OTNB-Spring2013 by Our Town Magazine

CHILI COOK-OFF

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Spring 2013

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A TOUCH OF GREEN RELAY FOR LIFE High Springs Plans to Convert Abandoned Rails

Relay Olé Takes Over High Springs for One-Night Event

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page

CONTENTS SPRING 2013 • VOL. 11 ISSUE 01

>> FEATURES 20

A Touch of Green

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

Hot and Spicy Chili Cook-Off and Spring Celebration BY SARAH BRAND

BY ALBERT ISAAC

Watermelons, Cowboys and Music in Our Town

Cedar Key Art Show Heart Stickers Let Visitors Pick Favorite Art BY LARRY BEHNKE

Tree City

Passing Muster The 7th Florida Infantry Regiment Comes Alive Through Civil War Re-Enactors at Dudley Farm

Spring Festivals BY KYRA LOVE

Rising Star Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jamie Davis has been steadily growing his fan base and wowing audiences for years with his original music.

High Springs Plans to Convert Abandoned Railroad

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN

Head in the Clouds Forest Towers Phase Out of Modern Forestry BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

100 Old School

Newberry’s Green Initiative

High Springs’ School Building is Reborn, Repurposed

BY SARAH BRAND

BY LARRY BEHNKE

10 | Spring 2013

ON THE COVER

PHOTO BY TOM MORRISSEY / LOTUS STUDIOS

Spring is here along with some noteworthy festivals. To celebrate Newberry’s Watermelon Festival, we recruited a member of the Tower Publications family, Neil McKinney’s 3-year-old daughter Blake, to pose for our cover. The watermelon was almost too heavy for little Blake to hold, so her parents sliced it up into more manageable pieces. Read all about the Watermelon Festival as well as High Springs Pioneer Days and Alachua Spring Festival in this edition.

>> CANCER AWARENESS

Relay

by Sarah Brand

Relay Olé Takes Over High Springs for a Special One-Night Event

Cancer Awareness Every year, 7.6 million lives are lost to cancer worldwide — more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. And each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries take part in this global phenomenon to raise awareness and much-needed funds to save lives from cancer.

BY SARAH BRAND

arkness falls as volunteers begin to place white paper bags around the track. Each bag, weighted with sand, have a candle inside. As they are placed, other volunteers come by and light the candles. The Luminaria ceremony has begun. “I had never experienced it until last year and I really didn’t expect it to be as strong of an emotional impact it was but it just really grabs you,” said local Relay for Life publicity chair Dot Harvey. “When you just see all those lights and realize how many lives have been touched by this cancer, you know its just amazing.” Relay for Life is the key

for Life

fundraising international event that the American Cancer Society sponsors every year to raise money to support its research, educational and assistance programs to ﬁght cancer. The Luminaria occurs at 9 p.m., but it is not the only activity at the event. There are auctions, fundraisers, arts and crafts and others. This year’s Relay will be held at the High Springs Civic Center on May 3 at 6 p.m. to May 4 at noon. Because it is an 18-hour all-night event, the planning begins shortly after the end of this Relay. “Relay for Life really is a year-long process,” said Amanda Granozio, associate director for the Alachua Relay for Life unit. “We begin shortly after our relay ends.

Really by June and July we were already planning for next year.” Each city unit begins by reaching out to those from previous Relays and assembling a committee. They discuss the positions and figure out who wants to do what in the planning. After the positions are assigned, the committee begins to plan a kickoff event. The kickoff is the first official event of that year’s Relay. At this event, they try to recruit past teams that have participated. They also announce the theme for that year. The kickoff party was held October 25 at the New Century Women’s Club, where they provided a buffet, handed out gift baskets and sold Mexican style arts and

PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC and LINDA HEWLETT

TOP: Relay for Life volunteers at a January fundraiser in the on, High Springs Woman’s Club. l to r: Vicki Cox, Serenity Jackson, Trinity Jackson, Tina Jackson, Sandy Flaitz, Tina Collins, Toni Warner, Judi Lewis (with hat), Linda Hewlett (seated), Amanda Granozio, Suzie Clark and Susan Bier. d Survivors Ruth Bow (above) and Reuben Cohen participated in last year’s event. UPCOMING EVENTS THAT SUPPORT RELAY FOR LIFE: lay. March 26 Mason’s Tavern is donating 10% of all proﬁts to Relay. Come from 4:00 to 10:00 April 18

rs. Pink and Purple on the Patio at the Great Outdoors. o The Great Outdoors very graciously has agreed to here donate all proﬁts on the patio on 4/18 to Relay. There olks will be a live band. Sue Weller and other special folks will be bar tending. Times are 4:00 to 10:00.

April 20

Community Yard Sale. Teams signed up for Relay will put on a huge Garage Sale. Location and times to be announced.

52 | Spring 2013

Spring 2013 | 53

>> EQUINE SANCTUARY

Horsing Around

by Kelsey Grentzer

Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm

Mill Creek Farm The Retirement Home for Horses in Alachua is a nonprofit equine sanctuary that provides lifelong care for horses that have been neglected or abused or that are unwanted and destined for slaughter. In April, it will hold its Spring Sale with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the horses.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELSEY GRENTZER

or 84-year-old Peter Gregory, retirement means getting up at 6 a.m. and working a 12-hour day. He rides a golf cart across his farm’s 265 acres of green pastures, chatting with volunteers, checking on horses and feeding the animals carrots along the way. Gregory and his wife Mary run the nonproﬁt Retirement Home For Horses at Mill Creek Farm, an equine sanctuary in Alachua where old, abandoned or neglected horses can live out the rest of their lives in peace. The farm is home to about 130 horses, including those retired

from government service such as police patrol and military horses, those retired from riding programs, stage horses, horses that have been used for experimental purposes and those rescued by organizations such as the SPCA. Leaving a horse in a stall is like putting it in prison, Gregory said. “These horses are lucky in that respect. They’ve got plenty of room to run around. They live like horses should, out in the wild with the trees and the grass and not being bothered by humans,” said Gregory, who does not believe in riding horses. But running such a place comes

with its costs. In a year, the Gregorys spend about $12,000 on veterinary bills, $100,000 on feed and $10,000 on trimming the horses’ hooves, among other expenses. Five years ago, one volunteer named Georgia Crosby decided she wanted to help offset these operating costs, and she started a sale to raise money for the care of the horses and the upkeep of the farm. The farm will hold its 5th Annual Spring Sale on April 6 this year. The sale offers donated household items such as books, pet items, tools, decorative items, jewelry and more, and typically earns about

OPPOSITE: A collection of reins hangs alongside a building at the Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm in Alachua. The farm is home to about 130 horses. Horses wait for carrots as visitors and families enjoy the farm on a Saturday afternoon. The farm is open to the public every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

94 | Spring 2013

Spring 2013 | 95

www.VisitOurTowns.com

>> TRADITION

138

Cracker Rose

by Courtney Lindwall

Terry Stidham

Retired Park Ranger Terry Stidham

For many years this park ranger could be found at the Dudley Farm Historic State Park, dressed in period clothing and talking to visitors about the farm’s history and its gardens. Now retired, Terry Stidham invites visitors to her home — Cracker Rose Acres — to learn about growing heirloom roses.

BY COURTNEY LINDWALL

ld Florida is azaleas under oak trees. It is shaded rocking chairs on wraparound porches after hard work in thick heat. It is wild coreopsis, crepe myrtles and hydrangeas. And to Terry Stidham — Old Florida is the roses. Stidham, a long-time park ranger at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, is now sharing her love and knowledge of Old Florida gardening from her home, Cracker Rose Acres in Fort White. She is opening up her garden

to tours, wedding receptions and photography shoots — or to anyone who wants to come on by. She wants to teach visitors about the simplicity of growing heirloom roses, while inspiring others through her own work. “I just love to share,” Stidham, 61, said. Gardening clubs, church groups or aspiring green thumbs can schedule an appointment to walk through Stidham’s home and acres of blooming Florida. She also sells the 10 easiest-to-grow roses and can help new gardeners get started. Down a dirt road , Stidham’s

home brings visitors back to the bits and pieces of the Old Florida she has held onto — the pieces from her grandmother, from her 30 years as a farm wife, and from her career at Dudley Farm. Cracker cows graze behind the tin-roofed farmhouse. The turkey, famous for its stint at Dudley Farm, paces at the edge of the garden. And sweet-smelling heirloom roses border the trellis by the pond. It has been a 20-year project in the making. Stidham’s passion for horticulture developed throughout her life. From her childhood to her career,

PHOTO BY LARRY SANTUCCI

Retired Park Ranger Terry Stidham at the Dudley Farm Historic State Park.

138 | Spring 2013

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Spring 2013 | 139

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. © 2013 Tower Publications, Inc.

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Spring 2013 | 11

164 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 OFFICE MANAGER Bonita Delatorre bonita@towerpublications.com ART DIRECTOR Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com PHOTO BY DEBRA NEILL-MARECI

Kelly Gridley, Dean of Emerging Technologies at Santa Fe Collge, with Elizabeth Garami at the 9th Annual Celebration of Biotechnologies held in Alachua.

>> FEATURES 146 Bright Ideas Solar Panels Help Power High Springs Community School BY KELSEY GRENTZER

150 Horse Sense Healing From an Unexpected Source BY ELLIS AMBURN

164 Celebrate Biotechnology Alachuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Event Showcases Biotechnology and its Growth BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

DESIGNER Neil McKinney neil@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ellis Amburn Larry Behnke Sarah Brand Kelsey Grentzer Janice C. Kaplan Courtney Lindwall Kyra Love Amanda Williamson INTERNS Sarah Brand Kelsey Grentzer Courtney Lindwall Kyra Love ADVERTISING SALES Jenni Bennett 352-416-0210 jenni@towerpublications.com Melissa Morris 352-416-0212 melissa@towerpublications.com

COLUMNISTS 32 76 134 166

Crystal Henry ............................................................ NAKED SALSA Kendra Siler-Marsiglio ..................................... HEALTHY EDGE Donna Bonnell ......................................................... EMBRACING LIFE Diane E. Shepard .................................................. MAMA MUSINGS

Nancy Short 352-416-0196 nancy@towerpublications.com Pam Slaven 352-416-0213 pam@towerpublications.com Helen Stalnaker 352-416-0209 helen@towerpublications.com Annie Waite 352-416-0204 annie@towerpublications.com

INFORMATION 112 Community Calendar 128 High School Sports 129 Middle School Sports 12 | Spring 2013

154 Worship Centers 158 Library Happenings 168 Advertiser Index

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SPECIAL >> GARDEN CLUBS

Mary Lois Forrester founded the High Springs Garden Club in 1950, and it still stands the test of time.

Time to Bloom Camellias. Knockout roses. Crepe Myrtles. Mary Lois Forrester’s yard blooms with an array of soft colors. The pinktinged buds smile gently into the bright High Springs sun, beautifying the Garden Club-founder’s backyard. Established in 1950, the High Springs Garden Club still remains firmly planted within the community, especially among women aged 40-90. It allows members to learn new gardening skills, socialize with peers and enjoy guest speakers. Not far away, Newberry tends its own Garden Club, a flourishing local organization established in 1947. The club currently has 50 members, and club member Linda Woodcock believes that is a lot of members for the small Newberry community of 5,000 residents. The clubs stay active by visiting local gardens and broadening members’ knowledge on gardening topics. “We try to cover a big spectrum of things — from problems in the

14 | Spring 2013

garden to potted plants and flower arrangements,” said Suzie Clark, the High Springs Garden Club president. Recently, the High Springs Club welcomed a local UF professor, Dr. James Ellis, who specializes in honeybees. “We wanted to hear about pollination,” Forrester said. “I thought we were going to spend the night there. They kept asking so many questions.” The clubs participate in community beautification projects, such as landscaping the High Springs City Hall and the Newberry High School. High Springs Garden Club member Luell Everett, who retired from the local school system, said the main goal of the club is to keep the city beautiful. In Newberry, the Garden Club designated one “Yard of the Month” during the spring and summer. “It’s good to encourage the community to beautify their yards,” Woodcock said. While High Springs gains most

of its funding through dues, the Newberry Garden Club hosts two fundraisers during the year. Its Spring Plant Sale will be held on April 6 at the Newberry United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and will feature lily bulbs, caladium bulbs, shrimp plants and more. Woodcock said she encourages any vendor selling garden supplies or plant-related items to show up at the church. The club does not charge booth rental. Money raised from the event goes toward supporting the club and providing a scholarship each year to one Newberry High School senior. For many of the gardeners, the club provides a way to communicate with others passionate about the same thing they are. For both cities, the clubs’ dedication stem from women and men invested in beautifying their yards and their cities. “It’s a stimulus for your home gardens,” Everett said. “It’s a very active club.” s

MESSAGE >> FROM THE EDITOR

FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL

Spring Fever! What’s with the arctic blast that wiped out our multitude of blooming azaleas while we were in Tennessee in search of snow? I do believe on some nights it was colder here than it was in Gatlinburg. Don’t get me wrong, we did find some snow at the higher elevations — and 17-degree temperatures — in which to romp and hike and freeze. It was a winter wonderland. I loved it. But I wasn’t home to cover the azaleas (not that I’ve ever covered the azaleas, there are too many) or to bring in the unfortunate corn plant that was once again killed off by the freezing temperatures. Every year I bring that plant in from the cold, and back out and back in, and every year there’s that one surprise hard freeze that wipes it out. That 20-plus-year-old plant was a wedding present and would probably be 20 feet tall by now if it didn’t get frozen back every year. But this isn’t supposed to be about freezing temperatures. It’s SPRING! And with the blissfully mild temperatures it’s time to start thinking about getting outside and enjoying Mother Nature. Festivals abound. In our area alone we can enjoy the big ones: Newberry’s Watermelon Festival, High Springs’ Pioneer Days and Alachua’s Spring Fest. Great times can be found at all of these events, and if you haven’t been you should read all about them in this edition and then head on out for some fun. A lot of hard-working volunteers get together to make these events a success and we should all take advantage of their offerings. There’s also the annual spring sale at the Retirement Home for Horses at the Mill Creek Farm, one of Alachua’s best-kept secrets. I picked up some pretty nifty items there the last time I went – and it goes to a good cause. Speaking of horses, fundraisers and good causes, the nonprofit Horses Helping People (HOPE) is holding its annual Preakness Party and Feast at the Rembert Farm in Alachua. We’ve worked hard to bring you a large variety of stories and information about the good things our communities have to offer so I hope you can sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy Our Town. s

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STAFF >> CONTRIBUTORS Kelsey Grentzer

Amanda Williamson

is a journalism and sustainability student at UF. She is a freelance writer and photographer who loves animals, traveling and going to the beach.

is a recent graduate of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. She has been writing for as long as she can remember. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family and animals.

kagrent@gmail.com

awilliamson@ufl.edu

Janice Kaplan

Ellis Amburn

has been a freelance writer since 2005. In her spare time Janice loves cooking, Gator sports, Jimmy Buffett anything and spending time with her husband and kids.

is a resident of High Springs as well as the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor and others. ellis.amburn@gmail.com

kaplan_ janice@yahoo.com

Sarah Brand

Kyra Love

is a junior studying journalism at UF. A lover of travel and adventure, she one day hopes to be a freelance journalist living in New York City. In her spare time she enjoys listening to classic rock, reading and sleeping.

is a student in UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. When she’s not writing, she enjoys doing craft projects, watching TV and traveling. kyraelove@gmail.com

sbrand6@ufl.edu

Larry Behnke

Courtney Lindwall

is an artist, writer, photographer and a graduate of the University of Michigan in cinematography and painting. He has used solar electricity since 1984 and lives in a dome home.

is a Florida native, now studying journalism at UF. She loves telling and hearing good stories. In her little bit of free time, she enjoys hiking, camping and eating delicious food.

larry@towerpublications.com

c.lindwall@ufl.edu

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>> RAILS TO TRAILS

Touch of Green High Springs Plans to Convert Abandoned Railroad

BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON he day dawns on a cloudless summer sky, streaked with airplane trails. Warmth radiates from the ground, and all of High Springs stretches out into the sun. It is a day to be outside, to wander down to the Santa Fe River, to cast the fishing line or launch the canoe. It is a day to meander through the O’leno State Park, bicycles dashing through the leaves and sending them flying. It is a day to dip into the springs. But in a couple years time, there will be another option for High Springs’ recreation. The city plans to convert the old railway line into a trail for bicyclists, hikers,

20 | Spring 2013

Eventually, the old railway will become one of 1,400 other railway trails protected by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s ideology. In Florida, the organization boasts 77 trails extending for 944 miles. horseback riding or just the casual pedestrian, starting at the center of town. In total, the trail will stretch for five miles from High Springs to the Santa Fe River. “This would lend very nicely to our ‘Enjoy Our Good Nature’ brand, our eco-tourism and our railroad history,” said High Springs Mayor

Sue Weller. “I’m very excited about this project.” According to a PowerPoint presented by Weller at the City Commission meeting in February, bicycling is a popular sport in this area. There are 900 members in the Gainesville Bicycle Club and 50 members in the High Springs Yellow

PHOTO BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

The proposed trail winds around the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, cutting through the city center. It carves its way through the forested area on a two-mile track to the Santa Fe River. Pedestrians, bicyclists and more will one day be able to enjoy the outdoor fun.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2013 | 21

City Mayor Sue Weller was inspired by a high-rise railroad in New York (inset photo) that was converted into a public park, complete with ﬂowers, benches and lots of green space. “Once the railways are converted, you can create public pathways,” Weller said. “You can use them for recreational corridors for bicycling, skating, equestrian uses.”

22 | Spring 2013

PHOTO BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society. Eventually, the old railway will become one of 1,400 other railway trails protected by the Rails-toTrails Conservancy’s ideology. In Florida, the organization boasts 77 trails extending for 944 miles. “Rail-trails create healthier places for healthier people,” according to

the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s website. They serve as wildlife conservation and historical preservation corridors, stimulate local economies by increasing tourism and promoting local business, offer safe and accessible routes for work and school commuting, and promote active lifestyles for all ages.”

www.VisitOurTowns.com

While High Springs may not utilize the organization to complete the project, other Rails-to-Trails projects exist in the area, such as the Ichetucknee to O’leno Trail and the Gainesville to Hawthorne trail. Both extend more than 10 miles across the Florida landscape. Weller said she hopes to eventually connect the city’s trail to the one branching off Ichetucknee, a Rails-to-Trails project. The city could decide to plan the trail through the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways and Trails. The Recreation Trails program has helped more than 40 counties establish and expand trails. The EPA believes trails fuel the state by providing improved quality of life, increased property values, alternative transportation and healthy recreation. The Office of Greenways and Trails saw Orange County trails support an estimated $42 million of economic impact, as well as business owners in Pennsylvania and Maryland attribute 25 percent of their revenues to the proximity of the trail. The project is still in its early stages. High Springs City Manager Edwin Booth recently discussed the idea with the Department of Transportation. “They were very enthusiastic about doing a Rails-To-Trails project in this area,” he said. “They have the funding, and have never done a major project here.” Weller believes the department plans to provide funding for the project. A Rail-Trail begins when railways become abandoned, which happens when rail service is discontinued. The Surface Transportation Board approves the abandonment and the railway files an abandonment consummation notice. Weller said the city learned that CSX wanted to abandon the rail in High Springs more than a year ago. Once abandoned, CSX strips the rails to be sold as scrap and

Spring 2013 | 23

MAPS PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS

In the map presented during the February commission meeting, the trail winds from High Springs to the Santa Fe River. In the future, the commission plans to connect the trail in High Springs to Newberry, which extends to the Nature Coast Trail. The city can expect to see construction begin on the initial trail in the next two to three years.

then decides how to distribute the land. Usually it is sold to nearby businesses. John Manley of High Springs contacted the city about preserving the railway. Weller said he intended to save the track for transportation purposes to bring economic development into the area. He planned to establish a tourism train between High Springs and Newberry. However, the dream never came to fruition.

24 | Spring 2013

Inspiration hit Weller when she saw pictures of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High Line, a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West Side. Though High Springs sits on the edge of nature, with its city borders nearly indistinguishable from the woods beyond, the benefits of

green space within any city are unmistakable. Green spaces provide water and air purification, erosion control, and recreation and stress reduction, according to the Environmental Health Research Foundation. Once the DOT agrees to allow High Springs to convert the railway

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into recreational land, the city and the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governing agency has to contact the railway and railbank the pathway. Railbanking involves a voluntary agreement between the rail company and the trail agency to allow a footpath on the out-ofuse rail line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Railbanking has preserved more than 4,000 miles of rail corridor in 33 states that otherwise would have been abandoned,â&#x20AC;? according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are more than 100 railbanked trails in the United States.â&#x20AC;? Once the rails are railbanked and the metal disposed of, many trail agencies and the local cities decide to use asphalt to create a manageable trail. Along the trail from High Springs to the Santa Fe River exists a piece of history. The rail yard remnants remain hidden among the brush. A roundhouse once sat inside the rail yard, where up to eight engines at a time could be rotated inside the building for repairs.

Weller wants to clear the vegetation to expose the foundation for the old railroad station, and then place signs showcasing the historical landmarks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As people go through the trails, they can see where the rail used to be and what is was used for,â&#x20AC;? Weller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really builds to the flavor of High Springs, an old railroad town.â&#x20AC;? The trail will create a space for citizens to meet and socialize. Plus, it will be ideal for bicycling. A couple of years ago, Bicycle Florida rode through the small North Florida city, bringing large groups of tourists into the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, the State has recognized that the Rails-to-Trails program is a big economic engine to bring bicycle tourism into Florida,â&#x20AC;? Weller said. Booth agrees, stating that the state advertises the trail on its website. Therefore, the trail creates exposure for the city, reaching out to any person interested in eco-tourism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The biggest impact is those

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tourists may want to move here,â&#x20AC;? he said. However, the project still has not moved past the planning phase. The city manager estimates it will still be another two to three years before the project is completed. The rail company could speed up the project or delay it. CSX still owns the tracks, and are required to come in and remove the metal before construction on the trails can begin. After the project is completed, High Springs intends to maintain the trails, which would involve mowing, cutting back impeding shrubbery and other such landscaping. Local bicyclists Tom and Linda Hewlett of the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society are excited for the future trails. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful trail,â&#x20AC;? Linda said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trees are growing alongside the path. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the roads. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all forested. When you get to the river, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone two miles. But at that part, you can see the inherent beauty.â&#x20AC;? s

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>> GOOD TASTE

Hot & Spicy Chili Cook-Off and Spring Celebration at O’Leno State Park

BY SARAH BRAND utside under the shade of trees, guests learn about water conservation. They are taught about sinkholes. They stir their chili pots. The O’Leno State Park will hold its sixth annual chili cook-off on March 23 in conjunction with a spring celebration. “Its two events rolled in one,” said Alachua county water conservation coordinator Stacie Greco in a telephone interview. Greco has been with Alachua County since 2004, and said the events have been merged together for the past four years. The chili cook-off begins first, with registration opening at 8 a.m.

28 | Spring 2013

It is separated into two categories, one that requires participants to follow the Chili Appreciation International Society rules and another that does not follow the CASI rules. Participants pay either $20 for one category or $35 for both. CASI, a non-profit organization that helps other organizations host cook-off events, requires its participants to make chili without beans. The organization helped O’Leno with its cook-off since the event first started. “We partnered with them, and put the first one on, and we’ve been moving along ever since,” said Ed Bisch, president of O’Leno’s Citizen Support Organization. “Now we have an open category where people can have other than CASI chili.”

Bisch said the cook-off is a competition to make the best chili according to a panel of judges. “Then we go in for a first, second and third categories, and these judges — there’s an impartial group of them — they taste the chili. And it’s all blind category,” Bisch said. He said that the judges do not know anything about who cooked what chili, and the participants do not know who the judges are. “And it all goes on what these 10 or 12 people think is the best tasting stuff,” he said. Once the chili is done, the Friends of O’Leno sell $5 tasting kits for anyone at the park to sample the chili. “It’s really fun because there’s a people’s choice award, so you get to

PHOTOS BY STACIE GRECO

Greg Owen with Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (top) and Bob Ulanowicz with the Santa Fe River Springs Basin Working Group — with a gator — were at O’Leno State Park for the 2011 event. Various environmental organizations, non-proﬁts and local businesses set up exhibits.

vote for your favorite chili,” Greco said. “And a lot of the chili cooks decorate their booths because there’s a best-in-show also, so the one that gets the most votes is the one that looked the best.” The purpose of the cook-off is to raise money for O’Leno to build a screened-in room in the back of its present nature center, to hold classes for different activities without having to worry about mosquitoes. “And to have fun,” Bisch added. The spring celebration begins at 11 a.m. after the cook-off. Greco said the idea of the spring event is to get people from the community together and celebrate the springs at O’Leno. Various environmental organizations, including government entities, non-profits and local

businesses, will set up exhibits. Some people bring turtles to show guests examples of what kind of species live in the Santa Fe River. “So, while participants are waiting for the chili to be ready they can walk around and learn about issues such as water conservation and minimizing fertilizer use, all those things that are really important to the future of our water resources,” Greco said. There will also be a children’s area where they can participate in educational interactive games. “One thing we have is ‘Springo’ instead of Bingo,” Greco said. “So we have Springo and they can win prizes.” Music and live entertainment will also be at the events. The winners of the best-tasting chili, the people’s choice and the

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best in show will each receive a cash prize. Bisch said that at last year’s celebration a little more than 300 people attended, and that he is hoping there will be an even better turnout this year. “It’s a really family friendly event,” Greco said. “We’re underneath these nice shade trees, right on the banks of the river. So it’s a great time to get to the park and then, after the celebration, go for a beautiful hike along the river where you can see where the whole Santa Fe River goes down into a sinkhole.” Entrance into the park is free for guests who bring one can of food per person, which will be donated to a local food bank. s For more information, visit the website at www.friendsofoleno.org.

Spring 2013 | 29

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COLUMN >> CRYSTAL HENRY

Naked Salsa Mushy Love Stuff here are those couples who broadcast their love via Facebook. They tag their significant other and talk about all the magical ways they’re in love and end with something touching like “love my life.” Then there are those couples you see at parties or restaurants that are just so wrapped up in each other they might as well be in a world all by themselves. Their eyes sparkle as they ask, “Hey babe, will you pass the snoogie boogie?” And only their partner will giggle and know the secret code for ‘pass the salt.’ These kids just really seem to have it together, and I’ve caught myself a time or two wishing — and maybe even wondering aloud — why my hubs and I are the couple who are saying things like, “Dude, just pass the pepper and quit messing around.” Our relationship just seemed to be lacking that spark everyone else had. I knew a guy in high school who was totally in love with a girl named Kelly. She was slightly out of his league and kept him in the friend zone pretty diligently. But he enlisted the help of about 20 girls in our class to woo her, and in the name of love we all agreed to do our best. Well, perseverance paid off and she agreed to go out on one date. He must have really put on his game face, because he won a second and then

a third date. They went off to college together and in proper fairy tale form they got married. They adopted a beagle and were living a fabulous life in the big city just head-over-heels in love. The hubs and I met up with them a few years ago at a wedding and I couldn’t help but be a little envious of how in much love this guy still was with his high school sweetheart. Don’t get me wrong, the hubs and I love each other, but he just didn’t look at me with those googly eyes any more.

Twenty minutes later the door opens and in walks the hubs with Sprite, pain relievers and all the makings for chicken and dumplings. Our firstborn was just a year old at the time, so we spent the whole time taking turns chasing her around. And when all the other couples were out on the dance floor, we sat it out and he worked recon while I tried

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to discreetly breastfeed our active little monkey in the middle of a ritzy wedding reception. For years I thought about that couple as the epitome of love. They were just one of those pairs that were destined for each other and would be old and gray in the rocking chairs holding hands and more in love than ever. I strived for it, and I tried to force that kind of smooshy gushy stuff into my marriage, but to no avail. With kids and work and keeping up the house and life we were just a well-oiled machine. But we rarely had any mush. Friday I got sick. I mean really sick. To top it off our 3-year-old started vomiting for 24 hours straight, and the baby couldn’t stop coughing long enough to eat. I just laid there in bed with kids screaming and climbing all over me wallowing in misery. That’s when the hubs texted to check in on me. He’s been doing that since we got married. He calls or texts in the morning to see how my day is going, and on this particular morning I just grumbled and told him about the joys I was experiencing. Twenty minutes later the door opens and in walks the hubs with Sprite, pain relievers and all the makings for chicken and dumplings. Without saying a word he kissed my forehead, took the kids into the living room, started boiling the chicken, cleaning the kitchen and fixing me some Sprite and a cup of tea. I spent the rest of the day in bed recovering and reflecting a bit on what it really means to love someone. I opened up my Facebook to broadcast to the world what a great hubs I have, when something caught my eye. Kelly’s status was changed from married to single. I just about fell out of bed. After sifting through some posts from her mother and emailing a few trusted sources, I discovered that Kelly’s beau, the one who worked like crazy for one date and treated her like the jolly Queen of England, had been having an affair with a co-worker for years. I decided to go with a lighter Facebook status post about the hubs cleaning up vomit rather than getting all gushy and flowery about what a fabulously adorable and caring husband I have. But if you read between the lines you can see we are one of those blissfully happy couples. Our mush is just made of something a little stronger. s

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>> GOOD TIMES

Spring

Festivals BY KYRA LOVE NEWBERRY

Watermelon Festival WHERE: Future Location of Destiny Community Church WHEN: Saturday, May 18 Begins at 8:00am COST: Not available at press time Visit www.newberrywatermelonfestival.com for more details

hat do rolling, spitting, growing, crowning and eating have in common? Watermelons, of course. That’s right, it’s almost time for the 68th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival — the one

34 | Spring 2013

day you can safely stuff your face with all the watermelon your heart desires, try your hand at hog calling and even take a spin some rides. Beginning in 1946 after World War II, when the area had fallen upon hard times, the Newberry tradition began because farmers had brought in a huge crop of watermelons. This one positive event during these bad times was all the cause the town needed to have a celebration. Sixty-seven years later, the festival continues to celebrate the prosperous farming industry of the area. Though Kathi Thomas, president of the Newberry Watermelon Festival, Inc., grew up in a farming family and has been involved in the industry since she was a child, she said many

people do not have that opportunity nor are they aware of the importance of farming in their town. “There’s an extensive amount of growth of watermelon in this area,” Thomas said. “It’s one of the biggest areas in our state — right here where we are.” All the watermelons at the festival — 500 in all — are donated by one local farmer. In addition to the age-old events such as seed spitting, watermelon rolling and the eating contest, the festival will have plenty of activities and rides including a bungee trampoline, a petting zoo, water bubbles, inflatables and a mechanical bull. Unlimited activities for the day cost $20, or a small fee for each activity. Vendor coordinator Christina

PHOTOS BY KENDRA ABREU and TJ MORRISSEY

LEFT: In addition to seed spitting, hog calling and the watermelon eating contest, children up to age 5 can participate in the watermelon roll. In this event, children roll a watermelon from start to finish in hopes of being the first one to roll their melon across the finish line. RIGHT: Fun for children of all ages can be found at Newberry’s Watermelon Festival. Previous events have included petting zoos, bounce houses and — naturally — all the watermelon you can eat.

Bridwell said there were complaints that the removal of the carnival caused many teenagers not to attend the last two years. In order to bring in more activities for teenagers she created a forum of teens that have attended the festival for years to brainstorm ideas. “I’m willing to try to do whatever it takes to get every member of our community together,” Bridwell said. In addition to activities, there will be 50 to 60 vendors offering

items such as birdhouses, homemade purses, funnel cakes and other items sold by local businesses. Although vendors take up a large amount of space at the festival, the largest draw, Thomas said, is the crowning of the Watermelon Queen. The Queens are typically judged on their pageant performance (which takes place the night before, and the weekend before for the younger divisions) but more importantly they are judged on

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their knowledge of farming, crowd interaction, seed spitting, hog calling, their performance at the item auction and their attire. “If you’re going to go out and represent the state of Florida, you gotta look good too,” Thomas said. “The convention people, they want someone who is going to represent them well so they are looking for a girl who can dress nice and show off her beauty at the same time without overly showing things.”

Spring 2013 | 35

This year, things are a little different. Crowning will take place mid-afternoon instead of at night so more people can attend. This means the girls will not be judged on the auction and a few other games, but Thomas said they have a substitute event in mind. For the auction, former Watermelon Queens will return to their stomping grounds to lend a hand. Over the years, fees from the beauty pageant, vendors, sponsors and admissions have not only paid for the festival cost but have also gone towards the community. “Our goal is to get as much money as we can back into our community and our schools,” Thomas said. Every year NWF, Inc. gives two students a $500 scholarship and uses leftover funds for other organizations that ask for contributions, such as Newberry Sports Complex and the Little Red School House Restoration. “Our Watermelon Festival has proven time and time again that we love our community and we will absolutely help it with anything and everything that we are humanly able to do,” Bridwell said. “We hope and pray that it will continue on to become a tradition that doesn’t die out.” ALACHUA

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ABL

TOP: Local bands and musical acts, such as Jim Wegman of Velveeta Underground, will be playing all day at the festival on two different stages. ABOVE: Stretching through Alachua’s Main Street, local vendors provide a variety of products from plants to crafts to food so no one will walk away empty handed.

Spring Festival WHERE: Main Street in Downtown Alachua When: Sun., April 21 11:00am to 5:00pm. Cost: Event is free and open to the public. Last day for vendor registration is April 1. Visit alachuabusiness.com for more details.

ut a little spring in your step as you head down to Main Street for the 11th Annual Spring Festival. The Alachua Business League first started the festival, which features nearly 200 vendors and live music, 11 years ago. The ABL

36 | Spring 2013

was formed by a group of volunteers that believed there needed to be more focus on bringing visitors to their city. Kelly Harris, the festival’s logistics coordinator, said 5,000 to 10,000 visitors come to the Spring Festival from all over because they know they will have a good time. “You could spend the whole day, it’s not a lot of walking — it’s about a mile walking — and it’s just enjoyable,” she said in a phone interview. Vendors, mostly local, sell a variety of items including plants, jewelry, woodwork and homemade jams, said Valerie Taylor, the

festival’s chairperson. There are also so many food vendors, Harris said, offering meals for most everyone’s cravings. “We have everything from funnel cakes to fried candy bars to kettle corn to barbecue,” she said. Main Street shops will also open their doors allowing visitors the opportunity to meet with local businesses that some people would not normally know about. In addition to the many vendors and businesses, the festival also offers a variety of activities for children. Youngsters can take their turn on an inflatable slide, ride in a barrel train and jump around in an

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PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

What began in the 1980s as an impromptu shootout between friends has now become a staple during Pioneer Days, a tradition that entertains visitors with staged gunﬁghts and shooting demonstrations.

inflatable bounce house. They will also have the opportunity to try the festival’s brand new ride — Zippy Pets. These large, plush, motorized pets light up and play music as children (and even adults) ride them around the rink. “They’re all like puppies and kitties — you know, cutesy things like that,” Harris said. Non-profit vendors, such as The Retirement Home for Horses and the local Lions Club, also offer activities for children at their booths, including face painting, a puppet show and other fun games. For guests who simply want to take a seat and enjoy the beauty of Alachua, there will be live music playing all day on two stages, and a chance to see artists at work in Theater Park. Though the festival is a free event, the ABL is able to award scholarships to high school seniors using the money raised from vendor fees from both the Spring Festival and the Harvest Festival (which occurs in the fall). According to its website, the ABL scholarship is awarded to “aspiring entrepreneurs attending Santa Fe High School who hope to open their own local business one day and plan to attend Santa Fe College.” Harris said that last year the ABL was able to award a $2,500 scholarship, which probably only covers one year of school because of the cost of tuition. The first ABL scholarship was $1,300.

38 | Spring 2013

The scholarship was also once matched by an endowment fund, which doubled the award. However, Taylor said the endowment fund no longer matches the money the ABL raises. Though the amount of the scholarship ranges from one to two years, depending on how much money the ABL collects, Harris is glad they have been able to give it out every year. “I feel for all the parents that have to pay for it [college]; I know I will soon,” Harris said. “We just try to help out at least somebody.” HIGH SPRINGS

Pioneer Days Festival WHERE: James Paul Park WHEN: Sat., April 27 – 9:30am to 5pm and Sun., April 28 – 10am to 4pm. COST: Event is free and open to the public. Visit www.HighSprings.com or call 386-454-3120 for more details

xperience life in High Springs circa 1892 by interacting with pioneers, cowboys and Indians at the 37th Annual Pioneer Days Festival. The festival originally started as a celebration of the tobacco harvest but changed significantly as the demand for tobacco dropped in that late 1970s. It continued on as an

old-time variety show where men dressed as dancehall girls, which proved to be too risqué for the town. In 1981, the Chamber of Commerce sponsored a citywide yard sale which turned into the event of the town. Women would wear old-time dresses, men would wear cowboy boots and hats, and one resident even started the tradition of the shootout by having an impromptu gunfight with his friend. Today, that first yard sale has grown into a festival of more than 65 vendors that attracts 3,500 to 5,000 visitors to High Springs each year. Chris Smith, a volunteer and the husband of the event coordinator Sheila Smith, said in a phone interview that the festival is a great way for people to learn about how things were done in the past. “The ultimate goal, of course, is to bring people into High Springs to get them familiar with the town, the people and everything else,” he said. The main historical feature of the festival is Heritage Village where volunteers demonstrate olden-day crafts and skills such as spinning, weaving and candle making, Dot Harvey said in a phone interview. Harvey is the publicity chairman for the Chamber of Commerce. “I’m a history buff from the standpoint of what did the everyday people do? How did they live? What kind of foods did they eat? What kind of clothes did they wear? What kind of activities did they fill their day with?” she said. “I

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PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC

As one of the biggest attractions at the festival, the Western Shootout recreates the old West several times throughout the two-day event with old-fashioned, smoke-ﬁlled gun battles.

love that kind of stuff and Heritage Village brings a lot of that out.” There will also be Wild West Shootout performances throughout the day, which tend to draw the largest crowd. In addition to pioneers and cowboys, there will be an Indian Dance Circle performed by the Seminole Indians of Florida. The tribe will set up teepees and demonstrate their dances throughout the day as well

as sell crafts. To get children involved with the history of the festival, there will be a Little Pioneers Costume Contest. This event, which is separated by age groups, has four categories each, for girls (Pinafores, Pantaloons, Cowgirls or Pioneer Girls) and boys (Cowboys, Farmers, Lawman or Outlaws). The children will be paraded around the festival in their costumes

and every child who participates will receive a ribbon or a trophy. The fee for children entered in the contest before April 1 is $5; after that date the price will be $10. Local businesses will also get into the pioneer spirit with a window and costume contest. The business with the best Pioneer Motif and Costume will win a cash prize. There will also be a prize drawing for those who visit the

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businesses and fill out a ticket. Businesses will also have a chance to show off their store at booths where Harvey said they can “distribute samples of their goods, sell some of their goods or just hand out information about their businesses.” There will also be plenty of festival food, including sausage dogs and elephant ears; children’s activities, including a bounce

house and an inflatable slide; vendors and live music throughout both days. Vendors will sell handmade crafts ranging from woodwork to painting to quilts to jams and many more items, Smith said. This year they are also bringing back the Pie Contest where festivalgoers can sample and judge a variety of pies. Harvey said they also want street

actors from the local theaters and high schools to interact with guests as they travel through the festival. One year, she said, a man stumbled about the event dressed as a drunken mortician. “He’d pick a likely suspect and he’d just stumble up, wouldn’t say a word, and just start measuring them like he was measuring them for a coffin,” she said. “People got the biggest kick out of it.” s

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>> CULTURE

Cedar Key Arts Fest This Year, Heart Stickers Let Visitors Mark Their Favorite Art

BY LARRY BEHNKE how us what art inspires your heart.” Laura Matson Hahn, art festival coordinator, further explained, “Everybody has a different discernment about what fine art is. Art is personal and emotional. How do you feel about art?” This year, visitors to Cedar Key’s Old Florida Celebration of the Arts will be asked for their input. Festivalgoers will be given sheets of little red heart stickers (children will get pink ones) and urged to put these hearts on a section of the booths of art that touches their hearts. “The objective is to get people to think about what really inspires them,” Hahn said.

“S

44 | Spring 2013

There is no contest; just a show of what art fest visitors love. It might also stimulate talk about the art. “Artists love talking to visitors,” Hahn said. “Getting a heart sticker is a natural conversation starter.” This April 13 and 14 the tiny island town of 750 people will blossom in size during the art festival. The Department of Transportation estimated that the number of people coming to Cedar Key during festival weekend is around 22,000. The art fest vies with October’s Seafood and Art Festival as Cedar Key’s biggest event of the year. For nearly half a century folks have flocked to see art at this piece of paradise jutting into the Gulf of Mexico. They will come to see the 125 artists displaying works that

weekend. And many will stay on for the fine seafood, free live music in clubs, and the slower paced “island time.” Cedar Key artist Valerie Bretl created this year’s design for festival posters, cards and shirts. She made the mosaic “Shellmound” to honor the historic Native American oyster shell mounds near the island. Bretl used hand-made tile to depict the mounds, birds, plants and water on the piece, which won this year’s contest out of a large group of artist entries. Musing about the cycle of creation from destruction, Bretl said she began her mosaic career by smashing dishes in her driveway for raw materials to put back together for her pieces. She also

PHOTO BY LARRY BEHNKE

A view of one end of Second Street, the main thoroughfare of artist tents.

“It is a very special event in comparison to the big city art shows around Florida. It has the very highest quality of artists in a small fishing village setting.” described it as cathartic therapy, and found her plates, cups, teapots or anything breakable at yard sales. But these days Bretl uses more purchased items in her mosaics: marble, granite, onyx and specially created tiles.

Over the past 15 years she has created more than 100 mosaics, with each piece taking between 100 to 200 hours to complete. Bretl has donated “Shellmound” to the art fest for fundraising. The juried art show lines both

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sides of Second Street, closed for the weekend to car traffic. There is some kind of art for everyone: oils, acrylics, ceramics, photography, sculpture, textiles, stained glass, jewelry, leather and crafts of all types. Each year holds new surprises and clever creations. With $10,000 in prize money and $8,000 in pre-purchase awards, artwork of high quality is shown. “We treat artists really well, like celebrities,” said last year’s organizer, Mandy Cassiano. “We have a solid pool of artists to chose from.” Artists are served a breakfast feast both days, given a welcome

Spring 2013 | 45

PHOTO BY LARRY BEHNKE

TOP: “Snoozer,” an acrylic painting by artist Mike Segal. Other art includes ceramics, photography, sculpture, textiles, stained glass, jewelry and more. BOTTOM: The main street in Cedar Key is ﬁlled with visitors who come to see 125 artists displaying their work. RIGHT: This dog became a living colorful canvas during the last year’s event. Some lodgings are “pet friendly,” but they vary on number and type of pets allowed and fees.

packet and offered booth sitting to allow for breaks. Around 280 artists from across the nation apply each year; less than half are chosen. At the end of Second Street is the city park and sandy beach. Here children can play, make sidewalk chalk art and get their faces painted. A raised gazebo showcases a variety of musicians playing music during the weekend. Local churches, school and civic

46 | Spring 2013

groups serve up fresh seafood and homemade desserts. The Lions Club’s crab cakes and Garden Club’s lemonade are favorites. Mike Segal has been showing his paintings at this art festival for 22 years. “It is a very special event in comparison to the big city art shows around Florida,” Segal said. “It has the very highest quality of artists in a small fishing village setting.”

Segal said that many of the artists come here with their families, camp on the Gulf, and maybe get in some fishing and kayaking. “The event is really a homecoming for many of the visitors as well,” he added. “They arrive from all over the state and visit with old friends and have some fresh seafood.” The Southeast Tourist Society has selected the art show as one of the top 20 events in the

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Cedar Key’s Old Florida Celebration of the Arts April 13 and 14 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. From Gainesville, take Archer Road (SR 24) all the way to its end, which is the stop sign at Second Street in downtown Cedar Key.

PHOTO BY LARRY BEHNKE

Nature’s Art; taking photos and watching the sun set is always popular in Cedar Key.

southeastern states. The 2013 Festival is being sponsored by Palms Medical Group, a not-for-profit health care provider serving Bell, Branford, Chiefland, Gainesville, Stark, Trenton and Williston. Those who stay beyond the busy weekend can experience a completely different atmosphere. Cedar Key returns to quieter ways, but still offers much: chartered boat trips, fishing from the big pier, biking or touring the town in

rented golf carts, a variety of restaurants, shopping on Dock Street and photographing the legendary, beautiful sunsets. The town is more correctly Cedar Keys, since it is a series of islands connected by bridges. Thirteen surrounding islands make up one of the country’s largest wildlife refuges. Birds are numerous: pelicans and a variety of other shore birds. Trout and drum are common catches in Gulf waters, even off the city’s huge concrete dock. Clam

farming has become as large as the island’s tourist industry, and a local restaurant consistently wins prizes for its clam chowder. Motel rooms fill up fast for the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, so for those wanting to stay overnight, reserve a place early. The best part about staying on the island is being able to park the car and walk anywhere to shops, dock, music clubs, restaurants or sunset viewing areas. s

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Spring 2013 | 49

Community Spotlight…

Representing Gainesville at the National Level In 2005, Janet Larson had been a member of SunState Federal Credit Union for more than 20 years when a SunState loan officer suggested that she run for a spot on the Board of Directors. “I just wanted to do something to give back to the community,” she said. “Credit union boards of directors are volunteers, so the money [made from members] goes back to the members in low interest loans [instead of paying board members]. Serving the credit union members is the same as serving my community.” She was elected to the board that year, and in 2006 she became Chairman of the Board, a post she held until the end of 2012. She enjoyed the work so much that in 2010, she applied to serve with the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) in Washington, D.C. The president and CEO of the organization, Fred Becker, was so impressed with her paperwork that he offered her a spot on any number of NAFCU committees. Larson, being a state health inspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, chose to join the regulatory committee. “Janet is a volunteer, but a lot of the people who serve on this committee are CEOs,” said SunState president and CEO Jim Woodward. “The technical information is part of our job. We read it, and we have to understand it, and we have staff in charge of it. But she’s taken it on and spends many late nights making sure she’s prepared when they have their monthly meeting. Fred Becker personally contacted her and said that he wanted her on the committee again because she does such a good job.” Larson was a Gainesville Police Department officer for 22 years; she was the first woman to serve on patrol for

the city. Since her retirement from the force in 1994, she has started her health inspector career and volunteered in many ways – among other positions, she is the Secretary/Treasurer of Gainesville Police Retiree’s Association and is on the board of directors for Peaceful Janet Larson Paths. She also enjoys a happy home life with husband James “Swede” Larson (the man she calls “the love of my life”) and their two-year-old Shih Tzu dogs, Princess Jane and Cuddle Bug. Her next goal: a spot on NAFCU’s Board of Directors to better serve the organization that has so impressed her. “NAFCU is the nuts and bolts of the credit union movement,” said Larson. “They have an awesome code of ethics, and they work for federal credit unions throughout the world. The knowledge and professionalism that NAFCU brings to the credit union community is absolutely terrific.” It is an aspiration that came as no surprise to Woodward. “She’s very forward-thinking, and she’s always on the move,” he said. “She’s not one to take something halfheartedly. She does her homework, she’s prepared and she understands. “We are very, very blessed to have her at SunState, and I’m blessed to know her as a friend.”

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>> CANCER AWARENESS

Relay Relay Olé Takes Over High Springs for a Special One-Night Event

BY SARAH BRAND arkness falls as volunteers begin to place white paper bags around the track. Each bag, weighted with sand, have a candle inside. As they are placed, other volunteers come by and light the candles. The Luminaria ceremony has begun. “I had never experienced it until last year and I really didn’t expect it to be as strong of an emotional impact it was but it just really grabs you,” said local Relay for Life publicity chair Dot Harvey. “When you just see all those lights and realize how many lives have been touched by this cancer, you know its just amazing.” Relay for Life is the key

52 | Spring 2013

for Life

fundraising international event that the American Cancer Society sponsors every year to raise money to support its research, educational and assistance programs to fight cancer. The Luminaria occurs at 9 p.m., but it is not the only activity at the event. There are auctions, fundraisers, arts and crafts and others. This year’s Relay will be held at the High Springs Civic Center on May 3 at 6 p.m. to May 4 at noon. Because it is an 18-hour all-night event, the planning begins shortly after the end of this Relay. “Relay for Life really is a year-long process,” said Amanda Granozio, associate director for the Alachua Relay for Life unit. “We begin shortly after our relay ends.

Really by June and July we were already planning for next year.” Each city unit begins by reaching out to those from previous Relays and assembling a committee. They discuss the positions and figure out who wants to do what in the planning. After the positions are assigned, the committee begins to plan a kickoff event. The kickoff is the first official event of that year’s Relay. At this event, they try to recruit past teams that have participated. They also announce the theme for that year. The kickoff party was held October 25 at the New Century Women’s Club, where they provided a buffet, handed out gift baskets and sold Mexican style arts and

PHOTOS BY ALBERT ISAAC and LINDA HEWLETT

UPCOMING EVENTS THAT SUPPORT RELAY FOR LIFE: lay. March 26 Mason’s Tavern is donating 10% of all proﬁts to Relay. Come from 4:00 to 10:00 April 18

rs. Pink and Purple on the Patio at the Great Outdoors. o The Great Outdoors very graciously has agreed to donate all proﬁts on the patio on 4/18 to Relay. pecial There will be a live band. Sue Weller and other special folks will be bar tending. Times are 4:00 to 10:00..

April 20

Community Yard Sale. Teams signed up for Relay will put on a huge Garage Sale. Location and times to be announced.

Spring 2013 | 53

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LINDA HEWLETT

High Springs Boy Scout Troop presents the Colors at the beginning of the 2012 Relay held at the High Springs Civic Center. Also on hand were team members of the Yellow Bellied Sliders Bicycling Society and Billie Joe Benedict, a member of the High Springs Woman’s Club Team, among many others.

crafts in honor of the theme. This year’s Relay is the weekend of Cinco de Mayo, and Granozio said the committee thought a Relay Olé theme would be timely and fun for the participants. At the kickoff event the committee also had 10 teams officially register to participate in Relay. Businesses, families, non-profit organizations, individuals and other organizations can register to be a team, the only requirement being a $100 registration fee. Then from the time the teams are formed until the date of the event, they fundraise for the Relay. “They can do anything that is legal; have bake sales, yard sales, drawings — whatever they want. We have one member that’s doing a Tupperware fundraiser, I think we have another one that is doing an Avon fundraiser,” Harvey said. Along with the teams doing fundraisers for the event, the committee also hosts fundraisers. This year they had events at a diner, and at Pizza2Go and a Forget-Me-Not sale. At each fundraiser a percentage of

54 | Spring 2013

proceeds were donated to Relay. The main event, of course, is Relay for Life. Relay begins with an opening ceremony and a “Survivors’ Walk.” Survivors, and their caregivers, are invited to walk the first lap of the night. Afterward a survivors’ dinner is held. “They get to sit down for a full-course dinner we provide to the survivors and each survivor can have one guest with them at the dinner,” Harvey said. After the survivor’s walk and dinner, the other activities begin. Each team sets up a campsite where they have on-site fundraisers. “One of the teams usually grills, like hot dogs and hamburgers. We do a cake auction, then a number of our teams do drawings for baskets,” Granozio said. One team is planning to hold an arts and crafts fundraiser where participants donate $1 to make the craft. There is also live entertainment. “It’s really very much like a community fair or festival, but there is

that aspect to it, that cancer never sleeps and so for one night neither do we,” Granozio said. The other requirement for the event is that each team has at least one member walking the track at all times. “If everyone kind of splits it up and takes two half-hour shifts here and there, the rest of the time you’re really kind of enjoying everything that’s going on at Relay,” Granozio said. To make the event more enjoyable, at the top of each hour the laps are given different themes. Granozio said some popular themes from last year are sure to make an appearance at this year’s event, such as the Bandana Banana lap. “After you finished the lap you got a banana to eat and a bandana to wear,” she said. The climax of the event is the Luminaria ceremony. At 9 p.m. white paper bags filled with sand and containing a candle align the track. The lights in the park are turned off, and the candles are lit. Participants are given a glow-stick, and the

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PHOTOS BY SARAH BRAND

A money jar and poster board sit in the foyer of Cootie Coo Creations on February 23. The store was hosting a Relay for Life fundraiser in honor of Mike Johnson, who had lost his battle against cancer a few months prior to the event. ABOVE: Between 20 and 30 people showed up that day to decorate handmade cards and donate their time to Relay for Life.

names of those who have lost the battle to cancer are announced. As participants hear the name of a loved one, they snap their glow-stick and begin to walk the track. “So the ceremony starts in total darkness, except for the bags that are lit around the track, but by the end of the ceremony there’s all these flickering lights all through the crowd and then everybody goes and walks the track together,” Harvey said. Some events continue throughout the evening. In the morning awards are given and there are announcements and a closing ceremony.

Relay is open to the public, but after 10 p.m. individuals under 18 years old and not registered on a team are asked to leave. In the morning they are invited to return and rejoin the events. Granozio said that last year they had a total of around 1,500 participants, and this year’s event will likely exceed that number. She also said they have raised more money than they had at this time last year. “So we’re very excited that we’re definitely growing and hoping that we continue to grow in the next few years,” she said. All of the money raised at Relay for Life and its other events goes

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directly to the ACS. No amount is kept for other purposes. “The most important thing about relay is that it’s really an event that is meant to bring the community together to do something great,” Granozio said. “For me to be out there to see survivors and their caregivers, to see families that may have lost a loved one, [to] look around them and see how many people in their community are there to support them, you know, that’s what Relay is all about.” s The Relay for Life will be held at the High Springs Civic Center on May 3 at 6pm through May 4 at noon. For more information, visit relayforlife.org.

Spring 2013 | 57

>> MAKE LIKE A TREE

Tree City Newberry’s Green Initiative

BY SARAH BRAND enior forester Dave Conser stood in front of the EastonNewberry Sports Complex January 16, speaking to a crowd of individuals under five feet tall. “What do trees do for us?” he asked. “Are trees found in paper? Are they found in pencils, shirts, that makeup stuff your mom puts on her face every morning? Is it in ice cream?” His devoted listeners, confused about trees being in ice cream answered with a stern, “NO!”

Conser was at the Sports Complex to educate a group of children in the after-school care program as part of the Newberry Tree Planting Demonstration Celebration. There he told the children about tree care and management and, with their help, planted a tree. According to a City of Newberry press release, the event was part of the city’s Green Initiative, and was made possible through an Urban and Community Forestry grant awarded to the city through the Florida Forest Service. The demonstration was filmed by

a city commission staff member, and will be edited by several high school students to create a city video. City workers planted 79 trees — Live Oak, Redbud and Dogwood — at the entranceway of the Complex, which was also part of the demonstration. The grant was awarded to the city though Conser’s help. As the senior forester for Alachua County, he was made aware of the grant. “I told the different cities around Alachua County about the chance to get this grant and Newberry put in for one,” he said.

PHOTO BY SARAH BRAND

Moving in as close as possible, children watch intently as Senior Forester Dave Conser places a tree into the hole they had helped him dig at the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex.

58 | Spring 2013

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Spring 2013 | 59

PHOTOS BY SARAH BRAND

LEFT: Children take turns widening the hole. Conser explained that when planting a tree the hole must be wider than the pot the tree came in. TOP: Newberry Mayor Bill Conrad (top right) says a few words before the demonstration. ABOVE: Newberry City Planner Wendy Kinser, with County Forester Dave Conser, gives an opening speech to children at the “Tree-Planting Demonstration Celebration”.

The process was then handed over to Wendy Kinser, the grants coordinator for Newberry. She wrote a proposal for planting trees at the Complex, and Newberry was awarded the grant. Toward the end of last December the city received $9,000 out of a possible $10,000. Newberry was also recently designated a Tree City USA for 2012, the third year in a row. Kinser said that Tree City USA is a national program sponsored in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. She said that approximately 3,000 cities and towns in the country are designated, but that it is something special when a city in Florida is chosen. “It shows that there is a recognition and an awareness of the importance of tree care and that the

60 | Spring 2013

community has a forestry program and an ordinance that promotes the care of trees,” she said. Communities typically apply by the end of the year, and when awarded are recognized for the work that has been completed during that calendar year. Kinser said Newberry was originally designated Tree City USA in 2010. “And then each year we have to reapply. We recently resubmitted the 2012 designation and the things we’re holding now, in January, really will count for 2013,” she said. A Tree City designation is something that most cities can apply for. Newberry began the process with the help of Dave Conser and a group of about 10 high school students. The students had approached Conser, asking what they could do to help the environment. Conser

told them about urban forestry. “Its basically management of the trees in the urban environment, the trees in the natural environment within the urban area,” he said. “You might think of, for instance shade trees, yard trees.” He then told them about becoming a Tree City USA designation. To become a Tree City USA the city has to meet four qualifications: establish a tree board or committee that is responsible for the management of trees, have a tree ordinance, celebrate Arbor Day and spend $2 per capita on tree management. “That means if the population is 6,000 you have to spend $12,000 on managing trees. And actually most municipalities in most towns are already doing that without realizing it,” Conser said. “Just the work they do to maintain the city’s trees, tree trimming, maintenance

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PHOTOS BY SARAH BRAND

Conser and the children make a berm around the trunk of the tree. He explained to the children that this is important in containing the water around the roots. Watering the tree showed the children how the berm they created worked by holding the water close to the tree.

and different things.” Conser then suggested the students put together sample ordinances and tell the key leaders the requirements. “It was so cool going into the

62 | Spring 2013

city commission meeting about two years ago or so when here’s the city’s politicians talking to these high school kids,” Conser said. He said he was so proud of them for pushing this forward and getting the information to the city commissioners. “Those kids helped Newberry become a Tree City USA,” he said. All the different programs and grants awarded to the city leads to different projects, Kinser said “A lot of times we try to tie all this stuff together and make it make sense,” she said. “So when you think about the community, you think about bringing people in for tourism, but you also think about why people want to come here to visit Newberry or why do [they] want to live here.” Kinser said these things could be

trees, conservation efforts, sports tourism and natural amenities. Plans are in progress to build tree-lined sidewalks on either side of the entranceway to the EastonNewberry Sports Complex. The city also installed an irrigation system to regularly water the trees planted at the Complex to ensure what Conser described as surviving and thriving. “Most people water a tree enough for it to survive, but you have to water it enough for it to thrive,” Conser said. “I think what’s important is Newberry’s emphasis to enhance the future while preserving the past. So that’s one thing that we’re trying to do so you want that small town community effect but you still want to plan for the future,” Kinser said. “By planting trees you’re planning for the future as well.” s

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>> TRAVELLIN’ MAN

Rising

Star Jamie Davis

STORY BY ALBERT ISAAC PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM MORRISSEY orth Florida native Jamie Davis, singer, songwriter and guitar player, has been involved in music nearly as long as he has been alive. He comes from a musical family and a large network of musicians and remembers growing up listening to country music’s greats, such as George Strait. He remembers taking guitar lessons from his father. And he fondly recalls sleeping backstage in his father’s guitar case. “My earliest memories were when I was about 3 years old, my dad playing shows and me waking up in his guitar case,” Davis said in a recent interview. “There was something about the smell of that guitar case. He played this old Martin guitar and there was just

66 | Spring 2013

something really comforting about his guitar case. I would just curl up in it backstage and go to sleep.” Davis said his father, Eddy, is a honky-tonk player who performed in the Country Honey Band, which was “really hot in Gainesville” back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, playing in such places as the Lone Star. He said his mother’s side of the family is also very strong musically. “I am blessed to come from a musical background,” he said. “My grandma is 91 and plays guitar in the church band.” Davis was born in Gainesville and lived in High Springs until he was about 10 or 11 years old, he said, when he moved to Suwannee County. He went to school in Branford, played music and even

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Jamie Davis and his band perform for a capacity crowd during a February gig at The High Dive in Gainesville. Band members include Justin Lee on guitar, Sammy Bright on drums and Donnie Helms on bass. Another crucial member is his sound engineer, Justin Breeden, who travels with the band to ensure they sound as good as they can.

did a little stint as a rodeo cowboy. “Music and sports is what I did,” he said. “Music was real big. I started playing drums early on. My brother was a drummer in a rock ‘n’ roll band and he said, ‘Man, you can sing. You sound just like Garth Brooks.’ Then I started singing more. I was singing in church and they gave me the confidence.” This was also around the time Davis wanted to play guitar, so he began to practice. “I was fortunate,” he said. “Around the age of 14, my dad was living in Georgia and I went up and spent a summer with my dad and he gave me a really good strong foundation. I went through his curriculum. It was

68 | Spring 2013

cool. [He taught me] very fundamental guitar playing and music and theory in general, just the basic stuff you need to build your music on. I had the basic chords; my dad really put it together then. A lot of players just play by ear and don’t get that, and I was taught from an early age that you use your ear and you use your knowledge as well. That’s really where it all started.” His father also gave him some sound advice: learn a trade. “My dad said, ‘If you really want to play I’ll teach you everything I know. But you’re going to need to learn a trade.’ So I did construction.” By the time Davis was 15 he was playing any and every honky-tonk

venue around Branford. “I knew I had to cut my teeth, build my chops and create a local fan base at the same time, and lucky for me, my dad knew all the club owners so I didn’t have to lie about my age — at least not with all of them,” he is quoted on the Jamie Davis website. Davis was invited to play bass with the South Florida vocal group Buck Wild, where he gained experience touring, playing different venues each night and learning how to be a supporting act as well as a headliner. “Buck Wild was the first substantial thing I did with music. It was kind of like jumping off a cliff,” he said. “Going out on the road was

“We’ve got 27 songs written and we’ll probably pick 10 to 15 songs to go on the new record. Chances are we’ll take them to Nashville or Los Angeles.” like, wow, culture shock. But it was great. Some of the funnest times in my life. Made some of the great friends in my life and a lot of great connections. Through the connections our manager is now a record producer, and he produced my record, ‘High Weeds & Rust.’” The band signed a record deal and relocated to Nashville, playing supporting shows with Charlie Daniels, Josh Turner, Andy Griggs and others, according to the Jamie Davis website. One of the most memorable moments for Davis was performing

for former president George W. Bush. While this was a great time in his life, Davis missed his family. In 2005 he returned to North Central Florida. “I came back to get custody of my daughter, Brook,” Davis said, who also has a daughter in Orlando. “I came to Gainesville to network but she wanted to stay in Bell. It is a bit tough, especially with hectic schedules, but my mom is a humongous help with my daughter. I wanted to get my daughter in a stable life and my mom has been a blessing.” His mother, Linda, is more than

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happy to help out, saying that she would do anything for her children — anything that was not illegal. “Brook stays with me because she wanted to be in Bell and play in the band,” Linda said in a recent telephone interview. “Jamie talks to her every day and sees her all the time.” These days Linda is very supportive of her son’s musical aspirations but admits to having misgivings in the early years. “I told his dad when Jamie was born that if he picked up a guitar I was going to cut his fingers off,” she said with a hearty laugh. “I didn’t want him playing in the bars and stuff.” Fast-forward about 12 years and her son was, indeed, picking up the guitar. “And then he started playing and

Spring 2013 | 69

Sammie Bright, age 16, started playing drums at the age of 3. By age 8 he was holding his own with seasoned musicians.

I can remember him learning the songs over and over and over again. I knew that one of these days he would get it because his dad did the same thing.” She fondly remembers the early days when her then-husband, Eddy, would be performing and they

would have their young son with them at the gigs. “There were times that we couldn’t find anybody who could watch Jamie, and he was so little we’d lay him down in the guitar case,” she said. Linda, perhaps now his biggest

fan, is happy that her son has followed her advice and remained grounded as his career blossomed. “I told him when this all started to not get above his raising. Don’t forget his manners and where he came from,” she said. “And I just can’t believe how much he’s grown up in this experience. He’s just a good person. I tried to bring up all three of my children to be considerate of other people.” Linda also talked about a couple of construction accidents that nearly cost her son his music career. “He was working and nearly cut his finger off. His manager, or whatever, told him that they weren’t going to let him use table saws anymore. He’s a good carpenter, but the table saw got him. He was blessed it didn’t cut his finger off,”

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she said. “And once he fell off a roof and broke his wrist. They told him he may never play again and it just took his breath away.” Davis has since retired from the construction business and is grateful to stay busy pursuing his music career fulltime. “Now I work about 20 hours more a week as I did before,” he said. “And it’s every bit as hard. It may not be as physical — it’s not — but at the end of the day, it’s work.” But this is work he clearly enjoys. The Jamie Davis Band can now be seen and heard in music venues as close as High Springs or as distant as Key West. The band has shared the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke, and The Doobie Brothers. His first solo album, “High Weeds & Rust,” is on the racks and doing well and he is in the midst of recording songs for his next album. “We’ve been demoing them in the home studio,” Davis said. “We’ve got 27 songs written and we’ll probably pick 10 to 15 songs to go on the

new record. Chances are we’ll take them to Nashville or Los Angeles.” Davis has high praise for the members of the band, describing them as genuinely honest and good people, more than just hired hands. “I have a great band, a great group of brothers,” he said. “They’re fun to hang out with. Everybody who is involved in the project is great. The road can be tough. It can be sticky when you’re out for three months and you got a bunch of guys in the band that are side guys, but my guys aren’t really side guys. Everybody’s got their focus in the right place.” The band consists of Sammy Bright on drums, Donnie Helms on bass, Justin Lee on guitar, and sound engineer Justin Breeden. They range in age from 16 to 38, with Sammy Bright being the youngest. Bright began playing drums at age 3. He takes virtual classes so he can tour with the band. “Sammy befriended me on Facebook,” Davis said. “I knew his dad for years, before he passed away.

My old guitar player said, ‘You gotta hear Sammy.’ So I came out when he was 13 and he blew my mind.” Bright was invited to sit in with the band and the following month he came out and played again. “The next day, I had problems with my bass player, and my drummer was also a bass player so I put him on bass and called Sammy,” Davis said. “Sammy said, ‘I’d love to be in a band as rocking as yours is.’ That was roughly 2 ½ years ago.” All of the music on the Jamie Davis album is original, a songwriting collaboration primarily between Davis, Farnell Cole and Justin Lee, also known as Number 2. “Number 2 is a great song writer. He comes up with a lot of great ideas,” he said. “We’ve been writing the new album with our friend Farnell Cole from Alachua. The process is different every time. It works really well with the three of us. It is most definitely a team process. We approach it like the Zac Brown Band. They write all of their own stuff.”

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But Davis has no qualms about making an album of other artist’s material. He is very grateful for songwriters and recording artists. “I’m from the George Strait era, and George Strait has more hits than anybody in any music genre and he’s never written any of his Number 1s,” Davis said. “Personally, if it weren’t for ‘Amarillo by Morning’ I probably never would have started. That was a great song and some songwriter wrote it and George Strait recorded it. I would fill up a whole ‘nother album of other peoples’ songs if the songs related to me. Because to me, that’s the most important part of being an artist; making sure that you only do something that’s meaningful to you, something that’s honest and sincere, because that’s what sells.” Davis also credits the many people he has met in his journey, making connections that have helped him find success. One of his connections, a friend who prefers to remain anonymous, has advised

him along the way. “I met him through my girlfriend, Michelle — the love of my life and the biggest JD fan — she introduced me to him,” Davis said. “She knew he had contacts and had a passion for music, and so she brought him out to Napolatano’s and we immediately struck up a friendship.” Through his contacts the band landed a string of shows, Davis said, increased its Facebook fan base from 300 or 400 to nearly 3,000 and secured a gig on the Simple Man Cruise with Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Doobie Brothers. Davis recently learned that he has been invited back for the 2013 Simple Man Cruise. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, the Doobie Brothers live,” Davis said. “I got off the boat and we did a mini-cruise with Blackberry Smoke, an up-andcoming band from around Atlanta/ Athens, Georgia, signed to Zac Brown’s record label. We finished that with a show with those guys at the House of Blues in Orlando.”

When he returned home Davis received an email from a national network calling him back for a private audition in Miami. While he cannot divulge the details of the show, he said he feels good about his audition and is trying not to think about it too much. Only time will tell if his fans will be seeing him on national television in the coming months. While Davis has been a professional musician for years, he admits that he always has more to learn. To that end, he is taking guitar lessons again, for the first time since those early years under his father’s tutelage. “If you ever stop learning, you stop growing. By no stretch am I where I want to be. I’m reaching and striving and scratching. Digging in for it,” he said. “I love what I do. I really do. I am blessed and very fortunate to do it for living and for having a lot of great people in our corner. It’s awesome.” His fans would agree. s

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COLUMN >> BY KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

Healthy Edge Five Quick & Easy Healthy Eating Tips for Kids ou want to make sure your kids get the best foods, but keeping up on nutrition trends can be mindboggling. The good news is that we don’t have to keep up on everything to give our children a healthy start. Here are five quick and easy ways to help kids eat healthily.

1. Want your kids to eat their veggies? Give veggies to kids at snack time. A Produce Marketing Association survey of 1,000 families reported that 46 percent of kids ate most of their fruits and vegetables as snacks. Only 30 percent were likely to be most receptive to eating fruits and vegetables at the dinner table.

2. Want to keep nutritious and fun kids foods in the house? According to the American College of Cardiology, your family should try stocking these foods: • • • •

String cheese. Whole-wheat crackers and peanut butter. Air-popped or low-fat microwave popcorn. Frozen juice bars made with 100 percent real fruit.

• Fruit and dried fruit. • Baby carrots with hummus or bean dip. • Low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit.

3. Want to keep your kids teeth healthy? Watch out for acidic drinks. We all know that carbonated drinks erode tooth enamel. Did you know that lemonades, sports drinks and energy drinks do more damage to enamel than colas? Lemonade and sports drinks are acidic. Acidic drinks, especially those that have “citric acid” on the label, break down the protective enamel coating of teeth. Exposing the softer layers underneath causes sensitivity and pain… and cavities. To mimic 13 years of normal beverage consumption, University of Maryland Dental School Biomaterials scientist Anthony von Fraunhofer and Air Force dentist Matthew Rogers put enamel extracted from human teeth into 13 different drinks for 14 days. Them, they measured how much enamel each drink destroyed. The worst offenders? KMX energy drink, Snapple Classic Lemonade, Red Bull energy drink, Gatorade (lemon lime) and Powerade (Arctic Shatter). These

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drinks eroded enamel 6 to 11 times more than Coke and 49 to 85 times more enamel than black tea. You and your kids don’t need to quit drinking these drinks, but you do need to drink them responsibly. Von Fraunhofer suggests that you drink them quickly and rinse your mouth with water soon after. Sipping acidic drinks allows them to sit in your mouth long enough to damage your enamel.

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ancer is a natural concern for all age groups; however, it is a particular threat to the independence of Seniors. A recent study from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center projects a 67 percent increase in cancer diagnoses for adults age 65 and older by the year 2030. While positive gains have been made in research and treatments, Seniors can also see improved quality of life through home health care tailored to the specifi c needs of cancer patients. “In this area, oncology home health care is very well received,” said Susan Swirbul, a patient care representative with Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville. “We have built a very comprehensive program by addressing a variety of needs that oncology patients typically have from a home health care perspective.” Twice a year, Caretenders provides its nursing team with ONS chemotherapy and biotherapy certification. Cancer treatments often bring their own physical and psychological side effects, so this training allows team members to better understand the particular needs of oncology patients. The nurses can provide infusion and chemo services, post-surgical wound care, and help with side effects of treatment and pain management issues. Other Caretenders personnel also have a special understanding of the oncology patient to provide

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optimal care. Physical therapists can be utilized to help the client with fatigue issues that so often accompany cancer treatment. Occupational therapists who specialize in lymphedema treatment can help those with swelling due to surgery that has affected the lymph nodes. Caretenders also has speech therapists certified in Dysphagia Therapy with FDA approved VitalStim to help radiation and chemo patients who have difficulty with swallowing. Assistance from Caretenders isn’t limited to the physical aspect of treatment. Mental health nursing services help patients and caregivers with coping abilities and mental outlook. Medical social workers can direct clients to support groups, information and financial aid resources for prescriptions and other costs. Caregiver education helps relatives and loved ones who care for the patient on a regular basis, and assistance with advanced directives is available. Home health care provides a crucial counterpart to standard oncology treatment in the care of cancer patients. “Physicians get very busy and when they have their patient in the office they have that snapshot of time,” said Swirbul. “Sometimes they aren’t thinking about the continuum of care beyond that office visit until something acutely goes wrong. We could be helping that patient sustain a better quality of life while they’re receiving cancer therapy.”

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>> LIVING HISTORY

Passing Muster The 7th Florida Infantry Regiment Comes Alive Through Civil War Re-Enactors at Dudley Farm

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN s a major supply route for the Confederacy, Florida saw its fair share of battles during the Civil War — many of which are recreated every year by dedicated actors and history buffs. But while these reenactments remain popular in North Central Florida, there is another side of the war to be seen. Young men saying goodbye to their families as they head off to battle. New recruits learning the tasks of war. The women left behind, and their changing role in an uncertain future. This is what visitors will experience at the first official 7th Florida Infantry Regiment Muster, scheduled

82 | Spring 2013

for April 19 and 20 at Dudley Farm Historic State Park. Small vignettes will depict the struggles that new minutemen — many of them farmers with no battle experience — and their families faced during a difficult time in history. “We are showing when young men stepped forth from their families to enlist in the army of the Confederacy,” said David Riker in a phone interview. Riker is a park ranger at Dudley Farm who has participated in Civil War battle reenactments for nearly 30 years. “This is more of a training and gathering than it is a battle reenactment,” he said. “This is the first time a lot of them have held a military musket. A lot of them had hunting rifles but they had not

been issued weapons or uniforms yet. That’s what they will actually get at this event. Then they will be trained how to march, how to use their weapons, and also how to be involved with other units like artillery and cavalry.” Riker, who also taught middle and high school history in Polk County for 12 years, said the events to be depicted occurred in April of 1862 during a “second call for men,” when the war had been going on for a year and there was a need for more soldiers. Florida, being a relatively new state, did not have a huge population and wound up contributing the highest amount of young men per capita to the Confederate effort. The men who came from this particular

PHOTOS BY ANNE BELLO

Visitors will bear witness as new w o ﬁre minutemen soldiers learn how to form muskets, crew cannons and perform other tasks of war. erty Walter Cook (above left), of Liberty n to Guards Mess, stands at attention await instructions. The Liberty g Guards Mess is a group of young a men in north and central Florida who reenact Civil War events. James Premaine (right), General of the Federal Army at Olustee. Reenactors like Premaine ensure that their period clothing (never call them “costumes”) and language are completely authentic for the Civil War era.

muster became the 7th Florida Infantry Regiment and were commanded ed by Captain P.B.H. Dudley, Sr. (hence e the location for the reenactment). The history of these soldiers is a sad one. Riker explained that the recruits cruits from this muster were transferred ed directly into the Tennessee Valley ey campaign, including the Chattanooga ga and

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Missionary Ridge battles. The battles decimated the regiment; most of the soldiers, along with those from two other Florida regiments, were killed in action or stricken with disease. The few remaining men were combined into the 1st Florida Consolidated Infantry. Knowing the fate of these characters makes this reenactment even more poignant. “I can’t imagine how awful it was

in those days, with the men leaving for war in our own country. It must have been totally devastating,” Gloria Hughes said in a phone interview. Hughes is chairperson of the farm’s publicity committee and a volunteer since the park opened. “And the economy was just awful at the time, I’m sure. Everyone was very self-sufficient, as they had to be. For the men to leave, and for those who did come back to be wounded, it had

to be a devastating time.” Even so, the event promises to be an uplifting and informative experience for all who attend. Visitors will see how new soldiers were trained, from marching to weaponry (muskets and cannons) and how to work with other units such as artillery and cavalry. Demonstrations are planned on how women dealt with the effects of war, such as their changed roles with the absence of

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While most of the muster’s events take place in the ﬁelds, other areas of the park — such as the main farmhouse and the kitchen building — will be open as usual throughout the weekend. Park visitors of all ages can experience ﬁrsthand what life was like in the 1860s. Youngsters are often surprised at the effort required for the simplest of needs, such as pumping water from a well.

men at the home. Annette Lindsey, from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, is among the scheduled speakers. Whenever possible, all aspects of the festival are directly from 1862. Participants take great pride in making sure that their presentation is completely authentic, from the buttons on their period clothing to the vernacular they use. Weaponry, supplies and resources are also kept strictly as they would have been during these years. “It will be a complete immersion

Just the Basics… WHEN: April 19-20, 2013, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm WHERE: Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry COST: $5 per vehicle (up to eight occupants) RECOMMENDATIONS: Bring a picnic lunch and bug repellant, and wear comfortable shoes for walking. The commissary (park store) will be open, as will the other regular attractions at Rogers Farm.

in living history. The participants will not know modern conveniences,” Riker said. “The sight, smells, language, all the senses will be exposed to 1862.” Many of the normal Dudley Farm facilities and activities will also be accessible during the event. Volunteers will perform daily chores, and the commissary and picnic areas will be open. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and to wear comfortable clothes since many of the activities will take place in different parts

of the park. Weather appropriate clothing, bug spray and plenty of water are also recommended. The muster reenactment is one of many ways in which the people at Dudley Farm bring history to life for visitors of all ages. “Park manager Morgan Tyrone and the staff have done an exceptional job making history tangible, something that they can experience firsthand,” Riker said. “It’s more than just a bunch of buildings; we’re bringing living history events to the park for people to experience.” s

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>> RELICS

Head in the Clouds Watch Towers Quietly Phase Out of Modern Forestry

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA WILLIAMSON he world sways at 85 feet above the ground. Treetops spread out below, a landscape of tiny green mountains. At this height, everything becomes visible on a clear day — even a plume of smoke eight miles in the distance. While the Forestry Service towers have been slowly phased out, there is still a scattering of towers within the Alachua County area. Forest Rangers occasionally man the towers during peak fire season, but the amount of time spent inside has dwindled.

FLORIDA’S ORIGINAL FORESTS Before sawmills, cities and largescale development, forests covered much of Florida’s peninsula. Stretching 27 million acres, these

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lush ecosystems remained unmanaged and unprotected for most of the state’s history. As lumber companies, such as the Standard Lumber Company of Live Oak, moved into the region, this seemingly endless wood supply, the forests, disappeared. Timber, however, poured $1 billion annually into Florida’s economy in 1966, according to “A History of Florida Forests” by Baynard Kendrick and Barry Walsh. It is the only commercial crop harvested in every county in Florida. Through 1880 to 1920, lumber companies destroyed the land, cutting down nearly every tree on their property. It left the ground exposed, eroding under the frequent downpours. “By 1928, only about 6 million

acres remained of the original virgin forests, and these were going rapidly,” states Kendrick. “Four million acres had been cleared for agriculture; the remaining 17 million acres of cutover land had been devastated by fire, overcutting, and destructive turpentining practices.” Lumbermen realized the need for conserving Florida’s tree resources. In 1923, Florida Forest Association formed from the leaders of the lumber industry, taking the lead in tree-replanting programs and forest conversation. In 1928, the Florida Forest Service grew from the lobbying of the Florida Forest Association, which saw the need to increase protection of the area’s booming timber economy and its renewable

The Forest Grove tower sits midway between High Springs and Newberry. Forest rangers use the tower during peak ďŹ re season to scout the area for smoke plumes. Stretching 85 feet into the air, rangers can see miles into the distance on a clear day.

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resource. Several years after inception, the FFA gained support from the legislature to create a Florida Board of Forestry to “prevent and extinguish forest fires” and to “enforce all laws pertaining to forests,” Kendrick states. The FFS started with the idea of building a reforestation program, said Donald West, a Florida Forest Service manager based in Gainesville, Fla. State forest conversation programs did not begin until the Florida Board of Forestry hired Harry Lee Baker as the first state forester. With the creation of the FFS, 700,000 acres in North Florida were placed under protection. At this point in the division’s history, private landowners still fought their own fires. Residents paid a per-acre service fee to the State, which then constructed lookout towers for fire protection. Landowners were warned by word-of-mouth, and then expected to suppress the wildfire themselves.

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Throughout Baker’s career, he focused on forest fire control, tree planting and general forestry practices. By the mid-1930s, he turned his attention to promoting state forests and state parks.

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE GROWS In a piecemeal fashion, the Florida Forest Service over time gained more land. Alachua County joined the division’s protection in approximately 1950, West said. By 1932, the FFS had acquired 1.1 million protected acres, operated 22 lookout towers and nine pole lookouts (“crow’s nests”) 45 to 75 feet high. To fight fires, it crewed 10 firefighting trucks and staffed 11 rangers, 22 tower men and five patrolmen. Prior to Florida establishing the fence law in 1949, cattlemen lit the woods on fire every winter to help encourage the growth of groundcover for the open-range cattle to eat, West said.

However, after fence laws were developed, fires became more destructive. Without the annual burning, woods grew rampant, untamed by the locals, he said. However, it also reduced the amount of annual burning, therefore aiding the FFS’s reforestation program. A big part of the FFS mission was to control these uncontrolled fires, and this remains true today. Wild fires fall under the jurisdiction of the FFS, while any structural fire is reported to the local fire department. The first lookout towers were made of snag pines, which the rangers climbed to reach their post. Over time, the fire-prone wooden towers were replaced with steel structures, but eventually even those became a sign of the past. Prior to World War II, FFS staffed the towers seven days a week for eight-hour days. These towers were placed 16 miles apart throughout the state of Florida, said Forest Area Supervisor

The Florida Forest Service is slowly phasing out the usage of towers, so Forest Ranger Chris Poole no longer climbs the stairs on a daily basis to look for ﬁres. With advancements in technology and the advent of the cell phone, most ﬁres are now reported through the Forest Service’s airplane or by local residents. Poole, however, said he still ascends the towers several times a week -- for exercise. During the climb, he is also able to check the condition of the wooden stairs as well as the tower to judge if any parts need replacing.

Jaime Rittenhouse. On a clear day, the rangers could see eight miles into the distance. Each plot was selected to be five acres in size to support the family that would live onsite. Because of the small salaries paid to the husband-wife teams, the land had to support a small family farm. Rittenhouse said a forest ranger and his wife worked the towers, with the woman acting as lookout and the man working as a fire ranger. During the Great Depression, the FFS had 250 miles of its own telephone lines connected in an intricate communication system. When a fire was spotted, the ranger dashed to the nearest telephone pole, which was sometimes located on a local’s private property, used climbing spurs to reach the top and then reported in the fire. The system eventually rotted after the advent of radios, West said, which were introduced for communication in 1936. Even with the new equipment,

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Forestry towers provide a bird’s eye view of vast areas that cannot be seen from the ground. The Florida Forest Service would use its various towers to cross-coordinate ﬁres on a map for a more accurate reading.

there were flaws. Dispatchers could not tell whether the crews had received a transmission until they returned to headquarters, states Kendrick. However, for rural areas, the telephone system remained the only connection to outside cities until the early 1950s. When forest manager West first started his career 25 years ago, the towers were occupied every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. If a lightning storm passed over, a ranger had to report to his or her assigned tower regardless of the time. Beginning in 1946, as the post-World War II era crept across America, the FFS began to acquire aircraft for forest fire control.

FORESTRY CHANGES The 1960s saw a change in the way forestry was structured. The environmental era dawned, heralding The Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for foresters. By the 1987, fire control peaked. The organization received a record

90 | Spring 2013

$10.3 million the following year to replace worn-out equipment and to purchase specialized vehicles, states Walsh. “With technological advances in aircraft and electronic monitoring, most wildfires were first reported by telephone; but the division’s 120 steel towers remained an effective fire detection tool,” Walsh states. “Rising 80 to 100 feet into the air, the towers were located throughout the state. Lookouts, including parttime workers, volunteers and Forest Rangers, continued to stand watch in the towers from early morning until dusk, depending on the level of fire danger.” Since West began his career with the FFS, the organization has sold 25 towers within its five county jurisdiction. “It’s a function of population,” West said. “When you have enough roads and people in a community, they see the fire and report it.” The greatest impact on fire reporting was the advent of cell phones for personal use, West said. Before, people could see the fires but were too far from any landline to report it in. Now, people carry personal

phones with them everywhere. Because of these improvements, there are no full-time staff members or volunteers inside the towers. Within Alachua County, the Forest Grove tower still stands, situated between High Springs and Newberry. This tower is not open to the public. On high-risk fire days, the Forest Rangers still man the towers, Rittenhouse said. The rangers man the tower for three to four hours in the afternoon, with 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. being the worst fire times, said Chris Poole, the forest ranger stationed at Forest Grove tower. West has heard of private landowners installing the purchased towers as observation decks for hunting or lounging. When one of the towers goes up for sale, the FFS mails out a competitive bid to all people on the towers’ waiting list. Whoever bids the highest, acquires the tower. “Some of forestry is based on old-school practices,” Poole said. “They keep the towers around for back-up, but with cell phones and a plane, there’s not a whole lot of fires we can’t find.” s

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>> EQUINE SANCTUARY

Horsing Around Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELSEY GRENTZER or 84-year-old Peter Gregory, retirement means getting up at 6 a.m. and working a 12-hour day. He rides a golf cart across his farm’s 265 acres of green pastures, chatting with volunteers, checking on horses and feeding the animals carrots along the way. Gregory and his wife Mary run the nonprofit Retirement Home For Horses at Mill Creek Farm, an equine sanctuary in Alachua where old, abandoned or neglected horses can live out the rest of their lives in peace. The farm is home to about 130 horses, including those retired

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$5,000 to $6,000, Crosby said. She said the sale is the farm’s only fundraiser that contributes to the $250,000 in annual costs required to operate the nonprofit organization, which is run almost entirely by volunteers and only has two paid employees. “It seems like $5- or $6,000 is a drop in the bucket,” Crosby said, “but it helps.” Crosby, 68, first heard about the horse farm after she saw it featured on Discovery’s Animal Planet about 12 years ago. She asked if the farm needed volunteers, and she has volunteered and worked at the farm ever since. “It’s just a wonderful place to be,” she said. “It just refreshes your soul.” Crosby is not the only one who finds joy in visiting the farm. Groups of volunteers are always coming and

96 | Spring 2013

going, but a few stick around. Almost every Saturday morning, Cindy Skeates and her husband leave their house in Orlando at about 6:15 a.m. and drive two hours to volunteer at the farm. “It’s hard to stay away once you come,” Skeates said. While there, the couple spend quality time grooming Maggie, a horse that was rescued after being found abandoned in the Everglades with her legs chained together, Skeates said. She and her husband immediately connected with the horse the first day they groomed her at Mill Creek Farm, so they decided to sponsor her for $40 a month. “It’s a nice way of bonding with a horse without the huge expense and responsibility,” she said. For Peter and Mary Gregory, opening a horse sanctuary was a way of

fulfilling a long-held dream to help animals. Their vision of an equine sanctuary began when the two were a young couple in England in the 1950s. At the time, they were frequent visitors of a horse sanctuary where London’s cart and carriage horses were given a two-week break from their work on the streets. Throughout their lives, the couple — who worked for years in the hotel business — moved around to Canada, the Bahamas, Portugal, Jamaica, the West Indies and eventually Florida. However, after selling a hotel for $1.5 million, they decided it was time to retire from the hotel industry, and they purchased 140 acres of property in Alachua in 1983. They bought their first horse a year later. “When we got out of the hotel business, we had enough money

Gainesville resident Alex Khokhlov (above), visits the Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm with his daughter, Annabel Khokhlov. This was their ﬁrst trip to the farm. Andy Staples (left) and his son Will offer a carrot to one of the horses. A horse ducks under a fence to take a carrot from 2-year-old Aiden Prezas. Rachael Small (far left), a 19-yearold civil engineering student at UF, grooms a horse named Cinnamon. She plans to volunteer at the farm about once a month through Circle K International, a community service and leadership organization.

to either retire for life and take it easy or do something worthwhile,” Gregory said. Since they were both self-proclaimed “animal lovers,” opening up a horse farm seemed like a natural thing to do. Now, 29 years later, all of their time is dedicated to the farm. “It’s a full-time job. You don’t get a day off,” he said, “unless you’re in the hospital.” The Gregorys live on the farm’s property and only leave for errands such as grocery shopping. They do not spend their money on luxuries like movies and restaurants. Gregory said the last time he and his wife went out to dinner together was April 1993. “It’s a bit restrictive, but we would rather do this than sit around at home or just travel around and eat at fancy restaurants,” he said.

Gregory makes sure that at Mill Creek Farm no horse goes forgotten. A live oak tree is planted on the property in memory of each horse that dies at the farm. “We think that’s a better memorial than some plaque that will disappear,” Gregory said. These trees live about 250 years on average, he noted. Since the Gregorys usually take in horses that are at least 20 years old, horses dying on the property is nothing out of the ordinary. On average, about one horse a month dies. However, they typically spend the last seven to eight years living in peace at the farm, Gregory said. More than 330 horses have been buried on the property. Despite publicity through national and local TV and print publications, Gregory said he

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finds that the farm is still largely unknown in the area. One of the benefits of the Spring Sale is that it helps bring people out to the farm for their first time. “I think 90 percent of people in this area have never heard about us,” Gregory said. “Even people down this road here have no idea what we do up here.” Skeates said she respects the Gregorys and the way they run Mill Creek Farm. “They put everything into this place,” she said, “their whole heart and soul.” s The 2013 Spring Sale takes place on Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mill Creek Farm. Located at 20307 NW C.R. 235A in Alachua. For more information, visit www.milcreekfarm.org. To donate items for the Spring Sale, contact Georgia Crosby at 352-463-6823 or gig4508@yahoo.com.

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100

>> RESTORATION

Old School High Springs’ School Building is Reborn; Repurposed

BY LARRY BEHNKE ecades ago Luell Everett came with her family to High Springs and she enrolled as a fourth grader at High Springs Elementary School. It must have been a good year for her, because she went on to become a teacher and returned in 1966 to teach fourth graders in that very same school. “We loved the big windows, all that light,” Everett said. “It was a nice school; we had a good program.” She remembers the well-run cafeteria and the long hallway where teachers would take students who needed to be spoken to privately about discipline matters. “All the rooms were filled,” Everett

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said. “We had about 400 students.” That was about its limit; a bigger school was needed. The last class in the old school was in May 1983, as a new series of buildings next to the middle school on North Main Street became the new elementary school section. Now the whole complex is known as High Springs Community School. The old building sat empty for years and slowly deteriorated. Holes in the roof let in rainwater, which rotted sections of the wooden floor. In October 1991, the deed for the vacant building and its 6.9 acres was transferred from the county school board to the City of High Springs. In 1992 money was found to put on a new roof to save the structure, but by then much of the

wooden floor had disappeared, the plumbing had rusted and windows were broken. In 1995, a group of three teenage girls rallied friends and family to approach the city with a plea. These latchkey kids ended their school day at 3:00, but their parents often worked until 5:30. There was no place to hang out with friends, except for the library, and that was a quiet place. The two large rooms in the west end of the old school were in decent shape. The floors were solid, but much work was needed on the walls, plumbing and wiring. A call went out to the community and it responded generously. Variety show spaghetti suppers and yard sales raised money. Local businesses

PHOTO BY LARRY BEHNKE

ABOVE: The school hallway looking like new during the December 2012 holiday dinner. RIGHT: Alumni of the High Springs school gathered for this late 1990s photo. From left to right, Morris Beck, Sam Skipper, Henry Thompson, Ralph Longman, Tom Diedeman, Janice Skipper, Betty Beville, Luell Everett, Georgan Roberts, Lowan Beville and Lavon Mauldin.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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PHOTOS BY LARRY BEHNKE

ABOVE: Renovation underway at the old school in mid-2012. RIGHT: Teens and volunteers hang out in the front, refurbished rooms of the old school in 1996 when it was the High Springs Youth Center.

and churches donated help and materials. Students worked, scrubbing, sanding and painting every Saturday for several months. A concrete access ramp was built, windows were repaired; a new ceiling and plumbing was installed. One city commissioner said it was the best example he had ever seen of the whole community coming together for the sake of its children. In April 1996 the High Springs Community Youth Center opened. A reception displayed the fruits of everyone’s labor; the two large rooms and hallway of the old school sparkled. The longtime empty rooms once again filled with children’s laughter. They had a safe, supervised place to go after school. Upgrades continued: 30 volunteers built a concrete basketball court; people donated computers, games, ping-pong and pool table, an LP gas heater. Parent volunteers staffed the five daily shifts. In later years the Boys and Girls Club took

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over, then a fulltime director was hired by the city. But the students who had created the center moved on to high school and college. New students did not appreciate the efforts of those who had worked to create the space. A dollar a day, then a dollar-an-hour fee was added and participation dropped. When the director moved away in the spring of 2005 and interest died, so did the Youth Center. Those two rooms are the only part of the old school renovation that remains unfinished. They are in good shape, but years of moisture have caused the 17-yearold ceiling tiles to droop. The two rooms are now used for storage, awaiting the upgrade the rest of the building recently received. The renovation of the old school was made possible by a $300,000 grant. A new floor and another new roof was installed, and the bathrooms were completely modernized. Upgraded windows

and a complete painting make the building look new again. During construction, Luell Everett’s old attendance register book was discovered and returned to her. She was thrilled. In December 2012, the first event took place in the renovated old building. A non-partisan group called Concerned Citizens of High Springs invited the entire city staff to a holiday dinner. City Hall staff joined police, firefighters and maintenance crew for a feast of catered food. Volunteer cooks and Glorious Food Catering donated their talents. Smiles and full bellies were in abundance. The rooms and hallway of the old school were once again filled with light and laughter. High Springs City Manager Ed Booth gave an update on the building to the city commission in January. He suggested it be used as a new community center for some of the events currently using the Civic Center on U.S. 441.

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PHOTO BY LARRY BEHNKE

High Springs City staff gather for a holiday dinner, the ﬁrst event in the restored school building, December 2012.

“Because of the variety of different size rooms, the old school could handle different events,” Booth said. The Civic Center is one large room with a small kitchen. The old school could be used for events that do not require cooking food there, unless money could be found for modification. Booth estimated that installing a kitchen would cost around $75,000, so currently groups that need a kitchen can use the Civic Center. He also reported that he had found enough tables and chairs to equip the old school. In late January at the city commission meeting, commissioner Byran Williams suggested the old

school be named in honor of the late High Springs commissioner Georgan Roberts. Not only had she once taught at the old school, but her grandfather had donated the land on which the school was built. It is not official, but there was a positive response to the idea that night. A public hearing in February was scheduled to receive suggestions for possible uses of the new community center. Some would like to use the rooms in the old school for holding an annual quilt show, as a gathering place for seniors, or for bridal showers — anything more appropriate that this more intimate setting offers than the Civic Center does.

Booth said that renting the rooms at the old school would use a varying rate schedule depending on the room size. It is possible that non-profit groups could get a reduced rate or no cost, as is currently the case at the Civic Center. When Booth was informed about the former Youth Center, he agreed that it could be a possibility too. “I like the idea of a youth center,” he said. “There’s not much for children to do. When they get bored they get into trouble.” Whether used by children or adults, the restored facility is something High Springs can certainly use and be proud of. s

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Animal Health Center of High Springs:

Thank You for a Successful First Year! I

n late 2011 when Dr. Bob Dilbone opened his Animal Health Center, his goal was to combine advanced medical technology with a personal touch to provide the best care for his patients. Just over a year and more than 1000 patients later, Dilbone - known as “Dr. Bob” and his staff have established a reputation for their hands-on, complete approach to veterinary medicine. “We don’t even use the words ‘ofﬁce call’ here. We do a thorough medical, physical evaluation of the pet,” said Dr. Bob. “Being thorough and complete once saves a lot of visits and money; we often see new people because of unresolved prior medical or physical issues.” Located on NE Santa Fe Boulevard, the Animal Health Center features care from not only the doctor but from veterinary technician Robyn McIntire and client services representative Melissa Stetten. The women (whom Dr. Bob calls, “the primary foundation of the practice”) echo the doctor’s insistence that thorough care from the beginning provides crucial insight to diagnose a pet’s health issue. “I’ve heard clients say, ‘Nobody’s ever spent that much time with us,’ and ‘I’ve been to the vet ﬁve or six times, and nobody told me that was the problem,’” said McIntire. “We get that a lot.” The time Dr. Bob spends with pets and their owners is also important because when all is said and done, the owner is the pet’s primary caregiver. So he makes it a point to not only listen to what the client has observed, but to 108 | Spring 2013

explain the reasoning and purposes of every procedure or test that he would recommend. “The importance of doing certain tests has never been discussed with a lot of our clients,” said Stetten. “It’s really about educating your clients so that they understand what you’re talking about, and then we can help them care for their pets.” The Animal Health Center is equipped with full surgical facilities, radiology, laboratory and additional technology to provide cutting-edge care for your pet. It also has unique touches, such as an open area exam room (a second room is fully enclosed for more investigative procedures). Wooden banisters, fresh paint and a waiting room with coffee and other comforts provide a down-home feel. Beyond the ﬁrst year, many new clients are appreciating the animal health care experience. Dr. Bob is grateful for the chance to enrich the lives of more clients and pets. “We have been blessed by the response in our ﬁrst year, and we continue to grow with super patients and wonderful clients,” said Dr. Bob. “It has exceeded our best expectations, and we thank those who have placed their trust in us.” The Animal Health Center is located at 415 NE Santa Fe Boulevard in High Springs and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. Appointments are appreciated; please call 386-454-0279.

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Taste of the Town

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

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 — Newberry’s Backyard BBQ is UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, and to celebrate we are lowering our prices! Newberry’s Backyard Bar-B-Q 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.

Brown’s Country Buffet 14423 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32616 Monday-Friday: 7am - 8pm Saturday: 7am - 2pm Sunday: 8am - 2:30pm

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.

Southern Soul 15 NE 2nd Ave, High Springs, FL Mon 11:00am - 10:00pm •Wed - Thu 11:00am - 10:00pm Fri - Sat 11:00am - Midnight • Sun 11:00am - 6:00pm

386-454-0429 SOUL FOOD — If you are looking for a true taste of down-home, comfort food then you will love Southern Soul Restaurant & Lounge now open in High Springs and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of our recipes are homemade and made from scratch. Rise and shine and stop in for one of our breakfast platters including flapjacks, pork chops, biscuits and gravy, or French toast, to name a few. For lunch and dinner our headliners include oxtails and yellow rice, pork chops, fried chicken, fresh mullet, catfish, and shrimp. Our sidelines are collard greens, mac and cheese, grits, mashed potatoes and many more! To top it all off, try our homemade desserts! Join us for live Jazz Friday and Saturday nights and live Blue’s every Thursday.

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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.

Mason’s Tavern 16135 NW U.S. Hwy. 441 • Alachua, FL Open every day 11:00am – 11:00pm Just North of the intersection of I-75 and HWY 441

386-418-8078

www.masons-tavern.com

SPORTS BAR & GRILL — Mason’s Tavern is a family operated sports bar with hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, hand-made burgers, pastas, wraps, salads and homemade wing sauces. With twenty TV’s there is always a place to watch your favorite team. The NFL Sunday Ticket and all of the Gator games makes us your football headquarters. Video games for the kids make Mason’s fun for the entire family. Live entertainment (call for schedule). Reservations and large parties welcome.

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 and fish, or handcrafted sauces and specialty desserts, Northwest Grille has something to please your palate. Meat lovers will enjoy the hand-cut steaks and 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 from 10am-3pm. Northwest Grille also features a full liquor bar with nightly drink specials. Happy hour is served daily from 3pm-7pm and all day on Wednesday – offering a wide assortment of craft beer, wine and $5 martinis.

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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

LADY GAMERS First Friday 1:30pm HIGH SPRINGS - The High Springs Woman’s Club. 40 NW 1st Ave. The Lady Gamers meet on the first Friday of the month to enjoy the fun, friendship and food — and let’s not forget the cards, board games and any other activities you would like to bring to the group.

ART RECEPTION First Friday 7:00pm – 9:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - High Springs Art Co-Op, 115 North Main St. Meet the artists at the Co-op’s monthly art reception, featuring snacks, refreshments and art. 386-454-1808.

highspringartcoop.blogspot.com.

LIVING HISTORY DAYS Saturdays 9:00am - 4:30pm GAINESVILLE Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. History comes to life at the little Farm in the Piney Woods. At Living History Days park staff interpret day-to-day life on an 1870s rural Florida farm. Come try a syrup-topped biscuit or cornbread baked in a wood cook stove. The Farm is open to the public from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Free. 352-334-3326 or 352-334-5067.

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BARNYARD BUDDIES Wednesdays 3:00pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Meet and greet farm animals on Wednesday afternoons by helping staff with afternoon feeding. The farm is open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Free. Suggested donations: carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, apples and melons for the farm animals. 352-334-3326 or 352-334-5067.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS MEETING Mondays Noon - 1:00pm ALACHUA - Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, 12085 Research Dr., Room 104. Is food a problem for you? If so, the 12 Steps may help you; an hour where other compulsive eaters share experience, strength and hope. Free for all ages. 386-462-0880.

oanfi.org.

THIS WONDROUS PLACE Through March 23 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave. Gainesville’s Historic

Evergreen Cemetery: Rare photographs, documents, multimedia exhibits and the work of Gainesville’s leading artists will tell the story of the 156-year-old, 53-acre Evergreen Cemetery, one of Gainesville’s most historic and beautiful sites. Sponsored by LocalEdge, a Hearst Media Services Company. 352-334ARTS. gvlculturalaffairs.org.

SHOWCASING STUDENT ART (SECONDARY) Through March 30 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave. Artwork by Alachua County Public Schools’ Secondary School students will be showcased and celebrated on the walls of the Historic Thomas Center. Free. 352-334ARTS. gvlculturalaffairs.org.

AARP TAX AIDE Wednesdays Through April 10 9:30am - 2:30pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th St. Providing free, quality tax assistance to lowand moderate-income taxpayers with special attention to those age 60 and over by certified tax specialist. 352-378-2524. eldercare.

ufandshands.org.

PRINTMAKING IN THE AGE OF REMBRANDT Through April 28 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Harn Museum, Southwest 34th St. and Hull Road. Exhibit features more than 70 prints by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) and 20 of his contemporaries created between the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the highlights of the exhibition are etchings by Rembrandt. 352-392-9826. harn.ufl.edu.

GATOR NATIONALS March 14 - March 17 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Raceway, 11211 N. County Road 225. The traditional East Coast opener of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, with the 44th running of the NHRA Gatornationals. Tickets are available via nhratix. com or 1-800-884-6472. Event information, area accommodations, directions to the track, RV parking information, and other details can be found at autoplusraceway.com.

INDIA FEST & HEALTH FAIR Saturday, March 16 9:00am - 6:00pm GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe College Gymnasium, 3000 NW 83rd St. India Cultural & Education Center (ICEC) invites all to its biggest

annual cultural event, showcasing the diverse culture and traditions of India. Music, dance, sale of exquisite Indian jewelry, crafts, ethnic attire and mouthwatering food. Cost is $5. 352-378-7112.

gvilleinternet.com/icec/

RUN FOR HAVEN Saturday, March 16 4:30pm JONESVILLE - Tioga Town Center, 105 SW 128th St. Registration fee includes the chip-timed run, a pre-run warm up, a post-run party, live music by Dottie South and the Slackers, and food and drinks! Not a runner but still want to join the fun? Purchase a Post-Party Only ticket. All proceeds will benefit the thousands of patients and families served by Haven Hospice. $35 until March 15, $45 for day-of registration for all; Post-Party tickets cost $15 per person. 352-271-4665.

Chick Corea and Béla Fleck Wednesday, March 20 7:30pm

ANTIQUE TRACTOR AND CAR DAY Saturday, March 16 9:00am - 2:00pm NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Road. The Friends of Dudley Farm CSO invite people to learn about its rich heritage as members of the North Florida Antique agriculture. They will plow a sugar cane field on a variety of vintage machines, dating from the 1930s. The local Antique Automobile Club of America will also display their cars. $5 per car, with up to 8 occupants. 352-4721142. friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, UF. Chick Corea and Béla Fleck — two master songwriters, musicians and bandleaders — meet in a historic duet of piano and banjo. The Grammy-winning duet will combine Corea and Fleck’s most recognizable tunes with the music from their Latin Grammy-winning album, “The Enchantment!” 352-392-ARTS. performingarts.ufl.edu.

DAVID HOLT AND JOSH GOFORTH Thursday, March 21 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Squitieri Theatre, UF. Four-time Grammy winner David Holt and acoustic musician Josh Goforth team up to share folklore stories and music. The duo utilizes multiple instruments — combining the rich sounds of banjo, mandolin and slide guitar along with unusual rhythm makers,

including spoons, a jaw harp and even a paper bag. 352-392-ARTS.

performingarts.ufl.edu.

GROUNDCOVERS & TURF ALTERNATIVES Thursday, March 21 3:00pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Alachua County Extension Office, 2800 NE 39th Ave. If grass is failing, you may not be putting the right plant in the right place. Learn about groundcover plants

www.VisitOurTowns.com

that will grow in the shade or full sun. Free. Pre-register at 352-3376209. alachua.ifas.ufl.edu.

A SHORTER WALK TO WATER Friday, March 22 Times Vary HIGH SPRINGS - High Springs Community School World. Water Day is a fundraiser sponsored by the High Springs Community School Book Club and FFA. Each day in Africa, thousands of girls walk

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three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. 352-392-ARTS.

performingarts.ufl.edu.

BEETHOVEN ORCHESTRA BONN Saturday, March 23 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, UF. Founded more than a century ago, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn has evolved into one of the best ensembles of its kind in Germany and has become a pillar of cultural life in Bonn and the surrounding region. The orchestra has completed successful tour dates and guest performances in some of the world’s greatest concert venues, from Carnegie Hall in New York to Suntory Hall in Tokyo. 352-392-ARTS.

9 TO 5

performingarts.ufl.edu.

March 22 - April 14

NATIONS PARK GRAND OPENING

Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Based on the movie with Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin, and nominated for five Tony Awards, 9 TO 5 tells the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there’s nothing they can’t do — even in a man’s world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 TO 5 is about teaming up and taking care of business, getting credit and getting even. 352-376-4949. gcplayhouse.org.

for hours to collect water for their families. Their walk is dangerous and keeps them from attending school. Often the water they obtain is contaminated. We can change this by building a well in a village that needs it. HSCS student volunteers will earn money for a well in a needy village by making laps around the school soccer field carrying a jug of water. Each participant must find his or her own sponsors

114 | Spring 2013

who may pledge by the lap completed or in a lump sum. All money collected will be given directly to the High Springs Rotary Club for their well water initiative. Anyone willing to sponsor students or even grades (the Kindergarten classes are looking for a sponsor for example) can send a check payable to the High Springs Rotary c/o HSCS 1015 N Main St. High Springs Fl. 32643.

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP Friday, March 22 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, UF. Founded in 1980, this group is one of the world’s leading dance companies, and the only one performing exclusively with live music across the U.S. and at major international festivals. In the late ’80s, MMDG became the national dance company of Belgium, and spent

Saturday, March 23 Time Vary NEWBERRY - Parade at 10 a.m., Grand Opening Ceremonies 11 a.m., Games begin at 1 p.m. and Fireworks in the evening. For more info contact Newberry City Hall: 352-5447 x 6.

SPRING TRAINING FESTIVAL Saturday, March 23 9:00am – 4:00pm NEWBERRY - Downtown, along Seaboard Drive. “All American Baseball” is the theme for Newberry Main Street Spring Training Festival that offers arts and craft vendors, food vendors, family friendly activities and entertainment.

NewberryMainStreet.com.

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