Our Town 2015 SEP-OCT (Newberry & Jonesville) by Our Town Magazine

GO OOD O NUTRI UT TRI RITI T ON TI

BREA BR EAST EA ST CAN ANCE CER CE R SU SURV R IV RV VOR O

KRAB KR AB B KIN NG

RECI RE CIPE E WO ON NDE DER RS S

VOL. 13 ISSUE 04 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 NEWBERRY & JONESVILLE EDITION

PLU

DREAM COME TRUE Gainesville ss ld-Cla offers Wor

& h t l a He l a c i d Me tment and Care, Trea rch Resea

The Make-A-Wish Foundation & LEGOLAND Florida Resort team up to bring 9-year-old Harley Castoral’s dream of a pirate ship tree house to life

MEDICINAL MARIJUANA: Is this a harmful drug or effective medicine – and should it be legal?

CSI: GAINESVILLE Local forensic scientists

HOW BIZARRE! Alien Hands? Werewolves? Walking Corpse Syndrome? Seven weird medical disorders

SAVED BY THE BELL UF’s Liminal Bell continues to make an impact as cancer survivors celebrate life after treatment

nu Halloween Bo

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

CONTENTS CONTENTS

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

G R E AT E R A L A C H U A C O U N T Y

| V O L . 1 3 | N O. 0 4

ON THE COVER >> FOR OUR HEALTH AND MEDICAL ISSUE WE INVITE READERS TO LISTEN TO THE HEARTBEAT OF MEDICINE. THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN THE MIND AND BODY IS EXTRAORDINARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SPRINKLED WITH SOME (HALLOWEEN) CHEER.

FEATURE STORIES 20

DREAM COME TRUE The Make-A-Wish Foundation and LEGOLAND Florida Resort team up to bring 9-year-old Harley Castoral’s dream to life.

THE KRAB KING (GET KRAAAA) Newberry’s Andrew Garrison serves up seafood with social media on the side.

REGENERATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. RTI Surgical, a surgical implant company in Alachua’s Progress Park, recently celebrated its new suite.

RECIPE WONDERS Treat your guests this Halloween with delicious popcorn balls! This is a recipe that’s so good it’s scary. BOO!

DEM BONES Want to make a skeleton? There’s no need to spend a bundle on spook-tacular decorations this year when you can make your very own Mr. Bones – using milk jugs!

CALIFORNIA DREAMING Take in the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, home of the – you got it! – Joshua Tree. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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CONTENTS

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

36 THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING Explore the connections of body and mind and learn about the power of the placebo.

44 MEYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR Learn about the women who created one of the most popular personality tests. What’s your type?

COLUMNS 42

NAKED SALSA by Crystal Henry

DIFFERENT NOTE by Albert Isaac

96 HEALTHY EDGE by Kendra Siler-Marsiglio

50 ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM Learn about Alachua County’s first female doctor.

146 EMBRACING LIFE by Donna Bonnell

58 MAKING STRIDES Meet Tarcha Rentz, breast cancer survivor.

REVIEWS

120 GATE CRASHING

SEVEN WEIRD MEDICAL DISORDERS Alien hands? Blue skin? How bizarre!

by Brian “Krash” Kruger

136 READING CORNER 122 MEDICINAL MARIJUANA Is this a harmful drug or effective medicine – and should it be legal?

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

160 ADVENTURES IN APPETITE by Ken Peng

126 FORENSIC SCIENCES Enjoy a glimpse into the fascinating world of Medicolegal Death Investigation.

138 THE MCKNIGHT BRAIN INSTITUTE One of the most comprehensive and technologically advanced centers in the nation.

INFORMATION 99 Charity Winners 100 Taste of the Town 106 Community Calendar

144 STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD UF’s Liminal Bell continues to make an impact as cancer survivors celebrate life after treatment.

148 SUGAR, HOW SWEET IT IS But is it good for you?

The articles printed in Our Town do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors

154 “FALL” INTO GOOD NUTRITION Will an apple a day keep the doctor away? What about pumpkins? 10 |

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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. © 2015 Tower Publications, Inc.

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PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre

fine jewelry

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Hank McAfee EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com MANAGING EDITOR Ericka Winterrowd ericka@towerpublications.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ingrid Allison Bozeman, Alexia Fernandez, Mary Bridgman, Crystal Henry, Kristin Kozelsky Brian “Krash” Kruger, Peggy Macdonald, Michael Stone, Brinn Strange, Cynthia Wonders Winterrowd CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kelley Bennett, Kristin Kozelsky CREATIVE DIRECTION + DESIGN Hank McAfee, Neil McKinney ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jenni Bennett jenni@towerpublications.com Helen Mincey helen@towerpublications.com Nancy Short nancy@towerpublications.com INTERNS Gabriele Calise

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

F E AT U R I N G

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

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

352 . 375. 27 2 0 • 2 4 41 N W 4 3r d S T R EE T, S U I T E 2 A 12 |

T HOR NSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER EBR O OK V IL L AGE • G A I N ES V IL L E 2015

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Plan n your stay in central Florida’s favorite beach town!

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FLOORING FOR EVERY ROOM!

EDITOR ’ S LET TER S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

Clearly, Albert has been working his fingers to the bone on this issue.

Health, Healing and Halloween

The Floor Store of Newberry …and so much more!

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Welcome, loyal readers, to our medical issue. Our writers have been very busy working on stories featuring a wide variety of topics, albeit most focusing on health and medicine. I’ve mentioned this before, and it bears mentioning again, the alarming fact that at some point in our lives, all of us will be impacted by cancer. It has struck twice in my family — my sister and Mom are survivors and both are still going strong. And now our very own Cynthia Wonders Winterrowd and Brian “Krash” Kruger have both experienced the trials of tribulations that come with battling the dreaded disease. Recently diagnosed with breast cancer, Cynthia (who doesn’t smoke, and has no family history for cancer) is on the road to recovery and has become an advocate for the need to have regular exams. Brian is five years cancer free after being treated for throat cancer (another non-smoker) but still battles the aftermath of the radiation treatments that saved his life. As always, our thoughts and prayers go out to them, and all who face this terrible disease. With this in mind, and October being designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month we have a story about the American Cancer Society of Gainesville and another survivor. We also bring you a story about the forensic sciences. I recently had the opportunity to visit with three key professionals in the field, men I’ve known for decades. In the interest of transparency I should mention that I worked for the 8th District Medical Examiner for 20 years before embarking on my second career in 2005. So it was an honor and a privilege to sit down with the three of them after all of these years, and to now share with you a small part of their lives spent working in the fascinating world of forensic death investigation. As you might imagine, there is no shortage of stories that can be written about medicine, and we realize we have only scratched the surface. From cutting edge medical technologies at UF’s McKnight Brain Institute to the mind-body connection, from sugar and diabetes to medical marijuana, I think you’ll find many interesting topics in this issue of Our Town.

• WOOD FLOORING • CERAMIC TILE • LAMINATE • CARPET • PORCELAIN TILE

• BLINDS & WINDOW TREATMENTS

Albert Isaac, Editor-In-Chief

• INSTALLATION 14 |

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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Wood Buildings

ELEPH A NTOPI A

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S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

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Global March for Elephants and Rhinos

lephantopia is a small 501©3 nonprofit, which is participating in a worldwide event on Saturday, October 3rd called the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos. This will be the third annual event to raise awareness about elephants and the ivory trade. This year the group will be hosting a benefit concert at First Magnitude Brewing Company in Gainesville with live bands such as the Blue Slammers and Melting Funk Pot currently scheduled. A raffle benefiting an elephant orphanage in Zambia as well as opportunities for Floridians to help ban ivory in Florida will be available. The event is free and open to the public. According to the group, almost 100 elephants a day are killed for their ivory. While the United States enacted a federal ban last year, there are loopholes that easily allow ivory to be sold. Ivory brought in as trophies from sports hunting, acquired prior to 1976, or a part of an antique, can still be sold legally. The nonprofit states that new ivory is often disguised as being older, allowing the illegal ivory trade to continue. Elephantopia proposes this fix: a complete ban on the selling of all ivory where loopholes would no longer be used to hide the selling of new, illegal ivory. Elizabeth Chitwood is the music director at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville as well as the founder and director of Elephantopia. The group started an online petition to ask the Florida legislature and governor to pass and sign a law banning the sale of all ivory. The petition has nearly 82,000 signatures already, but has not yet met its goal of 150,000 signees. According to the nonprofit, conservationists say Florida, California and Connecticut are key trading ports. Instituting bans in these states will be critical in stopping the illegal ivory trade in the United States. New York and New Jersey were also on the list and recently passed ivory bans. Chitwood said it is time Florida does as well. “If you care about saving these majestic, intelligent animals, we need your help to make this ban a reality,” Chitwood stated in an email. “Whether you live in Florida or not, these bans impact whether or not the African elephant will be around for future generations. If we continue on the current path, they could be extinct in 20 years.” Visit elephantopia.org for more information.

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Saturday, October 3rd

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4pm – 7pm First Magnitude Brewing Co. 1220 SE Veitch St., Gainesville

March through Gainesville with Elephantopia and Conservation Initiative for the Asian Elephant. Begins at Plaza of the Americas on UF campus.

352-472-7100 RedBarnHomeCenter.com 16 |

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

We offer 24-hour delivery. North Florida Women’s Physicians provides comprehensive healthcare that compassionately supports women through every stage of their lives. We specialize in delivering the highest level of obstetric care, including low-risk, high-risk, and patient-centered midwifery. Our physicians, midwives, and nurses are dedicated to guiding you through every step of your pregnancy. Including the baby steps. Start building a healthy relationship for you and your baby today. Building healthy relationships.

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OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

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CONTRIBUTOR S

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OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

KRISTIN KOZELSKY is a classically trained photographer. Since completing her art degree in 2001, she has built a wide body of work and honed in on an interactive approach to working with her clients. kristin@kozelskyphoto.com

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

INGRID ALLISON BOZEMAN is originally from Brooklyn, New York. She fell in love with Alachua is now a forever Florida resident. Currently, she is going back for her second MA in Mass Communication and is obsessed with health and nutrition writing. ingrid.bozeman@gmail.com.

CYNTHIA WONDERS WINTERROWD is an award-winning writer who was raised in Illinois and lives in Gainesville. She is proud to be a “Gator Mom” of three daughters, all UF graduates. Cynthia loves sharing family recipes that have been handed down in her mother’s handwritten cookbooks. recipewonders@gmail.com

MICHAEL STONE is a journalist, photographer and communications teacher based in Gainesville. His primary topics of focus include health care, conservation and wildlife, and business. He enjoys traveling, wildlife photography and trying all the great vegan dishes at area restaurants. michaelstone428@gmail.com

BRINN STRANGE is a California native who loves her recent relocation to Gainesville. When not writing, she teaches Barre classes at Barre Forte, trains for triathlons, and takes her two mutts to the dog park. brinn.strange@gmail.com

PEGGY MACDONALD is a native Gainesvilleian and the executive director of the Matheson History Museum. She has taught history at Florida Polytechnic, Stetson and UF. She is also the author of Marjorie Harris Carr: Defender of Florida’s Environment peggymacdemos@gmail.com

ALEXIA FERNANDEZ is a UF journalism senior with big dreams. With a deep love of movies and writing, she hopes to one day write books, scripts and create a successful career for herself in entertainment. alexiafernandez5@gmail.com

MARY WOOD BRIDGMAN is a retired lawyer who grew up in Alachua County. Her work has appeared in national, regional, and local publications. Mary, an active member of the Writers’ Alliance of Gainesville, is an alumna of the University of Florida. marybridgman@msn.com

BRIAN “KRASH” KRUGER is a writer, musician and a graduate of the UF College of Law. He has played in some 17 or so local bands, playing most every Gainesville venue friendly to original music (and some not so friendly). bkrashpad@yahoo.com

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OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

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MAKE A WISH >> PIRATE TREE HOUSE

YO HO, YO HO!

A Pirate’s Tree House For Me Legoland Florida and Make-A-Wish Bring a Dream to Life for Harley Castoral S TORY A N D PHOTOG R A PHY BY ERICK A WINTER ROW D

“W

e’re going to play pirates,” said 9-yearold Harley Castoral, a High Springs resident who was diagnosed with cystic ﬁbrosis (CF) last year. On Saturday, July 11th, Harley was surprised when his wish of having a pirate-themed tree house, complete with LEGOLAND’s “Captain Brickbeard” accessories, came true. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nationwide organization that raises funds to make dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, Harley was able to see his wish come to fruition too. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the disease is caused by a defective gene that prompts the

20 |

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

body to produce thick mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops enzymes from helping break down food and nutrients. Harley’s father, Drew Castoral, said his entire family was in shock when they ﬁrst received the news of Harley’s diagnosis. Since wrapping their minds around all of the information given to them in regards to this disease, the Castorals have been adapting to a new routine that involves dedicating time to his different forms of treatment. For a typical CF patient, this can involve inhaled medicines and pancreatic enzyme supplements each day. “Harley has between six to 14 pills that he has to take every day at minimum,” Drew said, “along with his vest that he has to wear that shakes him up and kind of breaks all of [the mucus] up so that he can cough it out. It can take 30 minutes just for that.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

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MAKE A WISH >> PIRATE TREE HOUSE 22 |

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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According to Tiny Town Studios, the group who built Harley’s tree house, whether the designs for a project are complex or modest, their goal is to capture the imagination and ignite the heart.

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This inflatable vest acts as an airway clearance that vibrates the chest at a high frequency, thus loosening and getting rid of the thick mucus that can build up in the lungs, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Drew said that Harley has a really good coping ability but that there are still times when he feels depressed and struggles with the effects of his disease. “He wants to be normal, or what he calls normal or what society calls normal,” Drew said. “But we assure him that God has a plan for him.” Drew said Harley has been hit with a lot of information and responsibility for a

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MAKE A WISH >> PIRATE TREE HOUSE

“It’s something that he’s always liked. He’s had pirate themed birthdays before,” Drew said. “And he loves, as he puts it, ‘The Pirates of the Carabeaner.’”

9-year-old and that he commends him for being able to do what he can do. According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s website, a wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the ﬁght against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. Harley was involved in the designing of the tree house, 24 |

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although he never knew when he would actually receive it. Harley’s mother, Crystal Castoral, said that knowing he could possibly be getting a tree house or some other kind of surprise from the Make-A-Wish Foundation kept him going. “Any time that he had a hard time with his treatments we would ask him, ‘Hey, why don’t you draw some pictures of some ideas for your wish that we’ve been talking about,’” Crystal said. “And that helped him to get through a lot of those difﬁcult times.” Phil Royle is the resort excellence manager for LEGOLAND Florida Resort. He explained that the base of the tree house is

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MAKE A WISH >> PIRATE TREE HOUSE 26 |

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made of wood, just as any good pirate ship would be. The Make-A-Wish Foundation outsourced the construction of the tree house to Tiny Town Studios, a company based out of Houston, Texas. “And then we added a lot of Lego elements to it,” Royle said. “And obviously brought Captain Brickbeard along to oversee the final steps of the process and make sure the pirate ship was up to his ‘Brick-tacular’ standards.” The hand-sculpted, 7-foot-tall concrete tree base weighs about 1,600 pounds and rests under an oak tree on the family’s property in southern Columbia County near O’Leno State Park. The cedar ship is 12 feet long and 6 K feet wide. Realistic details such as a tattered sail and pop out windows round out the pirate ship theme. And of course, a Captain Brickbeard skull made entirely out of Legos is affixed on the rear of the ship, identifiable to every pirate sailing the open sea. Royle said that working with the MakeA-Wish Foundation is very important to LEGOLAND as well as to himself personally. “If we can bring a little piece of the magic that we have at the resort, and we can bring some Lego toys and we can bring Captain Brickbread along… just to put a smile on this child’s face who might not necessarily be able to come to LEGOLAND Florida Resort, well then that’s something that we’re really passionate about and very proud to do,” Royle said. Drew explained that from what he has researched, years ago the life of someone with cystic fibrosis was not long, sometimes only into their teenage years. “But now with the advantage of

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MAKE A WISH >> PIRATE TREE HOUSE 28 |

science and all that the CF Foundation does, they’re living much longer lives —50s, 60s and beyond is what’s been seen,” Drew said. “It’s very encouraging.” Drew said that Harley is quite the pirate fanatic, hence the theme of the tree house. “It’s something that he’s always liked. He’s had pirate themed birthdays before,” Drew said. “And he loves, as he puts it, ‘The Pirates of the Carabeaner.’” The Castoral family was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation by a doctor at UF who told them to give it a shot. “And we did. My wife, Crystal, she did that and called them up and they met with us and took us out to lunch,” Drew said. “They asked Harley what his wish would be, and after he told them they just ran with it and did all of this.” On the day of the big surprise, Crystal told her son that they were going to go out and have a fun-filled day. Meanwhile, the massive tree house construction was being delivered and assembled just for Harley. Once completed, a blue tarp shielded the giant wish. When the two returned home, a blindfolded Harley stepped out of the car, took a few steps with his parents guiding him and then stopped. All of a sudden, in perfect unison, the surrounding crowd of family and friends began to count down to the big reveal. “ F i v e , f o u r, t h r e e , two, one!” ARGH MATEY! For more information on cystic fibrosis and ways to donate to the foundation’s fight against the disease, visit: www.cff.org. OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Harley discovers a pirate skull made entirely out of Legos that is attached to his very own pirate ship tree house. Members from LEGOLAND Florida Resort and the MakeA-Wish Foundation pose for photos with the Castoral family on the day of the big reveal.

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ENTREPRENEUR >> ANDREW GARRISON

A PINCH OF GOOD FORTUNE

SERVING UP FRESH SEAFOOD WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE SIDE

Newberry’s Krab King STORY A N D PHOTOGR A PH Y BY BR IN N STR A NGE

Andrew Garrison is the Krab King of Newberry, and he has the crown (and the line out the door) to prove it. Growing up, Garrison remembers going crabbing at Horseshoe Beach with family and friends: “At the end of the day, I always had the biggest catch.” It was not long before Garrison was dubbed the “Krab King” and, what started as a hobby, quickly snow(crab) balled into his livelihood. Garrison started selling fresh blue crab out of his house about six months ago as a means to raise money for himself as well as a friend who was homeless at the time. He kept his friends updated on his latest catch via social media, primarily Facebook, and they shared Garrison’s posts with their friends and family members. The word of Garrison’s fresh, reasonably priced crab topped with garlic butter swiftly caught on and 30 |

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his crab was in high demand amongst Newberry residents. A rave review on a Newberry open forum generated even more business — until someone complained that Garrison was selling food without the proper license or health inspection. Within a couple of weeks, authorities caught wind of the complaint and shut Garrison down. Fortunately, thanks to Garrison’s ingenuity and the generosity of Penny Salisbury, the owner of Newberry’s Backyard BBQ, Garrison quickly set up shop in the space adjacent to the already established eatery on West Newberry Road. Garrison painted and did all of the artwork in his ocean-themed store front, and he recruited friends to help him run the business. “We are back for the crab. We love all of the garlic!” a returning

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ENTREPRENEUR >> ANDREW GARRISON

Andrew Garrison started selling fresh blue crab out of his house as a means to raise money for himself as well as a friend who was homeless at the time. Now with the help of Newberry’s Backyard BBQ he offers a wide variety of seafood – depending on the catch of the day.

customer said. Newberry’s Krab King — home of the garlic butter — offers more than just fresh blue crab; they also serve lobster tail, oysters, clams, mussels, frog legs and hot ﬁsh, depending on the recent catch. Garrison would not reveal the exact ingredients of his

instance, will show rave reviews and enticing images of their latest dishes. Garrison uses his personal account for updates, too, alerting patrons if there is a change in the menu because of the weather or, more commonly, because of selling out of blue crab.

Without a formal webpage, the eatery relies heavily on word-of-mouth and social media to drive business. secret seasoning or garlic butter, but he did mention, “It involves a lot of Country Crock.” Without a formal webpage, the eatery relies heavily on word-of-mouth and social media to drive business. A quick look on their Facebook page, for 32 |

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“To the person who tried to shut me down,” Garrison said, “I say ‘thank you.’” His more visible and more accessible storefront is generating even more customers and loyal seafood-lovers than ever before.

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eafood, such as crab, is full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which help enable your cells to function. According to an April 2011 “US News & World Report” article entitled “8 Ways to Load Up on Healthy Omega-3 Fats,” omega-3 fatty acids “have been shown to reduce harmful inflammation that could lead to heart disease, decrease triglyceride levels and blood pressure, and prevent fatal heart arrhythmias.” Since our bodies do not produce fatty acids on their own, it is important to add omega-3s to our diet. Not only is seafood an excellent source of omega-3s, but also beans, veggies and certain oils. Incorporating fish into your diet a few times a week is a healthy and tasty way to ensure you are ingesting around 250mg of the main types of omega-3s: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Salmon, anchovies, Bluefin tuna, sardines, and trout — in addition to crab — are terrific sources of this important dietary component.

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PSYCHOLOGY >> NEGATIVE THINKING

THE TIES THAT BIND

Positive Thinking Exploring the Powerful Connections of Body and Mind W R I T T E N B Y C R Y S TA L H E N R Y

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here are plenty of books and theories about the power of positive thinking, and now the medical community is exploring just how far these powers extend. The placebo effect has been around for centuries. Shamans and witch doctors relied on it to treat patients through spiritual healing. And even modern medical doctors and researchers have seen that sometimes just believing that a treatment will work is enough to yield significant results. An article in Smithsonian Magazine explored one of the most powerful medical treatments for migraine headaches. It was shown to be just as powerful as one of the most used migraine drugs, rizatriptan. And it’s the same treatment used to reduce the symptoms of clinical depression, panic attacks, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome and erectile dysfunction. The treatment was simply a placebo. And researchers are now trying to find ways to use the human brain to unconsciously heal the human body. But a recent article in Psychology Today, researchers examined the ﬂipside of placebos and discovered something they call the nocebo effect. According to the article, placebos yield actual physically beneﬁcial results 18 to 80 percent of the time. Researchers see improvements in blood pressure, dilating bronchi, healing ulcers and disappearing warts. Bald men who thought they were taking Rogaine regrew hair using only placebos. The mind clearly has an amazing effect on the body, but what happens when positive thinking turns negative? Patients in a double-blinded clinical trial were warned about the side effects of a drug they believed they were taking. Even when taking sugar pills, 25 percent of the patients experienced side effects, some as severe as fatigue, vomiting, muscle weakness, colds, ringing ears, and taste and memory disturbances — all from simply taking a sugar pill. In one study, patients who thought they were SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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PSYCHOLOGY >> NEGATIVE THINKING

e m ld o t r o t The doc

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undergoing chemotherapy threw up and lost their hair, when in actuality they were only given saline. Nocebo results are starting to show that bad news from a doctor could be just a self-fulﬁlling prophecy. Another group of patients were asked how they felt before going in for surgery. Those who were convinced they were going to die typically did just that, whereas the group who were “unusually apprehensive” fared much better. A phenomenon called “voodoo death” is explained by nocebos as well. In these deaths, the person is cursed and told they will die, then they do. But voodoo death isn’t that far-fetched. A modern voodoo death is seen in patients who are believed to have a terminal illness who are told they only have a few months to live. The patients have died within that time frame, however an 38 |

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autopsy neglects to ﬁnd any physiological reason for their demise. The Psychology Today article mentions the concept of medical hexing, where a doctor tells the patient they have an incurable illness or gives a survival time frame. They’re simply trying to provide all the information they have so patients and their families can prepare. But they are now exploring the idea that when the subconscious mind believes there is no hope, the body follows suit. These studies aren’t conclusive against modern medicine, but they are one aspect of the mind-body connection. Another interesting aspect comes from a more physical connection of the body and the mind. An article from the Mayo Clinic explores the important function of a nerve in the body called the vagus nerve that seems to physically connect body and

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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PSYCHOLOGY >> NEGATIVE THINKING

In 2012, about 5.2 million people in the United States who were 65 or older had Alzheimer’s disease – a type of dementia that impairs memory, thinking and behavior.

mind. There is a vagus nerve on each side of the body that runs from the brainstem through the neck to the chest and abdomen. Known as cranial nerve X, it is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves, and it forms part of the involuntary nervous system that commands unconscious body functions such as constant heart rate and food digestion. This is the nerve responsible for fainting at the sight of blood. When stimulated, people experience a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, less blood ﬂows to the brain and they pass out. However there is a positive side to vagus nerve stimulation. This treatment sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve in order to treat epilepsy and depression. It is being considered for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, migraines and Alzheimer’s disease. 40 |

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In treatment, a device is implanted under the skin on the chest, and a wire is threaded from the device to the vagus nerve. Electrical signals are sent from the device to the brain along the vagus nerve. The treatment is performed on patients who haven’t responded to medication and other treatments, and it isn’t considered a cure. But many patients have had 30 to 50 percent fewer seizures or seizures with less intensity with the treatment. Those with depression who haven’t responded to medication or psychotherapy might be suffering from an underactive vagus nerve. But it could take a long time for the treatment to work. There is still much to be discovered about the connection of the body and mind. But there is solid evidence that there is a very real power in positive — or negative — thinking.

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AT OUR FIRST ULTRASOUND MY BABY MAMA AND BABY DADDY GOT TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL PARTS OF PREGNANCY. THEY SAW THEIR CHILD’S HEARTBEAT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

was ofﬁcially six weeks pregnant that day, which is still fairly early to see a heartbeat. So when we couldn’t hear anything or get a good measurement the doctor told us not to freak. Some people don’t hear anything until seven weeks. At least we could see a ﬂicker. Still we got a call from the transfer clinic that they wanted us back in a week to make sure everything was on track. They kept using the term “cautiously optimistic,” and I was “whole heartedly annoyed.” So we waited a week, and I was feeling fabulous and energetic. At the next ultrasound, Baby Mama brought me a beautiful pair of earrings, and we casually chatted as I lay there on the table watching the swirl. Again I held my breath, but I quickly exhaled when I saw the little bean appear on the screen. I saw a flicker and blurted “Oh whew! There it is, right where I left it.” But the doctor stayed quiet, and soon I knew why. She measured the bean and I saw clear as day it was still measuring six weeks zero days. I was seven weeks exactly. Then she searched that dark little cloud for an audible heartbeat but all we heard was the eerie static of silence in my womb. I knew exactly what that ultrasound meant and I held back tears as the doctor told me I could sit up. She offered her condolences and said we would hear from our transfer clinic about next steps. She recommended a follow up ultrasound in four days just to be sure, but it was up to the other clinic. And things didn’t look good. Baby Mama and Baby Daddy left the room and as soon as the door closed I burst into tears. The worst part was that I knew. A few days after our ultrasound I was overcome with the sense that something was wrong. I didn’t have cramps or pains or blood or any signs whatsoever. I just all of a sudden turned very pessimistic about the pregnancy. All my surro pals told

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me to calm down and think happy thoughts. I had no reason to think anything was amiss. But I knew. Just like I knew with my own failed pregnancy. I was nine weeks pregnant with my first baby when I had the overwhelming urge to get an ultrasound. I begged my husband and my doctor’s office, but they assured me I was just a silly first-time mom. My first ultrasound wasn’t scheduled until 12 weeks, and they said everything pointed to a normal pregnancy. I got sick in the lobby at my 12 week appointment. My boobs were huge and my belly already had a bulge. But as the doctor scanned his Doppler over my stomach we couldn’t detect a heartbeat. He figured it was because of my tilted uterus and sent us down for an ultrasound. I was thrilled and ready to see my little sweet. But as the ultrasound picture swirled into view I saw it was not one but two beautiful little babies. Two beautiful little angels measuring three weeks behind, and without a heartbeat to be found. As I walked into the lobby to meet Baby Mama and Baby Daddy I pulled myself together. I needed to be strong for them just like my family was strong for me. But as I walked through the door I felt the tears burning. They poured out as I hugged Baby Mama and told her how sorry I was. She patted my back with dry eyes and told me not to fret. It wasn’t over yet. They didn’t want me to worry until our follow up ultrasound in four days. I put on a smile and told them of course. It’s not over until it’s over, and if they still had hope then so would I. The transfer clinic however disagreed. They called later that afternoon and told me to prepare to stop meds and schedule a D&C. I shuddered and told them to hold their horses. This wasn’t just some statistic. These were real people, and this was their one and only hope of a biological child. I would wait until our next ultrasound before I even considered evacuating. The next four days were going to be torture, but I would power through. I carried my own twins for almost four weeks after they stopped growing before I scheduled a D&C. Choosing how to end a very much wanted pregnancy is a decision no parents should ever face. And I would give them all the time and reassurance they needed to be ready. So I sat under a dark cloud for four days.

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“As a 3rd generation farmer, I have dedicated 75 years to working the land … until a problem with my heart — an irregular heartbeat — slowed me down. Dr. Floyd Burke was able to find the problem. He quickly sent me to Dr. Charles Klodell for heart surgery that saved my life. I know that UF Health has the brightest medical minds, and the most advanced technology and research in North Central Florida. I’m thankful to everyone there for getting me back to doing what I love.“ At UF Health, we’re here for you, from the routine to the complex. We can handle any heart problem you have — big or small — whether it’s evaluating your chest pain or performing aortic aneurysm surgery.

Hear more about Victor’s story at UFHealth.org/Victor. To make an appointment, call 352.265.0820.

UF HEALTH HEART AND VASCULAR CARE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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PSYCHOLOGY >> MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR

BEAUTIFUL MINDS

MyersBriggs Mother-Daughter Team Research Personality Types W RIT TE N BY A LEXI A FER N A N DEZ

ersonality tests can be found everywhere — in magazines, on social media websites — but the best test is perhaps one created by a mother-daughter team in the mid 20th century. Now widely used by individuals and global companies, the personality assessment has become one of the most popular in the world. In the 1940s, Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs, began researching personality types based on Dr. Carl Jung’s “Psychological Types.” Jung’s theory placed a focus on the essential differences between people in regard to the decisions they made and their intake of information. Together, they went on to create one of the most popular and trusted personality tests, the

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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Their early work consisted of creating a type indicator during World War II that would help sort people into occupations that would suit them and aid in the war effort. Briggs Myers’ research led her to Gainesville, where, in 1970, she co-created the Typology Laboratory at the University of Florida. In 1975, Briggs and Myers also co-created the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT) at UF. Charles Martin, a licensed psychologist and vice president for research and development at CAPT, said the center has the largest collection of personality type research in the world. “We have two archives,” he said. “One is at CAPT, which is available publicly. People can look through all the resources here or in our online

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PSYCHOLOGY >> MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR

Logan Abbitt has been research librarian of CAPT for three years. He said most people make the mistake of thinking the assessment dictates how they act, as opposed to thinking of how it helps them better understand their personality.

library catalog. We also have an archive at the University of Florida that tends to have more of [Briggs Myers’] early journal writings.” Briggs Myers created the center to promote and teach the ethical and practical uses of the 16 psychological types she and her mother discovered through their research. CAPT trains, educates and conducts research on “the instrument,” also known as psychological type, the different types of personalities that humans can possess. “We teach people about type to make a constructive use of differences among people,” Martin said.

Logan Abbitt, research librarian for CAPT, said he frequently speaks to companies about the assessment. “I must get so many questions by companies asking me how to use [the assessment] for hiring purposes,” he said. “What I tell them is that it shouldn’t be used in that way. It was never meant to hire people. It doesn’t work that way.” Abbitt, who became the research librarian three years ago, said the center’s library has not expanded much in the last few years. “There’s less and less people conducting

The instrument, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, has been studied and used all over the world as a personality type indicator. The instrument, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, has been studied and used all over the world as a personality type indicator. The assessment spent two decades being researched until 1976 when it became commercially available. Popular among companies and jobs, it’s held an important place in team exercises and individual development. 46 |

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research, so then there’s less things we can collect for our library,” he said. “I think that mainly has to do with the fact that Isabel is no longer alive.” Among companies that do use the assessment is UF Health. The hospital does not use the type indicator for hiring purposes but it does for team building exercises. It also offers the assessment to individual employees interested in knowing PHOTOGRAPHY: ALEXIA FERNANDEZ

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PSYCHOLOGY >> MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR

Within the CAPT library, an entire wall is dedicated to some of Isabel Briggs Myers’ (right, next to her mother Katherine) research. The items include research conducted by her mother, Katharine. The library also includes research books by Carl Jung (above) and dissertations from scientists from all over the world. A majority of the Isabel Briggs Myers’ research is held at Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida.

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their personality type. Danita Gainer, human resources development coordinator at UF Health, oversees the MBTI assessment that UF Health employees can take. Gainer said the hospital does not call it a test because the word makes people react strongly in either a negative or positive way, a reaction strong enough to affect their performance and results. “Depending on whether people are answering questions with their gut as opposed to preference, people will tend to overthink things,” she said. “What we try to tell people [when taking the assessment] is to approach answers from a most comfortable space where you’re not trying to go into a certain mode.” UF Health offers the assessment solely to UF Health employees. It’s not a requirement of employment to take the assessment, as employees usually take it as a personal choice. Other times, employees may also take the assessment for team building purposes. Managers of employee units will approach Gainer and her office for team building

exercises using the MBTI assessment. “Sometimes when you come in to work you’re dealing with people that are in a certain mode,” Gainer said. “They have their game face on, if you will, and they’re ready to do a job. It can be really eye-opening, especially when you’re in a team setting and hearing the person’s preference for how they work.” The MBTI is also offered as a general, open communication course to encourage employees to understand themselves and others who they work with. The assessment’s inception began in the 1940s with Katharine Cook Briggs who studied data from research of theories based on children’s educational and social development. Her time researching children’s development led to an increased interest in her daughter’s personality type. Seeing Isabel grow and develop led her to increase her research. She also began to teach Isabel at home, taking her out of the public school system after she found it lacking. She encouraged her to write and read on any topics that interested her. Katharine introduced her daughter to Carl Jung’s teachings on personality type, sparking their 20-year research on people and different personality types. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries have the earliest research that the two conducted on personality type. Isabel wrote notes and created questionnaires in the 1940s and 1950s on index cards that the libraries now hold. Isabel eventually created a questionnaire that could effectively classify people into personality types. She began by writing hundreds of questions, testing them with people she knew and collecting data in journals. The ﬁnal Form A of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator consists of 172 questions. Gainer said the benefits of taking the assessment outweigh any doubts people may have about its credibility. “It tends to build personal self-awareness,” Gainer said. “I think that’s pretty incredible because when you’re struggling with a certain task you see it’s not normal or easy for yourself based on your personality. It changes your perception of things.”

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HISTORY >> ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM

MEDICAL HISTORY

Robb House Paying Tribute to Alachua County’s First Female Doctor S TORY A N D A N D PH OTOG R A PH Y BY PEGGY M AC DON A LD

oday American women have the freedom to pursue the college and career of their choice. In the late 19th century, however, there was significant resistance to co-education in America. Dr. Edward H. Clarke, the author of the 1873 book, “Sex in Education; Or, a Fair Chance for the Girls,” went so far as to claim that higher education was bad for women’s health and could lead to sterility and even death. At the time, women interested in a medical career were funneled into nursing, which was the path Sarah Lucretia Robb pursued until her husband, Dr. Robert Lee Robb, a homeopathic physician, encouraged her to become a doctor. When Sarah was unable to gain admission to an American medical school because she was a

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woman, she moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where she completed a medical degree in two years. After medical school the new husband and wife doctor team set up practice together in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Sarah Robb was not the first female doctor in Florida (Dr. Esther Hill Hawks served as a doctor and teacher with the Freedmen’s Bureau in Florida after the Civil War), but she was the ﬁrst to practice medicine in Alachua County. Sarah was certiﬁed in allopathic (conventional) medicine, while Robert specialized in homeopathic (alternative) medicine. In 1880 Drs. Sarah and Robert Robb and a third doctor, Dr. J. V. Bean, published a book, “Robb & Co.’s Family Physician: A Work On Domestic Medicines, Designed to Show the Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Disease,” which embraced a holistic

The Robb House (ca. 1880), located at 235 Southwest 2nd Avenue, is home to both the Robb House Medical Museum and the Alachua County Medical Society.

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HISTORY >> ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM

Dr. Sarah Robb made house calls in a horse and buggy, tending to the sick and delivering babies throughout Alachua County.

Dr. Robert Robb encouraged his wife to become a doctor. Denied admission to American medical schools, Sarah completed her medical degree in Germany. Florence Van Arnam and Dr. Mark Barrow (opposite), both former Spirit of Gainesville award nominees, have been active in historic preservation for decades. Van Arnam is the longtime curator of the Robb House Medical Museum. Dr. Barrow helped relocate and restore the Robb House in the early 1980s.

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approach to medicine and was dedicated to “The Thinking Masses.” The book opens with Sarah’s “Letter to Mothers,” which offers frank advice on women’s health and infant care in a time when open discussion of reproductive health could result in criminal punishment because of the 1873 Comstock Act. “It is false delicacy that would hide from girls that which, by all means it belongs to them to know,” Sarah wrote. “Mothers, teachers, it is with you this responsibility rests. The thousands of wretched wives who are thus suffering from a neglect of proper instruction at this turning point of their lives, warn you how serious this responsibility is.” In 1882 Robert moved to Gainesville to recover from tuberculosis. In May of 1884 Sarah and the children joined Robert in Gainesville, where they established a medical practice. The Robb family included two children from Robert’s previous

marriage to Mary Elizabeth Faris, who died in 1869 (a third child, Alice, died as an infant), and Sarah Emily Robb, born to Sarah and Robert in 1873, the same year that Robert graduated from the Missouri Homeopathic College of Medicine. The Victorian cottage in which the Robbs lived and practiced medicine was nearly demolished in the late 1970s. According to an August 1982 “Journal of the Florida Medical Association” article written by retired cardiologist and Matheson History Museum co-founder Mark V. Barrow, Joseph H. Avera built the house in approximately 1878. The house changed hands several times after Sarah Robb’s death. Sarah willed her home to Margaret Gross, a fellow widow who became her companion after she traveled from Canada to Gainesville with the belief that the area’s warm climate and restorative springs would improve her son’s health. Tragically, he died in Georgia while en route to Florida. “Grossie,” as Margaret HISTORICAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MATHESON HISTORY MUSEUM

HISTORY >> ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM

Florence Van Arnam, a retired nurse and Alachua County native, has served as the museum’s curator since its establishment more than 30 years ago. was affectionately called, gave the house to Sarah’s children, who promptly sold it to an attorney. Over the years the Robb House was used as a law ofﬁce, dance studio, karate center and rental apartment and fell into serious disrepair. The Alachua County Medical Society rescued the building from demolition but had to move it

to keep the purchase price down. The Robb House was originally located at 406 East Liberty Street (which became East University Avenue after the University of Florida opened in Gainesville), which would have been an expensive lot to purchase. On April 11, 1981 the building was moved intact to 235 Southwest 2nd Avenue and was transformed into

Sarah Lucretia Miller was born in 1852 in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated with a nursing degree from Hahnemann College in Philadelphia, which later merged with Drexel University. Sarah married Robert Robb in Illinois on Valentine’s Day in 1872. A member of the National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Sarah traced her ancestry back to the Manhattan Purchase in 1626. Sarah Robb died in May 1937 at age 84; she and Robert are buried in Gainesville’s historic Evergreen Cemetery, where they share a large tombstone marked with a caduceus.

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HISTORY >> ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM

the Robb House Medical Museum and the headquarters of the Alachua County Medical Society, which paid $90,000 for its restoration. University of Florida architecture professor Blair Reeves and other UF faculty, staff and graduate students prepared an assay to guide the historic preservation process. Florence Van Arnam, a retired nurse and Alachua County native, has served as the museum’s curator since its establishment more than 30 years ago. An honors graduate of Vanderbilt University, Van Arnam (whose maiden name is Rogers) received the Founder’s Medal in nursing in 1952, a gold medal that is awarded to the student with first honors in each graduating class. Van Arnam, a petite 86-year-old with the stamina of an 18-year-old, brings the Robbs’ stories to life in engaging tours of the Robb House Medical Museum. During a private tour of the museum that she offered to the staff of the Matheson History Museum in July, Van Arnam kept going for more than two hours without sitting down. Among the vast assortment of historic artifacts on display are the remaining original furniture and medical tools from the Robbs’ home office; an authentic Civil War-era amputation kit; early X-ray equipment; and antique forceps. Several rooms are filled with items from Alachua General Hospital, including an operating table that was used when the hospital opened in 1928, surgical lamps, and baby scales used to weigh newborns. Alachua General Hospital closed in 2009 when its new owner, Shands Hospital (now UF Health Shands Hospital), determined that it was no longer financially

viable. Alachua General was demolished in 2010 and the site of the former hospital now houses the Innovation Hub at the University of Florida. In keeping with the spirit of innovation, the Robbs were also entrepreneurs. Local historian Dr. Mark Barrow reports that Robert owned a furniture factory in east Gainesville, published one of Gainesville’s early newspapers, and — along with Sarah — operated one of the ﬁrst private boarding schools in Alachua County. Robert was instrumental in establishing the Odd Fellows’ Home and Sanitorium for the treatment of tuberculosis patients. He also planned to develop a health spa and suburb that would be connected to downtown Gainesville by a street railway system. However, the 1888 yellow fever epidemic prevented this plan from being realized. A 1996 oral history interview Gainesville resident Mary Ann Cofrin conducted with Sarah and Robert Robb’s granddaughter, Lucretia Thomson, provides fascinating insights into Sarah’s life and early Gainesville history. Sarah continued to serve as one of a small number of doctors in Alachua County for approximately 15 years after Robert died in 1902. Her home ofﬁce was equipped with a two-bed clinic for overnight patients, and she traveled throughout the area in a buggy pulled by her horse, Ben, to treat patients and deliver babies. Lucretia, who often accompanied Sarah when she treated patients, recalled that because her grandmother was a heavy-set woman, the seat was slanted and Lucretia had a hard time staying on her side of the buggy.

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MILESTONES

• In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell is the first woman to graduate from a US medical school and become a physician • In 1956 the UF College of Medicine opens with women faculty members and classes that included female students in roughly the same proportions as other medical schools at the time, according to the 2003 book, “Women at the University of Florida” • In 1960 Dr. Jean Bennett, a woman, is a member of the first class to graduate from the UF College of Medicine (classmate Dr. Mark Barrow was the first student accepted into the program) • In 2014 47.5 percent of medical school graduates were women, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges

HISTORY >> ROBB HOUSE MEDICAL MUSEUM

MEDICAL

In addition to providing medical care to Alachua County residents and patients who traveled from neighboring counties, Sarah Robb was an active member of the community. She was a founding member of the Gainesville Garden Club, whose members led a variety of town beautiﬁcation and conservation initiatives including the establishment of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in 1970. Sarah also sang in the choir at First Presbyterian Church, which is now located across the street from the present-day site of the Robb House Medical Museum on Southwest 2nd Avenue. Like the Robb House, First Presbyterian was once located on University Avenue. The 1890 building was demolished and in 1954 a new church was built at 300 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Steve Rajtar writes in his 2007 book, “A Guide to Historic Gainesville.” Dr. Mark Barrow, who was one of the leaders of the Alachua County Medical Society’s efforts to purchase, relocate and restore the Robb House in the early 1980s, recently launched a campaign to raise a $100,000 endowment for the maintenance and operation of the Robb House Medical Museum. He made the ﬁrst contribution of $5,000 and has secured $15,000 in pledges to help fund the endowment. Contact the Alachua County Medical Society at 352-376-0715 to arrange a tour, make a donation or inquire about volunteer opportunities at the museum. Dr. Sarah Robb is featured in the Matheson History Museum’s new exhibition, Saving the Sunshine State: Women Leaders in the Twentieth Century, which runs through October 31.

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S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Care Enough to Get Involved T

o most people, “care enough to get involved” is just a nice thought; to Janet Larson, a member of the SunState Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, it’s a way of life. As the list of Janet’s career/volunteer awards, accomplishments, and certifications would more than fill this page, one would think she might be slowing down - such a thought couldn’t be further from the truth. In addition to her many current and long standing community affiliations, Janet has been on the board of Peaceful Paths since 2000. Her husband, James F. “Swede” Larson also serves as a trustee for Peaceful Paths.

James F. “Swede” & Janet Larson

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Peaceful Paths is a certified domestic abuse network that serves survivors of domestic violence in Alachua, Bradford, and Union counties. Peaceful Paths provides a wide range of services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, crisis hotline, victim advocacy, children’s programming, education and training, counseling and support groups, community awareness and intervention, violence prevention programs, and batterer’s intervention programming. This important organization strives to promote relationships free of violence and control by providing a safe place to receive intervention, advocacy, and education services using prevention strategies and community partnerships. In 1974, Janet delivered one of the first domestic violence victims to a new sheltering organization known as SPARC, and she has maintained a significant concern for victims of domestic violence ever since. In 2000, SPARC transitioned into Peaceful Paths. Together, the two organizations have helped thousands of domestic violence victims right here in our community. Most recently, Janet was involved in the development of Peaceful Paths’ (insert the name here) Emergency Services Campus, a 4-year project that offers victims of domestic violence an expanded housing campus. “The impact of the campus will be substantial”, stated Dr. Theresa Beachy, Executive Director of Peaceful Paths. “We anticipate serving 300 adult and child survivors

annually with residential services.” Although money had been donated and raised for the land, building and construction efforts, additional fundraising is always needed. Knowing this, Janet spearheaded an additional fundraising campaign. As a board member with SunState Federal Credit Union, she was well aware of the credit union’s commitment to our community. She knew her fellow Board Members would do all they could to help, especially if they knew she was willing to bac k her comments with a cash. With that in mind, Janet and her husband personally donated $2,000, then challenged SunState to do the same. As she expected, the credit union rose to the occasion and matched her donation. Her real surprise, though, came from the individual employees at SunState. SunState Federal Credit Union Employees Charities of Choice donations are funded by the credit union’s individual employees in the form of automated payroll deductions. The employees themselves determine where donations are made and which groups benefit. When the employees found out about Janet and Swede’s personal commitment, and the credit union’s match, they, too, appropriated a $2,000 donation from the employee fund. In all, $6,000 was raised thanks to the generous contributions from Janet and Swede Larson, the Board of Directors, and the employees of SunState Federal Credit Union. “Peaceful Paths is just an incredible organization that I am so happy to serve and to help’, Janet said, ‘and I just can’t say enough about how proud I am of SunState as an organization, and the individual employees especially for stepping up in this situation. ‘People helping People’ has been a saying associated with credit unions for over 75 years, and nowhere is it more alive and put into practice than at SunState Federal Credit Union.” If you are not familiar with Peaceful Paths and the tremendous service they provide in our community, Janet and Swede Larson, and everyone associated with SunState Federal Credit Union, encourage you to find out more at www.PeacefulPaths.org. If at all possible, make a donation of time or money to help further their good work. If you are interested in some of the other community projects/organizations SunState is currently working to promote and help, look up their Charity of the Month program on the credit union’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/sunstatefcu.

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DISEASE >> FIGHTING BREAST CANCER

SAVE THE TA-TAS

Making Strides Fighting Breast Cancer One Step at a Time W R I T T E N B Y C R Y S TA L H E N R Y

er regular doctor was slammed that day, so Tarcha Rentz agreed to see the physician’s assistant for her exam. Rentz had plenty of routine wellness exams, but this time she wanted to talk about starting her family. As she lay on the exam table, she casually chatted while the PA conducted her breast exam. Rentz was a student in a doctoral program, and she had a trip coming up for a conference on her research. When the PA stayed on one breast a little longer than the other, Rentz sensed something was up. But still, she was young, a non-smoker with no family history and no weight factors. She assumed everything was ﬁne. “I was 31 years old,” Rentz said. But when the PA suggested that she get an ultrasound Rentz started to wonder if things were more serious. A week after her ultrasound she went in for a mammogram, and was referred to a surgeon. She went to see her doctor the day before she was to ﬂy out for her conference, and while the doctor expressed his concern, he didn’t buck her when she told him she was leaving the next day. But her mother was with her that day.

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DISEASE >> FIGHTING BREAST CANCER 60 |

#PRESS is a tribute to Trisha Polite, who was a major fundraiser for Susan G. Komen and a tireless speaker on behalf of breast cancer. Tarcha Rentz continues to pass along her message to others: No matter what life throws at you, PRESS on!

“If this were your daughter,” her mother asked, “what would you do?” “I’d have her in the hospital this Friday,” he said. Rentz said the severity still didn’t sink in, but she cancelled her trip and went in to the hospital on Friday. “It’s cancer.” The doctor’s words came to her through the fog of anesthesia, but the reality began to sink in. What started as a routine visit to discuss starting her family led to a treatment plan that could end with infertility. In June she started with her partial mastectomy, then radiation and a breast cancer drug. Yet all the while she wondered, “Am I the only one?” These were the days before social media, and she didn’t know anyone else in their early 30s facing this kind of news. That was until she stumbled across a magazine article about how African American women were experiencing breast cancer at higher and more aggressive rates. It wasn’t good news, but it was relief knowing she wasn’t alone. She’d heard about the American Cancer Society (ACS), so she picked up the phone to get in touch with someone who could answer her questions. She used that hotline a lot throughout her journey to recovery, and once she was through to the other side she wanted to give back. Now she volunteers two days a week at a lingerie store that specializes in wigs, prosthesis, swim suits and other commodities for women with breast cancer. She ﬁts women for mastectomy bras and she is working toward her national certiﬁcation because she said women going through cancer still deserve to feel sexy. She said the American Cancer Society realizes that cancer doesn’t destroy the woman. They put value in wigs, makeup and other ways to help these strong women feel sexy and beautiful. Jessica Clayton, community manager of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, said the American Cancer Society of Gainesville OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

PHOTOGRAPHY: ERICKA WINTERROWD

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It only takes a few seconds to make a big KPɈLYLUJL MVY V\Y LU]PYVUTLU[ Alachua County prides itself on having a clean and beautiful community. When you come across litter, do the right thing and pick it up. Whether you recycle or throw it away, removing just one piece of litter a week can help keep Alachua County clean. It may be a small action, but it makes a ^VYSK VM KPќLYLUJL MVY (SHJO\H *V\U[`»Z ^PSKSPML HUK LU]PYVUTLU[

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DISEASE >> FIGHTING BREAST CANCER

From top left: Tarcha’s husband Ishmael, Tarcha, and their children Ieve and Ian. The Rentz family poses for a photo in the library of Talbot Elementary School, where their children attend and Tarcha volunteers.

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has a wig closet where patients can ﬁnd wigs and scarves. They also have a Look Good Feel Better program specifically designed to teach breast cancer patients tips such as taking care of their skin during treatment. “It’s like a Mary Kay party for breast cancer patients,” Clayton said. They also have a Reach to Recovery program that pairs newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with veteran breast cancer mentors to lift their spirits. The Road to Recovery program provides rides for patients to and from treatment. Clayton said it’s a great resource for patients who live in outlying communities, like Palatka. For patients who live farther, ACS offers a

place to stay in the Hope Lodge. She said it’s like a Ronald McDonald house speciﬁcally for cancer patients, offering about 30 bedrooms where patients seeking treatment that live 40 or 50 miles away can stay for free. One of the ways that ACS funds these programs is through events such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Companies, family and friends form fundraising teams for this 5k walk, and about 80 percent of the funds raised come from those teams. The other 20 percent comes from sponsorships. All the teams start in front of the Hippodrome, and the route runs through the downtown area. Sponsors come out with their tents, and downtown PHOTOGRAPHY: ERICKA WINTERROWD

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DISEASE >> FIGHTING BREAST CANCER

becomes a sea of b pink. There is a survivor area where they recognize survivors with breakfast and goody bags. They also have T opening and closing op ceremonies to thank cere sponsors and teams. the spon There aare yoga warm ups, contests and raffles, fun cont and at the closing ceremonies they announce how much money they raised. Last year they raised over $160,000 with about 180 teams, of which only $20,000 were sponsorships. The rest was raised by the teams. Their goal this year is to raise $165,000, so they’re hoping for 195 teams. In 2005, on her birthday, Rentz lay in a hospital bed in the same hospital she’d undergone treatment to save her life. Only this time she was there to give life. She named her son Ian, which means God is gracious. And two years later she gave birth to her daughter Ieve. The traditional name Eve means living, so one day, as she sat waiting in her doctor’s ofﬁce she kept thinking about the word “believe.” She believed she would live to see

her children born, and so she took her daughter’s name from that word. Rentz said ACS was such a great source of support during her treatment, and the organization has asked her to speak about her journey. As she was preparing for a speech one day her daughter overheard her, and she started asking questions about breast cancer. Rentz realized that she had an obligation to open the conversation up to other women and their daughters. And so she’s been working with ACS for four years. She wants other women to take the time to take care of themselves. “We get so busy,” she said. But women need to be their own advocates. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “Fight.”

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ALACHUA BUSINESS LEAGUE

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BIZARRE >> MEDICAL MALADIES

WEIRD SCIENCE

SEVEN WEIRD MEDICAL DISORDERS

How Bizarre? Close your eyes and imagine a world where one of your hands has a mind of its own. You can’t control it. It controls you — trying ying to impose harm to others but most of all to you. Now w open your eyes… quick! Before your hand has a chance to strike. Some medical conditions are just plain bizarre and seem like they belong in a science ﬁction novel rather than real life. Well, read on if you dare because all of these conditions really do exist.

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Hypertrichosis aka “Werewolf Syndrome” This disorder results in the overproduction of hair anywhere on the body. Men and women, babies and adults — the condition doesn’t discriminate. There are variations of the disorder, some

resulting in hair growth patterns that likely contributed to ancient “wolfman” folklore. In fact, in the past, people with hypertrichosis were often featured in carnival sideshows. Some people are affected head to toe, while others may only experience unusual hair growth on isolated parts of their bodies.

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Walking Corpse Syndrome Ofﬁcially known as Cotard’s Syndrome, this mental disorder involves an individual who believes they are either already dead or have lost all of their vital organs. Oftentimes it is brought about by a brain injury and can result in people believing themselves to be immortal, which can very easily lead to unintentional suicides.

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BIZARRE >> MEDICAL MALADIES

Frégoli Syndrome This syndrome leads a person to believe that people he or she knows have adopted a different appearance and assumed the bodies of total strangers. But other than the complete change in appearance (and possibly gender or ethnicity), the personality and identity of the acquaintance is perceived exactly the same as always. In some cases, patients believe the person’s shape has shifted (or is still shifting), while in other cases, the patient may believe the loved one’s identity or personality has been replicated and inserted into another physical shell.

Trichophagia People with trichophagia compulsively eat hair. This is hair eventually collects in the gastrointestinal tract causing symptoms ptoms such as indigestion and stomach pain, which often leads to o surgical removal of the giant hairball. If not removed this can be fatal. Treating trichophagia is similar to treatment of other ther impulse control disorders. The malady is believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and can be treated with a combination of anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy.

Tree Bark Syndrome e Known as Epidermodysplasia sia Verruciformis, this hereditary skin disorder der is caused by HPV (human papillomaa virus) and causes wart-like growths,, which look like tree bark, on your ur skin to spread out of control.. One of the worst cases on record ecord is that of Dede Koswara from Indonesia. He recently had d 95 percent of his warts removed ved but within the year almost all of them had grown back. 70 |

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Blue Skin Disorder This disord disorder is a result of methemoglobinemia, which causes decreased blood oxygen levels. Some people de develop a very deep bluish tint to their skin. The cause hereditary disorder was recently discovered of this h and tho those afﬂicted have since received treatment and skin is reverting back to normal — with no one their sk asking them, “Why so blue?” again. ever ask So ther there you have it. Are you creeped out, intrigued, or did yyou say, “That’s me!”? BOO! SOURCE: HEALTH.HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM

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COLUMN

ALBERT ISAAC’S

Different Note TROMBONE 101

ALBERT ISAAC IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER AND EDITOR AND THE AUTHOR OF SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS AND PERSONAL COLUMNS. HE LIVES IN HIGH SPRINGS WITH HIS FAMILY AND A BUNCH OF CRITTERS. editor@towerpublications.com

WELL. SOMEHOW I’VE MANAGED TO GET BACK IN THE BAND.

nd not a club band, either, or a garage band, but a bona fide concert band boasting close to 100 musicians. Regular readers (thanks Mom!) may recall that I recently dusted off the old axe (that’s musician-speak for instrument) and have been making strides in getting my chops (musician-speak for embouchure, i.e. mouthparts) back in shape. Small strides, yes, but there is improvement as I do my best to practice every day – much to the dogs’ dismay. “Practice, practice, practice or sell the horn!” That’s what Mr. Dean, my 8th grade civics teacher wrote in my yearbook. Up until recently I hadn’t practiced in decades. But I didn’t sell it either, and I’m glad I didn’t. When I first took the old horn out of the case I was stunned by the color of its rose-brass bell. At first I honestly thought it had tarnished. How could I have forgotten the beauty of the Conn 88H? Had it been that long? Now I wondered how long would it take to make it sound as pretty as it looks. It is my great fortune, after a 32-year hiatus from playing the slide trombone, to be welcomed into the Gainesville Community Band. I began rehearsing in June and the experience was surreal. On that first evening, I arrived at the school where the band practices not knowing where to find the band room. Suddenly, I was back in high school, entering uncharted waters – or so I thought. With some trepidation I got out of the car carrying my trombone case and immediately spotted other musicians with their instruments. I followed them to the band room as if I knew where I was going. But unlike entering the uncharted waters of high school, this experience suddenly seemed completely normal. Like something I’ve done hundreds of times. And why shouldn’t it? I had carried my trombone to rehearsals hundreds, if not thousands of times, ever since joining my first band in junior high school so many years ago. The band director, Professor R. Gary Langford, and fellow musicians were all very welcoming as I settled in with the other trombonists. We warmed up. Tuned. Played some scales. And I felt as if I had traveled back in time. No. Not back in time. It was more 72 |

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like I had never left. It was all so familiar, and everything – save my embouchure – came back to me. When coupled with the simple fact that I was again playing under the leadership of my college band director, Professor Langford, the experience was sublime. I had some concerns about reading music, seeing as it had been so long since I’d played in such a setting. But reading music was completely natural – as if I’d never stopped. I’d be lying, however, if I said I hit every note, (some of the key changes threw me) or that my intonation was great, but I felt like I held my own. I watched my conductor, followed his instructions – instructions that would probably sound like a foreign language to the musically uninitiated, as he directed us to specific places in the sheet music. I even found myself counting off the measures through the rests without even consciously thinking about it. I was back in a familiar place, a setting in which I had spent all of my formative years. This probably sounds silly to anyone who plays regularly, but for me it was remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable. We went through one composition after another as I took in the sounds of all those musicians filling the room with such joyful music. How could I have let so much time pass without playing? It’s easy. There’s work. Family. Happy Hour. Children. Work. Happy Hour. Grandchildren. Happy Hour. And some degree of laziness. We had several more rehearsals and I continued to improve (not hard to do when you’re starting over) and I discovered that I sound particularly good while playing with all those other trombonists. Before I knew it, the time came for our concert, the fantastic “Fanfare and Fireworks” on UF’s Flavet Field (say that five times fast). As luck would have it, our two young granddaughters were staying with us that July and my wife and I brought them to hear the concert and see the fireworks. And they absolutely loved the band. For the girls it was the best part of the night, as we played continuously, performing one marching tune after another, fireworks exploding around us. By the end my chops were failing fast, but it was worth every minute. And I’m doubly blessed that the kids were able to enjoy it with us and hear their grandpa’s first foray back into the world of music. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s 5 o’clock (somewhere).

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“ e smile you’ve always wanted.” DR. PAIVI SAMANT, D.D.S. PROSTHODONTIST

t Smart Smile Dentistry our goal is to help you maintain na all l o ll off your natural teeth for life. Dr. Samant nt and her e qualiﬁed sstaff tta aff ff can offer you personalized care and state-of-the-a state-of-the-art technology -art rt techn nol olog ogy gy in order for you to achieve a beautiful healthy smile. hy smil le. Prosthodontics is a small but very important dental specialty tant den enta tall sp spe ecia ec ialtyy th that at often goes unnoticed by the general public. Also known as de dental den ntta n all prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry, prosthodontics area ontics is tthe he are ea of o dentistry that focuses on dental prostheses. Concern Concerned rned ed with h the replacement of missing teeth and other damaged oral ed o r l ra structures, Prosthodontics is concerned with achieving h achievi ing g proper oral function while maintaining a good od cosmetic cosm met etic i ic appearance. Gainesville Prosthodontist and owner of Smart mart Smile Dentistry, Dr. Paivi Samant and her caring ring team, work diligently to maintain beautiful and well we ell functioning smiles for their patients. “We really are the architects of dentistry and can build whatever restorative solution our patient needs, from veneers to custom dentures to implant-supported full mouth restoration,” Dr. Samant explains. Prosthodontists like Dr. Samant specialize in treating and handling dental and facial problems that involve more treatment than your general dentist can offer. Some examples include restoration of complex dental problems with high aesthetic demand, severely worn dentition or multiple missing teeth. “When it comes to a person’s smile, there is no one siz sizeze74 |

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ﬁts-all,” remarks Dr. Samant. It is her mission to keep smiles healthy by listening to her patients’ needs and creating a treatment plan that is as individual as the patient, while restoring optimal function. The prosthodontic division at Smart Smile Dentistry delivers care on an individual basis, making the best improvements to the look of one’s smile and function. Prosthodontists have three years of specialization in high-end aesthetic restoration and replacement of teeth, as well as extensive amount of experience and advance knowledge in materials science and technology. “We work with high–end laboratories and demand the ﬁnest in esthetic quality and most precise work possible for our patients,” she explains. Prosthodontists are also highly trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating complex dental conditions. “We have recently added head and neck CT imaging to our technology repertoire and can now do implants at our clinic using this technology,” explains Dr. Samant. Dr. Samant has a true love for

modern aesthetic dentistry and by incorporating the very latest in technology with the most advanced techniques available, her commitment to her patients is second to none. Beyond caring for patients’ oral health, Dr. Samant and her team also help patients with snoring or sleep disorders. “Our practice is will connected with several local sleep physicians and we fabricate introral sleep apnea appliances for patients who do not tolerate CPAP machines.” She and her team are also trained to treat temporomandibular joint disorders with several treatment options that do not permanently damage teeth. Some of these include therapy and exercise, pharmacologic treatment and occlusal devices. Not sure if dentures or implants would be the right move? A prosthodontist will be able to help determine which treatment option is best suited for you. Visiting a prosthodontist will improve your dental health as well as your overall conﬁdence, at any age. Ready for a winning smile? Let Dr. Samant and her dedicated staff give you the smile of your dreams.

4404 NW 36th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32606 352.376.5120 www.SmartSmileDentistry.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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MEDICAL IMPLANTS >> RTI SURGICAL

THE RIGHT EN VIRONMENT

The cell processing area where specialists isolate the MAPC®class cells in ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certified clean rooms.

SURGICAL IMPLANT COMPANY UNVEILS NEW SUITE

RTI Surgical WRITTEN BY BRINN STR ANGE

RTI Surgical, located in Alachua’s Progress Park, has experienced tremendous growth in the last several years. They provide surgeons with advanced sterile biologic, synthetic and metal implants from human and animal sources to assist with surgeries for muscular repair. Currently, the company distributes hundreds of thousands of implants every year to all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide. They have grown from a tiny tissue bank within Shands Hospital into a leading global implant company that ships products around the world. The recent expansion is “an example of our dedication to the community” said President and CEO Brian K. Hutchison during 76 |

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a recent ribbon cutting for the company’s new Logistics and Technology Center. “The company has distributed more than 5 million implants without a single incident of implant-related infection,” he said. Hutchison praised the research team gathered at RTI as well as the company’s world class wet labs. “We sometimes wonder if our advanced scientists ever go home,” he said. “They really like it here.” RTI Surgical, which began operations in 1998, is a spinoff from the University of Florida Tissue Bank. The company prepares human donated tissue and xenograft tissue for transplantation through extensive testing, screening and precision shaping. These allograft and xenograft implants are primarily used in orthopedic, dental and other specialty surgeries. At its inception, the company housed about 200 people; today, RTI has more than 1,100 employees around the world. In 2008, the company merged with Tutogen Medical Inc., and RTI

MEDICAL IMPLANTS >> RTI SURGICAL

Biologics, Inc. was born. Since then, the company acquired Pioneer Surgical, Inc., forming RTI Surgical. The once-45,000square-foot operation now contains ﬁve buildings at RTI Headquarters in Alachua — totaling 200,000 square feet — with additional locations in Jacksonville, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas as well as international locations in The Netherlands, France and Germany.

Logistics and Technology Center The company broke ground on the 41,165 square foot, $41 million investment in January of 2013. The center includes research and development offices and laboratories, clean rooms, a shipping and ﬁnished implant warehouse, and other support functions. The new facility has created job opportunities and a dedicated space for the production of map3® cellular allogeneic bone grafts. Mitch Glaeser, Immediate Past Chair of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, noted that the new expansion and the products created at RTI “have special meaning, not only because of the lives they will change, but because this innovation illustrates the potential for success of a company rooted in the Gainesville community right here in Alachua, growing a presence regionally and throughout the world and now creating more jobs locally. RTI Surgical is one of the area’s largest companies, and it certainly has one of the PHOTOGRAPHY: BRINN STRANGE

largest impacts here in Alachua County.” RTI Surgical’s economic impact is noteworthy. “RTI has over 500 employees here locally and that number represents not just employees, but families that can better reach their goals in attaining a better quality of life. This positive impact is further reﬂected in the lives affected by the quality products the company produces,” Glaeser said. Carrie Hartill, Executive Vice President and CSO at RTI also spoke at the ceremony. She noted that the map3® is one of RTI’s ﬂagship products and that the new suite will allow scientists to protect the product in a state-of-the-art, sterile environment while it continues to be developed. “The stories the surgeons are able to tell regarding the benefits of our product are phenomenal,” Hartill said. “Orthopedic surgeons can use living map3® cells along with a bone scaffold to support the body’s innate healing mechanism.”

MAP3® Cellular Allogenic Bone Graft RTI Surgical is proud to have developed a safe, biocompatible bone graft process that offers a natural alternative to autograft. According to RTI Surgical’s website, “An autograft is when a tissue is surgically removed from one area of a person’s body and transplanted in

another site on the same person. An allograft is a tissue (e.g., bone, tendons, ligaments, skin, heart valves) taken from one person for transplantation into another person. The map3® cellular allogeneic bone graft provides the scaffold and signals for neo-vascularization and bone growth, which enables patients to more seamlessly recover from injuries requiring a bone graft. According to the website, the implant “contains the three essential elements of bone formation: the cortical cancellous bone chips supply a three-dimensional osteoconductive scaffold, the demineralized bone matrix demonstrates veriﬁed osteoinductive potential, and the cryogenically preserved, viable multipotent adult progenitor class cells provide osteogenic and angiogenic signals to support the bone healing process.” In short, this method better preserves the natural properties of the allograft. In a 2011 press release regarding the initial groundbreaking of the new center, President and CEO of RTI Surgical, Brian K. Hutchison said, “At RTI, we are committed to supporting the communities in which we operate and participating in the economic development of our regions. We are excited to expand our facilities in Alachua, Fla. and are glad to be a part of a community that is focused on fostering innovation and success.” For more information, visit: www.rtix.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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RECIPE SERIES >> HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS

TREAT YOURSELF

Cynthia Wonders Winterrowd ’s

RECIPE WONDERS FOOD ST Y LING & PHOTOGR A PH Y BY ERICK A WINTER ROWD

HAL

L OW E E

L N POPCORN BA

hen the chill returns to the air and the harvest season is in full swing, this is a great recipe to “treat” your family and friends who stop by on Halloween! Long ago my mother, Ronelva, invented this variation of popcorn balls that have a softer caramel, which doesn’t setup hard and brittle. It stays chewy and delicious until they are all gone (but it doesn’t take long for them to disappear). In the old days, we would give them to the trick-or-treaters when they came to our door, but of course the days of distributing homemade candy are gone. Don’t let that stop you from making a batch for yourself, though. It’s a fun project that you can do with the family and make lasting memories! Make sure an adult handles the cooking of the caramel, however. It is very hot, and the sticky consistency could easily burn. Follow the directions below and the result will be a delicious treat for one and all.

POPCORN BALLS INGREDIENTS:

8 1–3 1 2 1/2 5 1/2 1 1

quarts popped corn cups Planters brand cocktail peanuts cup dark Karo syrup cups white sugar tsp. cream of tarter rounded Tbsp. of softened butter tsp. baking soda Tbsp. vanilla tsp. butter flavor extract

METHOD:

First, pop the corn in an old-fashioned shaker-type popper on your stove or use an air-popper if you have one. Follow directions on the popcorn label. Keep popping until you have a generous amount in the largest bowl you have. Shake the bowl to settle the un-popped

CYNTHIA WONDERS WINTERROWD IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER WHO WAS RAISED IN ILLINOIS AND LIVES IN GAINESVILLE. SHE IS PROUD TO BE A “GATOR MOM” OF THREE DAUGHTERS, ALL UF GRADUATES. CYNTHIA LOVES SHARING FAMILY RECIPES THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN IN HER MOTHER’S HANDWRITTEN COOKBOOKS. recipewonders@gmail.com

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RECIPE SERIES >> HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS

kernels (there’s always some in there) to the bottom of the bowl. Then lift off the popped corn into a large measuring cup, keeping track of the measurement. Repeat until you have 8 quarts (4 cups = 1 quart) in a real large pan, such as a turkey roaster. Next, add one to three cups of Planters cocktail peanuts. Stir and set aside. Take a heavy cooking pan and put the syrup, sugar and cream of tarter in it. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon until the caramel forms a ball when tested by dripping from spoon into icy cold water. This won’t take long — keep an eye on it! All at once you will add the butter, baking soda, vanilla and butter flavor extract. Mix well. No beating is necessary. The mixture will “fuzz up” and lighten in color. Carefully lift the cooking pan off the stove and pour over the waiting popped corn. It helps to have someone stirring the hot mixture into the popcorn with a wooden spoon while you are pouring it. Just be careful no fingers get into the caramel until it has cooled! It’s HOT! After a few minutes it will be cool enough to shape into popcorn balls with your hands, covered with plastic bags to keep sticky caramel off your skin. You will want to work quickly, forming the popcorn balls while they are still warm. Remember to squeeze the popcorn lightly, just enough to hold it together. When they have cooled completely you can wrap the popcorn balls in plastic wrap and tie with orange ribbon. Or if you prefer, let the popcorn lay loosely in the pan like caramel corn. Either way, you will love this fall classic!

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ANATOMY >> HALLOWEEN DECORATION

GOT MILK?

Dem Bones Milk Jug Skeleton S TORY A ND PHOTOG R A PHY BY E RICK A WINTE R ROW D

he thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone, now shake dem skeleton bones! Here is a great DIY Halloween project that will bring thrills and chills to your trick-or-treaters. There’s no need to spend a bundle on spook-tacular decorations this year when you can make your very own Mr. Bones! Create the magic by following these steps: Supplies: • 7 clean and dry gallon milk jugs • Highlighter to trace pattern • Black marker to outline pattern • Craft knife (X-Acto) • Scissors • Yarn or string to tie dem bones together • Hole Punch • Additional: Glow paint and paint brush *Adult supervision required

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STEP 1: Take four of the plastic jugs and trace a pattern for hands and feet. A highlighter works great and will wipe off when you are done cutting. If necessary, a black marker can be used to dot the highlighter markings. Cut out hands and feet at the handle, two of each. Punch a hole at the end of each hand and the middle area of each foot. STEP 2: Next, take two more of the plastic jugs and cut out the shoulders at the handle. At the top of the jug side punch one hole and two at the other side. STEP 3: Now take one of the plastic jugs and draw a skeleton face on it and cut it out with a craft knife. Then punch two holes in the bottom as well as at the opening on each side. STEP 4: Next, draw some ribs on the opposite side of one of the milk jugs that were used to make the hands. After tracing the pattern, cut them out using

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Build FAMILIES

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a craft knife. This kind of utensil makes the process a lot easier and precise. Now make a hole in the bottom of the jug and punch a hole at each side of the opening. You can cut out the side where the hand was traced so that it is completely open. This will make the ribs more visible.

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STEP 5: To make the hips, draw a large oval on the uncut area of the jug that was used to make the other hand. Cut the same oval out on the opposite side so you can see through it. Punch two holes at the jug opening, which will connect to the chest area above. Then punch two holes at the base of the jug towards the front where the leg bones will be attached.

ANATOMY >> HALLOWEEN DECORATION

DEM BONES, DEM BONES, DEM DRY BONES, x 3 NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! THE TOE BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE FOOT BONE, THE FOOT BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE ANKLE BONE,, THE ANKLE BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE LEG BONE, NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! THE LEG BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE KNEE BONE, THE KNEE BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE THIGH BONE,, THE THIGH BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE HIP BONE, NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! DEM BONES, DEM BONES, DEM DRY BONES, x 3 NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! THE HIP BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE BACK BONE E, THE BACK BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE NECK BONE, E, THE NECK BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE HEAD BONE, NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! NE NE, THE FINGER BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE HAND BONE, E E, THE HAND BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE ARM BONE, ON ONE NE, NE, THE ARM BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE SHOULDER BONE, NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES! DEM BONES, DEM BONES GONNA WALK AROUND x 3 NOW SHAKE DEM SKELETON BONES!

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STEP 6: Now cut four long bones for arms from one plastic jug that was used to make the foot. Then cut four long bones for legs from the other jug that was used to make a foot. Punch a hole on each end of them. STEP 7: For the ﬁnal step be sure to sing the lyrics to “Dem Bones” as you cut strings of yarn to attach all the pieces of the skeleton together. www.BSITRI.com For additional fun, paint some designs on your skeleton with glow in the dark paint or add some yarn hair to the top of his head! The sky is the limit, or should we say six-feet under is the limit? <Insert evil laugh>

386-454-1642 386-454-4070 (fax) 630 NE SANTA FE BLVD., HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32643 P. O. BOX 367, HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32655

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Learn to keep the

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Save your recyclables from the landfill. No need to bag them, just sort and place them in the correct bin.

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TRAVEL >> JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

HEALING NATURE

California Dreaming A Visit to Joshua Tree National Park S T O R Y A N D P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K R I S T I N KO Z E L S K Y

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TRAVEL >> JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

arrived on a Thursday evening. I drove into the south entrance and followed the road into the park. At first it was pretty anticlimactic… I didn’t see any of the legendary Joshua Trees, just some small rocky outcroppings and sand. I was a little saddened by that and wondering whether I’d made the right decision to camp at Joshua Tree National Park for a few days. As I continued my drive, I came across steeper hills and fields of cacti. Cacti! For real. In the WILD. As a photographer, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I could hardly put my camera down and get myself back in the car to find a place to camp for the night. Of course I got out of the car again with camera in hand the moment I saw my first Joshua Tree. I’d made it. It was my first time in an American desert. I followed the road further and ultimately decided on Jumbo Rocks as my basecamp for my stay in the park, which turned out to be an excellent choice. After I arrived at the park, I learned that the campsites do not have water. The best place for me to get water was at the northwest park entrance. I set up camp — my little yellow tent nestled among giant boulders — hopped back into the car, and made my way into town just a few miles away for some food and larger water containers, and then stopped to fill up on my way back into the park. Joshua Tree National Park is small, which makes it easy to feel like you’ve done the park after just a couple of days there. There are a variety of day hikes, points of interest, and climbing opportunities in the park. I hadn’t been bouldering in quite a while and was suddenly wishing I’d had my climbing shoes and a crash pad with me. On Friday morning, I decided to hike the Lost Horse Mine trail, which took me through the Colorado Desert landscape and ended at a giant boulder field. As I found throughout my time in the park, at every turn in the trail I was shocked at the beauty of the scene before me. I hardly felt like I had to compose an image — nature had done it for me and all I had to do was take the shot. At the Lost Horse Mine boulder field, I climbed over the rocks for a while and then settled down in a shady spot for a rest and a picnic lunch. That evening I went out for some firewood and fresh water and returned to camp just before sunset. Jumbo Rocks was a wonderful spot to camp; it was in the middle of the park so not as crowded as some of the other areas

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TRAVEL >> JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

and it was easy to climb on top of the boulders for a beautiful, unobstructed view of the sunset and later, the starlit night sky. After a simple camp dinner, I hit the tent early; I wanted to be sure I was awake to catch sunrise the next morning. Saturday morning I woke up just before sunrise and climbed back out onto the rocks to watch the morning sun break the horizon. The moon was still visible and the campsite was quiet — no more gentle ﬁreside conversation and laughter I’d fallen asleep to the night before. This sunrise was gorgeous. The changing colors in the perfectly clear sky, the warm, bright rays spilling across the horizon,

and the dark blue night sky high above. Breathtaking. I had my breakfast and got myself together, then set out for an early hike of Ryan Mountain. It is the tallest peak in the park at 1,664 m. (5,461 feet). The sun was fairly low in the sky and the moon was still out when I reached the summit, so I took my time and enjoyed the view. The park obviously gets its name from the famous Joshua trees that are prevalent in the area, but it is situated at an important area of our country’s landscape — where two of our deserts merge: the Mojave and the Colorado. From the peak of Ryan Mountain, you can see where the two deserts converge. The high

The changing colors in the perfectly clear sky, the warm, bright rays spilling across the horizon, and the dark blue night sky high above.

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I was shocked to learn that the average annual rainfall is only four inches. FOUR INCHES! Despite this extremely limited amount of rainfall â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially compared to what we are used to here in Florida â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the desert sustains a surprising variety of wildlife. During my visit, I was fortunate enough to see everything from a coyote, to both a hare and a rabbit, to smaller creatures like birds and lizards, and I even saw a tarantula at the top of Ryan Mountain.

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TRAVEL >> JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

The Joshua tree is technically not a tree at all. It is a member of the yucca family: Yucca brevifolia. The trees primarily grow in the Mojave Desert at elevations between 1,300-5,900 ft. They can grow up to about 50 ft. in height, and the root systems can spread about 36 ft. away from the base of the plant. If healthy and situated in a good location, Joshua trees can live hundreds of years, with a few examples believed to live for a thousand years. Because of climate change, there is considerable concern that the population of Joshua trees will be drastically reduced by the end of the 21st century.

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BE PREPARED: - There are no showers in the park. Two campsites (Black Rock and Cottonwood) do have running water. Bring baby wipes and hand sanitizer for basic hygiene. - Bring plenty of water and water containers. The best place to fill up if your campsite does not have water is at the northwest entrance — it’s available 24/7. - The park is a desert — the weather is a dry heat and there is very little shade, so it is important to stay hydrated and keep plenty of water with you. - The town of Joshua Tree is just a few miles outside of the park. Restaurants, showers, grocery stores, cell reception, and gas stations are easily accessible there.

desert — the Mojave — is higher in altitude, slightly cooler, and is characterized by the presence of Joshua trees and hills of bare rock. The low desert — the Colorado — is lower in altitude and home to the creosote bush and a variety of cacti, particularly varieties of the cholla cactus. After hiking Mount Ryan, I went to explore another boulder ﬁeld and spent the afternoon at Skull Rock, which was full of climbers and boulderers (I never did find the ‘skull rock’). Some of the rock formations were really quite beautiful. I climbed up to another shady spot with a little bit of a breeze

for an afternoon snack and took in the desert landscape before me. So different from the lush green landscape of central Florida. That evening I went to Keys View. Everyone said, “If you go to Joshua Tree National Park, you should really go watch the sunset at Keys View.” So I went. The road to the lookout point was cut through a huge ﬁeld of Joshua trees. It was so hard to prevent myself from taking thousands of photos of the trees so that I wouldn’t miss the sun going down. As I was settling in to watch the sunset from a little bench at the viewpoint, I

- Be sure to fill up the car with gas prior to entering the park — there are no gas stations inside the park and the best way to get between different areas of the park is to drive. - Bring your own wood if you plan to have a campfire. It is prohibited to burn any plant material you find inside the park. - The park does have cacti with spines, rattlesnakes, bees, and other wildlife that may cause injury. Keep your eyes open for potential dangers while in the park.

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IF YOU GO: • The best times of year to visit are spring and fall; the average temperatures for day and night are between 85º and 50º F • It blooms between February & April • Grab a copy of the park’s newspaper on the way in; it’s full of useful information and includes a map and list of trails

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• Fees to drive into the park and stay for up to seven days are $15. Camping fees are $10-$15 per night • The park is not particularly petfriendly, so it’s best to leave your pooch at home • Fly into LA or Palm Springs and rent a car. The park is about 45 minutes from Palm Springs and about 2.5 hours from LAX

TRAVEL >> JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

noticed something happening around me. Being a wedding photographer and working with couples regularly, I instantly knew it — someone was about to get a proposal. I grabbed a couple of lenses from my car and documented the moments as they unfolded. After the engagement took place, I greeted the couple — Daniel and Daniel and let them know that I’d photographed the whole thing from afar. I offered to do a couple of quick photos for them as a newly engaged couple, and they enthusiastically agreed. It turns out that their photographer had cancelled at the last minute, so it worked out perfectly that I happened to be that! After hugs all around, we parted ways and I watched the sun set on my ﬁnal evening at Joshua tree. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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COLUMN

KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO’S

Healthy Edge ARE YOUR KIDS PLAYING ENOUGH?

KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO, PH.D, HCC IS A NEUROSCIENTIST, MEDICAL WRITER, COLUMNIST AND THE DIRECTOR OF RURAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP AT WELLFLORIDA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. kendra.sm@gmail.com

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, MANY OF US PLAYED AFTER SCHOOL UNTIL THE SUN WENT DOWN.

study published in the American Journal of Play shows kids’ playtime has declined substantially in the past several decades, and this decline affects emotional development. Are your kids playing enough? Peter Gray, Ph.D., Boston College Professor of Psychology and his team found that between 1981 and 1997 kids spent 18 percent more time at school, 145 percent more time doing school work, and 168 percent more time shopping with parents. The researchers found that children in 1997 spent only about 11 hours per week doing free play, and this INCLUDED computer play. “Free play” as deﬁned by Dr. Gray is “play a child undertakes him- or her-self and which is self-directed rather than part of some organized activity.” To Dr. Gray, free play serves as a “testing ground for life.” Here are five reasons Dr. Gray believes that you should ensure that your children have adequate time for free play:

2. Play gives kids a safe space to learn how to make decisions, tackle problems, self-regulate their emotions, and follow rules. These skills are extremely protective against anxiety and depression. Adults who didn’t get to learn how to cope with emotion-provoking situations during childhood are more at risk for feeling anxious and overwhelmed when confronted with emotional circumstances. “Children who do not have the opportunity to control their own actions, to make and follow through on their own decisions, to solve their own problems, and to learn how to follow rules in the course of play grow up feeling that they are not in control of their own lives and fate,” Dr. Gray reports. 3. Kids learn their limitations, strengths and weaknesses during play. When we were younger, many of us put ourselves in mildly challenging situations when playing. Maybe we were flying around on a playground carousel, playing dodge ball, or jumping into a lake from a rope swing. Dr. Gray points out that activities such as these “are fun to the degree that they are moderately frightening ... nobody but the child himself or herself knows the right dose.” Physically and socially challenging play situations give kids the space to understand their limits. Outside of the playtime, parents can help kids set safe boundaries (for themselves and with other kids), and parents can serve as a sounding board for kids’ playtime experiences to help kids better understand themselves.

“Social play is nature’s means of teaching young humans that they are not special. Even those who are more skilled at the game’s actions must consider the needs and wishes of the others as equal to their own, or else the others will exclude them.”

1. Play gives kids a chance to discover and express their preferences and self-identity. As kids navigate playtime activities, they organically practice communication skills needed in adulthood. “In school, children work for grades and praise and in adult-directed sports, they work for praise and trophies. In free play, children do what they want to do, and the learning and psychological growth that results are byproducts, not conscious goals of the activity,” asserts Dr. Gray.

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4. Play helps children make friends. Kids who are outgoing or a little shy can beneﬁt from playing with others. Kids learn how to treat each other with care during free play. “Social play is nature’s means of teaching young humans that they are not

special. Even those who are more skilled at the game’s actions must consider the needs and wishes of the others as equal to their own, or else the others will exclude them,” said Dr. Gray.

All

Creations

SALON

5. Kids are happy when they’re playing. Dr. Gray’s studies indicate that when kids are asked about the activities that bring them happiness, they say they are happiest when playing with friends. Not only does playtime help kids develop emotionally, it gives them a space where they can experience happiness and joy. Although kids’ safety and academic and athletic preparedness are priorities, consider making small changes to give your children more time for free play. Do your best to slightly dial-back supervised activities to create room on their schedules. Give your children a healthy and happy edge with a little more free play. Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, PhD, HCC is the Director of Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council.

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CITY BOYS APPRECIATES YOUR BUSINESS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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Drive Home Always great vehicles Always great prices! • No Credit Check! • All Cars $0 down • Cash Cars Starting at only $1,000

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Sun City Auto Sales

(352) 338-1999 98 |

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Cell: 352-870-5627 Home: 386-462-2262 Personal pet sitter and pet care in your home while you’re away.

JUNE and JULY 2015 TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT:

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

JUNE WINNER - 725 VOTES

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Plenty of Pitbulls

Dance Marathon

The June Charity of the Month $1,000 winner is Plenty of Pitbulls. Ashley Roehner will receive $300 for nominating them, the $500 random charity winner is St. Francis House and the $100 random voter winner is Lindsey Neumann. This all-volunteer group of dog lovers rescues and rehabilitates pit bull type dogs and is always looking for volunteers. They also do shelter and owner support and education and outreach projects. They do not take in dogs from the public or strays. Plenty of Pitbulls has weekly adoption events in Gainesville on Saturdays from noon to 4 at Petco (6869 W. Newberry Rd.) and at Millhopper Petsmart (4119 NW 16th Ave.). For information email gainesvillepitbulls@gmail.com.

The July Charity of the Month $1,000 winner is Dance Marathon at the University of Florida beneﬁting UF Health Shands. This annual 26.2-hour event beneﬁts the patients of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Each year, more than 800 students stay awake and on their feet to raise money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Shands Hospital for Children at UF. In the 20 years of Dance Marathon’s existence, more than $8 million has been donated, making it the most successful student-run philanthropy in the Southeastern United States. Other winners: Mackenzie LaPorte will receive $300 for nominating them. The $500 random charity winner is Ja’Niyah Youth Foundation and the $100 random voter winner is Tony McCloud.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS >> CHARITY OF THE MONTH

CH A RIT Y OF THE MONTH WINNER S

Prizes provided by a partnership between Sunstate Federal Credit Union and Tower Publications, Inc.

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100

TASTE OF THE TOWN

SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL

352-372-5468

FOR RATES AND INFORMATION.

Heavenly Ham 3832 W. Newberry Rd Ste 1-C Located in Plaza Royale next to Moe’s Sat 10AM – 4PM Sun 11:30AM -3PM Mon- Fri 10AM – 6PM

352-375-8050 www.heavenlyhamgainesville.com LUNCH / CATERING / HOLIDAYS — Heavenly Ham Market Café has the best custom hand tossed salads in Gainesville! Seriously! With over 20 toppings, 10 dressings, and 8 different meats to choose from, our custom hand tossed salads are sure to please. In addition to our salads, we hand craft our signature & classic sandwiches made to order. Delicious Vie de France bread is baked daily so that it is at its freshest when we prepare your box lunch either for dine-in, carry out, or delivery. We also carry a line of hot sandwiches & panini like our Roasted Chicken Florentine Panini made with fresh baby spinach, toasted on ciabatta with melted provolone cheese and our house made Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Copper Monkey West 14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669 Across from the Steeplechase Publix Sunday-Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 12:00am

352-363-6338 mycoppermonkey.com Restaurant & Pub — Now serving Breakfast on Saturdays & Sundays 8am - 10:45am. We are located in the heart of Jonesville, this All-American dining is convenient to all neighborhoods in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs and beyond. Our family-friendly dining features great food at a great price. Whether you come in for the “best burger in town” or try any one of our freshly made salads, pastas or sandwiches, you will not leave disappointed. Our USDA choice steaks, served with 2 sides, offer a great alternative for the perfect celebratory meal. We also feature a full-service bar with signature drinks and many options for your viewing pleasure. Great food, great price, we’ll see you soon.

Adam’s Rib Co. 211 NW 13th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32609 1515 SW 13th Street Gainesville, Florida 32608 Monday-Saturday 7:00am – 9:00pm Closed Sunday

352-373-8882 NW 352-727-4005 SW AdamsRibCo.com BBQ — Celebrating our 10 year Anniversary. Looking for the best BBQ in Gainesville? Then look no further than Adam’s Rib Co. Adam’s is North Florida’s Premier Barbecue restaurant, serving North Florida’s ﬁnest bbq spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, slow smoked chicken and turkey. Choose from over 20 sauces – from honey sweet to habanero hot – and everything in between. Don’t forget dessert, like our scrumptious banana pudding and famous peach cobbler. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Adam’s can cater any event locally. Give Adam a call for your next tailgate party 352-514-8692!

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

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

The Great Outdoors 65 North Main Street, High Springs, Florida 32643 Open at 11:00am Tuesday through Sunday

386-454-1288 www.greatoutdoorsdining.com Award-winning Dining — Join us on the ﬁrst Thursday each month from 6-9 PM for a ROCKIN’ RHYTHM & BLUES OPEN BAND JAM session with Terraplane Trio. All musicians and vocalists are invited. Contact Ivan at novapet@hotmail.com for details. October brings delicious Autumn drink and dinner specials plus our annual PUMPKIN CARVING contest! In November we join forces with the High Springs Playhouse for another exciting MURDER MYSTERY DINNER, “Murder Country Style,” November 6th & 7th and 13th & 14th. Visit HighSpringsPlayhouse.com for tickets. Booking a holiday party? Visit the Opera House, our special events room upstairs or book a spot under the Boat House! www.greatoutdoorsdining.com

Napolatanos 606 NW 75th Street Gainesville, FL Tuesday - Thursday & Sunday 4:00pm-10:00pm Friday 4:00pm-1:00am • Saturday 4:00pm-11:00pm

352-332-6671 www.napolatanos.com ITALIAN — Napolatanos is the longest original owner operated restaurant in Gainesville. Nappys, the name the locals have given Napolatanos has the most extensive menu. Whether you choose pizza, calzones, salad, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak dinners or the best chicken wings in town, Nappy’s uses only the freshest ingredients. Visit on Tuesday for half price appetizers. Burgers & Brew Night on Wednesday and live music inside. Thursday is Pub night with Better than England’s Fish & Chips $7. Outside dining with live music, on the patio, on Sunday evenings. GRAB & GO family dinners feeds 4-6 adults, starting at $25.95. Choose from Ziti, Lasagna, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Marsala and more!

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SPECIAL RESTAURANT ADVERTISING SECTION. CALL

352-372-5468

FOR RATES AND INFORMATION.

Newberry’s Backyard BBQ 25405 West Newberry Road, Newberry Monday-Wednesday 11:00am – 9:00pm Thursday 11:00am – 9:00pm Friday and Saturday 11:00am – 11:00pm Sunday 10:30am – 3:00pm

352-472-7260 newberrybbq.com BBQ — The one and only Newberry’s Backyard BBQ is located in our historic building in beautiful downtown Newberry. Our pork, chicken, beef, and turkey is smoked to perfection daily. Our salads and sides are always fresh. If you are thirsty we have the best sweet tea in the South and a full bar as well. Make sure to bring your kids, we serve their meals on a frisbee that they take home. For your entertainment, we always have live music on Friday nights and Karaoke on Saturday evenings. Let us cater your Holiday Event! Big or small we cater all gatherings.

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

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

Saboré 13005 SW 1st Road, Tioga, FL 32669 (Tioga Town Center) Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00am – 10:00pm Friday & Saturday: 11:00am – 11:00pm • 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.

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Mark’s Prime Steakhouse & Seafood 201 SE 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL (Historic Downtown) Monday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm • Tues-Sat: 5:00pm to 10:00pm Happy Hour: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

352-336-0077 marksprimesteakhouse.com Steak & Seafood — Mark’s Prime Steakhouse and Seafood has a goal to create a unique dining experience that will please the palate and soothe the soul. We serve the ﬁnest beef, the freshest seafood, and naturally fresh vegetables. Recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence 2004-2011. Join us for Primetime Happy Hour featuring drink and appetizer specials Monday thru Saturday 5-7 pm. We are pleased to feature our full service, private dining facilities. It would be our pleasure to help plan your next reception, banquet, business meeting, or social gathering. Complimentary valet service.

Marion Street Deli and Pub 281 N. Marion Ave. Lake City, Fl. Monday - Tuesday 11:00am – 10:00pm • Wednesday 11:00am – 11:00pm Thursday - Saturday 11:00am – Till • Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm for brunch

386-487-6194 marionstreetdeliandpub.com Deli & Pub — Great menu items including: “Chairman’s Reserve” Hand Cut Steaks. House Specialties including Authentic Louisiana Shrimp and Grits, Hand Made Fresh Pasta and Sauces. BBQ Beef Brisket, Hand Ground Burgers made fresh daily, Smoked Chicken Wings, Smoked Prime Rib, Homemade soups and great specials prepared daily from our team of chefs. Offering an Amazing Sunday Brunch with House Made Specials 11-4:00 Pm. Live Music Wednesday through Saturday!!! Largest Selection of Draft Beers!!! Located in historic downtown!

Crane Ramen 16 SW 1st Ave. Gainesville Sun-Wed: 11:00 am - 4pm • 5pm - 10pm • Thu-Sat: 11am - 4pm • 5pm - 1am Sunday Brunch beginning at 11am

352-727-7422 www.craneramen.com Authentic Craft Ramen — Owners Fred Brown and Bill Bryson opened a restaurant serving sensuous, Japanese comfort food. Ramen creates a harmony of ﬂavors,enjoyed layer by layer as they are mixed throughout your bowl.The richness of ingredients thoughtfully concocted delivers complete dining satisfaction. Crane Ramen is committed to a local/sustainable model of sourcing the best and healthiest ingredients. Our meat, eggs and poultry are sourced locally whenever possible. All of our food is scratch-made! We have our soup stocks bubbling 24 hours a day! In addition to ramen we also have a seasonal variety of delicious otsumami. Crane Ramen also has also curated its own unique offering of beer, wine, sake and creative cocktails!

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Krab King 25405 W Newberry Rd. Newberry Fl 32669 Monday - Check • Thursday 11:00am – 8:00pm Friday - Saturday 11:00am – 10:00pm • Sunday Closed

352-682-2139 SEAFOOD — If you’re looking for the best Crab legs in town, then look no further. Newberry’s Backyard Krab King, in its new location, located in the heart of Newberry, is ready to satisfy your hunger. Home of the famous Garlic Butter, Krab King features the freshest and tastiest Snow Crab, Blue Crab, Garlic Oysters, Fish and Shrimp available. This “Take-Out-Only” restaurant has meals starting at $8.50 and most meals or platters come with eggs, sausage, potatoes and corn as side dishes. Larger trays and platters are available and seasoned perfectly. Come by, meet Andrew and see why Paige Beck from TV20 called our crab “The best quality crab legs in North Central Florida.”

Hoss’s Grill 102 NW 250th St Newberry ( St. Rd. 26 & St. Rd. 45 ) Monday-Thursday 11-9pm • Friday and Saturday 11-10pm Sunday 8-3pm

352-474-6422 Home Cooking — Right in the heart of Newberry is the “Best in the West!”. If it’s a home cooked meal you are craving, this is definitely your best choice. Hoss’s has a variety of appetizers ranging from corn nuggets, fried okra to chicken wings. This is just a start, for your ‘Mid-day Grub” or ‘Dinner Chow” order up the “best ever” fried chicken, baby back ribs, or pulled pork, just to name a few. They have plenty of side dishes to compliment the main coarse. They offer daily specials, a “little colts & fillies” menu, beer and wine. Outside seating is also available. Be sure to check out the dessert case filled with goodies daily.

Tony & Al’s Deli 14960 Main Street, Alachua, Florida 32616 OPEN 7 DAYS Monday-Thursday 11:00am – 9:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00am – 10:00pm Sunday 11:00am – 8:00pm

386-693-9090 Italian — Locally owned and operated, Tony & Al’s Deli provides the ﬁnest quality Italian entrees in a family friendly atmosphere. Whether it’s their delicious appetizers, pasta classics, specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers or prime rib, Tony & Al use only their freshest ingredients. One of their favorites is the shrimp Frangelica, sautéed with bacon, diced tomatoes in a creamy Alfredo Sauce. Their sauces, dressings and specialty desserts including cannolis and tiramisu are all handcrafted. They serve daily lunch and dinner specials. Tony and Al offer a full bar with happy hour from 4pm6pm including $1.50 drafts and $1.00 off all drinks.

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Blue Highway a Pizzeria 13005 SW 1st rd. - Tioga Town Center - 352-505-6833 204 US Hwy 441 - Micanopy - 352-466-0062 2130 E Silver Springs Blvd. - Ocala - 352-629-5555

www.bluehighwaypizza.com Hand-Crafted Pizzas and Calzones — Our menu also offers smallplates, salads, gourmet sandwiches on fresh, house-baked breads, pastas, and house-made desserts. We have gluten-free options for both pizza and pastas; there’s something for everyone at Blue Highway, a pizzeria. We take great pride in our culinary culture and serve the highest quality fresh, local, organic (when possible), and expertly prepared food. Enjoy “Takeout Tuesday” every week for 25% off all pizzas and calzones, “FamilyWednesday” kids eat for half off our Bambino menu and “Wine Down Thursday” with $10 off all bottles of wine. Happy Hour is Monday - Thursday with half off all draught and house wines and $5 select appetizers. Catering is also available.

La Tasca Cuisine From Spain 40 NE Railroad Ave High Springs, Fl 32643 Tues-Sat 11am to 9pm • Sun 12pm-8pm Monday - closed

386-454-9329 latascafromspain.com Tapas — In Spain “La Tasca” is the name given to a place with a relaxing atmosphere that serves sample portions of tasty foods such as Montaditos or Tapas. Montaditos are typically served with ﬂavorful toppings on baguette-style bread, either cold or hot. Tapas are tastes of Spanish cuisine designed to give you the opportunity to sample and experience a wide variety of delicious and sometimes sophisticated dishes. Tapas and Montaditos are often ordered and combined to make a full meal. One of the favorites at La Tasca is our Paella- house specialty of seafood-based Spanish rice with choice of pork, chicken and/or seafood. We invite you to join us and enjoy our fabulous meals, pleasant atmosphere and your favorite beverage. We serve beer, wine and the BEST Sangria around!!!

Paella

Gator Smoothie 3900 NW 91st Street, Gainesville, FL 32606 Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

352-519-5579 www.gatorsmoothie.com Smoothies / Flat Bread / Sandwiches — Family and student friendly. Located right by the Santa Fe College behind the 39th Avenue Walgreens. We prepare the best smoothies around in a variety of tropical and sub-tropical fruit ﬂavors enough to satisfy any palate. Enjoy energy packed smoothies blended with peanut butter, protein, vitamins or chocolate. The newest addition of fresh green smoothies is a perfect choice for health and well-being. We have a variety of ﬂat breads and sandwiches made with authentic Cuban bread from Ybor City. We offer a generous discount punch card program, which rewards our repeat customers. Where else can you get all this for fewer than ten bucks per person? Come and see us soon.

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COMMU NIT Y C A LENDA R

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5

Ten Strings and a Goat Skin

Wednesday, October 21

TIOGA MONDAY MARKET

LADY GAMERS

Mondays 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Fridays 1:00pm

JONESVILLE - Tioga Center, 13005 W. Newberry Rd. Market features a selection of vegetables, crafts, organic food, fruits and local specialties.

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

D.A.R. QUILTERS GUILD

Wednesdays 11:00am - 1:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Wesley United Methodist Church, NW 23rd Ave. Gainesville Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution meet on the second Wednesday of each month, October through May. gainesvilleDAR@gmail.com.

GAINESVILLE HARMONY SHOW CHORUS GAINESVILLE - Grace Presbyterian Church, 3146 NW 13th St. Interested in learning and singing Women’s A Cappella Barbershop Harmony Music. For information call Beckie at 352-318-1281.

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GAINESVILLE - Alachua Senior Recreation Center, 5701 N. W. 34th Blvd. Quilters of Alachua County Day Guild will present a fascinating and unique program. Come at 9:30 for snacks and conversation. Free. Visit www.qacdg. org for a new member application.

RECONSTRUCTION ERA September 4 - 5 9:00am - 4:00pm

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd. Historians will take visitors back to 1868, post-antebellum, post War Between the States. Meet a US Army Occupation Officer and soldiers, former soldiers, Irish sharecropper, cow hunters, freemen, temperance ladies, storekeeper and more. Admission - $5.00 per car up to 8 occupants. 352-472-1142; www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERTS

Thursdays 7:00pm – 9:30pm

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on Wednesdays. The public is invited to attend the annual concert series of free, family-friendly concerts, featuring some of the best local and regional musicians. Performing this week is Ricky Kendall, Americana, Blues, Folk.

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Friday, September 4 8:00pm - 10:00pm

WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE CLASS

GAINESVILLE - SW 2nd Ave. and SW 2nd St. The City has purchased a mobile stage, which will be placed in parking lot no. 10, the same location that the Union Street Farmers Market occupies

Saturday, September 5 2:30pm – 3:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Global Mixed Martial Arts Academy, 4000 W. Newberry Rd. Learn basic

escapes, grabs, strikes, defense against a knife attack, choke hold and on the ground striking/ kicking. This free class is offered to females on the first Saturday of the month. Women are encouraged to attend every month. 352371-1007 or email globalmmaacademy@gmail. com. www.globalmmaacademy.com.

KANAPAHA GUIDED WALK Saturday, September 5 10:00am – 12:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Kanapaha offers a guided tour of the Gardens the first Saturday of every month. The docent is Master Gardener, Alicia Nelson. Regular admission price for non-members and members are admitted free of charge.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Friday, September 11 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is Flat Lands. Their dreamy melodies over flashes of Stevie Wonder-tinged funk, and the occasional chaos of avant-garde blues revivalist Jack White, makes for an adventurous time that will surely bring you to your feet dancing.

PAINT OUT September 11 - 13 Times vary

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Local landscape artists will be gathering to create live paintings at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The 3-day event is part of the 13th Worldwide Artist Paint Out, linking artists and locations all over the world and promoting art as a universal language that has no borders. Witness the mysterious creative process as you stroll through the gardens from artist to artist. Regular admission price for non-members. Members are admitted free of charge. www.kanapaha.org.

WRITERS ALLIANCE OF GAINESVILLE Sunday, September 13 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd St. WAG presents a talk by Mark Wayne Adams, an award-winning author, illustrator and publisher, who will offer valuable insight and marketing techniques and reveal the untapped potential in writing for children. The event is open to all who are interested in the written word. www.writersalliance.org.

ButterflyFest Saturday, September 19

10:00am

GAINESVILLE - Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd. Explore the lives of bats, bees, birds and butterflies while learning about wings, wildlife and biodiversity. Learn about butterfly gardening, native pollinators, conservation, backyard wildlife and more. Enjoy butterfly releases and come dressed in your favorite pollinator attire for the Pollinator Parade. www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest.

BUTTERFLYFEST PLANT SALE September 18 – 20 10:00am

GAINESVILLE - Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd. ButterflyFest features a large 3-day plant sale with more than 150 species of difficult-to-find and butterfly-friendly plants. Learn how to attract butterflies to your home and which plants are proven winners. Proceeds benefit the museum’s Butterfly Rainforest and museum events like Earth Day and ButterflyFest. 352-846-2000.

WORLDWIDE PAINT OUT Friday, September 18 6:00pm – 9:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Be the first to purchase a favorite painting at the reception and exhibition in the Summer House Gallery. The show, Worldwide Paint Out at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens will hang in the Summer House Gallery through the end of 2015. There is no cost associated with attending the Art Opening. The outside Gardens will not be open at this time. www.kanapaha.org.

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FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Friday, September 18 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is reggae group De Lions of Jah.

BOOK TALK WITH LESLIE POOLE Saturday, September 19 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Matheson Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Join Leslie Poole, author of “Saving Florida: Women’s Fight for the Environment in the Twentieth Century,” at Matheson Museum for a book talk and signing. “Saving Florida” reveals how women’s clubs prompted legislation to establish Florida’s first state park, which became the core of Everglades National Park, in 1916 — before women even had the right to vote.

OPERATION CATNIP CLINIC Sunday, September 20 Times vary, reservations required

Michael O’Meara

Folk In The Springs Sunday, September 20

Noon – 8:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS - Downtown. Calling all Music lovers both far and wide! The concert venue has been expanded to eight sites within walking distance of downtown High Springs. Pack up the family, bring your lawn chairs and come out to High Springs to enjoy this fun, free, family event, packed with great music from great local artists thru-out North Florida. 11:00am . . . .Kathleen Taylor @ Secret Garden at Wisteria Cottage, 225 N. Main St. 12:00pm . . . . Tuck Tucker @ High Springs Museum & Train Station, NW 3rd Ave next to Police Dept. 1:00pm . . . . .Emmett Carlisle @ Gazebo in James Paul Park, 110 NW 1st Ave 2:00pm . . . . .Michael O’Meara @ High Springs Fire Dept., 205 NW 1st Ave. 3:00pm . . . . .Don Austin @ The Gardens at the High Springs Library, 135 NW 1st Ave. 4:00pm . . . .Cindy Bear @ The New Century Women’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave 6-8:00pm . . . Brian Smalley @ The Great Outdoors Restaurant, 65 N. Main St. with Kimberly LeCouteur 6-8:00pm . . . Ricky Kendall @ The High Springs Playhouse with Special Guest: Elaine Mahon and opening act, Rachel Grubb.

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GAINESVILLE - University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave. Operation Catnip will be holding its flagship spay-neuter clinic at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, during which they will spay or neuter approximately 150 cats. All cats will receive a full set of vaccinations, as well as parasite treatment. Sterilization can control the community cat population, decrease aggression and odor and prevent cancer. Contact Operation Catnip to make your mandatory reservation at 352-380-0940 or clinic.reservations@ ocgainesville.org. Visit www.operationcatnip.org for more information.

DOVER QUARTET Sunday, September 20 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE - University Auditorium, 333 Newell Dr. Considered one of the most talented string quartets ever to emerge at such a young age, the Dover Quartet swept the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, winning the Grand Prize and all Special Prizes. Members of the Quartet have appeared as soloists with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Friday, September 25 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is classic rock cover band The Shambles.

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AQUIFERious Exhibition October – January 6 GAINESVILLE - The Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave. The opening reception for the exhibition is Thursday, Oct. 1 from 5:30-7:00pm. Curated by Margaret Ross Tolbert, AQUIFERious is an expansive, multi-disciplinary exhibition to be presented in both the Main and Mezzanine Galleries and is based on her award-winning book of the same title featuring her large-scale paintings based on our region’s springs, as well the work of the world-renowned photographers, filmmakers and cartographers that have inspired her.

THE HARN’S 25TH BIRTHDAY Friday, September 25 6:00pm – 12:00am

GAINESVILLE - Harn Museum of Art, 3259 Hull Rd. “Conversations: A 25th Anniversary Exhibition” will feature recent works given in honor of the Harn’s anniversary. Dinner under the stars at the UF Cultural Plaza or cocktail buffet, entertainment and cupcakes, UF Bands will provide multiple instrumental ensembles throughout the Harn featuring genres from jazz to classical, and a cappella group “No Southern Accent” will also perform. DJ Jarad Bowens will rev up the dancing at the after party. Proceeds support exhibitions and programs at the Harn. www.harn.ufl.edu/25candles.

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY Saturday, September 26 9:00am – 12:30pm

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park. 18730 W. Newberry Rd. Throughout the USA this day is set aside for citizens to help enhance our public lands. Volunteers will restore a historic

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road and work in the historic flower garden. Entrance fee waved for participatingËvolunteers. 352-472-1142; www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

RAISIN’ CANE: A HARLEM RENAISSANCE ODYSSEY September 27 - 29 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. Inspired by the classic 1923 Jean Toomer novel “Cane” and works by the musicians, composers, poets and actors of the Harlem Renaissance. Starring the award-winning actress, singer and dancer Jasmine Guy, a modern-day Griot, and the acclaimed Avery Sharpe Trio, Raisin’ Cane celebrates and honors the legendary voices of the Harlem Renaissance through text, song, music, movement and imagery. General admission is $25.

ALEKSEY SEMENENKO, VIOLIN Wednesday, September 30 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Rd. Ukrainian violinist Aleksey Semenenko is praised for performances replete with “verve,

wit, delicatesse, and beautiful phrasing” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer). Winner of the 2012 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he was presented in debut recitals at Merkin Concert Hall and the Kennedy Center. Reserved seating tickets are $35. 352-392-2787.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Friday, October 2 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. The Imposters (The Beatles Tribute Band). The Impostors play a wide selection of The Beatles’ favorites from the popular hits of the early heydays, and are known to occasionally throw in some great covers of other groups such as The Byrds, The Hollies, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and The Left Banke.

YARD SALE Saturday, October 3 8:00am – 2:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS - The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW First Ave. Collectables, Housewares, Decorations, Ladies Boutique and more. 386-454-0794.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATING 50 YEARS MEET THE DANCERS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 | 2:00 PM

Performance, reception and talk-back. Up close and personal!

A HAUNTED SWAN LAKE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 7:30 PM

The mystery of Halloween combines with the magic of Swan Lake. Trick or Treat!

BLACK SWAN CAFÉ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 6:00 PM

Dinner before Haunted Swan Lake hosted by Sweetwater Branch Inn

GREAT HALLOWEEN COSTUME SALE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 9:00 AM

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHNSTON PHOTOGRAPHY

More than you can imagine! Something for everyone!

Dance Alive National Ballet at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 352-392 2787 FOR INFORMATION OR TICKETS:

351-371 2986 or dancealive.org

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com. Registration booklet is also available online at gainesvillesportscommission.com.

GUIDED WALK Saturday, October 3 10:00am – 12:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Enjoy a guided tour of the Gardens the first Saturday of every month. The docent is Master Gardener, Alicia Nelson. Regular admission price for non-members and members are admitted free of charge. Visit www.kanapaha.org.

RISING STARS CONCERT SERIES Sunday, October 4 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE - University Auditorium, 333 Newell Dr. For more than 125 years, the Metropolitan Opera has been the artistic home of the greatest singers in the world, and is the launching pad for the opera stars of the future. “Rising Stars” offers fans across North America a rare opportunity to experience remarkable young artists on the cusp of extraordinary careers. Tickets: $25-$35. www.performingarts.ufl.edu.

OPETAIA FOA’I’S TE VAKA Friday, October 9 7:30pm

Alligator Warrior Festival October 16 - 18 HIGH SPRINGS - O’Leno State Park, 410 S.E. O’Leno Park Road. This festival celebrates Native American and immigrant American cultures with music and dancing, living-history camps, demonstrators of historic skills, traders, craftspeople, and food vendors – and a living history event that includes a reenactment of the 1836 Battle of San Felasco Hammock. Battle reenactments are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday only with limited activities on Friday.

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. TE VAKA [The Canoe] is a Polynesian-rock fusion band. Pacific Islander musicians and dancers from Samoa, Tokelau, the Cook Islands and New Zealand Maori, under the inspiring leadership of Opetaia Foa’i, create a unique mix that combines log drums with electric guitar, Polynesian dance with drum kit and bass, for a contemporary sound infused with the ancient rhythms of the Pacific. Tickets: $10 - $35. 352-392-2787.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT QUILT DAY AND ANTIQUE SHOW Saturday, October 3 9:30am to 2:30pm

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd. Featuring popular quilts representative of the Dudley era. Bring your quilt. Historical skills demonstrations, such as pine needle basket weaving, palm weaving, tatting, spinning, quilting, inkle loom & cornhusk brooms. Quilts for sale, quilt-related vendors and more. Admission - $5.00 per car up to 8 occupants. 352-472-1142. www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

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SENIOR GAMES October 3 – October 18 Times vary

GAINESVILLE - Locations vary. The 15th Annual Gainesville Senior Games is a community event catered to adults 50 and over to promote an active and healthy lifestyle in today’s Seniors. Hundreds of athletes from Alachua County and across the state of Florida will be competing archery, basketball shooting, billiards, basketball bowling, cycling, golf, swimming, table tennis, track and field and 5K road race. Info: Gainesville Sports Commission at 352-338-9300 or email mcrimmins@gainesvillesportscommission.

Friday, October 9 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover band Heavy Petty & Hedges (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tribute and Originals).

MADNESS AND MAYHEM October Weekends Times Vary

HIGH SPRINGS - Old Video City Location, 19975 Northwest 244th St. Madness and Mayhem Haunted House and Graveyard. This year’s theme is Little Red Riding Hood: Don’t stray from the path. October 9, 10, 16, 17 - 7:30pm

OAKS MALL

Small Business SHOPPING EXPO

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- 11:00pm; October 23, 24, 30 - 7:30pm - midnight; October 31 - 7:30pm - until??? Ticket sales proceeds to benefit Our Santa Fe River, Inc., High Springs Historical Society, Inc. Museum, Plenty of Pitbulls. For more info about the event, sponsorship opportunities and volunteering: 386-454-5142. info@madnessandmayhem.org.

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is Wester Joseph’s Stereo Vudu. Melding rock, soul, blues, alternative and world, Joseph has perfectly synthesized his own new sound.

KIDS DAY

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Saturday, October 10 10:00am – 2:00pm

October 16 – October 17 10:00am

NEWBERRY - Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd. What About Scarecrows? Why were they used? How do you make one? Hands on crafts and much more. Educational for the whole family. Admission $5.00 per car up to 8 occupants. 352-472-1142; www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org.

GAINESVILLE - Paramount Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, 2900 SW 13th St. Repticon Gainesville is a reptile event featuring vendors offering reptile pets, supplies, feeders, cages, and merchandise as well as live animal seminars and frequent free raffles for coveted prizes. Exciting, educational, family-oriented fun for everyone! Adult admission is $10 and admission for children ages 5 to 12 is $5. Children under five are admitted for free. Visit www.reptiday. com/gainesville.

ALL ABOUT NANOWRIMO Sunday, October 11 2:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Millhopper Library, 3145 NW 43rd St. Panelists who have participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) will speak to the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. On November 1, professional and amateur writers from around the world will begin working toward the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Hear the pros and cons from people who have done it. Learn how to discipline yourself to stay focused and get the job done. Info: nanowrimo.org. www.writersalliance.org.

BOOK SIGNING Friday, September 11 5:30pm – 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Haile Village Center, at “The Perfect Gift” “Breakfast at Leyman’s Grille” by Andrew V. Mike. This is the story of the daily search for love, meaning and happiness by those in southeast Florida Condo Associations. A humorous peek at the thoughts and plans of retired men in South Florida, including their wives and daughters-in-law and... surprise visitors.

ALL GIRL FRANKENSTEIN October 14 – November 8 Times Vary

GAINESVILLE - The Hippodrome, 25 SE 2nd Place. Just in time for the Halloween season, the Hipp presents the Southeastern Premiere of this smoldering new retelling of the gothic classic Frankenstein featuring a gutsy all-female cast. Discount previews of the show take place on October 14 and October 15. The official opening night is October 16. Call the box office at 352-375-4477 or visit www.thehipp.org.

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SENIOR CRAFT SHOW Saturday, October 17 9:00am – 4:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Alachua County Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th St. This non-juried show attracts a variety of crafters selling paintings, jewelry, crochet and knitted items, pottery, wood carvings and much more. Over 50 vendors participated last year; many are members of the Senior Recreation Center. All items are handmade and many treasures are sure to be found. For more information contact Joy Flowers at 352-335-7797 or craftyqueen12@cox.net.

FALL PLANT SALE AND ORCHID SHOW October 17 - October 18 9:00am – 5:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. See the facility admission free. The Gardens formally opened to the public in October of 1987 and the Open House is a means of celebrating its ‘birthday.’ The American Orchid Society’s judged orchid show will coincide with the Fall Plant Sale and will take place inside Kanapaha’s entrance building. Bring cash because most vendors do not accept credit cards. Pets are not allowed. Visit www.kanapaha.org.

GUEST ARTIST RECITAL Sunday, October 18 3:00pm

GAINESVILLE - The Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave. Artist Recital featuring Gary Langford Jazz Ensemble. 352-393-8539.

TEN STRINGS AND A GOAT SKIN Wednesday, October 21 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. Ten Strings And A Goat Skin is a young, award-winning bilingual trad/fusion trio that celebrates the music of the Irish, Francophone and Maritime cultures. The group integrates modern and world rhythms with traditional and original tunes. General admission: $25. 352-392-2787.

RAGTIME October 22 – October 23 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing and anything is possible. Ragtime returns to the road in all-new touring production directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold — set in turn-of-the-century New York — are all united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Tickets range from $20 - $65. 352-392-2787.

FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Friday, October 23 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE - 100 SW 2nd Ave. Performing this week is classic rock group Mick Marino & Friends.

CHRISTIAN LANE, ORGANIST Sunday, October 25 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. Winner of the 2011 Canadian International Organ Competition, Christian Lane is one of America’s most accomplished and versatile young organists. Tickets range from $10 to $30. 352-392-2787.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL Sunday, October 25 3:00pm

JONESVILLE - Sun Country Sports Center, 333 SW 140th Terrace. Sun Country Sports Center and the March of Dimes are teaming up for the 27th annual monster-themed Halloween carnival, Sunny’s Howl-A-Palooza. Inside and outside activities include costume contests, haunted houses, train rides, bounce houses, raffle, carnival games, face painting, hayrides and more! All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes.

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Lubee Bat Festival Saturday, October 24

10:00am – 4:00pm

GAINESVILLE - Lubee Bat Conservancy, 1309 NW 192nd Ave. This free festival includes games, music, food, bounce houses, environmental organizations, educational presentations and the largest bats in the world. This is great fun for the whole family! www.lubee.org.

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Thursday, October 29 6:00pm – 10:00pm

ALACHUA - Hitchcock Farm at the Santa Fe River Ranch, 29220 NW 122nd St. Gainesville Gone Austin is the Child Advocacy Center’s signature event. The event is country/western themed and features live music, a live auction, a silent auction, and a special guest speaker. The food for the event will be catered by Chuy’s. Wear your best boots and blue jeans! Visit www. gainesvillegoneaustin.org for tickets and directions.

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Friday, October 30 7:30pm

GAINESVILLE - Phillips Center. Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet this production combines a festive modern day Halloween party

in the royal castle with the classic beauty of the traditional Swan Lake. Complete with an evil magician that flies, all ages will love it. Tickets: $10 to $40. Guests can also enjoy Black Swan Café, an elegant dinner provided by Sweetwater Branch Inn, before the show at 6 pm. For $50, enjoy dinner, wine, and dessert while listening to the music of Strings for Things. 352-392-2787.

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TRANSFORM TOMORROW

TODAY. From the vibrant exterior to the dedicated edicated d staff, s t a f f , an a n atmosphere a t m ospher of care and comfort surrounds UF Health Shands Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. By supporting the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, you can be part of the healing that transforms lives. Join us at Noche de Gala, and help give children and their families a brighter tomorrow.

For sponsorship and ticket information, visit NochedeGala.org

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Your continued support ensures families in our community receive world-class pediatric care and the highest quality patient safety.

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BAND B BA ND REVIEW

BRIAN “KRASH” KRUGER’S

Gate Crashing ON DECK: JUICEBOX BAGELS, DEATH OR WAFFLES, PFANNENKUCKEN, PLUGGED IN, 3 NATION SIREN BRIAN KRUGER IS A WRITER, MUSICIAN AND A GRADUATE OF THE UF COLLEGE OF LAW. HE HAS PLAYED IN SOME 17 OR SO LOCAL BANDS, PLAYING MOST EVERY GAINESVILLE VENUE FRIENDLY TO ORIGINAL MUSIC (AND SOME NOT SO FRIENDLY). bkrashpad@yahoo.com

DATE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015 VENUE: HIGH DIVE

reetings, live music aficionados! This installment finds us in downtown Gainesville, at the High Dive for an early Saturday show. This was a showcase from the second session of this summer’s Gainesville Girls Rock Camp. Local musicians Jen Vito and Chelsea Carnes founded the camp. Its stated goals are to use “music and performance as a platform to promote self esteem, community, and creative expression, for young women and girls in Gainesville.” If you don’t know about the GGRC, then it can only be because you haven’t been paying attention. If I’ve counted correctly the GGRC is now in its third year. Our Town has been covering the camp since its inauguration in 2013. This year, there were two weeklong camps. Session 1 was from July 6th - July 11th. This was for younger girls, up to age 12. Session 2 was from August 3rd - August 8th, and for girls 13-17. After each camp session, there was a showcase performance. The campers form bands during the camp, learn instruments, songwriting and performance skills, and then perform a song at a showcase. If you’ve ever seen the closing credits to “School of Rock,” it’s kind of like that, only with women teachers and girl students. At any rate, five bands performed at the Session 2 Showcase, which was well attended by parents, grandparents, guardians, friends and other supporters of the GGRC. The first band up was called Juicebox Bagels. It included Hunter on guitar and vocals, Lucie on guitar, Olivia on keys, Ruby on bass, and Charlotte on

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drums. They decided, apparently on the spot, that their song would be called “Feminist Anthem.” They also decided to push some boundaries lyrically: while the event program diplomatically listed the ﬁnal line of the chorus as “We’re blasting our music in our B.A. Buick,” in fact the live version as sung replaced the initials with the term “bad-ass.” So, square parents were apparently not a problem for the GGRC. Punk rock! Death or Wafﬂes were up next, and how could they go wrong with a name like that? That band featured the same instruments as its predecessor — guitars by Sam and Cielo, bass by Leah, Bonnie on keyboards, and Gracie on drums. Their song was called “Stay True,” and featured the refrain “Stay true to yourself, don’t let go, no no no no.” How many adults could take a lesson from those teenagers? The middle slot was held down by another quintet, who were listed in the program as Pfannenkucken. There may have been a typo in there, as Pfannenkuchen is apparently the German word for pancake or dumpling, which (according to online translators, at least) is also slang for “roly-poly.” I’m not sure about any of that, of course, nor exactly what the girls intended, but at any rate their song included an entire verse in German, and the angsty chorus “Empty space, empty brain, empty heart, I feel no pain.” I wonder if they have heard Nina Hagen? The band consisted of Linzie and Daphne on guitar, Talyn on bass, Lily on drums, and Leilani on keys. The penultimate band was another 2-guitar five-piece, called Plugged In. It featured Jade on drums, Kdasjah on keyboards, Victoria on bass, and Elena and Laksmi on guitar. Their song was about trying to get their friends to join in with their PHOTOGRAPHY: KELLEY BENNETT

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386-454-0676 music-making endeavors, and the second half of the chorus consisted of “We can be who we want to be, In this strange family.” If you’ve ever been in a band, that line will strike home. And you’ll realize that their use of the word “strange” is more in the sense of “awesome” and “wonderful.” Last up were 3 Nation Siren, featuring Maya on bass, Summer on drums, Benedetta on guitar, and Carrie on keys. True to their

band name, their lyrics included a verse in Italian and a verse in Japanese! The chorus summed up GGRC well: “You’re gonna see me be, The girl that I am, Tap my feet to the beat, That you can’t defeat. DON’T RUN BEHIND.” Following their performance, all the girls and volunteer leaders got up onstage for the Gainesville Girls Rock Camp Song, a rousing end to an entertaining show. Now, go see some bands.

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www.bednbiscuit.net SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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DRUGS >> MEDICINAL CANNABIS

CHANGING VIEWS

HARMFUL DRUG OR EFFECTIVE MEDICINE?

Medicinal Marijuana W R ITTEN BY A LEX I A FER NA NDEZ

One of the most hotly debated topics in America in most recent years has been whether medicinal marijuana, otherwise known as cannabis, should be legalized. It has been debated, introduced in voting polls, shot down and reintroduced in voting polls by tireless proponents that speak of the beneﬁts of legalizing a drug that does not kill and alleviates painful symptoms of many illnesses, such as glaucoma. Cannabis has been extremely popular in the American continents since the 1800s but in the 1900s the general opinion turned against it. By the 1930s, 23 states had banned the drug. Now, 24 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, among them California, Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon. Among the 50 states, the majority of the southeastern region of the country has opposed legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana. Florida has not approved either 122 |

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medicinal marijuana or recreational marijuana. Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos, a professor in the department of neurology at the University of South Florida, said people shouldn’t worry about cannabis when it’s used for medical treatment. “It’s one of the safest substances,” he said. “No one has ever died of an overdose. It’s less dangerous than prescription drugs.” Sanchez-Ramos has been an early and long-time researcher of the effects of cannabis in a medical setting. In 1990, he became a researcher for the Compassionate Use of Cannabis Pilot Program, a research study dedicated to examining the long-term effects of marijuana use. At the time of his involvement, nine people across the country were participating in the

While the federal government might not have legalized cannabis in the entire country, pure THC is still available as a prescription for people with glaucoma, and has been since 1985. research experiment and testing the uses of marijuana. One of those patients was assigned to Sanchez-Ramos, who spent years gathering data on the changes, good or bad, cannabis made to the human body. “My requirement was to order a three month supply of cannabis,” he said. “I would evaluate this patient Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos every three months and I had to report my ﬁndings to the FDA. It went on for years and years and eventually we summarized our ﬁndings. It showed that it had no effects. Two or three people still alive from the program are still getting cannabis for their illnesses.” After the study ended, he attempted to submit an appeal to continue his research for medicinal marijuana, but was not permitted by the chairman of a hospital for which he was working at the time.

“That’s the amount of bureaucracy and obstacles that doctors have to overcome,” he said. “Some of the physicians I know think that cannabis is a smokescreen for medical abuse. I wrote a rebuttal saying that’s not true. Most of what people know about cannabis as medication they hear not from doctors but from drug regulators.” Cannabis is known to curb the side effects of chemotherapy as well as giving aid to cancer patients experiencing pain. It’s also effective in relieving muscle pain. In the United States, cannabis is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, as is heroin, which means the federal government characterizes it as a substance with a high potential for abuse. Schedule 1 drugs are not accepted for medical treatment use. The federal government also restricts prescriptions written for substances labeled as schedule 1 drugs. Despite this, several states have legalized the drug as either a medical treatment, a recreational drug or both. “It’s not a gateway drug,” Sanchez-Ramos said. “I’m sure if more states started legalizing it, it’ll be for users that are over

Federal law currently views marijuana as a drug with the potential to be abused and has listed it as a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin and LSD. Several states, however, have approved the use of marijuana as a medicinal drug or as a recreational substance.

SOURCES: CNN.COM, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS (NORML); NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES (NCSL).

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18 and in medical need of it. It’s less attractive once it’s legal.” Sanchez-Ramos said there is a difference between what makes marijuana recreational and what makes it medicinal. It’s all in the formulation of how the cannabis is made; doctors need to know the exact percentage of THC — tetrahydrocannabinol — that a patient is getting within the cannabis. There are many ways to gain the drug’s psychoactive effects, such as using the leaves, stems, ﬂower buds and extracts from the marijuana plant. There is one chemical compound believed by scientists to cause the drugs psychoactive effects. That compound is THC. THC is the chemical in marijuana that is responsible for most of its psychological effects, such as feelings of euphoria, relaxation and pain relief. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, THC binds cannabinoid receptors, a place in the brain that takes into account physical feeling, throughout the body and cannabis’ “high” comes from THC’s binding of those places responsible for taking in pleasure, perception of time and pain. While the federal government might not have legalized cannabis in the entire country, pure THC is still available as a prescription for people with glaucoma, and has been since 1985, Sanchez-Ramos said. “When you take cannabis recreationally, no one is paying attention to formulation of it,” he said. “In medicinal marijuana, the formulation needs to be exact in order to know how much cannabis a patient is receiving and how it’s affecting their bodies.” He said he hopes to continue his research on cannabis’ effects. Because cannabis is illegal in most states, he plans on conducting his study in states that have legalized medicinal marijuana for patients. “I have a study where it’s probably going to take place in three states where it’s legal,” he said. “It’ll be a lot easier to study where there’s a regulated amount of cannabis in hospitals.” He said his future study is likely to take place in the west coast, where the majority of states, such as California, Oregon and Washington, have legalized marijuana use. It may also take place in Canada. “There will be increasing numbers of clinical trials even though the federal government is still against the prescription of marijuana in any medical form,” Sanchez-Ramos said. OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

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Illnesses helped by medicinal cannabis Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years and, as stated in the National Cancer Institute website, it may have some benefits to cancer-related side effects. In cancer patients, cannabis increased the appetite of patients, with upsurges of fatty and sweet foods. Patients that experienced feelings of depression while ill showed an improved mood, a higher sense of wellbeing and less anxiety after inhaling cannabis. Epileptic seizures are also reduced by cannabis. In truth, many neurological conditions are either controlled or have a reduced rate of occurrence for those who use medicinal cannabis. The Epilepsy Foundation’s website said that seizures decreased by an average of 54 percent in 137 people who completed a 12-week study that had them take Epidiolex. The drug contains 99 percent CBD, or cannabidiol, which are substances in cannabis that act on cells in the body (cannabinoid receptors) to cause some effect. CBD does not cause the psychoactive effects caused by THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). For people with H.I.V., cannabis can increase appetite, provide pain relief and curb nausea. It was most commonly used in California, which only allows marijuana for medical use. Cannabis can be taken in several forms. The most common method is smoking, while other options include edible cannabis, inhaling its vapors, topical variations of cannabis and as tinctures, which is a concentrated form of medical cannabis in an alcohol solution. Edible cannabis affects patients differently than if they had inhaled it by smoking or vaporizing. Eating too much can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and feelings of euphoria. Symptoms usually subside within a few hours and dehydration may occur while under the drug’s influence. Inhaling vaporized marijuana can prevent patients from experiencing some of the harmful effects of smoking such as a burning throat. A vaporizer is usually used in order to vaporize the drug and extract the cannabinoids at a much lower temperature than smoking requires.

SOURCES: DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (WWW.DEA.GOV/); LIVE SCIENCE (WWW.LIVESCIENCE.COM); EPILEPSY FOUNDATION (WWW.EPILEPSY.COM).

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ANATOMY >> FORENSIC MEDICINE

FINDING ANSWERS

Forensic Sciences A Peek Into the Fascinating World of Medicolegal Death Investigation W R IT TE N BY A LB E R T I SA AC

hief Medical Examiner Dr. William F. Hamilton, clad in blue scrubs, shoe covers, gloves and apron approaches the body that lies upon the autopsy gurney. The deceased is but one of the estimated 9,000 bodies Hamilton has examined over the course of his decades-long career. The family of the deceased needs answers. As do the crime scene investigators. And Hamilton will do his level best to ﬁnd the cause and manner of death. But unlike popular television dramas, the medical examiner is not a one-man-show, and the answers aren’t typically available at the end of the autopsy. Hamilton is part of a team that includes investigators, autopsy assistants, toxicologists,

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entomologists and forensic anthropologists, to name but a few. Medicolegal death investigation depends upon the collaborative effort of experts from a wide range of disciplines. Together they achieve remarkable results. “You don’t have to know everything,” Hamilton said in a recent interview. “You just have to know who to contact to help you. You have to know who can assist you in finding out all the pertinent information that you need to assess a case.” His work was nearly finished for the day and he sat in the small building that serves as an office for him and another pathologist. Next door is the Office of the Medical Examiner with its autopsy suite and offices for the staff. In the world of forensic death investigation every body is equal. From the innocent schoolmarm

This skull was donated to the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory by the family of the decedent. Analyzing the human skull can aid in determining the race, age and even sex of an individual.

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Chief of Forensic Medicine Bruce A. Goldberger, Ph.D., F-ABFT, (top) and Chief Medical Examiner William F. Hamilton, M.D. take a break from their hectic schedules for these photographs. Goldberger and his team have worked with Hamilton for nearly 20 years in determining toxicological results for medical examiner cases from the 8th District.

to the death row inmate, the medical examiner is the best and sometimes only advocate for the deceased. His or her duty, states the Ofﬁce’s website, is to “provide forensic death investigation with scientiﬁc objectivity, irrespective of personal beliefs or emotional attachment to the circumstances of any particular case and shed light on any mysteries surrounding one’s death.” “We try to be very even-handed in our handling of cases,” Hamilton said. “We don’t have any particular bias toward one class of decedents over another. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, we’re all God’s children.” 128 |

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He had four cases on this particular day, and another call came in during the interview, which means he’d be coming in to work on Saturday too. Hamilton has been the Chief Medical Examiner for District 8 since 1981, when the office sat across the street from Alachua General Hospital. In those days the M.E. Office was housed in a small building consisting of an autopsy suite for examining the deceased, a walk-in cooler that could accommodate five gurneys, an investigator’s office, one spare desk and a front desk for a secretary. One door separated the office from the sound of the bone saw.

They investigated less than 300 cases a year when Hamilton began, but that number has grown considerably since then. In 2013, the office investigated 658 cases. And while the facility is now bigger and more sophisticated, there’s always room for improvement. “Funding is hard to come by,” Hamilton said. “Right now we’re struggling with the issue of replacing the Office, which has outlived its days by a considerable period of time. We’re working on these issues. We realize that we don’t just go to the County Commission and say, ‘Gimme a new medical examiner’s office.’ It doesn’t work that way.” There are seven counties in the 8th District’s jurisdiction: Alachua, Levy, Bradford, Baker, Gilchrist, Union and Dixie. In essence, the office investigates all unnatural (and some natural)

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deaths from these counties, as per the Medical Examiners Act, Chapter 406, Florida Statutes, enacted in 1970 by the Florida Legislature to establish minimum and uniform standards of excellence in statewide medical examiner services. But unlike some states, Florida does not have a coroner system, although the two titles — Medical Examiner and Coroner — are often confused. A Medical Examiner by definition must be a medical doctor. “The qualifications and titles are not uniform throughout the country,” Hamilton said. “Medicolegal death investigators can be either medical examiners or coroners. And you have to define what the qualifications are for a coroner because some jurisdictions will have a qualified coroner system, meaning you’ll have to have some kind of special training, usually a physician,

ANATOMY >> FORENSIC MEDICINE

“We’re certainly blessed with everything that we have at the university with regards to forensic medicine. We have many services locally that can support medicolegal death investigation that other ofﬁces simply don’t have. For a small city, we have everything, and it is cutting edge and state-of-the-art.”

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Laboratory Coordinator Kristina Altes (left), Quality Assurance Coordinator Allysha Winburn and Director Michael Warren, Ph.D., D-ABFA of the C.A. Pound Human ID Laboratory, which performs analyses of skeletal remains for many of the 24 medical examiner districts in the State of Florida.

to be a coroner. Others just have an elective office. In Kentucky — when I was there — 85 percent of the coroners were funeral directors with no specific education, but the ability to garner votes. And their work reflected it.” A typical autopsy includes a thorough examination of the body, inside and out, from head to toe. The internal organs are weighed and dissected. Tissues are obtained for microscopic examination and samples of blood, urine, stomach contents, bile and even vitreous humor from the eye may be used for toxicological analysis. “Now toxicology is not real fast. We can’t have you the answers by the end of the episode,” Hamilton said. “It might take several months, for a toxicological examination is rather complex and is quite expensive.” When necessary, radiographs are taken to document bony injuries, or to locate and retrieve bullets, or to identify the 130 |

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deceased (for instance, bodies can be identified by dental comparison or even the patterns of the frontal nasal sinus using antemortem records). In cases involving broken bones, or decomposed or burned human remains, a forensic anthropologist is summoned. “We called in Mike Warren a few days ago,” Hamilton said. “We had an unfortunate hit-and-run accident and there were bony injuries, so we called the C.A. Pound Lab.” Dr. Michael Warren is the director of the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory. As a UF graduate student and faculty member, Warren has been contributing to the Pound Lab’s casework since 1991. He has also assisted with personal identification in mass disasters, and has helped to identify (and document war crimes against) the victims of genocide in Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo. “I started as a grad student in 1991 with Dr. William Maples,” Warren said in an interview held in the C.A. Pound Laboratory. “I

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graduated with a doctorate in December of 1997 and he [Maples] passed away in February 1997. I was hired on the faculty in 2000 in the department of anthropology and I took over the direction of the lab on January 1st, 2009.” Dr. William R. Maples was a pioneer in the field of Forensic Anthropology and a Distinguished Service Professor at UF. Nationally and internationally respected for his analysis of human skeletal material, he had participated in a number of historical high-profile investigations, including President Zachary Taylor, Medgar Evers, Francisco Pizzaro and The Elephant Man — Joseph Merrick. He had also assisted Hamilton in many of his most difficult cases. “I started with Dr. Maples,” Warren said, “and now I’m directing his lab.” Was he excited to be appointed as the lab director? “It was a relief, more than excitement,” Warren said. “Because it’s been a huge emotional investment for me since 1991 — this lab and the success of this lab — and what better way to ensure the success of the lab? I consider it an honor to finally be directing the lab that I trained in.” The Pound Laboratory is now located on campus on the ground floor of the Cancer and Genetics Research Complex. And much like when Maples first began, the room is filled with tables displaying skeletal remains laid out for examination. While the technology has become more sophisticated, in many ways the laboratory is run much like it was when Maples

was in charge. Graduate students conduct much of the analyses and Warren signs off on it. Only now it is peer reviewed and there is much more documentation. “We get the best students in the country,” Warren said. “It’s the ‘CSI effect.’ We get 75 applicants; people who want to do this. And these are people that used to go to engineering school, or used to go to become physicians or go to law school. So we’re getting these incredible talents. We’ll get 75 applications for one spot. And I can be hyper-selective.” These days the push has come for the forensic sciences to be certified and accredited — and the Pound Lab is again the front-runner. “Our lab model and our SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are what makes our Pound Lab stand out in the country,” Warren said. “The National Academy of Sciences — the most distinguished scientific body in the United States — reviewed the current state of the forensic sciences and they were very critical.” Warren gave examples of crime labs that are run by law enforcement agencies; people not being board certified; and labs that are not accredited, where people testify using pseudoscience, “junk” science. “DNA is the model because they can quantify all of their results, but they want all the disciplines to have board certification and accreditation,” he said. With this in mind, Warren has to take a proficiency test every

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The Medical Examiner’s Office is tasked to investigate deaths that fall within the following categories: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

ANATOMY >> FORENSIC MEDICINE

year or he’s not permitted to work on cases. “I get tested along with everyone else,” he said. “And even though only very recently have the accrediting bodies started to recognize forensic anthropology as an accrediting discipline — now this is in the last year or so — we are already operating on all of those standards. So we should be one of the first to become accredited.” Another crucial element of forensic science is toxicology. Enter Dr. Bruce A. Goldberger, the director for both the William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine and the UF Racing Laboratory, as well as the program director for the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System (FEMORS) — to name just some of his titles. “Bruce is a big deal,” Warren said. “He was the president of the American Academy of Forensics Sciences. He is the director of the Maples Center.” Goldberger has been with the University since 1994 and has performed numerous studies in forensic toxicology throughout his career, such as the measurement of therapeutic, abused and emerging drugs in biological tissues, including alternative matrices like hair, nails and vitreous humor. His most significant contribution to the field of forensic toxicology was the identification and measurement of heroin and its metabolites in hair and other fluids and tissues. “My dissertation work, which was done more than two decades ago, did lay the foundation for the scientific basis for the disposition of drugs in hair,” Goldberger said in an interview held in his lab at Rocky Point. “It is used extensively around the world.” Goldberger’s lab analyzes specimens from six districts throughout the state and has been serving District 8 since 1996. He said that UF Health now has the

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Division of Forensic Medicine, for which he is chief. Sections within the Division include the Medical Examiner’s Office, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Florida Racing Lab, FEMORS, Maples Center and the ASPCA Veterinary Forensic Sciences Program. “We’re certainly blessed with everything that we have at the university with regards to forensic medicine,” Goldberger said. “We have many services locally that can support medicolegal death investigation that other offices simply don’t have. For a small city, we have everything, and it is cutting edge and state-of-the-art.” If Goldberger’s name sounds familiar it might be because he’s been featured on local, state and national radio and television, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “20/20” and “Nightline”… the list goes on. He has been qualified as an expert witness more than 270 times in forensic toxicology in federal, state, military and Canadian courts of law. “What we’re mostly known for in this laboratory and the work that we do is the cutting edge science related to the identification of

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emerging drugs,” Goldberger said. “Including the synthetic drugs.” He gave an example of a drug known as Molly, a synthetic, psychoactive drug that has similarities to both the stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. But the drug can be mixed with other, more harmful substances. “On the street, Molly is considered to be pure Ecstasy, which is MDMA,” Goldberger said. “…These drugs are very dangerous. And we find them in decedents who may die from an overdose, or may die as a consequence of their behavior, which has been effected by the ingestion of the drug. So the medical examiners count on the laboratory to screen for these new drugs.” Goldberger has handled many high-profile cases from around the state in the course of his career, but the one that stands out is Caylee Anthony. “I would say that was the most high-profile matter worked in the forensic toxicology laboratory in the last 20 years,” he said. He realized that everything they were doing was going to be highly scrutinized, but he was also quick to point out that they would do the same for any other case. “We ensure that the results are accurate and reliable and can be used in a court of law,” he said. “And that’s true for all of the work that is done in the division, because there are many agencies that rely on our work and the results of that work; if it isn’t reliable, then there’s no prosecution. There’s no litigation. It falls apart.” Mike Warren would agree. His most important case? “It’s always the last one,” he said. “This one we’re working on right now — that’s the important one. I don’t think of cases in terms of being high profile or having priority. Every case we have back there is high profile to the family. I don’t place any premium for those cases over a homeless person. I just don’t.” In the end, these professionals are searching for the truth and doing their best to solve the cases and see justice served. “We are public servants,” Hamilton said. “We want to do the best that we can to ascertain why your loved one died. If you have questions, call us. We work for you.” Learn more about the Office of the Medical Examiner at their website: district8me.com.

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BOOK REVIEW

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER’S

Reading Corner BOO written by Neil Smith C.2015, VINTAGE, $14.95 / $21.00 CANADA, 310 PAGES

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER HAS BEEN READING SINCE SHE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND SHE NEVER GOES ANYWHERE WITHOUT A BOOK. SHE LIVES WITH HER TWO DOGS AND 11,000 BOOKS. HER BOOK REVIEWS ARE PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN 200 NEWSPAPERS AND 50 MAGAZINES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND CANADA. bookwormsez@yahoo.com

ALL YOUR LIFE, YOU’VE TRIED VERY HARD TO BE GOOD.

ou’ve volunteered your time, given to charity, stood up for kids who are bullied, and tried to set a good example. You do these things because you like the way they make you feel and because you sometimes think about where you’ll go when you die. But in the new book “Boo” by Neil Smith, this heaven isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When Oliver Dalrymple woke up to find himself in a room he didn’t recognize, in a bed next to which sat a snoring black girl, he quickly assumed that he was dead. What else could he think? The last he remembered, it was the fourth day of eighth grade at Helen Keller Junior High and he’d finally had success at memorizing the periodic tables before falling to the floor. His parents always said that he had a hole in his heart, so he figured that was what killed him. The black girl, his guide, Thelma Rudd, confirmed it. Oliver, known as “Boo” to his classmates because of his palepale skin, had been “rebirthed.” He’d “passed” into this place everyone called “Town,” where he’d forever be 13 years old, skinny, and non-athletic. He’d always be super-smart — although he might grow wiser — and he’d stay that way for 50 years before he’d vanish for good. Town was an unusual place. Nothing was breakable there; glass, buildings, and humans 136 |

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all repaired themselves spontaneously. It was always sunny, the sky never changed, there were no birds, and while there were some Earthly accoutrements, they were meted out by a god Boo called Zig, whom nobody ever saw. These were things Boo wrote down, in case his parents might someday find him or he might find a mythical portal back to Earth. And so, he settled in to observe and journal — until another boy arrived in Town. If it could be said that Boo had any friends in life, Johnny Henzel’s name would have been singularly mentioned, but now Johnny had a bombshell to deliver: Boo didn’t die of a holey heart. The two boys had been shot, and Johnny thought he could remember that the killer had died too. Would Zig have let a murderer in Town? As a little bit of a nerd myself, I fell in love with “Boo” on the very first page. Author Neil Smith’s title character is annoyingly smart and fully cognizant of his social ineptness, neither of which he can control. He’s guileless, but that innocence is tarnished by a threatening pulse that runs softly through this story itself. That grows as the plot progresses, and it’s cleverly underscored by numerous mini-shocks that surprise readers again and again, and an ending you may sense but won’t totally see coming. As with so many young adult novels these days, this book is definitely not just for teens. I say buy it for your 13-to-17-yearold, but borrow it back and read it yourself… because “Boo” is very good.

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CANCER >> RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

CHECK YOUR HEAD

Brain Institute A Cure for Brain Cancer Might Come From Within W RIT TE N BY MICH A E L S TON E

long Newell Drive on the University of Florida campus, at the bottom of a rare steep slope in Gainesville, stands an imposing, six-story structure in which minds of great intelligence study the mind, hoping to make life better — or longer — for those suffering from mental illness or injury. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y, r e s e a r c h i n t h e 200,000-square-foot building, the McKnight Brain Institute, focuses on memory loss from age or injuries to the brain or spinal cord; brain tumors; drug addiction; and diseases that cause brain degeneration, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS. Developing solutions for these general categories and their multitudes of sub-problems is a Rubik’s 138 |

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Cube of colossal proportion, and research is further complicated, experts say, by the secrets of their causes and even the brain itself. “The brain is the least understood organ in the human body. I consider it the last frontier of medicine,” Dr. Tetsuo Ashizawa, the institute’s executive director, wrote to Our Town in an email. “In the next decade, further inventions of new technologies, discoveries of new neurobiological mechanisms, and integration of different disciplines and knowledge will advance neurosciences to open the mystery of the brain little by little.” With 50-plus laboratories at the institute and roughly 300 UF faculty members from more than four dozen academic departments involved in its work, lifting particular research projects, current or past, above the rest becomes a near impossible task. PHOTOGRAPHY: DRUGPOLICYINSTITUTE.PSYCHIATRY.UFL.EDU

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(Clockwise, from top left) Yu Long, a UF research scholar in neurosurgery, examines DC cells, part of the immune system, as part of the Brain Institute’s brain cancer immunotherapy research. Lab manager Jeff Drake holds tumor tissue samples from patients with brain cancer. Rat brains, like this one, are used in the immunotherapy research.

But there is one niche area of study — brain cancer immunotherapy, or stimulating the patient’s body to be a primary weapon in ﬁghting against a tumor — that has particularly blossomed at the institute over the past few years. Such work is rooted in the 2006 donation of $5 million from the Wells Foundation to UF to establish the Center for Brain Tumor Therapy. Other donations and grants have followed, including another $10 million from the Wells Foundation that brought Dr. Duane Mitchell from Duke University to UF in 2013 to serve as co-director of the center and director of the university’s Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program. Duke and UF are the only two U.S. institutions studying immunotherapy speciﬁcally as a treatment for brain cancer, 140 |

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and when Mitchell came to Gainesville, he brought a team of five other researchers from Duke with him. “Scientifically, it’s very interesting,” one of those five, Dr. Catherine Flores, said of using immunotherapy to fight brain cancer. “But also, on a human level, it’s a lot more satisfying.” Including those five, Mitchell’s lab at the Brain Institute has about 20 researchers studying brain cancer immunotherapy. While the team believes their research could eventually apply to other cancers and illnesses, teaching the body to fend for itself becomes especially important for brain cancer. The cancer may be in areas necessary to running the body’s essential functions, striking out surgery as an option, and bigger tumors often produce additional ones that might be too small to detect. PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL STONE

CANCER >> RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

The most recent published findings from Mitchell’s team, in the March issue of the journal OncoImmunology, detail how immunotherapy has proven successful in fighting brain tumors in mice and could be applied to children. Current treatment for children with brain cancer includes giving them stem cells that replenish their blood cells after chemotherapy destroys them. In studying mice, the team found that also introducing immune cells familiarized with brain-tumor material helped treat the animals’ cancer. This particular method of immune cells learning to fight brain tumors is called adoptive cellular therapy. “Your own body is unable to recognize the tumor,” said Flores,

the study’s lead author, “so what we do is essentially take those immune cells and engineer them to be tumor-speciﬁc and put them back into you.” In skin cancer, the patient’s immune system recognizes it should produce antigens that attack the tumor because blood is always running through the tumor, according to background information on the study from UF Health, the network of the university’s medical facilities. But the brain has a barrier that blocks harmful substances from entering in blood — and this same defense mechanism could be preventing the immune system from recognizing the tumor and thus producing antigens to ﬁght it. From the mice — which had glioblastoma, an aggressive type SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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Fernanda Guimaraes, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical sciences at UF, works with samples at the Brain Institute’s brain cancer immunotherapy lab.

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of brain tumor — Mitchell’s team extracted tumor samples and, outside the body, taught immune cells to attack tumor cells for when they’d return inside. With the specially trained cells, the mice’s bone barrow began to produce more cells that would fight the tumor, and they migrated to the brain to kill the tumor cells. This technique is being tested on children in a clinical trial by the team and partner medical institutions across the country. There’s urgency for these brain cancer patients wanting to participate in immunotherapy trials to seek them out soon after being diagnosed. Firstly, the patients can’t have had the cancer removed because, without tumor cells, antigens can’t be taught to fight the tumor. Secondly, immunotherapy is individualized to each patient, meaning it takes time to develop the appropriate therapy. If immunotherapy does transition out of trials and research and into widespread treatment, it could provide hope against an illness that, while rare among cancer types, presents dire statistics for those diagnosed. Patients with brain or other cancers that affect the nervous system have only a 33 percent chance of living for five-plus more years, according to the National Cancer Institute. The median lifespan after developing brain

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

cancer is roughly 12 months, Flores said. About 150,000 people in the U.S. have brain or another nervous-system cancer, and 2015 is estimated to bring 23,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths from it, the National Cancer Institute reports. But Flores is hopeful that the team’s progress, from Duke and now at UF, will be able to assist in taking the numbers down. The ﬁndings in OncoImmunology are the latest in research and trial studies on brain cancer immunotherapy that have been building off each other, Flores said, and they’ve all seemed to suggest it’s working. She noted the success story of a 70-something-year-old California man who received treatment at Duke, has survived brain cancer for nine years, and even runs in marathons. “In our long-term survivors, they have perfectly normal lives,” Flores said. For Ashizawa, the Brain Institute’s executive director, the work being done with immunotherapy and everything else at the institute has the aim of turning the irremediable into something patients can move past and still enjoy life. “Many neurological injuries and diseases are currently incurable,” he wrote to Our Town, “but advances in neuroscience give a chance for better quality of life to victims of brain injuries and diseases.” PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL STONE

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CANCER >> SHANDS LIMINAL BELL

MILESTONES

THE IMPACT OF THE UF LIMINAL BELL AFTER ONE YEAR

Standing at the Threshold W R I T T E N B Y C R Y S TA L H E N R Y | P H O T OG R A P H Y B Y K R I S T I N K OZ E L S K Y

The bell sits quietly in its sanctuary. It’s seen a lot of sadness pass by this year, but it has also seen joy, celebration and reflection. It has taken its licks, the striker has been replaced a few times, and the bell shows some wear. But it is standing strong as a symbol of victory. The UF liminal bell was made from an old oxygen tank, a familiar fixture in the lives of many cancer patients. Its purpose is to be a visual and auditory symbol of the first step out of a life that revolved around cancer treatment. The word liminal has Latin roots that mean threshold or a space in between. The room that houses the bell is meant to serve as a space for 144 |

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patients to reﬂect and take a moment to transition to the next healing part of their cancer journey. Words like “Wow! I made it!” and “Thank God!” are scrawled in the book near the bell. And in little more than a year the book is almost completely full. New patients pass by the bell in the lobby often unaware of its signiﬁcance, said Debra Hutchinson, radiation oncology clinical operations manager at Shands. It was Hutchinson’s idea for a small bell in the hall that grew into the liminal bell displayed today. “As a nurse I know it registers on my face how happy it makes me to tell new patients about the bell,” she said. Once patients decide to have treatment at UF Health Shands, they are invited to a teaching session where nurses help them learn about aspects of treatment such as side effects. But another thing they include is information about the liminal bell and why it’s there. Hutchinson said their eyes moisten up and their

voices crack as their hearts are touched. “When I explain it to them they say, ‘Oh yeah I’m going to give that thing a big ol’ whack,’” she said. And when a patient ﬁnishes and gives it a good strike the nurse’s station just resonates with the sound of accomplishment. The artist, Alexis Dold, has come by to replace the striker because many patients give it their all when they strike the bell. And it’s not uncommon for the lobby to erupt in applause when the bell is struck. “It’s awesome, and it’s humbling,” Hutchinson said. The next phase of the project is to let patients make their own strikers to use, said Tina Mullen, director of the Shands Arts and Medicine program. The strikers will be made from simple wooden dowels donated by a local big box hardware store. Artists will

The artist, Alexis Dold, has come by to replace the striker because many patients give it their all when they strike the bell. And it’s not uncommon for the lobby to erupt in applause when the bell is struck. engage the patients and help them wrap the dowels and embellish them to create the striker as a sort of relic of their experience. This summer student volunteers assembled the kits that will be available for nurses to distribute any time, not just during the arts and medicine clinics. Mullen was instrumental in bringing the bell into being as well, and she said what she’s noticing are the powerful messages left in the book near the bell. She said last time she ran a tour it was on a day when a man came down with his wife to ring the bell. “He rang the heck out of that bell,” she said. “It was a very powerful moment.” The ﬁrst year has been just the threshold of hope and inspiration that is sure to come with each strike of the liminal bell. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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COLUMN

DONNA BONNELL’S

Embracing Life HELP

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

A “LET IT BE” CONCERT IN LONDON, AFTER A VERY LONG SOLITARY INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT, TRANSPORTED ME BACK TO A SIMPLE TIME WHEN LOVE WAS ALL I NEEDED.

hile on my mental trip back to the ‘60s, I received an important message that I should have learned decades ago: I also need a little help from my friends. Until the summer of 2015, I never doubted my ability to persevere through any situation. My mantra was always that I could take care of myself! An attitude adjustment began, though, while enduring excruciating suicide survivor’s pain. Death of a loved one, particularly when self-induced, has a harsh way of putting life into perspective. Shane, my 35-year-old nephew, took his own life. Following his funeral, reality resumed. Everyone returned to his or her respective hometowns. Guilt-stricken agonizing grief gnawed deep into our souls. God’s gifts of serene-shock and adrenaline-induced enigmatic energy (provided during a crisis) faded and were replaced with anger, anxiety and apathy. As is typical of my self-sufficient personality, I believed I could recommence routine activities without facing regrets or healing. I tried, but did not succeed. Perhaps my failure was part of this particular life lesson. Why was I so certain that I could handle anything alone? Did I negatively portray an aloof image of independence, which I once believed was one of my few personal positive attributes? Did I make it appear that asking for help was demeaning? If I had not worn that invisible mask and allowed others to witness my true insecurities, would that have made a difference in Shane’s final decision? Honestly, I was a mess. Without realizing it, the help I so desperately needed had been prearranged. Many months before this horrific event happened, I booked a trip with a group of women, mostly from Newberry. Our journey included a visit to England and France. After committing to travel, I made payments. Every time an installment was due, something terribly disturbing took place. I began to feel that these where signs indicating that I should not go. Therefore, I purchased 146 |

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travel insurance, which provided some sense of security. Shortly after I made the final payment, Shane committed suicide. The weeks following are almost a blur. Nothing really seemed to matter, especially a frivolous nonsensical trip. Work was wretched, normal did not exist and rational thoughts were rare. My decision to participate was difficult; I felt unworthy. One day before the scheduled departure, I decided to take the trip as planned. It was a good decision. Very few individuals knew of my whereabouts and only one or two people in my fellow group of travelers knew of the recent suicide. The diversion, which allowed me the freedom to focus on foreign sights and face new challenges, was definitely part of God’s plan. Many fabulous things happened, but the most notable was a concert in London’s Garrick Theatre, honoring the Beatles. The minute the spectacular group began to sing “Help,” healing tears poured from my being. The time was right for me to hear the words in that song. It was as if the pause button, pressed in my brain many years ago, finally switched off. The following lyrics were a pivotal turning point in my recovery: “When I was younger so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way. Now these days are gone, I’m not so self-assured. Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors.” Additional tunes, such as “Come Together,” “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday” triggered powerful unexpected gut-wrenching reactions. I evaluated 61 years of successes, failures, past purposes and possible future paths, during a two-hour concert. My raw emotions flowed until the magical musical ended. Later I wondered what my new friends sitting on either side of me thought. Then I realized everyone in our group was there for a reason. It was not an accident. We left London’s West End theatre district in taxicabs (which I now dub our yellow submarines) feeling united and ready for our exciting adventure ahead. That night I embraced these stanzas from “Help.” “And now my life has changed in oh so many ways. My independence seems to vanish in the haze. Every now and then, I feel so insecure…” “Help me if you can, I’m feeling down. And I do appreciate you being ‘round, Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won’t you please, please help me?” I finally learned that it is ok to ask for help.

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NUTRITION >> SUGAR CONSUMPTION

HOW SWEET IT IS

Too Sweet The Effects of Sugar on Both the Young and Old W RIT TE N BY ING RID A LLI SON BOZEM A N

ore than a third of American adults are obese. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the past 30 years childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. Regardless of age, obesity puts people at risk for serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. One substance that has contributed to this epidemic is sugar. Pamela Alkire, a retired claims adjuster in her 60s, has firsthand experience with sugar and weight gain. “Sugar gives me some energy,” she said. “Too much sugar in my younger years caused weight gain. Now that I am older it makes me tired and gives me night sweats from time to time. My doctor has warned me that I need to be careful about managing my weight.” Sugar is everywhere. Walk into a supermarket or convenience store and you will find yourself surrounded by cakes, cookies, muffins and a bunch of other processed foods. If you take the time to read some of the labels, you

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might come across fructose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and lactose, which are some common names for this substance. People love sugar because it’s sweet and gives them a quick burst of energy. Sugar makes people feel good because of its impact on the brain. Sugar rich foods cause the brain to release a chemical known as dopamine, which affects the reward center of the brain. It also provides a burst of energy. But this burst of energy is short-lived and people need a continuous stream of sugar to keep the good feeling. According to the National Health and Examination survey, Americans consume an average of 20 teaspoons of sugar a day, which adds up to more than half of a 5-pound bag of sugar each week. Teenagers are among the top sugar consumers. The recommended daily limit is 6 teaspoons for women (100 calories) and 9 teaspoons for men (150 calories). This overuse of sugar has contributed to many health problems. There are many negative health effects of eating sugar. Lisa Magary, nurse practitioner and owner of Celebrate Primary Care in Gainesville discussed some of these effects in an email interview. Detrimental effects included an “increased risk of diabetes and heart disease (regardless of weight), increased risk for developing cancer, obesity, blood sugar spikes in children and addiction.” Magary also shared a story about a patient and the effect of excessive sugar consumption on her. “I had a woman (age 55) with uncontrolled diabetes, recurrent skin infections, neuropathy (numbness in her feet),

recurrent fungal infections and fatigue,” Magary said. “After counseling her and encouraging her to read books about the negative effects of sugar, she went on a ketogenic diet (low carb, high fat, moderate protein).” Magary said the patient has stabilized her blood sugar, avoided going on insulin, cured her fungal infections, has amazing energy, regained sensation in her feet and has not had a recurrence of the skin infection. “No one can exert cognitive inhibition – willpower — over a biochemical drive that goes on every minute of every day of every year,” said Dr. Robert H. Lustig, California pediatric endocrinologist. He talked about this in an article called “How Sugar Hijacks Your Brain and Makes You Addicted.” Lustig said when people consume large amounts of sugar their dopamine brain receptors down-regulate and there are fewer of them. Therefore, they need to eat more of the same foods to get the same pleasurable effect as before. He goes on to say that sugar can be as addictive as substances such as drugs and alcohol. The reward system in obese individuals is changed because of an overconsumption of sugar and junk food. Therefore they respond differently to food and have difﬁculty controlling their food intake. In another interview, Dr. Lustig told 60 Minutes, “according to brain scans, sugar is as addictive as cocaine.” Dr. James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist at St. Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City,

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Mo., takes this a step further saying that some studies show sugar can be even more addictive than cocaine. He discussed this in an article entitled “Is Sugar More Addictive than Cocaine?” posted on hereandnow. wbur.org. “Even when you get the rats hooked on IV cocaine, once you introduce sugar, almost all of them switch to the sugar,” he said. DiNicolantonio further explained that not all sugar is bad. People need to learn the difference between reﬁned and intrinsic sugar. Reﬁned sugar is found in cookies and other processed foods. This can lead to health problems, but intrinsic sugar found in milk is not necessarily unhealthy. Unhealthy sugars can lead to health problems such as prediabetes. DiNicolantonio suggested having almonds or dark chocolate

“According to brain scans, sugar is as addictive as cocaine.” to satisfy a sugar craving because they contain less reﬁned sugars. “We’ve got to give people hope, right?” DiNicolantonio said. “You don’t want to just tell them they can’t ever have sugar again.” Still, he believes the FDA could help. “The government subsidizes corn, so high fructose corn syrup is cheaper than sugar, and that’s why it’s so ubiquitous in our diets,” DiNicolantonio said. “They need to start subsidizing healthy foods. We shouldn’t be able to eat a Snickers bar for cheaper than we can eat an apple.” People need to educate themselves about sugar and its effects. Then they can make their own decisions about sugar consumption. Pamela Alkire had this advice: “Enjoy life and eat different foods in moderation.”

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Ten Simple Steps to Reduce Sugar Intake 1.

READ FOOD LABELS This is the first step to reducing your sugar intake because you need to be aware of foods that have sugar in them. Sugar is found in many foods that you would not expect, such as tomato sauce. If you see sugar listed as the first ingredient on a label, steer clear of that product. KNOW THE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR SUGAR Sugar can be listed on a label under so many names that you might not recognize so it’s a good idea to become familiar with some of these. High fructose corn syrup, molasses, dried cane syrup and basically any word ending in ose is a form of sugar. Some foods might even contain several forms of sugar. BUY ‘NO SUGAR ADDED’ PRODUCTS Foods such as applesauce, almond milk and nut butters have versions with no sugar added.

GRADUALLY LOWER YOUR SUGAR INTAKE Going cold turkey and suddenly removing all sugars from your diet is not the best strategy. It will cause you to go back to your old sugar habits after a few days. Slowly lowering your sugar intake is a better strategy to create lasting changes. For example, if you usually have two sugar packets in your coffee or cereal, cut down to one and then you can reduce it to half a packet the next week. This will help you adjust to less sugar.

ADD MORE FLAVOR Natural spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg make food much more flavorful and add sweetness without extra calories.

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AVOID FAKE SUGARS Artificial sugar substitutes can affect your taste buds causing you to crave more sugar which results in weight gain. A little bit of the real thing is better than any of the substitutes.

FOCUS ON PROTEIN AND FAT If you build your meals around protein and fat, you will feel fuller longer and avoid the blood sugar crashes that are caused by only consuming carbs. For example, breakfast could consist of eggs and a slice of toast. A typical snack might be turkey breast and string cheese. AVOID DRINKING SUGAR Stick to water, which can be flavored using lemon or any type of fresh fruit. Soda and energy drinks contain a lot of sugar and calories. For example, energy drinks can have as much as seven teaspoons per can.

ENJOY OCCASIONAL SWEET TREATS It’s not necessary to completely eliminate sugar from your diet. Instead, enjoy sugar as an occasional treat for a special occasion such as a birthday or holiday. On a daily basis, try to limit your sugar intake to nine teaspoons for men and six teaspoons for women.

10.

BE COMMITTED At first, reducing your sugar intake will be very difficult. You may experience fatigue and headaches as your body adjusts. In time, your body and taste buds will adjust and you will taste the sweetness in a strawberry and cake might even taste too sweet.

INFORMATION ADAPTED FROM: HEALTH.COM. “10 EASY WAYS TO SLASH SUGAR FROM YOUR DIET”

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NUTRITION >> PUMPKINS AND APPLES

SQUASH AN YONE?

Fall Into Good Nutrition With Apples and Pumpkins W R I T T E N B Y M A R Y W. B R I D G M A N

ne of the best ways for people to economize on their grocery budget and enjoy healthful and flavorful foods is to eat fruits and veggies that are in season. Pumpkins and apples may not be Florida products, but we can count on plentiful supplies in local supermarkets — and pumpkin patches and produce markets — during the autumn months. An apple a day, you say? Most of us are familiar with the old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine found that daily apple eaters had just as many doctor visits as those who ate fewer or no apples. Eating apples didn’t reduce

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the number of overnight hospital stays or mental health visits either. However, apple eaters were slightly less likely to use prescription drugs. The study concluded that there may be more merit to saying, “An apple a day keeps the pharmacist away.” Nevertheless, there’s no denying that apples are packed with nutritional benefits. One medium apple has about 100 calories, is a good source of vitamin C and provides nearly 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber, not to mention small amounts of vitamin A, calcium and iron. As IFAS extension agent Samara Deary explained, apples are a wise choice, especially for snacking. “Nutrient-poor, sugary snacks are like fuel that runs hot and flames out,” she said. “They are followed by a crash that can leave you hungry and, at times, unable to concentrate.” PHOTOGRAPHY: KRISTIN KOZELSKY

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Not so the humble apple, which will keep you full and satisfied until mealtime rolls around again, she said. Deary said pumpkins — members of the squash family — are another nutritious option for meals and in-between. They can be substituted in recipes that call for sweet potatoes and fall squashes. Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are high in vitamin A, protein, fiber, zinc, iron and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. That translates to a bonanza of benefits including a healthy cardiovascular system (“good” fats), healthy skin and vision (vitamin A), decreased osteoporosis (zinc), and decreased colon cancer (fiber), to name a few.

The bright orange color of pumpkins is a dead giveaway that they, like carrots, are loaded with beta-carotene, an important antioxidant. Beta-carotene is converted

Pumpkins, like carrots, are loaded with beta-carotene, an important antioxidant. to vitamin A in the body — you can get enough beta-carotene in one cup of pumpkin to cover over 200 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for eye health, aiding the retina in absorbing and processing light. Pumpkin also contains lutein

Do carrots improve eyesight? Like pumpkins, carrots are loaded with vitamin A, maintaining a healthy cornea and aiding proper perception of light at the retina. Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, which can be exacerbated by a lag in recovery time after seeing a flash of light in the dark. During World War II, the link between carrots and eyesight was not clearly understood. This assisted Britain’s air ministry in starting a rumor that a diet rich in carrots improves vision, leading the Nazis to believe this was why the Brits saw their night bombers coming before they even reached the English Channel. In truth, the rumor was designed to cover up a new secret technology being used by the Royal Air Force: Airborne Interception Radar. As long as the Germans didn’t think the technology existed, they would not question the uncanny ability of the British to see enemy planes approaching in the dead of night. The rumor was so successful that the English public began eating more carrots to help their night vision during blackouts.

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and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants believed to help prevent cataracts and may even slow development of macular degeneration.

That large shot of vitamin A boosts your immune system, helping your body fight infections, viruses and infections diseases. In addition, pumpkin contains nearly 20 percent of the recommended daily requirement of vitamin C, which may mean you get over that fall or winter cold more quickly. Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods with beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including prostate and lung cancer. That is because vitamins A and C are both antioxidants, which act as shields for your cells against cancer-causing free radicals. Pumpkin has gotten a bit of a bad rap for its high glycemic index, or GI, which suggests that its carbohydrates could cause a marked increase in your blood sugar. However, the Glycemic Index Foundation advises against avoiding this nutrient-rich food because its low carbohydrate content offsets its high GI value, resulting in a lower effect on blood sugar than its GI ranking might suggest. Four-fifths of a cup of boiled pumpkin contains only four grams of carbohydrates, only ﬁve percent of the total content of a serving of pumpkin, which means you would have to consume a large amount of boiled pumpkin to increase your blood sugar signiﬁcantly. For those of us accustomed to eating most of our pumpkin in the form of pie, it may be surprising to learn that there are many other recipe options for pumpkin, ranging from pumpkin soup to roasted pumpkin seed — soup to nuts, in a manner of speaking. Deary recommends the following to take your pumpkin consumption up a notch — to healthier eating. As an added bonus, she shared her recipe for Northwest Apple Salad. Bon appetit!

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ROASTED PUMPKIN SAGE SOUP

ROASTED PUMPKIN, PEPPERS AND SAUSAGE

6 2 2 2 3 3

medium (6 lbs total) sugar pumpkins or pumpkin pie pumpkins 1 Tbsp. butter (olive oil for dairy-free) 3/4 cup shallots, diced 3 cloves garlic, chopped 4 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth (use vegetable stock for vegetarians) 1 Tbsp. fresh sage, plus more for garnish * Salt and fresh pepper to taste * Reduced fat sour cream for garnish Heat oven to 400 degrees. Using a heavy, sharp knife, cut the pumpkins in half. Scoop out seeds and place on a baking sheet; bake for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours. When pumpkin is cooked and cool enough to handle, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh. This should make about 5 cups (an equal amount of canned pumpkin can be substituted). Add butter to a large pot or Dutch oven, on medium heat; add shallots and sautĂŠ until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Add pumpkin and broth to the pot, along with sage, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered for about 15 minutes. Blend in a blender until soup is smooth. Yields 5 servings. 158 |

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brats (or use any other sausage such as turkey, kielbasa, etc.) red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks medium red onions, peeled lb pumpkin, deseeded and cut into wedges about 1 inch thick 6-inch sprigs of rosemary tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put sausages, peppers, red onions and pumpkin in a large roasting pan. Scatter rosemary leaves and a fat pinch of salt over the pan. Drizzle with olive oil and turn the sausages and vegetables in it until well coated. Roast for 40 minutes or until the sausages are cooked through and the vegetables are tender and browned. Yields 6 servings.

NORTHWEST APPLE SALAD 2 2 3 1 1

medium Granny Smith apples Tbsp. dried cranberries Tbsp. plain low-fat yogurt Tbsp. walnuts Tbsp. honey (optional)

Rinse and remove cores from apples. Do not peel. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Place in medium bowl. Add dried fruit and yogurt to bowl. Mix well. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast nuts until golden brown and fragrant. Watch closely so they do not burn. Remove from pan and let cool. Chop cooled nuts with a knife. Add chopped nuts to bowl. If using honey, add it now. Toss and serve. Yields four 3/4 cup servings.

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FOOD REVIEW

Adventures in Appetite

CONTRIBUTED BY KEN PENG OF KEN EATS GAINESVILLE

KEN PENG HAS LIVED IN GAINESVILLE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OF HIS LIFE, BUT HAS BEEN EATING SINCE HE WAS BORN. IT IS HIS HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO READS THIS PAGE WILL DISCOVER A NEW SPOT TO VISIT THE NEXT TIME THEY’RE FEELING HUNGRY. keneatsgainesville.com

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT HAS HAPPENED. GAINESVILLE FINALLY HAS A GOOD THAI RESTAURANT.

angkok Square recently opened at 6500 SW Archer Road in the same plaza that houses Beef O’Brady’s and Cloud 9 Spa. After the disappointment of other Thai restaurants and their dishes, I tempered my expectations on my ﬁrst visit. But they surely did not disappoint. The restaurant is built on half of the old Hobbytown USA location, and the owners have done a great job of putting together a beautiful dining area. The restaurant is bright, clean, and offers a modern feel while still maintaining some traditional Thai elements. With no roadside signage, this little eatery located roughly 1.5 miles west of I-75 can be easily missed. But enough about the location, the food is just great. As I mentioned in my previous review, the one dish that I use to measure a good Thai restaurant is their Pad Thai. I mean it’s the Thai national dish, and if a restaurant can’t make this, they aren’t worth visiting. Bangkok Square offers up a beautiful

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Pad Thai that isn’t the sloppy wet goop you’ll find at some other spots, and you can actually taste all the elements involved (fish sauce, peanuts, tamarind, egg, sprouts). Prices range from $11.95 for chicken, pork or tofu, all the way up to $19.95 for crispy duck. That’s right, Crispy Duck Pad Thai is delicious. I mean, game over. You must try this. Not feeling the noodles? Bangkok Square also offers a variety of traditional curries that again range from $11.95 to $19.95 depending on your choice of protein. Red, Green, Mussaman, Panang, Prig Khing (curry paste, green beans, bell peppers and ginger), and something called Amazing Sauce (peanut sauce, coconut milk, and mixed veggies) are all available. I had the chance to sample the Panang curry, and it was wonderful. The homemade curry was creamy and well spiced, while the fresh zucchini, bell peppers, and peanut were just perfect. The menu is authentic and you’ll find some Thai standards like Lad Nar (Thai gravy with broccoli, mushrooms, carrots served over stir fried rice noodles), Spicy Basil Fried Rice Larb Gai ($8.95 – ground chicken with lime juice, fresh mint leaves, chili, onions, and powdered

roasted rice), and Yum Woonsen ($10.95 – bean thread seasoned with chicken and shrimp, mushrooms, and lime juice on top of a green salad). Bangkok Square is also a vegetarian-friendly restaurant that offers the option of tofu or veggies on most dishes. Several vegan and gluten-sensitive readers have mentioned they are very accommodating and willing to cater to their speciﬁc diets. The restaurant also has a Macrobiotics Diet section, a popular diet throughout Asia that consists of eating whole grains, fresh vegetables, and no processed foods. All dishes are

The restaurant also has a Macrobiotics Diet section, a popular diet throughout Asia that consists of eating whole grains, fresh vegetables, and no processed foods. served over brown rice, and choices include Steamed Broccoli, Carrots, Green Beans, and Snow Peas for $12.95, Sauteed Bean Sprouts, Carrots, Snow Peas, and Cashews for $13.95 or Sauteed Mixed Vegetables, Seaweed, and Tofu for the same price. Most menu items are between $10 and $20 a dish, but the portions are generous, everything is fresh, and the staff is very attentive. The owners are present at the restaurant, interacting with their guests, and they take pride in serving quality authentic cuisine in a beautiful atmosphere. This is what it’s all about, folks. Bangkok Square does it right, and after my second visit in three days, they are quickly becoming a favorite. Don’t forget to ﬁnish off your meal with the Crunchy Banana Dessert ($4.95 – fresh banana cut up in bite sizes with crunch coconut, wrapped in crispy rice paper, deep fried and topped with honey and sesame seeds). It was one of the best desserts I’ve had in some time! Unless other local restaurants improve, Bangkok Square will be my only choice for Thai in Gainesville. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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