of the best seafood and chefs in all of Europe, Kinsale is regarded as the gourmet capital of Ireland. Although it is considered an expensive area, Kinsale must not be passed up if you love the ocean and seafood. Our final stop in Ireland was back in Dublin where we spent our last three nights before flying home. Out of all the places we visited in Ireland, Dublin was the most metropolitan and reminded me of other cities that I have been to. However, Dublin is much smaller and easier to navigate. It is not nearly as overwhelming as New York or London and was planned very well upon its founding. The bridges crossing the River Liffey easily transported me from the hotel straight into the touristy areas of Dublin. For example, I was right across the river from Trinity College, one of Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious universities, home to the famous Book of Kells, and the Temple Bar area that attracts

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tourists with its pubs and history. Live music pours through the doors and windows of hundreds of pubs that can be found on just about every street and corner in the city. As much as I wanted to linger and enjoy a cider in each pub, I had to resist the temptation in order to see as much as possible! Dublin also has some marvelous churches, such as Christchurch and St. Patrick’s Cathedral; it’s worth attending a service and marveling in the architecture, tradition and beauty of them. Even if you don’t enjoy the taste of Guinness, the Guinness Storehouse is a sight to see. Its seven floors tell the history of the famous, dark brew and ends with a handcrafted pint at the top of the facility with a view of all of Dublin. Although Dublin is much different than Ireland’s countryside, the locals are just as friendly and accommodating and I was sad to leave the lively city behind. I shed a few tears my last night in Dublin. I had just spent five weeks abroad and ending my journey with over a week of Irish hospitality was such a blessing. I learned that even when a vacation doesn’t go according to plan, it could still result in unforeseen experiences and new friendships if you maintain an open mind and flexible attitude. s

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COLUMN >> ALBERT ISAAC

Different Note Black Cloud Bobby and Negative Nadine o I’m trying to cultivate a good attitude. I know there are tremendous benefits from having a good attitude. For one thing, it makes you happier. And when you are happier, you are generally healthier. I’ve talked in the past about some of my techniques that work surprisingly well. Granted, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that they work 100 percent of the time, but they do work most of the time. For instance, if I feel a cold coming on I refrain from saying “I’m getting sick!” That’s negative thinking. And, like positive thinking, there is a cause and effect to negative thinking. In fact, recent studies (which I’m probably not going to cite because I’m too lazy to go look them up) have shown that the placebo affect works both ways. (OK, I’m not that lazy; I looked it up here: www.psychologytoday.com.) Yes, the same mind-body power that can heal you can also harm you. I’m sure you’ve all heard about this placebo phenomenon, wherein people are given a sugar pill but are told it is medicine that will make their headache (or whatever the ailment is) go away. A significant percentage of

people will experience relief — like 18 to 80 percent. As it turns out, the same is true for people that are given bad news. And it’s called — no lie — the Nocebo Effect. For example, when people are given sugar pills and are told that this is a drug that can cause nausea and vomiting, about 25 percent toss their cookies. It’s a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. A more tragic example is when the doctor tells the cancer patient he has six months to live. That bad news can be a death sentence. Within six months they are gone. There’s pretty good evidence that if you believe you’ll never recover, you won’t. Now I’m not advocating living life in denial. However, just as doctors can’t save every patient, they also can’t predict with absolute certainty that a spontaneous remission won’t occur. It does happen. So perhaps they should be more careful in how they counsel those patients with life-threatening diseases. How should they do this? Why, I have no idea. I’m neither a medical doctor nor a psychologist. I do know that we are surrounded by a lot of negativity, living in a world of doom and despair, with the bad news of the day bombarding us at any given moment.

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I tell you, I feel like burying my head in the sand. So my wife, the self-proclaimed Voice of Reason (which she is) showed me an article entitled “31 days to a fitter, healthier you.” Some of these tips I’m well aware of, such as calling mom (just did), and meditate (next on my to-do list). Many came as news to me — such as drinking mineral water (I prefer firewater) and eating a mushroom a day (I can do that). Here are a couple more. #4 “Move more outside of the gym.” I stopped going to the gym last year (although I do have gym clothes in my car, just in case) and I’m not moving that much outside of the gym either, since buying a motorcycle. So it says I should make it a priority to spend 10 minutes out of every hour on my feet — stand, walk, dance, skip — whatever it takes to get up without a major disruption. Pace during phone calls, stand up while brainstorming a new idea at work, walk to a colleague’s desk instead of sending an email. I can do all of these things. #3 “Cultivate gratefulness.” The idea is to remember any experience that recently made you happy. Which brings us back to my opening statement about cultivating a good attitude. According to Alex Wood, Ph.D., senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Manchester in the U.K, “When negative events happen, people who regularly practice gratitude cope more positively.” We all know people like this. No matter what happens they find that silver lining. Both my mom and The Voice of Reason have this skill. And I’d like to be more like them. Earlier this week I had just the opportunity to put this philosophy to practice when my newly repaired motorcycle broke down on my way to work. The silver lining? It broke down as I was pulling into the parking lot and NOT on a lonely country road that stretches along the 20 miles between work and home. I wasn’t stranded on the highway. Or in the rain. Or in rush hour traffic. That would have been way worse than it stalling out as I wheeled into the parking lot at work. Secondly, a coworker gave me a lift home after work. These days I do my best to avoid the Negative Nadines and Black Cloud Bobbys. They are energy vampires. Do not engage in conversations with these people. They will drain you within minutes. Conversely, hanging out with positive people is invigorating. They exude energy. You know the type. These people can always find a silver lining; they talk people up, not put people down. And they don’t burden their friends with their woes. So I’m grateful for them — and many other things. I’m grateful for my family, my job, my coworkers and my health. Although, truth be told, health-wise I am getting over a cold. I’m thinking myself to good health. And by the end of the day I’m going to feel well enough to visit my favorite watering hole for an adult beverage, because it is a scientifically proven fact that alcohol kills germs. So my advice is: Don’t worry. Be happy. s

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ADVERTISER INDEX 4400 NW 36th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax AUTOMOTIVE City Boys Tire & Brake ...............................102 Gainesville Harley Davidson ..................... 67 Jack’s Small Engine Repair......................165 Jim Doglas Sales & Service ....................... 91 L&S Auto Trim ...............................................141 Newberry Auto Repair ............................... 67 Sun City Auto Sales...................................... 81 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service .............................2

MEDICAL / HEALTH Affordable Dentures ...................................119 Alachua Dental .............................................. 49 Alliance Pediatrics ....................................... 121 Caretenders ...................................................107 Cohen & Montini Orthodontics ................ 19 Douglas Adel, DDS ......................................114 Gainesville Dermatology .................. 70, 163 Gainesville OB/GYN .................................... 39

REAL ESTATE The Atrium at Gainesville .......................... 88 Forrester Realty ............................................. 41

Gentle Dental Care .........................................3 Hunter Family Dentistry ............................90 Dr. Jack Agliata ............................................. 32 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ................ 29 Palms Medical Group ................................... 10

FINANCIAL / LAW Allstate Insurance, Hugh Cain .................80 Edward Jones - Ed Potts......................... 108 Ference Insurance Agency .......................90 Gateway Bank...................................................8 Patricia Albury, Attorney .................. 30, 145 ProActive Tax & Accounting ...................139 State Farm - Tish Oleksy ..............................2 Sunshine State Insurance .......................... 121 SunState Federal Credit Union ..................................151, 153, 155 Three Rivers Insurance ...............................119

Smart Smile Dentistry ................................ 93 UFHealth - Plastic Surgery ........................ 15

RETAIL / RECREATION A-1 Sewing Machine and Vacuum .........103 Alachua Business League ....................... 109 Alachua Farm & Lumber ..........................167 Bambi’s Organic Country Farm ............. 122 Beacher’s Lodge......................................... 130 Blue Springs ..................................................134 Columbia County Fair................................. 99 Cootie Coo Creations ................................ 122

FITNESS and BEAUTY Anytime Fitness ............................................ 20 Audrey’s Flair for Hair ................................ 28 Charisma for Hair .......................................... 18 Frogz on a Lilypad....................................... 70 Hair & Nail Depot.........................................163 Jonesville Traditional Barber ...................90 Nails-N-Spa....................................................123 Salon Eye Candy ..........................................80

Dance Alive! ..................................................133 Family Jewels & Purse Strings ................90 Fletcher’s Center West...............................90 Gainesville Downtown Festival ............... 52 Gator Fine Wine & Spirits .........................171 High Springs Farmers Market ..........28, 122

Bed & Biscuit Inn ..........................................119 Pampered Paws ...........................................123 Pamper Your Pet ........................................... 31 Susie’s Pet Sitting & Grooming ..............166

MISCELLANEOUS BuyOurLeverage.com ............................... 130 Christian Life Fellowship ............................ 51 Gator Country Magazine .......................... 137

Iris Blooms Upscale Resale .....................123 Jewelry Designs by Donna ...................... 122 Kelly’s Kreations ......................................... 108 Klaus Fine Jewelry ..........................................6 Legoland Florida .............................................4 Lentz House of Time ..................................135 Liquor & Wine Shoppe ...............................171 Morrell’s Home Furnishings ......................50 Music in the Park ...........................................27 New 2 You ......................................................135 New Smyrna Beach ........................................7 Oaks Pawn ...................................................... 58 Paddywhack................................................... 69

EDUCATION & CHILD CARE Gainesville Country Day School ............149 Love -N- Care Preschool ..........................167 Millhopper Montessori School .................. 17

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HOME IMPROVEMENT Al Mincey Site Prep ....................................145 America’s Swimming Pool Co. .............. 140 Bloominghouse Nursery ............................ 65 Cook’s Portable Warehouses .................... 91 Floor Store ......................................................101 The Green House Nursery............................9 Grifﬁs Lumber................................................. 51 H2Oasis Custom Pool & Spa .................... 84 Overhead Door ..............................................57 Overstock Stone ..........................................165 Red Barn Home Center .............................. 53 United Rent-All.............................................103 Whitﬁeld Window & Door.........................30

Hippodrome State Theatre.......................131

Julie’s Pins & Needles ............................... 109

PETS and VETS

SERVICE Alachua County EPD ................................... 31 Alachua County Waste Collection ... 71, 77 Alachua County Waste Watchers .......... 79 A&K Outdoor Services ............................... 59 A-1 Pest Control ............................................90 Alpha Bytes Computers ............................ 59 Anything Outdoors......................................115 Best Restoration ......................................... 100 Chimney Sweeps of America..................102 Computer Repair .........................................123 Craft Cleaners ................................................ 59 Creekside Outdoor Improvements ...........87 Gainesville Regional Airport ...................134 Gonzalez Site Prep .....................................166 Growers Fertilizer .......................................... 41 GRU Natural Gas.......................................... 172 Lotus Studios Photography ..................... 34 Oliver & Dahlman ........................................123 Southern Land & Lawn............................... 69 Stitch In Time Embroidery ........................ 53 William Weseman Construction ............170

Sebastian Ferrero Noche de Gala ........... 21 Sink Da Ink Tattoo ........................................40 Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center ..... 98 Valerie’s Loft Consignment .............. 41, 108

DINING & DRINKS 60 North Main ................................................. 11 Brown’s Country Buffet ............................124 Copper Monkey West ........................... 5, 124 Cracker House Coffee & Mercantile ..... 122 El Toro...............................................................80 First Wok ........................................................125 Fluid Lounge ................................................. 127 Gator Tales Sports Bar ............................... 65 High Springs Coffee Company ...............115 Napolatano’s .................................................124 Newberry Backyard BBQ .........................126 Northwest Grille ...........................................126 Red’s Tavern ..................................................125 Saboré .............................................................126 The Talented Cookie Company............. 109 TCBY ................................................................. 121 Wahoo’s Seafood Grill ...............................125 World of Beer ............................................... 127

page

72 >> HIP HOP

Trevor Isaac and Christian Hoskins race to the finish line in an old-fashioned sack race at the Dudley Farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cane Day in 2012. Other events to be experienced on this living history day include farm tours, craft demonstrations, woodworking, blacksmithing, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities, cane grinding, old-time music and food.

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CREATING DESIGN THAT SUITS YOUR NEEDS & BUDGET • NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION single family residential homes • REMODELING kitchens, bathrooms, wood decks, room additions, etc. • WOOD FENCING • FLOORING tile, carpet, wood, etc. • WINDOWS • DOORS • KITCHEN UPGRADES • BACK PORCHES & DECKS

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Like us on facebook for tastings and events! Like us on facebook for tastings and events! www.VisitOurTowns.com Fall 2014 | 171

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Natural Gas:

YOU HAVE A CHOICE when it comes to replacing your major home appliances. Did you know that your water heater, clothes dryer, furnace and range are all more efﬁcient when powered by natural gas? That means you save money over the long-haul with appliances that use clean, cost-effective and abundant natural gas. You’ll enjoy top-of-the-line appliances and smaller utility bills. That’s something we’d all choose. *Some restrictions apply. Offer limited to eligible single-family home owners who replace their electric, oil or LP gas appliances with a natural gas model. 172 | Fall 2014

ii New customers receive a $50 credit on your ﬁrst month’s bill when you mention Our Town magazine!* Call GRU Natural Gas 352-393-1464 or visit www.gru.com for details.