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CONTENTS SPRING 2010 • Vol. 01 ISSue 01

>> HISTORIC SITE

32 PhotoS By alBert iSaac

Thomas Centennial

ABOVE: Matt Marwick, of Precision Floorcrafters, Inc, at work sanding the new flooring at the Thomas Center in December 2008. The flooring company based in Summerfield, FL, refloored the 900-square-foot area with wood from Goodwin Heart Pine Company of Micanopy, FL. RIGHT: The newly finished flooring at the Thomas Center, courtesy of the Wild Spaces & Public Places half-cent sales tax.

Thomas Centennial The Historic Thomas Center Celebrates it’s 100th Anniversary

By Molly larMie ie Burton tells the history of Gainesville’s Thomas Center like she is talking about an old friend: her voice gains speed and thickens with rhythm and passion. “Stop me when you think you have got enough,” she laughs, as if she could go on recounting the tale forever. Burton, impromptu historian and interpretive

for Thomas’ remarkable civic career. He served as an alderman, a mayor and a senator, and organized the committee that established the University of Florida in Gainesville. The major thought of himself as the host, Burton said. He owned several hunting dogs, but he was content to lend them out to his friends or anyone who asked.

coordinator for the Thomas Center Associates, a nonprofit group that supports beautification projects at the center, has told this story often. It is a survival story, steeped in local history, stretching back 100 years. It begins like this: Major William Reuben Thomas, his wife Kathryn, and their five children lived in a resplendent family home on Northeast Sixth Avenue in Gainesville. They called it Sunkist Villa. Completed in 1910, the villa, with its wide porches lined with big, comfy rockers, provided the foundation

He was such a natural host, in fact, that in the late 1920s, he transformed his family villa into a hotel. The home was redecorated in the Mediterranean revival style with Italian Renaissance motifs, and a three-story wing with 94 rooms was added to board the guests. The family kitchen was enlarged and the surrounding porches enclosed to form a kitchen big enough to feed a hungry horde. A screened-in atrium rising two stories was covered with a large tarp and, eventually, with glass. The original framework survives today in the roof of the Thomas Center Spanish Court, through which natural light continued on next page

32 | Spring 2010

www.VisitOurTowns.com

By Molly Larmie

Spring 2010 | 33

One of Gainesville’s most beloved historic sites celebrates it’s 100 Year Anniversary in 2010. During that time it has served as a home, a hotel, and the focus of impassioned conservation efforts.

>> COMMUNITY

Move That Bus! Gainesville Family Gets an Extreme Home Makeover BY ALBERT ISAAC obin and Jill Wagstaff did not expect to get a new home. After all, those kinds of things just do not happen to them. But on Dec. 7, a scream from the megaphone by celebrity designer Ty Pennington announced that it did, indeed, happen to this family of six. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” had come to Gainesville to build a new home for the Wagstaff family. “I really wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared for this,” Jill said, during a recent interview in their new, 3,500-square-foot home. “I was expecting to get the phone call saying that we weren’t chosen. Then, when we heard the yelling outside, we went outside and it was still surreal, like having a dream.” “We were definitely surprised,” Tobin said. “Our personal history is that things don’t come to us easily, but this was handed to us. A lot of the blessings we have in life are circled around relationships, and that’s definitely what we value more than anything else. So having such a material blessing is really out of our scope of possibility when we are thinking about all the good things that could happen to us in this life.” The saga began when Ginger Schantz -- a friend of

PHOTO BY ALBERT ISAAC

The Wagstaff family - Dallas, Jill, Tobin Jr., Jolene, Tobin and Rudy - pose in front of their new home, compliments of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Ark Remodeling and Construction, and thousands of volunteers.

42 | Spring 2010

the Wagstaffs and student of their non-profit music school -- saw an ad in the newspaper announcing Extreme Makeover was looking for deserved families. She immediately thought of the Wagstaffs. “This is just an opportunity that could not be missed,” Schantz said, taking a break from her drum practice in the Wagstaff’s new home. “So, I wrote the letter. It was going to be an easy letter to write because they are so active in the community. People don’t know that, and I don’t think the press has done a really good job in covering that aspect of it. They do a lot of service for the community.” Schantz said Tobin, through the school, does a lot of things in town with his students; he has been involved in camps for children, leads the soccer drum line with the university and they always participate in the homecoming parade. “Besides being very active in their church,” Schanzt said, “Jill is very active, not just in the studio but on several fronts.” Jill is former president of the Gainesville Junior Woman’s’ Club and has remained involved for years, serving in a variety continued on next page

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2010 | 43

By Albert Isaac

Move That Bus! In just one week, the Wagstaff family had their lives transformed by Ty Pennington and his dream-come-true television program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

>> Music

The Bo Diddley Plaza

Bo Diddley Plaza

A Unique Showplace Named After A Hometown Hero By Larry Behnke

he Plaza. “There’s no other place like it,” said

David Ballard, events coordinator for the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. “People from other towns have told me it’s unique and really special.” Ballard is speaking of the Bo Diddley Plaza, downtown Gainesville’s showplace for a variety of free concerts and events. The multi-level, centrally located park has grown and seen improvements over the years. Landscaping and seating with a large stage and grassy area attract people from around the county to hear fine performances. A graceful roof now shelters the stage. In June of last year the space was officially dedicated as the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in honor of a rock ‘n’ roll founder who lived in nearby Archer before his death in June 2008. Bo performed on that stage in June 2006 to one of the largest crowds ever continued on page 75

Photo By aLBert Isaac Photo By Larry Behnke

The Righteous Kind performing at the Bo Diddley Plaza

Bo Diddley playing at the

during the 28th Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show

Gainesville Plaza in 2006.

in November 2009.

72 | Spring 2010

10 | Spring 2010

By Larry Behnke

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2010 | 73

Owing its name to a rock ‘n’ roll legend, the Bo Diddley Plaza has become a Gainesville gem, a local venue for visitors to kick back and experience a wide variety of free concerts.

>> FEATURES

INAuGuRAl ISSue!

Welcome to the first edition of the Our Town Magazine for Gainesville. Since 2003, Tower Publications has provided readers in High Springs, Alachua, newberry and Jonesville with award-winning stories about the fascinating people and fun things to do in those communities. now readers in Gainesville can expect the same great editorial content. Enjoy!

To Market, To Market, To Buy Fresh Food Visit area Farmers Markets BY DEBBIE M. DELOAcH

Venture out Local group chooses living over loafing BY KATE HELLEr

The Ripple effect Students and families make treats for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” volunteers BY SArAH HSu

once for Cooking French Fries, Now New Fuel Oak Hall student begins biodiesel program BY cHrIS WILSOn

Tree-mendous Recognition Gainesville: a “Tree city uSA” for more than 25 years BY SArAH A. HEnDErSOn

Bats in the Belfry Much-maligned bats bring benefits BY ALBErT ISAAc

Haldeman’s universe A visit with the “Dean of Science Fiction” BY ALBErT ISAAc

COLUMNISTS 36 Albert Isaac DifferenT nOTe 52 Crystal Henry nakeD SalSa 92 Brian “Krash” Kruger GaTe craShinG 112 Allysen Kerr aDvenTureS in appeTiTe

INFORMATION 70 Kids Fun Page 88 community calendar 116 Advertiser Index

The articles printed in Our Town Magazine™ do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Our Town Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. All rights reserved. © 2010 Tower Publications, Inc.

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2010 | 11

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

PuBlISHeR Charlie Delatorre charlie@towerpublications.com eDIToR-IN-CHIeF Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com fax: 1-800-967-7382 office manager Bonita Delatorre bonita@towerpublications.com art director Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com

>> FEATURES 95

senior designer Tom Reno tom@towerpublications.com

April Fools Why did the tradition begin? BY crYSTAL HEnrY

Prairie Gem Lake Tuscawilla Preserve BY DEnISE TrunK KrIGBAuM

100 Main Drag Speed rules the track at the Gainesville raceway BY MArY KYPrEOS

106 living History Family-oriented programs offer lessons on nature preservation, Florida heritage

contributing writers larry Behnke elizabeth Behrman Debbie M. Deloach Kate Heller Sarah A. Henderson Crystal Henry Sarah Hsu Allysen Kerr Denise Trunk Krigbaum Brian “Krash” Kruger Mary Kypreos Molly larmie Chris Wilson interns Annabelle Brooks

BY ELIzABETH BEHrMAn

110 Heart of the Matter Local charity hopes to end pediatric cancer BY MArY KYPrEOS

business spotlight 39 41 59 60 65 81 98 105

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New York Pizza Plus Mike Hill Construction lAe Tanning & Boutique Sun State Federal Credit union Anyone Can Do It! Pat Gleason, Financial Advisor Dr. William Storoe loften High School

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INTRODUCTION >> FROM ThE PUBLIShER

Everywhere I go lately I meet people who share my history. Believe it or not, there are a few of us who actually grew up in Gainesville. We’re a small group, a subculture almost. And when we meet and discover we share this common bond, it’s as if we’ve become instant family. We talk about “old gainesville” with a smile, and compare notes on what part of town we grew up in, what schools we attended or who we knew in common. We think back to places that are no more, great gator moments and a time when things just seemed simpler. however, no matter the topics of conversation, we always find ourselves ending our nostalgic drive down memory lane with the same thought: it’s great to be in gainesville!

14 | Spring 2010

A lot has changed over the last few decades in our little town, but the things that make gainesville a special place to live have endured the test of time. the people that live, work and play within our community are special. the connections, friendships and bonds that are forged are what make our town unique. Fast-forward more years than i’d like to admit and i’m squarely into my third life in this town (pre-college, college and post-college). i’m lucky enough to still call gainesville home. For the past 11 years, my staff and i have been working hard to provide our area with a variety of informative publications. As the area’s largest independent publisher, tower publications has been providing readers with senior times Magazine, the Florida buyers’ guide and two other editions of our town Magazine — the high springs & Alachua and newberry &

Jonesville magazines. We’ve learned a lot along the way and are proud to bring you our latest edition. the gainesville edition of our town Magazine will be a quarterly, editorially based, direct-mailed, community lifestyle magazine with each issue stocked with features written by our award-winning staff. Focused on the things that make our community unique, we’ll work hard to bring you more than just a few local articles; instead we’ll strive to bring you a collection of features highlighting the things that make gainesville, and its residents, special. thanks for taking the time to look through our inaugural issue and i hope you enjoy it. s

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MESSAGE >> FROM ThE EDITOR I think I’m finally thawing out from the winter freeze that has gripped us for what seemed like months. i thought it would never end. i’m so glad spring is upon us and i can stop running the furnace 24/7. i can again go outside and ride bikes with my children without fear of frostbite. some days were so cold there was still ice in the dog dish when i got home from work at six p.m. that’s just crazy. this is Florida. And what’s with the snow? it seems to have snowed everywhere but here. if it’s going to be cold, it might as well snow. i had one mightily disappointed 8-year-old son, i’ll have you know. but despite the cold, all of us here at tower publications have been thinking of spring and keeping very busy putting together our newest addition to the our town Family of Magazines. in this issue you will find a wide variety of interesting stories about people and places in gainesville. From rock ‘n’ roll legend bo Diddley to award-winning science fiction author Joe haldeman, from the Farmers Markets to the Adventure Club, from music to fine dining, there is something for nearly everyone in the our town Magazine. gainesville is home to so many beautiful vistas it is no small wonder i stayed in the area after graduating from uF. After all, there are preserves to explore, lakes to swim, trails to hike and bike, and tons of trees. speaking of vistas and trees, in this edition, our town writer sarah henderson provides some history on gainesville’s status as tree City usA, while Denise trunk Krigbaum writes about the little-known (at least to me) tuscawilla preserve. Makes me want to go check it out one day soon. Recently, elizabeth behrman visited the Morningside nature Center, a park offering activities for young and old. Read all about the family-fun activities the center has to offer. in December, i had the opportunity to experience AbC’s “extreme Makeover - home edition” when the design stars came to gainesville to give one deserving family a new home. After the dust had settled, i sat down with Jill and tobin Wagstaff inside their new house to learn all about their experience. this is but a small sampling of what you will find within these pages so, please, sit back and enjoy all we have to offer. s

www.VisitOurTowns.com

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STAFF >> CONTRIBUTORS Crystal Henry

Denise Trunk Krigbaum

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.

is a freelance writer, adjunct professor at uF, wife and a mom. She has lived in Gainesville for eons and has managed to turn over a few stones while here. She has found many hidden gems. More remain to be discovered.

ces03k@gmail.com

dtrunk@ufl.edu

larry Behnke

Debbie M. Deloach, Ph.D.

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

is a freelance writer and garden consultant living in Gainesville. She also enjoys volunteering as an Alachua county Master Gardener and as a member of the Florida native Plant Society.

larry@towerpublications.com

drdebbied@gmail.com

Chris Wilson

Molly larmie

has been a professional editor and writer for community publications in Gainesville and Tampa for more than 10 years. He also has a passion for history and sports. chris and his family live in newberry.

is a freelance writer and second-year student in uF’s college of Journalism and communications. mlarmie@ufl.edu

cwilson5000@msn.com

Mary Kypreos

elizabeth Behrman

is a freelance writer and editor fresh out of the university of Florida. She enjoys discovering tidbits of knowledge about Alachua county from those who know it best.

is a freelance writer and student in uF’s college of Journalism. She is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity. She loves to read, write, watch movies and spend time with friends. liz.behrman@gmail.com

kypreos.mary@gmail.com

Sarah Henderson

Sarah Hsu

is a student in uF’s college of Journalism and communications. She enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time outdoors in her spare time.

is a freelance photographer and reporter. A recent uF journalism graduate, Sarah enjoys meeting new people and the excitement of not knowing where or what she’s going to covering next.

sahenderson88@gmail.com

editor@towerpublications.com

Allysen Kerr

Kate Heller

is a fourth-year student in uF’s college of Journalism and communications. Besides writing, she’s also a musician and enjoys photography, the arts and technology.

is a freelance writer and student in uF’s college of Journalism.

allysenrenee@gmail.com

18 | Spring 2010

editor@towerpublications.com

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>> COMMUNITY

To Market, To Market,

To Buy Fresh Food A visit to our area farmers markets By DeBBie M. DeLoach un, family, friends and fresh food abound at area farmers markets. they provide marketplaces for small-scale farmers and local food providers, as well as for crafters and entertainers. At farmers markets the community comes together in a relaxed atmosphere that fosters a slow pace and time to reconnect with the out of doors. Mickie swisher has been an avid patron of gainesville’s farmers markets since 1986. “they were brief, sporadic and semi-organized back then, more like farmers market predecessors,” she said while shopping at a local market. she has watched the markets grow, mature and multiply through the years. “We [gainesville] really are lucky.” each of the four gainesville farmers markets sports their own unique atmosphere and style.

Union Street Farmers Market EvEry WEdnEsday • 4 to 7 p.m. bo DiDDley CoMMunity plAzA 111 e. univeRsity Avenue Downtown gainesville comes alive every Wednesday as vendors and local farmers set up shop in the bo Diddley Community plaza. they provide shoppers with everything from handmade jewelry to handmade bread. of course, produce takes center stage. shoppers can find a large assortment of fruit and vegetables, as well

22 | Spring 2010

as dairy products and potted plants. Charlie lybrand is manager of both the union street and tioga Monday markets. he started the union street Market almost 14 years ago with eight vendors, including his own enterprise selling honey and blueberries. now, about 50 vendors participate. lybrand’s original goal was to “have a place to sell my product locally and a way to involve my family.” As his children grew they helped with the family business as he had planned. now his youngest is due to graduate law school this spring. the union street Farmers Market atmosphere is festive as parents watch their children dance to music performed by local artists. Many people stop to visit, laugh and reconnect with friends and neighbors as they shop. Marvin graham of graham Farms in brooker believes that farmers markets are “better for the customer” than they were when he started selling his produce and preserves 15 years ago at local farmers markets. he is looking forward to another year selling at the union street Farmers Market, as is elbert ellison. ellison has a core of regular customers who relish his “sweet,” flash frozen Mayport shrimp. of selling at the farmers market, the retired ellison said, “i like it. it’s some extra income, and i enjoy talking to people.”

PhotoS By DeBBie M. DeLoach

rIGHT: ramon Angeles discusses his hydroponically grown produce with interested customers. ABOVE: rain or shine, the Haile Plantation Farmers Market is open for business. TOP: Joe Durando, owner of Possum Hollow Farm, sells his locally grown produce at the union Street Farmers Market.

Alachua County Farmers Market EvEry saturday • 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 5920 n.W. 13th st. Founded in the 1970s, the Alachua County Farmers Market features covered shopping as well as handicap accessible restrooms. only local growers, those farming within 50 miles of the market, may sell their crops and goods here. in addition, all wares and crafts must be made from locally produced materials. this marketing structure appeals to “locavores,” people who are dedicated to eating locally grown food. the old-fashioned style of shopping for food based on seasonal availability and being personally acquainted with farmers and other producers contributes to the charm and allure of this market. Jared sweat, a graduate student at uF, manages the Alachua County Farmers Market. he stays busy with the market, school and two other jobs. sweat represents the third generation of his family who are active in gainesville farmers markets. both his mother and grandmother sell produce at the Alachua County Farmers Market. the number of vendors that sell at this market

varies depending on season. During the off-season, between eight and 15 vendors are present, but the busy season usually nets 35 to 50 vendors. shoppers can find hydroponically grown tomatoes in winter, as well as mushroom logs, worm castings, cut flowers and goat milk products year round. the Alachua County Farmers Market is located near the highway patrol station. Alachua County owns the property while the Alachua County Farmers Market, a not-for-profit organization, leases the facilities from the county.

Haile Plantation Farmers Market EvEry saturday • 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. hAile villAge CenteR every saturday, a section of s.W. 91st terrace in the haile village Center is blocked to vehicle traffic for the haile plantation Farmers Market. between 20 to 40 vendors line the street while shoppers, many with children in strollers and dogs on leash, amble the dormant roadway. local stores that occupy the quaint small town style buildings also benefit from the market activity. the atmosphere is slow paced and continued on next page

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Spring 2010 | 23

Tioga Monday Market EvEry monday • 4 to 7 p.m. toWn oF tiogA toWn CenteR

Photo By DeBBie M. DeLoach

Alachua county Farmers Market underway during a rainy and wintry Saturday morning.

friendly as shoppers take time to visit with neighbors and friends while shopping for handmade soap, salsas and pastries. Fresh produce and seafood are popular, also. Juan Carlos Rodriguez, manager of the haile plantation Farmers Market, said that local farmers established this market about 12 years ago as a venue to distribute their produce through a local community green markets initiative. since then things have changed. the scope of the market expanded to include arts, crafts, other foodstuffs and local services.

the tioga Monday Market provides fresh produce, preserves, live plants and handcrafts to the growing populace of west gainesville and Jonesville. it is located just off newberry Road at the town of tioga town Center and is open every Monday, except labor and Memorial days, from 4 to 7 p.m., rain or shine. the hours and easy access appeal to local citizens as they take a break on their drive home from work to shop and visit. veteran market manager, Charlie lybrand, said the developers of the town of tioga had planned a farmers market as part of their concept for this community. About two years ago, the developers tapped lybrand to start the tioga Monday Market. he said that he now has a dedicated core of regular vendors and expects more as shopper interest in the market grows.

High Springs Farmers Market EvEry thursday • 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. JAMes pAul pARK Come on down to the sinkhole for a fun and fruitful shopping experience in high springs. yes, the vendors of high springs Farmers Market are perched on the rim of a huge sinkhole located near city hall in James paul

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park. Every thursday up to 31 vendors, many under protective canopies, sell produce, shrimp, cut flowers, baked goods, candles, oils, crafts and live plants. the high springs Main street program, under contract to the City of high springs, manages the high springs Farmers Market. tina prizament, market manager since last september, enjoys her new position because “it’s challenging and i like people and there’s a need, a community need, for locally produced products, services and goods,” she said. two special booths, one covered by a yellow canopy and the other by a red one, provide patrons with useful services. the yellow canopy provides information about local events and not-for-profit organizations. “the whole purpose of the booth was to give the non-profits in the community a venue to dispense materials about their organizations and their organization’s fund raisers and fund-raising events without having to physically be here themselves every week,” said Dot harvey, one of the high springs Farmers Market’s longtime volunteers. the red booth provides a valuable service, also. “We have a portable AtM system from which we issue tokens to people with a debit, credit or ebt food stamp card and they are issued tokens at face value for whatever their card will sustain,” prizament said. “All the vendors accept them continued on page 27

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o continued from page 25 [tokens] dollar for dollar, no cost to the vendor, no cost to the consumer.” volunteers man both these booths and may be members of local clubs and organizations, but any responsible individual may volunteer. “We’ll take high schoolers with community service hours to complete,” prizament said. “We need volunteers.” prizament hopes to reprise last year’s Art at the Market program that is slated to occur on the third thursday of each month from January through May. on those days, two to four artists share a booth to display and sell their work while also sharing the cost of the booth. Coming up on saturday, March 27, is the fourth annual Mutts and pups event. it will be held in James paul park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free. “Mutts and pups is an annual event that we put on as a fundraiser for the farmers market,” said harvey, chairwoman of Mutts and pups. “the Mutts and pups show highlights mixed breeds and mutts rather than pedigreed dogs, to show everyone that mutts make wonderful pets. We are supported, also, by the Alachua County humane society. they come out and have a tent here and bring adoptable dogs.” the event includes dog contests as well as demonstrations and vendors. Winners of the 12 dog contests receive prizes, and one lucky dog will be awarded best in show at the end of the event. Contests include

best dog and owner look-a-like pair, the dog with the best smile, the dog who sings the best song and more. Demonstrations by police dogs, canine search and rescue teams, guide dogs and therapy dogs highlight the event. Food and craft vendors will be present as well as vendors specializing in pet products and services. the usual farmers market vendors will be open for business, also.

Prizament hopes to reprise last year’s Art at the Market program that is slated to occur on the third Thursday of each month. Dog owners interested in participating in a contest must register. Registration forms are available at the farmers market information booth and online. Registration the day of the show is permitted but the dog and owner must be present and registered by 11 a.m. the registration fee is $10 per contest category for each dog entered. Anyone interested in the Art at the Market program, Mutts and pups show, and market volunteer opportunities should contact farmersmarket@highspringsmainstreet.com. s

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>> TRAVEL

Venture Out By Kate heLLer

This Gainesville group chooses living over loafing ine and food tasting, horseback riding and sliding down the longest zipline in America are just a portion of the Adventure Club agenda. the events show up on the club’s Web site along with the status of each member planning to attend. in January the group went skiing in the Rocky Mountains at steamboat springs, Colo., and another group went indoor skydiving at skyventure orlando. the gainesville-based club hosts 18-20 events a month. singles and couples, young and old form the Adventure Club, and the events give them something to look forward to, something to clutter their previously empty calendars. Members stress that the group was not created for singles to meet other singles, for that they could visit online dating services. the Adventure Club is a social club that focuses on activities, outdoor or otherwise, to occupy gainesville residents who are looking for

28 | Spring 2010

excitement and camaraderie. Jean tokarz, a longtime member and leader for the Adventure Club, discovered the group after her boss suggested that she attend a “Meet and Greet” in 2004. the 33-yearold soon joined after she noticed the variety of people involved. shortly after becoming a member, tokarz went skydiving for the first time. Aided by her natural love of outdoor activities, tokarz was thrilled by the experience. she now has over 300 personal jumps. After a few years of attending activities, tokarz decided to administer a few events herself and become a leader. leaders post ideas on the Web site and wait for responses. tokarz takes groups to skydive palatka for her favorite activity, but she also runs smaller events such as wine and food tasting. each event is an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. “i met a great variety of people,” tokarz said. “some of my best friends have come out of this program.” nine years ago, Jere steele

traveled to providence Canyon state park or “georgia’s little grand Canyon” for a hike with the club. steele was immediately attracted to the group’s “off the couch” philosophy. steele, 64, got more involved and became a leader, posting events from hot air ballooning to skydiving. he bought the club from its previous owner two years ago and since then has stressed the

differences between his group and other meet-up sites. the Adventure Club uses its Web site to get an actual headcount for each event. headcounts are particularly helpful when ordering prepaid tickets. Requiring online commitment organizes the club in a way that other meet-up sites do not, steele said. Constraints often caused by demographic differences are also

avoided. Ages range from 28 to 76 years old. “Age doesn’t matter,” steele said. “the club doesn’t break off into other cliques.” When a group went whitewater rafting last summer, two participants were over 60, but everyone still shared cabins and rafted together. similar interests pushed age off the table. the Adventure Club requires

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a monthly fee of $14.95, which is used for operating expenses and supplies. individual events could also have fees that depend on the nature of the trip. For example, a bicycling excursion in France and an all-girls cruise required the participants to pay for everything themselves, but hikes around town are free. steele hosted the annual teddy bear continued on next page

Spring 2010 | 29

PhotoS ProViDeD courteSy of the aDVenture cLuB

LEFT: Floating in a hot-air balloon is just one example of the many activities enjoyed by members of the Adventure club. Members drive to Davie, FL to Wallaby ranch once a year for ballooning and hang gliding the second weekend in november, said club member Sharon Julien. PrEVIOuS PAGE: Members of the Adventure club white-water rafting in the colorado river last summer.

Christmas party on Dec. 5. the party is one of the community events held by the club every year. participants were required to bring their favorite hors d’oeuvre and a teddy bear to be donated to toys for tots or the Ronald McDonald house. this year, about 100 people attended the party. Despite being located in a predominately college-aged town, the average age in the group is 44, said steele, who has a degree from the university of Florida. the club has about 105 members, but the number is constantly changing as the club accepts new memberships.

30 | Spring 2010

the solidity of the group relies on the respect of each member’s individual ability to partake in the activities. the group is also used as a support system. if members need help, there are plenty of people to step up with solutions. When Jess elliott needed to build an extension on a chicken coop, she posted an event on the club Web site and was soon aided by fellow members. As a recently divorced 40-yearold, elliott was looking for events to fill the empty space on her calendar, but she was also a self-labeled “commitment-phobe.”

“in the past, i have joined clubs or taken classes, and sooner or later i resented the obligation to show up every tuesday,” she said. the Adventure Club presented elliott with the option to choose her own schedule. After becoming a leader, elliott, now 44, introduced the club to an event called “photo road rally.” the road rally was a photo scavenger hunt where participants were teamed-up and given a course, clues, trinkets to collect, as well as places to take pictures. Cops and shopping carts were used for photo settings. elliott also hosted a halloween party complete with a zombie walk, motion-activated ghosts and a graveyard with a fog machine. Attendance etiquette is extremely important, as it makes preparation easy for leaders. An event sign-up sheet is located on the Web site, and members have a yes-or-no status for each posted event. hosts have a good idea of the turnout, and members are true to their word. the turnout is usually 92 - 100 percent of the Rsvp list, elliott said. this way, groups are not stuck waiting for people who never show up, no one is left behind and leftovers are rarely a problem. the Adventure Club is always accepting new members who are eager to get off the couch and into a world packed with opportunity. s

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>> hISTORIC SITE

Thomas Centennial The Historic Thomas Center Celebrates its 100th Anniversary 32 | Spring 2010

PhotoS By aLBert iSaac

ABOVE: Matt Marwick, of Precision Floorcrafters, Inc, at work sanding the new flooring at the Thomas center in December 2008. His company, based in Summerfield, Fla., recovers antique heart pine and heart cypress logs from river bottoms and derelict structures to produce hardwood flooring. rIGHT: The newly finished flooring at the Thomas center, courtesy of the Wild Spaces & Public Places half-cent sales tax.

By MoLLy LarMie ie burton tells the history of gainesville’s thomas Center like she is talking about an old friend: her voice gains speed and thickens with rhythm and passion. “stop me when you think you have got enough,” she laughs, as if she could go on recounting the tale forever. burton, impromptu historian and interpretive coordinator for the thomas Center Associates, a nonprofit group that supports beautification projects at the center, has told this story often. it is a survival story, steeped in local history, stretching back 100 years. it begins like this: Major William Reuben thomas, his wife Kathryn, and their five children lived in a resplendent family home on northeast sixth Avenue in gainesville. they called it sunkist villa. Completed in 1910, the villa, with its wide porches lined with big, comfy rockers, provided the foundation

for thomas’ remarkable civic career. he served as an alderman, a mayor and a senator, and organized the committee that established the university of Florida in gainesville. the major thought of himself as the host, burton said. he owned several hunting dogs, but he was content to lend them out to his friends or anyone who asked. he was such a natural host, in fact, that in the late 1920s, he transformed his family villa into a hotel. the home was redecorated in the Mediterranean revival style with italian Renaissance motifs, and a three-story wing with 94 rooms was added to board the guests. the family kitchen was enlarged and the surrounding porches enclosed to form a kitchen big enough to feed a hungry horde. A screened-in atrium rising two stories was covered with a large tarp and, eventually, with glass. the original framework survives today in the roof of the thomas Center spanish Court, through which natural light continued on next page

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Spring 2010 | 33

illuminates meetings, small concerts and weddings. the hotel thomas opened Jan. 10, 1928, an event marked by the appearance of the governor. northerners flocked to the resort in the swampy south, often for extended stays. guests socialized in the three large dining rooms and four lounges or walked together outside in the landscaped grounds and gardens. hotel thomas became the social center for Jazz Age gainesville locals, who held parties amid the structural splendor and signature thomas hospitality. “it was the place to go for a dinner out,” burton said. After forty years of playing host, the thomas family sold the hotel to new owners, who figured the aging buildings would be torn down. in 1968, they leased the facility to santa Fe Junior College to use while buildings for the new college were erected. santa Fe executives retained the lease for seven years, but they did not call for repairs or renovations. they, too, thought the buildings would be torn down. in 1972, a rezoning request threatened to raze the hotel for good. Residents who had grown up in the embrace of local history fought the request, and the old thomas house was listed on the national Registry of historic places in 1973. the City of gainesville purchased the buildings in 1974 and rechristened them the thomas Center for the Arts. A social, civic and cultural landmark was rescued

from demolition. the next task was to rescue the buildings from disrepair. the city funded major renovations to stabilize and remodel the structures according to modern building codes. the thomas Center was restored to its original 1920s glory.

The City of Gainesville purchased the buildings in 1974 and rechristened them the Thomas Center for the Arts. the City of gainesville Department of parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will recapture that glory on saturday, Feb. 13 with a 1920s-themed costume gala to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the thomas Center. From 8-11 p.m., the second annual “Roaring 20s” beaux-Arts ball will fill the thomas Center spanish Court with jazz music performed by the band 23 skiddoo, under the direction of area musician bill hutchinson. Costumed professional dancers from Mostly swing gainesville have arranged three choreographed dances for the event and will help guests learn the steps.

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tickets cost $85 at the door and $75 when purchased a week or more in advance. All proceeds from the ball will fund the new theater for young Audiences, said David ballard, the artistic director of the program. ballard, who has toured the country as a professional entertainer and now works as an events coordinator for the city, said the troupe will perform family-friendly plays saturday mornings and thursday evenings in the thomas Center grace and sidney Knight garden theater. today, thomas Center building A houses two art galleries: the Main gallery in the old kitchen and the balcony Mezzanine gallery, burton said. several historical rooms are railed off, including the parlor, lounge and Maj. thomas’ upstairs bedroom. A sunken hallway leading from the kitchen that served as a room service passage between the buildings remains. thomas Center building b houses an office for the city. A new round of repairs, funded by the Wild spaces & public places half-cent sales tax, has gripped the center in recent weeks. According to the Wild spaces & public places Web site, the fund allocated $188,000 to the thomas Center, of which about $162,000 (86 percent) has been paid out. the exterior and interior of the buildings have a fresh coat of paint, said erica Chatman, facilities coordinator for the thomas Center. the first floor has all new carpeting, and the spanish Court boasts new

acoustic tiles and track lighting for concerts. new tile flooring mimics the original design. After termites damaged the floor of a large room containing antique furniture and gainesville historical displays, Matt Marwick of precision Floorcrafters, inc, got the call. precision Floorcrafters, a flooring company based in summerfield, Fla., refloored the 900-square-foot area with wood from goodwin heart pine Co. of Micanopy, Fla. the company recovers antique heart pine and heart cypress logs from river bottoms and derelict structures to produce hardwood flooring. Dismantled old buildings, milled into flooring planks, provided wood for the thomas Center historical room and it was installed and finished in two weeks at a cost of about $15,000, Marwick said. no pictures of the original thomas house interior survive, so Marwick and thomas Center Associates relied on old drawings and photographs of the thomas hotel and basic styles from the 1920s to guide the renovations. For Rie burton, there is no time like the present for preserving the past. “the thomas Center has been a part of gainesville history for forever,” she said. “i think it will still be in the picture many years from now. “i am sure Major thomas would be proud.” s For more information on the Thomas Center’s 100th Anniversary festivities, contact David Ballard at 352-393-8746.

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Spring 2010 | 35

COLUMN >> ALBERT ISAAC

different note Rat brains flying fighter jets? Singing mice? And now dinochickens? What’s the world coming to?

cientists continue to make breath-taking discoveries that could very well take our breaths away permanently. in light of these new developments, i think it prudent to inform my readers of some recent outrageous science-fiction-turned-science-fact scenarios. let’s start with rat brains and computer chips. i thought i was forward thinking and highly imaginative when i wrote (some years ago) about flying vehicles piloted by man-made brains, hybrids of computer circuitry and human neurons. but now engineers at the university of Florida have taken this aspect of my science fiction novel another step closer to science fact. in a nutshell, (actually a petri dish) scientists have grown a brain and taught it to fly a fighter jet. no lie. they took some rat neurons, 25,000 of them to be precise, and stuck them in a dish atop some goldplated electrodes. these cells made connections and eventually interfaced with a F-22 flight simulator. over a period of time, the neurons had figured out how to fly — even in hurricane-force winds. in other unrelated news, scientists (you gotta watch those guys!) have figured out how to turn birds into dinosaurs. My first question is: Why? My second question is: Aren’t birds fine the way they are? Alfred hitchcock notwithstanding, the worst we can expect

from birds these days are fecal precipitations. seagulls are particularly adept at dropping disgusting defications upon unsuspecting beachcombers. Just ask our daughter. she was feeding them bread and they rewarded her with a watery dung bomb. We laughed. she cried. Anyway, i have long maintained that dinosaurs did not so much become extinct but instead turned into birds. they have similar skeletons. And a bird’s legs, with their scales and three toes and claws, look remarkably like some dinosaur appendages i’ve seen (on television). so it is not a stretch of the imagination to see that birds evolved from dinosaurs. it’s actually more believable than rat brains flying airplanes. scientists have taken this theory one step further. they have discovered hidden within chicken DnA the same string of genetic code that when switched off can turn a chicken into a dinosaur. Again, no lie. i saw it on tv. the chickens still have, wired into their DnA, the code to create a new (or perhaps very old) critter. Apparently during gestation a switch is thrown that prevents certain features — such as teeth — from forming. scientists learned this by studying chicken eggs as they matured. in the early stages of development, the bird embryos had long dinosaur-like tailbones. so the scientists put some kind of secret sauce into the egg that threw the switch and voila! the embryonic chicken grew teeth like a crocodile (which, after all, is just another dinosaur). Fortunately, the croco-chick was not alive at the time, otherwise i’d hate to think what might be scampering about that farmyard. Croc-a-doodle-do. i remember some particularly aggressive roosters on Dad’s farm that went after my daughter some years ago (“it’s scary Daddy, it looked like a lion!”). i shudder to imagine what such a chicken might do

Scientists hypothesize that within the next 50 years dinosaurs could again be walking the earth, or flying in the air.

36 | Spring 2010

with a crocodilian mouth. scientists hypothesize that within the next 50 years dinosaurs could again be walking the earth, or flying in the air, perhaps with F-22s piloted by the rat brains. guess we won’t know until the little dinos grow up and snatch our young from the backyard like they did back in prehistory. yes, everyone knows men and women were around during the time of the dinosaurs. i’ve seen it in tv. i can well remember Raquel Welch scampering away from dinosaurs in the classic film “one Million years bC.” Cavewomen never looked so good. but i digress. that was fake, this is science! And on a different note: did you know that mice can sing? scientists have discovered that mice are the songbirds of the rodent kingdom, serenading potential mates with distinct syllables and recurring themes, “like the melodic hook in a catchy tune,” said timothy holy of Washington university. sure, the frequencies are too high for human hearing, but when scientists dropped the tunes a few octaves, they discovered, lo and behold, songmice. M - i - C -...see you in the petri dish! K - e - y -...Why? because we’re lab rats! Well, i think you know the rest. s

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Remember the delicious pizza at New York Pizza Plus? It’s still there at Mamma Mia’s, formerly New York Pizza Plus. New name, same great taste. Featuring real New York Pizza cooked to perfection in gas burning, stone ovens, Mamma Mia’s pizza uses only the freshest ingredients. Available for pick or delivery, everything is prepared fresh and made to order. Mamma Mia’s strives to deliver the best service and the highest quality Italian food in Gainesville. They invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy True New York pizza and a wide variety of gourmet pizzas, homemade salads, pasta, and desserts from tiramisu, cream puffs, cannoli and NewYork style cheese cake.

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their true New York pizza style and large variety of gourmet pizza, homemade salads, pasta, and desserts including tiramisu, cream puffs, cannoli and NewYork style cheese cake. Try their pizza buffet and enjoy an enormous selection of pizza, salads, garlic bread and more, all for only $7.99. Perfect for the entire family, kids 10 and under, eat free each Sunday. With a second location soon to open in Jonesville, make Mamma Mia’s pizza your only choice for real New York Pizza.

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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

Home Sweet Home What does that really mean? As a builder I say it’s a home with a steady or increasing value, its beauty is being maintained and a home with a safe living environment. Each of these is not exclusive and has to meet the needs of you, the homeowner. I like to take the approach of considering the total annual cost of home ownership when making decisions on how to maintain your home. These costs include the mortgage and

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insurance, the utility bill, the maintenance of the homes structure/ systems and adapting the home to meet the changing needs of the owner. As our utility bills skyrocket we will be faced with how to reduce our energy needs. According to the Florida Solar Energy Center, “the present value

of the operating costs decline as the energy efficiency of the property is increased”. The first component to target is your home’s envelope (walls, attic, windows and doors). Then improve the energy efficiency of systems, such as heating, cooling, lighting and appliances.

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Photo by Albert IsAAc

The Wagstaff family - Dallas, Jill, Tobin Jr., Jolene, Tobin and Rudy - pose in front of their new home, compliments of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,â&#x20AC;? Ark Remodeling and Construction, and thousands of volunteers.

42 | Spring 2010

>> Community

Move That Bus! Gainesville Family Gets an Extreme Home Makeover by Albert IsAAc obin and Jill Wagstaff did not expect to get a new home. After all, those kinds of things just do not happen to them. But on Dec. 7, a scream from the megaphone by celebrity designer Ty Pennington announced that it did, indeed, happen to this family of six. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” had come to Gainesville to build a new home for the Wagstaff family. “I really wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared for this,” Jill said, during a recent interview in their new, 3,500-square-foot home. “I was expecting to get the phone call saying that we weren’t chosen. Then, when we heard the yelling outside, we went outside and it was still surreal, like having a dream.” “We were definitely surprised,” Tobin said. “Our personal history is that things don’t come to us easily, but this was handed to us. A lot of the blessings we have in life are circled around relationships, and that’s definitely what we value more than anything else. So having such a material blessing is really out of our scope of possibility when we are thinking about all the good things that could happen to us in this life.” The saga began when Ginger Schantz — a friend of

the Wagstaffs and student of their non-profit music school — saw an ad in the newspaper announcing Extreme Makeover was looking for deserved families. She immediately thought of the Wagstaffs. “This is just an opportunity that could not be missed,” Schantz said, taking a break from her drum practice in the Wagstaff’s new home. “So, I wrote the letter. It was going to be an easy letter to write because they are so active in the community. People don’t know that, and I don’t think the press has done a really good job in covering that aspect of it. They do a lot of service for the community.” Schantz said Tobin, through the school, does a lot of things in town with his students; he has been involved in camps for children, leads the soccer drum line with the university and they always participate in the homecoming parade. “Besides being very active in their church,” Schanzt said, “Jill is very active, not just in the studio but on several fronts.” Jill is former president of the Gainesville Junior Woman’s’ Club and has remained involved for years, serving in a variety continued on next page

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2010 | 43

deMolIsh house

Press conference

fAMIly sent on VAcAtIon

MusIc VIdeo wIth ty Ty Pennington and company take the stage to make a music video as the Wagstaff’s house is demolished. The family was shown the video while visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

of capacities, Schantz said. She is active in the Metcalf PTA, and she organized an extreme makeover at the school. “She volunteers with Big Brothers and Big Sisters — she’s nine years into that now — with four kids and a job and managing her household,” she said. “And in addition to that she’s an advisor to her former sorority still. Her laundry list is very long.” Schantz had “two moments of inspiration” that led to her nominating the family. The first when she had asked Tobin if he knew anyone who could assemble some new furniture for her and her husband, Keith. Tobin, needing money for an electrical repair, offered to do the work. “I was very hesitant,” Schantz said, “because, as friends, I wanted them to come over and have a meal and hang out and I didn’t want them to do anything in the home for me. I wanted them to spend the weekend with their kids, not building something for my kids.”

44 | Spring 2010

The second inspiration arose during dinner conversation at Satchel’s Pizza several months ago. “Tobin had mentioned that they were wanting to draw architectural plans for their existing home, even though it was a pipe dream,” Schantz said. “But they wanted to make repairs and start thinking about a house they are going spend forever in. And that stuck in my mind.” Schantz wrote the letter to ABC nominating the Wagstaff family and the rest is history. Graduates of the University of Florida, Jill and Tobin met while members of the Gator Marching Band. They got married and within the first year started Studio Percussion. Tobin graduated with a bachelor’s in music with a minor in family youth and community sciences. Jill majored in history and minored in dance. In late 2004, they incorporated as a non-profit. In the beginning, the studio exclusively taught percussion, but their vision for the school was far broader.

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“We do everything,” Tobin said. “If there’s something we are not doing, we are open to making it part of the business.” They offer instruction for piano, guitar, bass and vocal. Jill teaches dance, and they offer aerial dance instruction on a stationary trapeze. What began as a business from their home with a few hundred dollars on a credit card has grown into a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities in the arts to all people, regardless of age, disability or financial limitations. On a weekly basis, the studio sees 100 to 200 students. “And we go into schools and do things,” Tobin said. “We do field trips and community outreach.” The couple also hosts a monthly open house for students to meet, eat and perform, for which their new home is perfectly suited. Soon after the initial shock of hearing Ty Pennington’s megaphone, the couple and their four children, T.J. (7), Rudy (6), Dallas (5) and Jolene (4), found themselves standing in the street in front of

their house facing a throng of reporters. Father and sons sported Mohawks (a long-standing tradition for the boys) and all tried to contain their excitement as they fielded questions from the media. Then they were whisked away for a whirlwind week of rock ‘n’ roll while Arc Construction (a local, family-owned business) and thousands of volunteers went to work, tearing down their old home and building a new one — in less than one week. The family had no idea what ABC had in mind for them when they were flown to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Pennington told them there would be a few stops along the way. “We didn’t have any concept of what was about to happen,” Tobin said. “They took us out of the bus and we saw a rolling garage door. The door swings up and Gene Simmons comes out. KISS came out fully dressed in all their gear.” The family spent the day with the legendary rockers and learned that KISS, after seeing their nomination tape, wanted to help out. continued on page 46

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o continued from page 44 “They understood our story and wanted to show us their support,” Tobin said. The family was invited to a KISS concert and went backstage after the show, but before the concert they were asked to get onstage with the band. “I played rock ‘n’ roll drums with KISS,” Tobin said with a wide smile. “That was something I won’t ever forget. It was pretty awesome.” Their next surprise was a trip to a Tulsa area middle school with an underprivileged music program, and a band director who really cared about his students, Tobin said. KISS and the Wagstaff family, through the “Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation,” presented the school with a $100,000 grant. The following day the students performed their holiday concert with new instruments. “That definitely meant a lot to us,” Tobin said. “It was a perfect vacation for us. We like to get out and help people.” The family returned to Gainesville on Dec.14, arriving by limousine. Hundreds of onlookers lined the streets in anticipation of their return. With cameras running Pennington and the crowd screamed, “Move that bus!” revealing the new family home. “It’s the coolest house I’ve ever seen,” Jill said. “It feels

homey, and they did a great job building and decorating to our style, very much the things I would have done. It’s still very strange that this is my house. It seems so strange.” For the future, the couple would like to see their school continue to prosper. Studio Percussion has outgrown the building they rent in Gainesville and the couple hopes to find a grant writer and hold fundraisers to expand their services. “Funding for arts is being cut all over the place,” Tobin said. “I think as that continues you’ll see more organizations like us pop up. This is something you can’t really find anywhere else in the country. For us, we really need to get ourselves our own building.” “Now a lot of stress is off of us, and we can focus on the studio,” Jill said. “We have the demand and the need for services we can’t provide because the room is too small.” “What’s nice about this TV show is, all over the nation, the communities that have this experience are seeing people being inspired and most and realize they can make a difference. We are not the important thing,” Tobin emphasized. “What we are doing for the community is the important thing — how many more people can we serve.” s

www.VisitOurTowns.com

Spring 2010 | 47

>> Community

Ripple Effect Students and families make treats for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” volunteers by sArAh hsu very little bit counts. Especially when there are hundreds of people to feed. Back in December, the Emmy award-winning ABC show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” came to Gainesville to change the Wagstaff family’s life forever, but it took many, many volunteers to make this possible. A couple such volunteers were Greg Jasinski and his wife, Vickey, who in turn got others to volunteer. When Elise Whann — one of five

48 | Spring 2010

food coordinators for the event — asked them to help feed the volunteers at the “Extreme Makeover” build site, she did not expect the outpour that would result. Greg, the managing partner of Texas Roadhouse in Gainesville, asked some of the restaurant staff to volunteer to prepare and serve three days worth of meals for those working at the build site in northeast Gainesville. They borrowed a U-Haul truck to bring one main meal and two smaller meals the

following days for each of the workers. Greg said the volunteers were excited when Texas Roadhouse employees and their mascot showed up to serve them a “real continued on page 50 meal” that

Photo by VIcKey JAsInsKI

Greg Jasinski (bottom right) and Texas Roadhouse staff take a moment to pose for a picture with the Texas Roadhouse mascot before serving the food they brought from the restaurant.

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o continued from page 48 included bread, steak kabobs and mashed potatoes. Vickey said the main meal was the first time all the volunteers had stopped working to eat a meal together. “They were just so grateful,” she said. “These volunteers, who had spent two shifts working were thanking us for bringing them food.” Vickey said Whann was also in charge of getting all the snacks together for the volunteers. They needed someone to provide 900 snacks on Saturday and another 900 snacks on Sunday. She asked if Vickey could help. Vickey then contacted Darlene Coogan at the Queen of Peace Catholic Academy and Sherry Houston at St. Francis Catholic High School (where Vickey’s youngest son is a freshman) and asked for some help to make the snacks. Coogan sent an e-mail explaining what was needed, which included Vickey’s phone number so people could reach her if they were interested. Houston contacted the students’ parents at St. Francis and also those at Saint Patrick Interparish School to help as well. Sure enough, people started calling in, asking what they could do. “They would say ‘listen, how many do you need? I can make two dozen, four dozen, etc.’ It was just unbelievable, their response,” Vickey said. All the little contributions added up quickly. “It was like the ripple effect,” Vickey said. She thought there would be around 300 to 500 snacks, but no. In the end, the volunteers — who were mostly families of the students at the schools, but also included a couple of churches — provided 3,000 snacks total. “They counted them,” Vickey said. The snacks included all kinds of baked goods, everything from chocolate-covered pretzels to lemon bars to Christmas tree-shaped sugar cookies. “There were all the different kinds of cookies and brownies too,” Vickey said. “It was everything.” In addition, each snack was individually wrapped and labeled with all the ingredients, in case someone had a peanut allergy, Vickey said. If volunteers did not have time to wrap the baked goods, Coogan said they even had volunteers to individually wrap the goods that came in. “Our offices smelled of sweet sugar,” Coogan said. The donated baked goods piled up. Vickey picked them up from Coogan at Queen of Peace, and Houston, of St. Francis, dropped the goods off at Vickey’s house. Vickey then took all the snacks to the build site. “The volunteers could tell the people put love into the snacks,” Vickey said. Vickey said everyone was just so nice and giving. Some people even called to thank her for letting them help, and she said, “No — thank you, because otherwise I would have been standing in front of the oven all day.” Vickey said what surprised her the most was that it was Christmastime, and all these families who could

have spent their time doing other things, holidayAdditionally, Houston said the families and students related or otherwise, instead volunteered to bake from St. Francis were very willing to support the school goods for people they did not know, who in turn were and the Extreme Makeover volunteers. They made helping a family they homemade baked did not know. goods “out of the “Even though it goodness and kindwasn’t something ness of their hearts,” big, in some small she said. part they helped “I was happy with out, and that’s what the outpouring from counted,” Vickey said. the families at the “Everyone’s part was school,” Houston big in the long run.” said. “We have Coogan said families who are that the families truly mission-driven and children also and very devoted to wrote notes on the giving back.” snacks, thanking the Vickey said there Photo by VIcKey JAsInsKI volunteers for what were many extra they were doing for baked goods, and Darlene Coogan, left, stands with Queen of Peace Catholic the community. they did not want Academy principal Sister Nancy Elder in front of the baked goods “The response we the food to go to they collected from the families and students at the school for the got from the families waste, so they took “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” volunteers. and students [at the excess snacks to Queen of Peace] was the homeless at the wonderful,” Coogan said. “I loved seeing the kids come St. Francis House. in with their cookies, proud of their contribution. We “They were all excited,” Vickey said. “It was just have an amazing community at the school here.” Christmastime, and they were getting goodies.” s

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COLUMN >> Crystal Henry

Naked Salsa I love a good greasy cheeseburger. One cooked fresh on a griddle, so the meat is nice and juicy, and the bun is soft.

good sign is when they are served wrapped in wax paper, and the grease soaks through the paper sack. When I imagine that melted cheese hugging the savory burger to the bun, my saliva glands explode and I think, “Mmm, I could eat that every day.” The third grader in me says, “If you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?” Aside from the fact that I am already happily married and that I think it is illegal in most states, that silly little rhetoric brings up an interesting point: Being married is like buying the restaurant that serves your favorite meal. When Cary and I were dating, it was just fun. We laughed all the time, ogled each other’s physiques and went on spontaneous camping trips to the beach whenever the mood struck. It was a blast, and I thought, “I want to spend every second of every day with this guy.” I wanted that cheeseburger for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it takes more than inside jokes, camping trips and a cute butt to make a relationship last. Eventually cheeseburgers three times a day will give you a little heartburn. So we started having little spats here and there. I was grouchy after work, or he wanted to watch baseball when “The Notebook” was on. But it was nothing a night out and a little extra cuddling wouldn’t fix. So we took a couple Tums now and then, and it was fine. I still wanted that cheeseburger. And my milkshake

must not have been too bad either because before I knew it he was down on one knee asking me to buy the restaurant. In August 2004, I sold off my freedom for a down payment on Cary’s Burger Palace. But as any good business owner knows, you have to put in a lot of face time if you want your restaurant to succeed. After all, more than 50 percent of new businesses fail in the first year, and only a little less than 50 percent of marriages fail over time. So it was a cheeseburger life, morning, noon and night. But it was good because it was new and exciting. It was the beginning of our adventure together. But as everyone also knows, the first year is the hardest. And it was. There was a lot about the restaurant business I had to adjust to. The kitchen had a few fires, there were issues with the dishwasher, and the books were a little harder to manage than I’d anticipated. But we made it through, and despite the setbacks, we profited. A few years went by and my life was full of that yummy cheesy goodness. There was Meaty Monday through Sizzlin’ Sunday of burger after burger after burger. I woke up to cheeseburgers in the morning, I had them for lunch, and I kissed their buns each night before bed. Naturally I put on a few pounds, and he went from being a Quarter Pounder to a Big Mac, but we were happy. However, when you have the same thing day after day after day it starts to get a little well ... bland.

In the quiet of the early hours, as I look at my little small fry curled up next to that cheeseburger, I know that all the work I do is worth it. Just like that restaurant owner, I know I have to put in a full day if I want to succeed.

52 | Spring 2010

Now don’t get me wrong, I still loved cheeseburgers. But it was time to spice it up. So we introduced some date night jalapenos, pepper jack kisses and some hickory smoked bacon vacations. It was a jalapeno, bacon cheeseburger paradise. My burger buddy and I have been through a lot over the past five years. Sometimes the meat has a little gristle, or the busboy forgets to take out the trash. But we’re still open for business. And now that we have our small fry, I feel like business is booming. She adds a whole new perspective on my life and makes me realize why I bought the Burger Palace to begin with. Sure she adds to the workload. I had to switch from being open until 10 p.m. to being a 24-hour drive-thru. But that 4 a.m. feeding proves to be a good time to catch up on my writing. And in the quiet of the early hours, as I look at my little small fry curled up next to that cheeseburger, I know that all the work I do is worth it. Just like that restaurant owner, I know I have to put in a full day if I want to succeed. The second you stop working at it, you might as well board up the windows. You can’t coast through, and you can’t let someone else do all the work. It’s hard, and at times it gets downright dirty. But I am happy to report that despite the mountain of dishes, heartburn and occasional cranky customer, at the end of the day I can just curl up with my cheeseburger and say, “I love my job.” s

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>> enVironment

Once For Cooking French Fries, Now...

New Fuel Oak Hall Student Begins Biodiesel Program At School by chrIs wIlson aybe those fast food french fries are not so bad for people after all. One Oak Hall School student found that even if those fries do not benefit one’s health, the oil in which the potatoes are fried could fuel vehicles. Oak Hall senior Erich Christian helped the school create a new biodiesel shed, where a group of students and science teachers manufacture the fuel. The school held an official ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the Oak Hall Biodiesel Project on Dec. 1, 2009. Christian said he was inspired to begin a recycling program after visiting The Island School on Eleuthera, Bahamas, which is an energy-efficient facility. “They had a biodiesel plant at The Island School, and I asked the islander who spearheaded that project about how it got started,” Christian said. “I thought it was definitely something we could do here.” Christian had to go through some governmental red tape to get the project off the ground. He credits Alachua County Environmental Protection Director

54 | Spring 2010

Photo by chrIs wIlson

Oak Hall School senior Erich Christian said he was inspired to create a biodiesel program after visiting The Island School, an energy-efficient school in the Bahamas.

Chris Bird with guiding him through the process. Christian said it required a lot of one-on-one meetings and telephone conversations, but he did not have to make presentations at government meetings. “We had to deal with the zoning office and the fire marshal and a number of other issues,” Christian said. “But, we finally got everything continued on page 56

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o continued from page 54 passed, and we were good to go.” Christian also took the idea to the biodiesel project’s faculty adviser and Oak Hall science teacher Mike Winslow. He said Winslow loved his plan. “The person at The Island School taught me about the whole process and how to analyze things,” Christian said. “I researched more about it online. And we’ve worked as a group to learn the process. It’s actually really simple.” The school has been getting donations of used vegetable oil from area restaurants. The process of turning vegetable oil into biodiesel varies in terms of how long it takes, Winslow said. “The dirtier the oil, the longer it takes,” he said. “When the beginning process is finished, it separates into two layers. The top layer is crude biodiesel and the bottom is glycerin, which we drain right off. Now, we have to deal with the raw biodiesel, and what we do is wash it with water. Spray water on it, and the water goes right through it. We test it as we go to make sure it turns out clean.” The end result is much better for use in vehicles than traditional diesel fuel or gasoline. Winslow said it can also lead to a healthier environment. “The CO2 that’s given off is at least 50 percent less than other fuel,” Winslow said. “It’s better for the engine. The engine will run continued on page 58

Photo by chrIs wIlson

Oak Hall School headmaster Richard Gehman addresses students, parents and guests at the ribbon cutting on the school’s biodiesel shed.

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o continued from page 56 quieter and smoother.” Winslow said the only byproduct produced from biodiesel is glycerin, and Oak Hall will be turning all of that substance over to the University of Florida for research. Florida Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Mike Sole said biodiesel is better for the environment in other ways as well. “Other diesel and petroleum products often have sulfur and other pollutants,” Sole said. “You don’t have some of those hydrocarbon pollutants associated with the biodiesel.” Bird said biodiesel also has positive effects on the local environment. “One issue with waste grease at restaurants is that it’s one of the leading causes of sewage spills if it’s not managed properly,” Bird said. “Gainesville Regional Utilities has done work to show that cooking grease, and people pouring grease down the drain, has been a leading cause of sewage spills. There’s a lot of other environmental benefits, aside from reducing carbon footprints and dependency on foreign oil.”

What’s next For oak Hall Biodiesel? Currently, the fuel produced by the Oak Hall Biodiesel project is used in the school’s lawn mowers, tractors and landscaping equipment. However, the dream of Oak Hall students and staff is to take the fuel to another level. “We’d like to use it to run our school buses,” Winslow said. “But, getting this fuel out on the road is a whole different process. There’s still a lot of things we must do to take it out on the taxpayers’ roads.” Winslow said there will also be a class offered at Oak Hall pertaining to the biodiesel project and that many of the students are enthused. “It takes time to teach this,” he said. “You teach them at the bench level in the laboratory. Then, you take them out here [to the Biodiesel shed], because this gets involved. I have to supervise one step of the process that has to be under very controlled conditions.” Bird said he is pleased with the direction Oak Hall students are headed. “This is not business as usual, in terms of the way we consume energy,” Bird said. “I think it’s exciting. This is a part of becoming more energy independent and every time there is a project like this, it’s a step toward being successful. It’s especially encouraging to see young people take the lead, because they are the future, and they’ll be dealing with more [environmental issues] in their lifetime.” Bird said he is pleased that Oak Hall showed the leadership to produce biodiesel. He said it should help show other businesses or organizations that they can also use these ideas. For more information, visit www.oakhall.org or call 352-332-3609. s

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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

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is portfolio of landscape and wildlife photography ranges from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, and for more than 25 years John Moran has been giving us pictures that take our breath away. SunState Federal Credit Union is proud to announce their recent acquisition of a “Journal of Light,” a major traveling exhibit of the Florida Museum of Natural History. To be displayed throughout SunState’s Main office and Jonesville branch, these

pictures give a unique perspective to the natural and varied beauty that our state has to offer. “Journal of Light was an exhibit that we put together with John in 2005 and enjoyed here at the Museum for nearly eight months,” said Darcie MacMahon, exhibits director for the Museum of Natural History. “It then traveled to six venues around Florida, including the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee, the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, the Collier

County Museum in Naples, the Beaches Museum and History Center in Jacksonville Beach, Museum of Florida Art and Culture in Avon Park and Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.” Now that the statewide tour has come to a conclusion, SunState Federal Credit Union stepped in to give the exhibit a permanent home in our community. “We’re very excited to have this unique opportunity,” said Robert Hart, vice president of marketing with SunState. “John’s collection offers a rare insight to the beauty and majesty of our natural

VISIT SUNSTATE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ONLINE OR AT ANY OF THEIR LOCATIONS TO FIND OUT HOW YOU 60 | Spring 2010

surroundings, and we’re proud to be able to house such an impressive collection. We invite anyone interested in these photographs to stop by for a visit.” As a University of Florida graduate, Moran enjoyed a 23-year career as a photographer, writer and editor for The Gainesville Sun. Moran left the world of daily journalism in 2003 to concentrate fulltime on photographing the best of Florida’s varied natural beauty. Since that time, Moran’s photography has appeared in numerous books and magazines including National Geographic, Life, Time, Newsweek, Smithsonian, The New York Times Magazine and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. “Now at the end of its state-wide tour, I am delighted that the exhibit will have new life as a long-term installation in our own community,” MacMahon said. “John’s work is such a beautiful celebration of natural Florida. My hope for the exhibit is that it inspires people from all walks of life to appreciate and help conserve our natural wonders.”

For more than 50 years, SunState has always believed in running a business that focuses on its members, and the addition of this exhibit provides our community a permanent home from one of Florida’s most widely recognized photographers. SunState believes that delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction is more than just a cliché, more than something you print on a business card. It’s a dedication and a commitment that is the heart and soul of their institution. As a member-focused credit union, SunState strives to deliver on its promise to be more than just a great financial institution, but a collection of individuals that care. SunState continues to build and offer innovative products and new technologies to meet the ever-changing needs of its membership. A recent example is the new “Nickel Back” promotion. The first in our area to offer this unique opportunity, SunState will pay you a nickel for every signature debit card transaction you make. Deposited nightly, directly into your SunState Federal Credit Union checking account, there is no need to accumulate points, fill out forms or hassle with customer service. Just use your debit card and earn free money! If you haven’t already made the switch to SunState, why not join a team that will help build your personal financial future? Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy Counties. Built for times like these, built for you!

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Recognition Gainesville has been identified as a “Tree City USA” for more than 25 years by sArAh A. henderson bout 50 percent of land within Gainesville’s city limits is covered with trees. But that figure is not the only thing that makes Gainesville’s urban forest noteworthy, said City Arborist Meg Niederhofer. “Gainesville trees aren’t necessarily unique trees, but the people here are — they really care about the trees,” Niederhofer said. “How many other places do people care about trees like they do here?” With community support, concern and appreciation for the city’s trees, Gainesville has garnered the title of a Tree City USA every year since 1983, said Niederhofer. More than 3,000 cities across the United States share this distinction. “Trees make Gainesville,” Niederhofer said. “Aesthetically, that’s what people like about Gainesville.” The Arbor Day Foundation spearheads the national Tree City USA program with additional help from the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. According to the foundation’s Web site, the program offers direction, technical assistance, public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs. “Being a tree city gives us a focus,” Niederhofer said. The program only recognizes cities that complete an application process proving they fulfill the four criteria for a Tree City USA, she said. The four requirements are a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per person, an official Arbor Day celebration and a tree board or department that works closely with city government officials.

62 | Spring 2010

Gainesville is the first city in the United States to have a Tree Board of Appeals, Niederhofer said. The appeals board is a subgroup of the city’s Tree Advisory Board that mitigates disagreements between the local government and residents on matters concerning the management of Gainesville’s urban forest.

“Some of the largest and oldest trees date back 200 years before the first houses were built in Gainesville” Niederhofer said the city applies for the Tree City Growth Award each year. The award recognizes Tree Cities that, in the previous year, improved environmentally and encouraged higher levels of tree care, according to the Arbor Day Foundation Web site. Gainesville was one of 543 Tree Cities that earned a 2009 Growth Award. But Gainesville’s appreciation for trees goes far beyond the city’s Growth Awards and its 26 years as a Tree City USA, Niederhofer said.

“Some of the largest and oldest trees date back 200 years before the first houses were built in Gainesville,” she said. “And they are still here because people here care about trees.” Niederhofer, who became the city arborist in 1988, has a master’s degree in horticulture science from the University of Florida. Though she knows about the many biological and environmental effects trees can have on communities, such as producing oxygen and combating pollution, she firmly believes trees also have emotional effects on the people who live among them, deep connections as mysterious as the trees themselves. “They really have an effect on our sensibility,” she said, “and that effect is really positive.” Above all, Niederhofer believes trees make a difference in the happiness of people. She said she cannot imagine Gainesville — a Tree City USA for nearly three decades — without them. s

fo r M o r e In fo r M At I o n The Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Program www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA

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Bats in the Belfry? by Albert IsAAc

MucH-MalignEd batS bring bEnEfitS 66 | Spring 2010

ats have flown the night skies for 50 million years. They can be found living on every continent in the world, except Antarctica. They can range in size from the smallest creature weighing less than a penny to a fruit-eating flying fox with a wingspan of six feet. Some pollinate crops, and 70 percent of all the bats in the world devour insects. Many small insectivorous bats can eat up to 2,000 mosquito-sized insects in one night. Yet, despite the many benefits bats offer they still strike fear into the hearts of many. Through the years, bats have received less attention than more popular animals such as tigers, elephants and rhinos, and thus receive less funding for conservation-related activities, according to the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Gainesville. “Decades of neglect by scientists and conservation biologists have left over half of the 1,116 bat species on our planet classified as threatened or near threatened with extinction,” states the Lubee Web page. Each October, for one day only, the conservancy hosts the Bat Festival, opening their doors to the public so visitors may see these remarkable flying foxes up close. Fruit bats are not native to the United States but are vulnerable to extinction. The Lubee Bat Conservancy focuses their attention on fruit bats because they are vital to the world’s rainforests, Photo by Albert IsAAc deserts, and to The Bat House on University of Florida the economies of campus, built in 1991, was home to an developing countries. estimated 100,000 bats when the inside Although perhaps fins collapsed last year. Repairs were seldom seen, bats are made and bats began to return within prevalent. One group three weeks. of bats, known as foliage dwellers, live in the leaves and Spanish moss of trees while another group, known as crevice dwellers, live in places like caves, sinkholes and football stadiums. “These are completely separate groups and never the twain shall meet,” said Deborah Cottrell, a veterinarian at the West End Animal Hospital in Newberry. Her interest in bats began in the mid-90s when bats were found living in a nearby old hardware store. “They had bats up in the shingles,” Cottrell said. “The baby bats would fall out sometimes and not be able to get back up.” Cottrell was called upon to help rescue the baby bats. “And that’s when I started learning about them,” she said. Around 1999-2000, Cottrell became involved with the University of Florida’s Bat House continued on next page

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Bat Facts Bats are mammals, in the order of Chiroptera, which means hand-wing. All living bat species fit into one of two major groups, the Microchiroptera or the Megachiroptera. Like humans, bats give birth to poorly developed young and nurse them from a pair of pectoral breasts. All bats can see, but some use a special sonar system called echolocation. A bat’s body is best adapted for hanging upside down. Its knees face backwards. Bats have specialized tendons that hold their toes in place so they are able to cling to their roosts without expending any energy. In fact, bats must flex their muscles in order to let go of the roosting surface. Vampire bats do not actually suck blood. They lap it up like a dog drinking water from a bowl. There are just three species of vampire bats in the world and they all live in Latin America. The oldest bat caught in the wild was a banded little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which was 34 years old at the time of recapture. Courtesy of Bat Conservation international

Spring 2010 | 67

when Pest Management Coordinator Ken Glover called upon her after finding injured and orphaned bats that had fallen out of the house. “The bat house was completely cutting edge, nobody knew what the bats would like,” Cottrell said. “I helped to come up with and design the extra roosting slats that they put on the UF bat house, which helped the babies because it would help prevent them from falling.” The UF Bat House was finished in 1991 but it took four years before bats began moving in. Over the years, the bat population has continued to grow until an estimated 100,000 bats held residence.

“The use of bats on organic farms can reduce pesticide use by 50 percent.” Then, on August 16, 2009, the slats inside the bat house collapsed under the weight of the inhabitants. Some bats were killed, many others became homeless. But as bad as it was, it could have been worse. “It was really, really fortunate that this did not happen during the maternity season when there were thousands of babies attached to those slats that couldn’t fly,” Cottrell said. “Bat babies in North America are born the first week in June.” The collapse occurred right after weaning, Cottrell said. She suspects the bats were vibrating their wings, warming up to do their evening fly-out, and all that vibration probably contributed to the collapse. Repairs to the bat house were completed by the first week of October. “Within three weeks they began moving back in,” Ken Glover said in a recent telephone interview. He expects the repaired house to fill up soon. “If the occupancy rate that we observed continues on track, it should be full by next spring.” Glover has been with the bat house project from nearly the beginning. The idea was conceived and plans were developed just prior to his arrival to UF.

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“I got to watch the house being built,” Glover said. Glover gained experience with exclusions; modifying the places on campus where bats live so when they fly out in the evening they cannot get back in. This way bats have to find new places to hang out. “We build a one-way door,” he said. Glover said that by October 22, bats occupied the first 10 fins of the structure inside the bat house. By the 26th, about 56 fins were being used. Glover said he is seeing an exponential increase in occupancy. With plenty of food and water for these flying mammals, Glover said the only limiting factor is available habitat. For this reason, UF intends to build another bat house near the existing structure. “There are plans being developed by the physical plant division — architects and engineers — within 10-20 feet of the existing building,” Glover said. “It is in the planning stages. The UF athletic association has committed some money to this project and Bacardi has committed some money.” The late Luis F. Bacardi founded the Lubee Bat Conservancy in 1989. However, the Lubee Bat Conservancy is no longer funded by the current Bacardi Corporation; it is now an independent nonprofit, relying on grants and donations to function. Despite the bat’s reputation of being a rabies-carrying flying rodent that sucks blood and makes nests in women’s hair, they are actually fragile creatures, mammals that provide many ecological benefits, from pollination to insect control. “Bats eat a lot of bugs,” Cottrell said. “The use of bats on organic farms can reduce pesticide use by 50 percent.” According to a UF IFAS Extension Web site, “Bats consume insects that are major pests of agricultural crops. Several species that occur in Florida have been reported to play important roles in reducing crop damage in other states.” In south central Texas, bats can consume 4 billion corn earworm moths per night. This reduction in insecticide application could save farmers $19/acre on conventional cotton fields and $35/acre on transgenic cotton fields. “The value of the pest control services bats provide for cotton producers in south-central Texas was estimated to be $741,000 per year,” states the Web site. Plus, bat guano makes good fertilizer. While bats, like all mammals, can have rabies, the chances are less than those of other wild animals, Cottrell said. “The incidence of rabies in bats is about one-half of 1 percent,” Cottrell said, “compared to indigenous raccoon and skunk populations, which run anywhere from 10 to 20 percent. But of course, if you find a downed bat on the ground, that is going to increase the chances that it could have rabies.” Both Cottrell and Glover urge people not to touch bats. “If you find a bat on the ground, it does not mean

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Come see what all the excitement is about in Gainesville! Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club 9905 SW 44th Ave. Monday - 10:00am Queen of Peace Catholic Church 10900 SW 24th Ave. Monday - 6:15pm Photos by Albert IsAAc

A fruit bat climbs in the cage at a recent Bat Festival held in October at the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Gainesville. TOP: This small bat easily fits in the hand of Veterinarian Deborah Cottrell. Once injured bats recover, they are released.

it has rabies. It could be a baby,” Cottrell said. “But you can’t really take any chances, so you never, ever handle a bat barehanded. You can pick it up in a towel, put it in a box and call us.” Cottrell said when someone handles a bat barehanded they are more than likely condemning that bat to death. “If the health department finds out you have handled a bat barehanded they will kill it and test it for rabies,” Cottrell said. “This is an important message I try really hard to get parents’ to convey to their kids. We have these tragic cases — tragic for the bat anyway — all the time, where somebody will bring in an injured bat that they found, but their kid had picked it up and petted it and that’s it. That’s death for the bat. Period.” One reason people can easily come into contact with bats is because bats do not fear people, Cottrell said. Sometimes bats get into homes and people often overreact and start hitting them with brooms. “There’s no reason to kill a bat,” Cottrell said. “Just call us.” s If you have a bat problems, call Deborah or Iaon Cottrell at West End Animal Hospital: 352-472-7626.

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The Bo Diddley Plaza A Unique Showplace Named After A Hometown Hero by lArry behnKe he Plaza. “There’s no other place like it,” said David Ballard, events coordinator for the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. “People from other towns have told me it’s unique and really special.” Ballard is speaking of the Bo Diddley Plaza, downtown Gainesville’s showplace for a variety of free concerts and events. The multi-level, centrally located park has grown and seen improvements over the years. Landscaping and seating with a large stage and grassy area attract people from around the county to hear fine performances. A graceful roof now shelters the stage. In June of last year the space was officially dedicated as the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in honor of a rock ‘n’ roll founder who lived in nearby Archer before his death in June 2008. Bo performed on that stage in June 2006 to one of the largest crowds ever continued on page 75

72 | Spring 2010

Photo by Albert IsAAc

The Righteous Kind performing at the Bo Diddley Plaza during the 28th Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show in November 2009.

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Bo Diddley playing at the Gainesville Plaza in 2006.

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o continued from page 73 assembled at the plaza. But the plaza has had smaller crowds. “I saw Steve Stills on that stage during the last election,” Ballard said. “He did a little impromptu concert for about 30 people. He was endorsing local candidates.” The plaza has hosted dance troupes, festivals, rallies and the popular free concerts where all kinds of music can be heard. “I think what is special about the plaza is that it draws all age groups,” Ballard said. “Musicians appreciate the variety of people who come to hear them; they agree it’s a great facility.” Photo by Larry Behnke A year ago, the farmers market began Bo Diddley Plaza in January during 30-degree temperatures. using the space each Wednesday. The plaza draws people downtown and has helped revitalize the nighttime scene. Ballard reports simply because a certain kind of public is an eyesore to that last year the plaza entertained 18,000 people. another kind of public.” However, part of the plaza’s attraction may lead to During a fall meeting the city commission disits demise: homeless people also enjoy the place. cussed plaza plans without ever actually mentioning the homeless. One commissioner does not support the end? removing the band shell; another felt re-doing the Ballard said the Gainesville’s Community plaza would not address the underlying problem. The Redevelopment Agency wants to totally redo Bo mayor said any cost should be continued on page 79 Diddley Plaza. “It will be the death of the concerts,” he said. “They want to get rid of the stage, remove the bathrooms and fill in the grassy area, level it out.” The agency’s reasoning is that changing the plaza and adding vendor areas at its perimeter will encourage more daytime use. “They want to make it more of a marketplace,” Ballard said. “It will be flattened, with an unobstructed view from University Avenue, but noisier.” Many think the agency, a Gainesville City • REFLECTIVE SUNDAY SERVICES Commission board, has another goal: to discourage • ARTS AND SPIRITUAL homeless people from hanging out there. DEVELOPMENT CLASSES Local musicians who have performed there for years are upset. • COMMUNITY GARDENS “The concerts are well attended and enjoyed • DISCUSSIONS OF THE NEWS IN by many,” said Raven Smith of the longtime band LIGHT OF THE GOOD NEWS Quartermoon. “Losing the plaza would be a negative move for the local cultural arts.” “I’ve played there many times,” said Don Austin of Velveeta Underground. “I would support any movement to keep Bo Diddley Plaza.” Josh and Sally Dickinson spoke to the city commission through a Gainesville Sun letter: “It has taken 352-376-2440 community resources and some years to create this GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA space to make it a comfortable destination. Please just leave it alone.” th A week later, longtime Gainesville musician and artist Tom Miller wrote, “So here we go again, this time

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o continued from page 75 minimal and is not sure what changes are called for. A manager at the new Hampton Inn & Suites, located next to the plaza, said he has never had a problem with the homeless. “One day someone locked the public restrooms and a man asked to use ours. Sometimes our guests here encounter a homeless person on the way over from the garage,” he said. “The homeless are a part of our world. I like the plaza the way it is.” Plaza performers have sent out e-mails urging citizens to contact the commission with their opinion. City commissioners can be reached at 352-334-5015 or e-mailed at CityComm@cityofgainesville.org.

Bo Diddley In the mid-1980s, Bo Diddley set up his guitar amp in a poor Gainesville neighborhood and played an intimate concert. The world-famous artist was right at home with the small group of listeners and dancers. Children played and people joked with their “homey” who lived in nearby Archer. Years later, Bo played in front of a 13th Street Gainesville Shopping Center. The fundraiser attracted some 30 people, beaming as he played his trademark rectangular guitar. One woman had a VHS camcorder and asked Bo if she could tape him. “What are you going to do with it?” he asked warily. The woman wanted to share one of her musical heroes with her daughter in another state. Bo said, “OK, go ahead.” His apprehension came from years of not receiving recognition or payment for his work. In the early 1990s, Bo played a benefit concert to help a woman with her medical expenses. Although much had been taken from him over the decades, Bo had a giving heart. He was always willing to help out in his adopted community. Bo’s magnanimous spirit also shone at a fundraiser to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2006. “We believe in helping one another,” Bo had said. In 2009, the community recognized Bo’s contributions by naming the downtown community plaza in his honor

some Diddley History Bo Diddley was born in McComb, Mississippi, as Ellas Otha Bates. His mother’s cousin, Gussie McDaniel adopted him, and the family moved to Chicago where Bo learned violin, trombone and later guitar when he heard the rhythm of Pentecostal music

By 1963, Bo had released 11 albums and had become a crossover artist with white audiences. That year Bo was a supporting act with the Rolling Stones. Bo found work as a mechanic and carpenter, but liked playing music on street corners with friends. His first professional gig was on Chicago’s South Side playing rhythm and blues. In 1954, Bo and his band recorded a 45-rpm record with “I’m a Man” and “Bo Diddley,” which became the number one R&B hit. Bo Diddley became his stage name and how he was known the rest of his life. Bo said he had heard his adopted mother talk about an old singer with that name. Bo went on the Ed continued on next page

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>> CharaCter profile

Haldeman’s Universe A visit with the “Dean of Science Fiction” By AlBert IsAAc oe Haldeman is an early riser. Typically, by 4 a.m. the award-winning author is sitting on his back porch, writing science fiction novels with a fountain pen, by the glow of an oil lamp. Yes, an oil lamp. “It’s calm, peaceful,” Joe said during a recent interview in the Gainesville home he shares with his wife Gay. “Frogs are croaking at me. No electricity. It’s very primitive.” “Writing science fiction with an oil lamp,” Gay said with a laugh. Gay is also Joe’s manager. This August, they will have been married 45 years. Joe said he writes until a little past sunup. Then he will work on e-mail and his Blog. After lunch, he hits the gym. “Or I take a moderately long bike ride,” he said. “It depends on the weather.” Through the course of his life, Joe has worn many hats: soldier, instructor, author, computer programmer, musician — and he has been involved in many organizations, ranging from the Author’s Guild to Science Fiction Writers of America, from the National Space Society (on Board of Advisors) to Space Studies Institute, to name but a few. But in 1967, Joe was an unpublished college graduate with a degree in astronomy from the University of Maryland. He was married and accepted to graduate school when Uncle Sam called. According to his Web site, he fought in the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a combat engineer and was awarded the “Purple Heart and other standard medals.” At the time it did not occur to him that he would suddenly become a full-time writer, he said. But he came back from the war and typed up two science

82 | Spring 2010

fiction stories he had written in college. “I sold one to “Galaxy” and one to “Amazing” magazine,” Joe said. In those early days, he said, the most exciting time of the day was going down to the mailbox to see if he had any checks. “Every check was kind of a little victory,” he said. About a year and a half later Joe sold his first novel, “War Year,” a fictional story based on his experiences in Vietnam. Soon thereafter came “The Forever War,” his first major science fiction novel. It almost did not happen. “The agent tried to sell it. He handed me a list of 18 publishers who had turned it down,” Joe said. “That night, I was at a cocktail party, and Ben Bova [editor and author] introduced me to a guy who offered to take a look at it. They didn’t do science fiction back then.” But in this case they did. “The Forever War” was published by St. Martin’s Press and went on to win the Hugo, Nebula and Ditmar Awards as Best Science Fiction Novel of 1975. These days, Joe is a full-time author and part-time professor of creative writing. Each fall he teaches at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He said it keeps him from becoming “like a hermit.” “It’s just nice to get out of your shell for a couple of months, and the kids are always a new bunch,” he said. “It helps me keep in touch with the current year as opposed to living back in the 60s.” continued on page 84

Photo By AlBert IsAAc

OPPOSITE: Award-winning science fiction author Joe Haldeman with one of his manuscripts and several oil lamps.

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Spring 2010 | 83

Photos By AlBert IsAAc

LEFT: Joe Haldeman sits with a telescope in his Gainesville backyard. His hobbies include astronomy, cooking, drawing and painting, guitar playing, a lot of bicycling and a little fishing, canoeing, swimming and snorkeling. TOP: Joe Haldeman’s hand-written outline for his current work Earthbound. ABOVE: Joe Haldeman stands near a bookshelf in his home filled with his published works and various accolades he’s received during his career.

o continued from page 82 Teaching even helps him with his own short stories. Each semester, he gives his students a writing assignment based on a random topic. In turn, they get together and give him an assignment. One class came up with a vampire hamster the size of a house. After a discussion of why a concept will or will not work, Joe will write his short story — and then he will sell it. Gay has been Joe’s manager since 1969, handling a myriad of duties. “It’s really fun,” she said. “I’m a travel agent, psychologist, PR person — I deal with the editors.” “Science fiction is really a friendly little universe,” Joe said. “Part of the publicity machine is going to conventions, signing autographings, getting radio action or a TV shot. Sometimes the science fiction conventions can help you with that.” “And sometimes I just set them up,” Gay added. “And I call the local bookstores.” “Did you set up anything for New York with what’shis-name?” Joe asked.

84 | Spring 2010

She knew what he was talking about: an early morning radio show in New York. “Do you want to do that?” she asked. Done. Sitting with Gay at their dining room table, Joe talked about his creative process and the importance of using the right pen. “These are the ones I’ve used in the past few days,” Joe said, handling five pens. “They all have their own personality, you know. Some pens are more difficult to write with. I like the different colors, and the different feel. Some are more expressive. Some are reliable; some are less reliable.” This process works for him. He has used the technique for the last 14 titles, and he wrote several books in longhand before that. Once finished, he transcribes his manuscript using a computer. But now that he has dictation software this method may change. All he needs to do is read his notes into a microphone and the computer does the rest. Joe said he has no shortage of ideas for science

fiction stories. He reads all the time, mostly non-fiction magazines and journals, and he has a cigar box full of index cards and newspaper clippings to inspire him (also backed up on computer). His current project, due July 2010, is “Earthbound,” the third installment to his trilogy. “Starbound,” the second in the trilogy, hit the bookstores in January. “Marsbound” debuted in August 2008. Joe works with an outline, but lets the story go where it will. “I had a new character show up yesterday,” he said. “He just walked in from the dark.” He pointed to the multi-colored outline of “Earthbound,” showing where he had written “Interloper?” “Somebody that was not from the previous two novels had to come in,” he said. “But I didn’t know any details. I have an aiming point. I have ending in mind, but it winds up quite different from that.” Joe’s other accomplishments include adventure novels written under the “house name” Robert Graham, Star Trek novels, dozens of short stories, novelettes and novellas published in various science fiction magazines, and a stage play adaptation of “The Forever War” that opened in Chicago in 1983. He also wrote the screenplay for a film called “Robot Jox,” shot in Rome and released in 1990. When the film opened in San Francisco, Joe continued on next page

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was at a nearby bookstore signing autographs. He walked around the corner and bought a ticket to see the movie. “It was such fun,” he said. “The audience reaction is everything. This is the opening day, and it’s full of kids — it’s a kid’s movie — and they were just laughing and throwing popcorn and having a great time. It was actually better for me than sitting in a studio.” His books have been published in 21 languages and when asked how many books he has written, the couple looked at one another for an answer; neither of them knew. His interests do not end here. He is an amateur astronomer, musician and artist. His paintings adorn the walls of their home. And he enjoys cooking, creating new concoctions in the kitchen. “I do odd things,” he said. “But, nowadays, I just look at what I’ve got in the cabinet and go into the computer and Google up a combination of ingredients.” The couple joked about publishing a cookbook, someday. For now they keep busy with travel and the business of writing. Joe said he tries to write something every day, usually from the comfort of his home. “I like to be in my own den. My nest. My cave,” Joe said. “I used to write pretty well on the road. But there’s one thing that seems to be happening, as I grow older, I still have the motivation to write but it is harder to do in motel rooms and cafés and such. I

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want to be in my place.” He attributes much of his success to the simple fact he can be depended upon to hit his deadline. “I think it’s fair to say that most writers are unreliable,” he said. “One reason for my success is that I’m on time, and they can more or less trust me to be part of the team.” What advice does he offer his students and other budding writers?

“These are the ones I’ve used in the past few days,” Joe said, handling five pens. “They all have their own personality, you know.” “Don’t sit around and wait for inspiration because ideas are all around you,” he said. “Just start writing, you can always throw it away, nobody’s looking over your shoulder.” Joe Haldeman seems content with his occupation, sitting on his porch writing by oil lamp. He has been a full-time writer since 1970 and has no intention of quitting anytime soon. “What is it like to have a job?” he asked with a smile. “I’ve never had one.” s

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

Carillon Recital Sun. 2/14 3:00pm Presented by the UF College of Fine Arts School of Music. Century Tower 352-273-3181 www.arts.ufl.edu/carillon/

Arnold Irchai Tues. 2/16 7:30pm Faculty Bassoon Recital. University Auditorium, Free 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Symphonic Band Wed. 2/17 7:30pm John M. Watkins, Conductor - University Auditorium. $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-ARTS (2787) www.ticketmaster.com

Dance 2010 2/19-20 + 2/23-27 at 7:30pm 2/21 & 28 at 2:00pm Constans Theatre. A vibrant array of dance works choreographed by internationally renowned artists and danced by an amazing company of UF student dancers. Directed by Ric Rose. $13-$17 352-273-0500 www.arts.ufl.edu

88 | Spring 2010

A Celebration of Wine Sun. 2/21 1:00pm - 4:00pm UF Reitz Grand Ballroom. Savor the flavor of wines from around the world as WUFT-FM, WJUFFM, and the Wine & Cheese Gallery present the 21st annual wine tasting and auction to benefit public radio in North Central and Mid Florida. 352-392-5200 ext. 1106 www.wuftfm.org/wine

Seminole Piecing Workshop Tues. 2/23 10:00am - 5:00pm Florida Museum of Natural History. Join Sandy Pozzetta and discover the contributions Seminole Indian women of the Florida Everglades have made quilting. 352-392-1721 www.flmnh.ufl.edu

Jazz Bands Tues. 2/23 7:30pm Scott Wilson, Conductor. University Auditorium; $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Concert Bands Wed. 2/24 7:30pm Conducted by John M. Watkins & Archie Birkner IV. University Auditorium - $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Kingdom Heirs in Concert Thurs. 2/25 7:00pm Westside Baptist Church. One of Southern Gospel Music’s top male quarters from Dollywood, Tenn. will perform in concert to benefit Missionary work in Nicaragua. 352-333-7000

3rd Annual Winter Art Festival Fri. 2/26 - Sun. 2/28 5:00pm - 9:00pm & 10:00am - 5:00pm Tioga Town Center. Seventy artists and fine craftsmen showcase paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, mixedmedia, ceramics, fiber, handcrafted jewelry, graphics and wood. Musical entertainment, food vendors, children’s activities. 352-331-4000 www.tiogatowncenter.com

Billetproof Hot Rod and Custom Car Show Sat. 2/27 9:00am - 4:00pm Alachua County Fairgrounds. Billetproof is the largest Traditional-style hot rod and custom car show in Florida. 916-207-4645 www.billetproof.com

UF Choirs Tues. 3/2 7:30pm University Auditorium $ 10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/ non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Art Lecture Wed. 3/3 6:00pm “The Materiality of the Inner Asian Nomads: The Relationship between Archaeology and History in a Nomadic Context.” Harn Museum of Art. Free. 352-392-0201 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Art Lecture Thurs. 3/4 6:30pm Michael Rakowitz - SA+AH Marston Lectureship in the Visual Arts. Fine Arts Building B. Free. 352-392-0201 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Carillon Recital

Can You Dig It?

Sun. 3/14 3:00pm

Sat. 3/20 10:00am - 3:00pm

Century Tower. Free 352-273-3181 www.arts.ufl.edu/carillon/

Florida Museum of Natural History. Join the UF Department of Geological Science and the Gainesville Gem and Mineral Society for activities of geologic proportion! 352-392-1721 www.flmnh.ufl.edu

UnBalanced Connection Fri. 3/19 7:30pm An Evening of Electroacoustic Art Music. MUB120. Free 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Theatre: In the Blood 3/19-20 & 3/23-27 at 7:30pm 3/21 & 28 at 2:00pm (Suzan-Lori Parks). Nadine McGuire Black Box Theatre, $13-$17. 352-273-0500 www.arts.ufl.edu

Spring Garden Festival Sat. 3/20 - Sun. 3/21 9am - 6pm & 10am - 5pm Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The weekend affair features more than 200 booths offering plants, landscape displays, educational materials, arts and crafts and food. 352-372-4981 www.gardenfestival.org

Moonlight Walk Mon. 3/22 7:00pm - 11:00pm Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Large sections of Kanapaha’s extensive walkway system will be lighted by 1500 luminaries, as well as paper lanterns and other light sources. Live entertainment will be provided. 352-372-4981 www.kanapaha.org

Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorale Wed. 3/24 7:30pm Mihoko Tsutsumi, Conductor. University Auditorium. $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

New Music Ensemble Mon. 3/29 7:30pm University Auditorium. Free. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Jazz Bands Tues. 3/30 7:30pm University Auditorium. $ 10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/ non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Wind Symphony Thurs. 4/1 7:30pm David Waybright, Conductor. University Auditorium. $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

UF Percussion Ensemble Fri. 4/2 7:30pm Kenneth Broadway, Conductor. University Auditorium. Free. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Sunshine Steelers Steel Pan Ensemble Tues. 4/6 7:30pm University Auditorium. $ 10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/ non-UF students; Free to UF students 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Clarinet Choir Wed. 4/7 7:30pm Mitchell Estrin, Conductor. University Auditorium. Free 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Santa Fe College 2010 Spring Arts Festival Sat. 4/10 from 9am - 5:30pm Sun. 4/11 from 12pm - 5:30pm Historic NE 1st Street. A juried art show, a Kids Art Jungle and other entertainment is provided. www.sfcollege.edu/springarts continued on page 91

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o calendar continued from page 89

Studio Production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah

Splendor in the Park - A Friends of Theatre and Dance Benefit

4/8 - 4/10 at 7:30pm 4/11 at 1:30pm

Sun. 4/11 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Opera. Nadine McGuire Black Box Theatre 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

UF President’s House. “Field of Dreams” Celebrate the accomplishments of UF’s talented students and faculty with performance highlights from Damn Yankees. Tickets and sponsorship packages available. 352-846-1218.

Theatre: The Women 4/9-10 and 4/13-17 at 7:30pm 4/11 and 4/18 at 2:00pm (Clare Boothe Luce). Constans Theatre. A group of women’s efforts to play their respective roles in an artificial society that consists of high fashion, vain show, comedy, tragedy, hope, and disappointment. $13-$17 352-273-0500 www.arts.ufl.edu

Roberta Rust

Carillon Recital

Willard Kesling, Conductor. University Auditorium. $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Sun. 4/11 3:00pm Century Tower. Free. 352-273-3181 www.arts.ufl.edu/carillon/

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Mon. 4/12 7:30pm Guest Piano Recital. University Auditorium. Free. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

UF Choirs Tues. 4/13 7:30pm

Symphonic Band

Flute Ensemble

Wed. 4/14 7:30pm

Wed. 4/21 7:30pm

John M. Watkins, Conductor. University Auditorium. $10 general public, $8 UF Faculty & Staff/non-UF students; Free to UF students. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Kristen Stoner, Conductor. University Auditorium. Free. 352- 392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

UF Symphony Orchestra Sat. 4/17 7:30pm Raymond Chobaz, Conductor. Philips Center for the Performing Arts. $15-25 general public, $10 UF students. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Saxophone Ensembles

Farm and Forest Festival Sat. 4/24 10:00am Morningside Nature Center. View historicbreed farm animals, hear period music, and observe traditional crafts and trades like sheep shearing, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, and woodstove cooking. 352-334-2171 www.natureoperations.org

Earth Day Sat. 4/24 10:00am - 3:00pm

Mon. 4/19 7:30pm Jonathan Helton, Conductor. University Auditorium. Free. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

String Chamber Ensembles Wed. 4/21 7:30pm Baughman Center. Free. 352-392-0223 www.arts.ufl.edu/

Florida Museum of Natural History. Experience live performances, demonstrations and activities by local conservationbased organizations and learn how to make a difference. Visit the Earth Day Plant Sale and select from over 80 different species of native and butterflyfriendly plants. 352-392-1721 www.flmnh.ufl.edu s

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COLUMN >> BriaN “Krash” Kruger

Gate Crashing On Deck: The Damsels, The Impossible Shoelace, and the Damn Wrights. DATE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 VENUE: DURTY NEllY’S

reetings, live music aficionados! This month we’ll be spotlighting a show that brought together three fine local Gainesville bands at Durty Nelly’s, downtown on University Avenue. If you’ve never been to Nelly’s, it’s a long narrow room with the stage up front, a nice long bar down the left side and a back room for those who want a little less volume from the band. Which is not to say that the band volume was all that loud. Nelly’s concentrates on traditional Irish music on the weekends, and in general does not have live music throughout the week. The PA is small but adequate, and the sound person working that night was attentive and efficient, which is about all you could ask. First up was The Damsels, billed as a reunion show. The group featured two female lead singers (one who has moved away to the Pacific Northwest, but was happy to be back in Gainesville’s warmer clime), one of whom played 5-string banjo. The rest of (the boys) in the band played acoustic guitar, standup bass and another 5-string banjo (fingerpicking, while the lead singer strummed). The set began with an a capella rendition of “Once I Had A Secret love,” and then settled into the band’s “old time” music (versus bluegrass) originals. In this day of auto-tuned everything (and yes, it drives me insane hearing seemingly every song on the radio robbed of every last nuance of human inflection), choosing an unaccompanied vocal number for one’s opener is a brave step indeed (adding to the risk factor was doing a

cover somewhat outside the style of the band’s original songs), but the Damsels were more than up to the task. The set settled into good time music including some (whiskey) drinking songs, and some vocals by the ladies that skirted close to yodeling — but in a good way. A few of the songs featured some flat-picking leads by the guitarist. To give some idea of the tenor of the set, at one point someone in the audience requested the band play something from the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Said request was humorously deflected by the response that the band would “have to learn some — when we’re old!” After a brief break, the second set shifted gears towards a more rock vein with the improbably named The Impossible Shoelace. This all-guy quartet added a drum kit to the mix, with the additional fairly standard rock accompaniment of two guitars and bass. With drums and amps come more volume, and vocals tend to be a little less out front than with an acoustic group like the openers, but the mix was well within rock and roll standards. As is fairly common, the lead singer played rhythm guitar, while the guitar leads were taken by the other guitarist. The set began with both guitarists playing Stratocasters, but the lead singer quickly switched to an acoustic-electric, which he stuck with for the rest of the set. The Shoelace’s set consisted of their original songs in an indie vein with touches of jam band, psychedelic, and even the teensiest bit of blues. The lead guitarist provided backing vocals and some searing solos. The bassist played with his back to the audience, referencing a “cheat book” of the songs sitting atop

the drummer had some problems with his floor tom, but he never missed a beat. you can tell the pros by how they cope with little adverse situations like that.

92 | Spring 2010

his amp. I have nothing against “cheats” at all (and use them myself — if classical musicians can use sheet music, why can’t rock musicians use cheats?), but it would’ve been more engaging for the bassist (who was quite talented) to have found a way to use them while facing the audience. The drummer played a small kit and had some problems with his floor tom, with it toppling over a couple times and being righted by the soundman, but he never missed a beat. You can tell the pros by how they cope with little adverse situations like that. Speaking of pros, closing the night’s set Photo By BrIAn “KrAsh” Kruger were the Damn Wrights (get it?), the current FROM LEFT: Rob McGregor, Christina Mazzei, and Jackie Leeper of the band featuring local singer-songwriter Rob Damn Wrights at Durty Nelly’s. McGregor on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals. McGregor is known for his work with Grain, as a solo artist and as a recording producer and label-mates the Damsels also have a CD out on the engineer. The all-female rhythm section consisted of same label, Goldentone). As expected, you will hear an electric bassist, who alternated on lead vocals and songs about hard lives, drinking, and losing lovers. But writes roughly half of the material, and the drummer you’ll still have a great time. s playing the same kit as played for the last set (minus Since the early 1980s Brian “Krash” Kruger has played in some 17 or so local bands, playing most every Gainesville venue the miscreant floor tom). As their name might suggest, friendly to original music (and some that weren’t). From the the Damn Wrights play old school honky-tonk type ‘90s on, Kruger has written about music for a succession of local country songs (Hank Williams is an obvious influence) and regional magazines. Kruger is a graduate of the University with equal parts respect to the genre and good humor, of Florida College of Law and shares “Casa Krashpad” with his long-suffering wife and their two teenagers. which you can also hear on their self-titled CD (their

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>> Curiosity

A p r i l F o o l s

Why did the tradition begin? By crystAl henry The history of April Fools Day is one that is shrouded in mystery. And historians have contradicting accounts of where the origins of this impish holiday began. Some say the holiday originated during the French calendar reform of the sixteenth century. In 1564, France changed its calendar in order to move the first day of the year from the end of March to January 1. News of the change was slow to reach some parts of the country, and some rural residents neglected to follow the new calendar. Those steadfast yokels were dubbed as fools when they celebrated the new year in April, hence the term April Fools. Still, historical references and actual timelines of the calendar reform all serve to prove this theory wrong. literary mention of a holiday for foolishness date back before the calendar reform as well. Another explanation of the holiday is the story of Constantine and Kugel. Joseph Boskin, a professor at Boston University, said the Roman emperor, Constantine, allowed a court jester named Kugel to rule the kingdom for a day after being told by a group of court jesters that he could do a better job at running the kingdom. As ruler, Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that same day, and so the tradition began. The only problem with this story is that Boskin made it up. The article ran in several newspapers in 1983 before the Associated Press found it was untrue. They were just a victim of Boskin’s April Fools’ joke. Even though those two theories have their roots in Europe, the true story of this holiday’s history has its origins in North America. And the man who brought this mischievous holiday to the world was actually out looking for trade routes to India. References to the first April Fools’ Day actually cropped up about three years after Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. It was Queen Isabella of Spain who first wrote of the holiday in her letters to Columbus. She said since he severely underestimated the circumference of the earth, and in turn landed in the Americas rather than India, his trade route search was not considered a success. Furthermore, the idea that he discovered new and undiscovered territory was also crushed when news that leif Ericson, a Norseman, had discovered civilization in the New World in March, 500 years prior to Columbus landing there. She called Columbus an April Fool because he was too late in his arrival to claim this accidental discovery as his own. And although Columbus, was in fact appointed the governor and viceroy of Hispaniola, his reign was shortlived. Because of his “unsuccessful” mission in 1492, he had become a laughingstock among his subordinates. His flaring temper only added fuel to the fire, and the crew began to play pranks on him regularly. Many called him the April Fool, and references to the “pesce d’aprile” are yet to be attributed to anyone except Columbus during that time. And since he was not the first to discover the New World, as he initially thought, the first day of April was chosen ironically as a day for everyone to “fool” people as they said Columbus did. Reports that this version of the story is untrue have circled as well. But if you read the first letter of each line of this story you will know the truth.

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Spring 2010 | 95

>> preservatioN

Lake TuscawiLLa Preserve

Prairie Gem By DenIse trunK KrIgBAum ost Gainesville residents know of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, either from a drive across some of its 16,000 acres or from a hike on one of its many trails. Prized for its high-profile wildlife â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including

96 | Spring 2010

whooping cranes, bison and alligators â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Paynes Prairie is also one of the largest basin marshes, known locally as prairies, in the country. What many people do not know is that many smaller protected and unprotected prairies dot the

landscape in southern Alachua County and provide important habitat for wildlife, ranging from native plants to migratory birds. lake Tuscawilla Preserve is one of these prairies. Not as familiar, nor as obviously grand, as Paynes

Photo By trIstAn hArPer, for AlAchuA conservAtIon trust

Prairie, this recently protected patch of basin marsh just south of Micanopy conserves an important piece of a dynamic ecosystem. Once a target for development, the area is now managed and protected for wildlife and recreational use. Alachua Conservation Trust, a 22-year-old non-profit organization that has purchased land around Paynes Prairie, Blues Creek, San Felasco and other areas, recognized this area’s importance. It purchased or protected 525 acres, named lake Tuscawilla Preserve in 2009, with a sophisticated combination of funds from grants,

land donations and conservation easements. ACT executive director Robert “Hutch” Hutchison said the preserve adds a link in the chain of what he calls the emerald necklace — joined green spaces that he envisions will one day encircle the city of Gainesville. The land parcel met all aspects of ACT’s mission — to protect natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around Alachua County. Historically, Native Americans lived on the rims of the prairies, and local civilizations occurred around their food and water sources and rich soils. During the settlement of Hogtown, the prairie’s peaty soils were prized for vegetable growing and they produced a steady source of food and income. While the prairie’s scenic value is obvious, its natural resources are somewhat hidden. Tuscawilla shares its hydrology with Paynes, levy, ledwith and Kanapaha prairies, which all run along the southern edge of Alachua County. In the middle of the basin is Tuscawilla Sink, a sinkhole lake that acts as part of the region’s plumbing. Water drains from it into the aquifer and recharges the water supply. The sinkhole also stores water and can act as flood control during times of heavy rain. In fact, the area of existing drier prairie varies depending on the season. In dry times, prairies or basin marshes are plains of grasses, sedges, rushes and shrubs with small ponds or sinkholes. In rainy seasons, they can become expanses of open water that fill with marsh vegetation like lotus, water lilies and pickerelweed. Hutchinson said the variety of plants changes greatly depending on the water levels. ACT has plans to build a boardwalk, like the one off Florida State Road 441 on Paynes Prairie, which will extend toward the sinkhole. Visitors will then be more able to see the subtle changes of vegetation.

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Perhaps most dramatically, Tuscawilla provides a temporary home to tens of millions of migratory birds. Audubon has designated it a bird sanctuary. Recreational birders can follow an existing one-mile hiking trail to glimpse the preserve’s avian occupants. ACT not only purchases land for conservation, but acquires funds to manage that land, as well. Tuscawilla presents a number of management problems, including invasive plant species. In order to decide how best to manage the preserve, Hutchinson said, first they need to decide what outcome they want. “No one really knows what it is supposed to look like anymore,” Hutchinson said. “Unprotected prairies are grazed, subdivided, farmed and put to other uses. The question now is, ‘What is natural?’” A prairie is a fire-dependent ecosystem that requires occasional fire to retain its ecological balance. Today, Hutchinson said, Tuscawilla and other nearby prairies present a natural experiment. Each prairie has experienced a different treatment. For example some have burned, some have not, some have been grazed, some have not, and some have experienced a combination of events. ACT is looking at how these different uses have affected prairie ecosystems and is working with the preserve’s neighbors to coordinate burns and other management strategies. s ACT is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity created in 1988. ACT receives no government grants for general operating support, and relies on contributions from private individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations may be tax deductible, however ACT does not provide tax advice. The mission of Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is to protect the natural, scenic, historical, and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easement. To volunteer to work on this or any other ACT property, call 352-373-1078, or visit online at AlachuaConservationTrust.org.

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>> motorsports

Main Drag Speed rules the track at the Gainesville Raceway

By mAry KyPreos

onsidered one of the fastest tracks in the National Hot Rod Association, the Gainesville Raceway and Gatornationals have seen their fair share of iconic cars, famous drivers and record-breaking speeds. It was from this local raceway that drivers achieved the first 260-, 270- and 300-mph Top Fuel runs, said Don Robertson, executive general manager at the Gainesville Raceway.

Photo courtesy of the gAInesvIlle rAcewAy

100 | Spring 2010

Today in the Top Fuel category of drag racing, dragsters utilize 8,000 horsepower to go from a dead stop to more than 100 mph in 60 feet and more than 320 mph in the first 1,000 feet, Robertson said. Put another way, this is roughly 40 times more horsepower than a Honda Civic and faster than a small plane. “You cannot really get the same perspective of it while watching it on TV,” said Bryan Proefke, a junior at the University of Florida, in an e-mail. “Sure, they tell you that the cars are going over 300 mph, but to

actually see that in person and feel it as the cars go by is just awesome.” The Gainesville Raceway first opened its gates in 1969, and only one year later, the raceway held its first Gatornational drag-racing event and entered the spotlight. “Having the event here recognized Gainesville Raceway as a national event calendar facility,” Robertson said. Over the decades, drivers such as “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, “Sneaky” Pete Robinson, Bob Glidden and Warren Johnson have graced continued on page 103

‘10 Gatornationals GAINESVIllE RACEWAY 11211 N. County Road 225 Gainesville, Fl 32609 352-377-0046 www.gainesvilleraceway.com Thursday, March 11 through Sunday, March 14 NHRA ticket office (PST): 1-800-884-6472 For Groups of 20 or more, Corporate Hospitality and Skybox Suite tickets contact Melinda Stalnaker-Selvidge at 352-377-0046 ext. 223.

gainesville raceway year-round momentum Photos By sArAh hsu

ABOVE: A driver pops a wheelie as he takes off during the Sportsman Qualifying round of the 40th annual NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals at the Gainesville Raceway on March 11, 2009. TOP: A driver gets ready to take off to race against an opponent during the Sportsman Qualifying round of the 40th annual NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals at the Gainesville Raceway.

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Although Gatornationals put the Gainesville Raceway on the map in 1970, Gatornationals is only one weekend in a year of events for this local raceway. “Gatornationals just happens to be our biggest event of the year,” said Don Robertson, executive general manager at the Gainesville Raceway. The raceway holds several hundred events every year, including amateur races, various racing series, “Drags: Street legal Style” weekly and more. They even utilize the raceway in less traditional ways to make room for archery tournaments, training for emergency response teams, corporate events, foot races and even a 10K run. “We are busy doing things all year,” Robertson said. The Gainesville Raceway and the NHRA also offer children aged 8 to 17 the chance to dream big and drive fast with the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing league. The children learn to drive and race with half-scale versions of the Top Fuel dragster, which can go as fast as 85 mph. “You are an 8-year-old, and you get to race a car, who did not want to do that when they were eight?” s

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o continued from page 100 this local racetrack with their expertise; cars such as “Swamp Rat 13”, “Blue Max” and “Hawaiian Punch” have burned rubber at the Gainesville Raceway and Gatornationals. Traditionally, Gatornationals is the first East Coast stop and the third event of the season on the full-throttle drag-racing tour, Robertson said. It includes both professional and amateur classes, and 11 categories of racing, such as Top Fuel Dragster, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Fuel Funny Car and Super Stock. “[Gatornationals] has been one of the fastest growing events on the tour,” he said, adding that there are 23 total stops. No event in Gainesville compares to the 4-day long drag-racing marathon that is Gatornationals. Neither singular football nor basketball games equal the number of people drawn into Gainesville’s backyard every spring for Gatornationals. “Gatornationals is the largest single sports event in North Central Florida,” Robertson said, although the raceway does not give out attendance figures for the event. Marcheta Keefer, media manager at Visit Gainesville, estimates the attendance at Gatornationals equates to holding two back-toback championship football games. It is difficult to determine exactly how many people attend the event because not all attendees stay in

local hotels — many stay with friends or camp, she said. Although the event may pack Gainesville’s streets, restaurants, hotels and parking lots, it also brings in revenue from sales tax, retail sales and tourism. “It has a very positive impact, and it is the most well-attended sports event annually,” Keefer said. Robertson said many race fans and families find Gatornationals the perfect excuse to plan a vacation to Florida to enjoy the racing coupled with warm weather.

in particular make drag racing exciting and keep families and fans coming back: interaction and unpredictability. Scott McDearmon of Shalimar, Fla., who has attended Gatornationals three times, said in an e-mail that at Gatornationals fans can stand alongside the spectator fence during races, and they can freely go down to the pit area. “Drag racing, unlike NASCAR, allows a spectator to get up close and personal in the pits to meet the drivers and crew, ask questions, get

Marcheta Keefer, media manager at Visit Gainesville, estimates the attendance at Gatornationals equates to holding two back-to-back championship football games. “A lot of people come here from all over the world,” Robertson said. “It is something that families plan as a family vacation.” Proefke first attended Gatornationals with his father when he was about 9 years old and recently started going with his friends to make a weekend of hanging out and watching the races. “My dad got me into racing when I was a kid, and we are always going to have that in common,” said Proefke, who has attended Gatornationals five times. “I plan to go every year for as long as I can.” Robertson said two factors

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autographs, etc.,” McDearmon said. “Fans like being ‘recognized’ and like the interaction.” The acceleration and speed of the sport not only attracts fans but also leads to an uncertainty in the outcome of races. “It is a great competition, and typically drag races are very close,” Robertson said. Times between winning a race and second place are sometimes determined within 1,000s of a second, he said. “One thing about this sport is that you need to be prepared to be surprised all the time.” s

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Spring 2010 | 105

>> floriDa heritage

Living History Family-oriented programs at Morningside Nature center offer lessons on nature preservation and heritage

By elIzABeth BehrmAn estled back in the trees off of East University Avenue in Gainesville is a nature reserve. Miles of walking trails, a farmhouse and thousands upon thousands of trees welcome visitors to Morningside Nature Center, Gainesville’s first and oldest nature park. Visitors to the nearly 280-acre park can hike, picnic, visit the 10-acre farm and participate in a variety of different programs and activities created and hosted by the City of Gainesville Nature Operations Division. Visitors can lose themselves in the 6 miles of nature trails that wind through the vast array of plants and animals native to North Central Florida. “Everyone who comes out here really loves it,” said Katherine Edison, one of three nature assistants who work at Morningside Nature Center. Edison helps lead class field trips, dresses up for the living History Farm and helps with the programs offered at the nature center. Founded in 1969, Morningside Nature Center contains one of the last fire-dependent longleaf pine communities in the area. The Nature Operations Division occasionally creates

106 | Spring 2010

small, controlled fires to help upkeep the longleaf pine population in the park, Edison said. “We maintain the park,” Edison said, “so we’re keeping up the land management of the park.”

Gainesville has more than 20 natural resources and parks available to the public. land management and preservation, in addition to cultural and natural history, are major points in the lessons taught to visitors by the Morningside staff through the numerous programs and events the park hosts throughout the year. “We invite families to come and join us,” said ludovica Weaver, marketing technician at Morningside Nature Center. From September to May, the center offers Barnyard Buddies, Feed-a-Frog Fridays and living History days at the living History Farm.

Weaver said the living History Farm, which is open every Saturday and re-enacted by volunteers, is a way for park guests to experience life during the 1800s. “We really offer a slice of life from 1870,” Weaver said. Edison, dressed in period garb, said the living History Farm is a great way to educate people about life in the late 1800s. Costumed staff and volunteers actually perform daily tasks common to the 1870s, such as blacksmithing, cooking and soap-making. Farm visitors can sample the homemade biscuits and butter and participate in the feeding of the barn animals twice a day. People can help harvest vegetables from the garden or watch a volunteer blacksmith at work in the shed behind the farmhouse.

Photos By elIzABeth BehrmAn

Nature Assistant Katherine Edison and 10-year-old Madelyn pick baby carrots from the vegetable garden at the Living History Farm at Morningside Nature Center. Afterward, they wash them in a basin outside the farmhouse.

“They have to be willing to give a whole lot of time,” Edison said. The park also offers a great opportunity for elementary schools and class field trips. leaders of these group trips design their history or nature lessons to be compatible with the teachers’ lesson plans and state education requirements, Edison said. continued on next page

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“We try to work with the Florida Sunshine Standard,” she said. During field trips, the nature assistants teach children about animal habits, natural history or cultural history in north central Florida. Students participating in the Farm life program can dress up in 1870s apparel, bake cornbread and experience life on a Cracker farm. Every Wednesday and Sunday from September through May, children can also participate in the caretaking of the barn animals in the Barnyard Buddies program, Weaver said. In addition to having fun while interacting with the animals, children learn the difference between the farm animals and typical, domesticated animals. “It’s a truly wonderful, wonderful program for children of all ages,” Weaver said. Children, accompanied by a parent, can also watch a reptile and amphibian feeding on the first Friday of each month on Feed-a-Frog Fridays. Weaver said programs such as these are geared toward teaching visitors and their children about the animals. The Morningside Nature Center offers other programs as well. Every Saturday in October, park visitors can take a “wildflower walk” through the park, guided by a staff member. During the twice-annual native plant sale at the park, growers from all around the region bring native

Florida plants to sell and educate buyers about them. “We’re all about educating people about natural area management, good gardening technique and wildlife,” Edison said. During the annual Great Air Potato Roundup in January, the staff and volunteers at the Morningside Nature Center teach participants about the dangers of non-native plants in the natural areas. Edison said about 1,200 people come out to help remove air potatoes, an obnoxious and invasive plant, from all around the area. She said this year is the 11th time they have held the event, and it has grown to be quite popular. “It’s good because it broadens people’s awareness of the problems of invasive plants in Florida,” Edison said. Weaver said the great thing about Morningside Nature Center and the programs offered each year is they are all family-friendly activities. Families can picnic and spend the day at the living history farm, or simply spend a few fun hours with their children and the park animals. The City of Gainesville has more than 20 natural resources and parks in the area that are available to the public. “Each park is truly unique and wonderful in its own way,” Weaver said. s For more information about the Nature Operations Division in the City of Gainesville, visit www.cityofgainesville.org.

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>> awareNess

Heart of the Matter LocaL chariTy hoPes To briNg aN eNd PediaTric caNcer By mAry KyPreos ith every charity, there is a raison d’être—a disease, a cause, a reason and sometimes, a person. Behind STOP! Children’s Cancer, Inc., a local Gainesville charity dedicated to providing funds for pediatric cancer research, there is Bonnie Freeman and her family. Diagnosed with cancer in 1981, Bonnie was only a child when faced with unimaginable hardships, but even then, Bonnie and her family thought beyond themselves and wanted to help other children. “It really was Bonnie’s idea, and with the help of family and friends, STOP! Children’s Cancer was founded,” said Julie Hill, executive director of the charity. In 1983, a week before Bonnie succumbed to cancer, she sat down and wrote a letter, asking for help to make a difference and setting a goal to raise $1 million, according to Stop’s Web site. “Back then, $1 million was a lot more than it is now, but we reached

110 | Spring 2010

our goal,” Hill said. Since the charity started in 1981, it has donated over $3.5 million to the University of Florida College of Medicine for pediatric cancer research, she said. Most recently, in 2006, STOP! endowed a position in pediatric cancer research at UF using $1 million, which was then matched 75 percent by the State of Florida.

“Gainesville is a very generous community,” Hill said. “So many people can identify with this mission.” Stop’s mission and hope is to raise funds for the prevention, control and cure of pediatric cancer,

and all their funds are donated to UF for this purpose. “We are a local organization, and we raise money locally and contribute our money locally,” she said. Hill said money for pediatric research is important because although money is raised for cancer, not much money is available for pediatric cancer. “Pediatric research does not always get the spotlight it needs,” she said. Hill said STOP! will continue to fund research, hold events and spread its message until it is no longer needed. “Our long-term goal is to put ourselves out of business,” she said. “I am confident that it will happen, considering medical advancements.” The community can support STOP! and its goals in a number of ways, Hill said. People can volunteer, donate or attend Stop’s events throughout the year. “All our volunteers really have a

Photos courtesy of stoP! chIlDren’s cAncer, Inc.

LEFT: The Freeman family founded STOP! Children’s Cancer, Inc. after Bonnie Freeman was diagnosed with cancer. This 1982 family portrait depicts Howard and Laurel Freeman with Carolyne Freeman in the back and Bonnie Freeman on the right. OPPOSITE: In 2006, STOP! presented $1 million to the University of Florida to establish the STOP! Children’s Cancer/ Bonnie R. Freeman Professorship for Pediatric Oncology Research. From left: Howard Freeman, Stephen P. Hunger, Laurel Freeman, Sue Boate, Mitchell Martin, Terence R. Flotte, and Julie Hill.

passion for our mission,” she said. STOP! holds three main events each year: the Fantasy Event in the spring, a Charity Golf Classic in early fall and Holiday Traditions: A Musical Celebration the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This year’s Fantasy Event, themed Polynesian Paradise, is scheduled for April 17 at UF’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center. “Volunteers totally turn [the O’Connell Center] into a fantasy,” said Christy Finnegan, who has volunteered at STOP! and has been on the Fantasy Event committee for four years. “You would not know it is a major basketball court.” Activities during the night include a silent auction, live band, dancing, entertainment related to the theme, a gaming area, rose pull, fantastic food, an open bar, a live auction, a grand prize and more. “As well as being an event with a lot of meaning, this is the premier event in Gainesville,” Finnegan said. “It is a wonderful event.” Around 1,400 people attend the event, which aims at celebrating life

while raising funds. “I hope the event will bring more awareness of children’s cancer and bring more money for research,” she said. Hill said the second event of the year is always the Charity Golf Classic at the Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club. There are a number of tee gift package options for golfers and a silent auction for participants and golfers alike. STOP! provides gifts and prizes, as well as a catered lunch and dinner. “It takes a lot of work to put together, but it is so much fun and rewarding and wonderful when we have a successful event,” Hill said. As its last main event of the year, STOP! rings in the holiday season with a musical celebration, entitled Kids Helping Kids, at the Curtis M. Phillips Center. “Kids in the community are helping to raise money for children’s cancer,” Hill said. High school chorus’, the Gainesville Youth Chorus and the Alachua County Youth Orchestra, including solos from high school

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students and cancer survivors, serenade the audience every year after Thanksgiving. Gary langford, the Musical Director of the event and professor emeritus of music at UF, said, “It is always a good way to start the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons.” Not only does the event kick off the holiday season, but he said it also “provides a showcase for the local chorus and orchestra.” langford said the community can support STOP! by going to the event or sponsoring the concert. “The whole event is designed to raise money for children’s cancer,” he said. At the end of the day, Finnegan said behind it all is the Freeman family, who still remain actively involved in the charity. “I really think that the heart of the whole thing is the Freeman family,” Finnegan said. She said she rarely hears a sentence from them that does not involve the words thank you. “They make you feel wonderful just to be a volunteer.” s

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COLUMN >> allyseN Kerr

Adventures in Appetite Gainesville, meet your latest addition to fine dining and cuisine. Embers Wood Grill

hen I was younger, fine dining was a large bowl of cold milk filled with Frosted Flakes cereal for lunch and Chef Boyardee for dinner. Since then, I have discovered the joys of cooking a meal from scratch and watching a masterpiece unfold at my own hands. Omelets, shrimp pasta with creamy primavera sauce; crusted chicken breast and roasted vegetables; all meals I thoroughly enjoy cooking myself. While I don’t count myself an expert chef, I can say I have acquired a sixth sense for food. That is why when I moved to Gainesville I was reluctant to sample the variety of eateries the town offers. But with some persuasion from friends and many birthday party dinners to attend, Gainesville cuisine won me over. Embers Wood Grill is no exception. There’s just no place like it. Embers, which opened in June, prides itself on creating an “exceptional dining experience in Gainesville.” As an owner, Ryan Todd brings his wine knowledge and expertise to the table. Todd is the only Court of Masters Sommelier in North Florida. His business partner, executive chef Briton Dumas, graduated from Miami’s Johnson and Wales University. According to the Web site, their mission is to provide the “highest quality food, service and ambiance.” From the service to the food, Todd and Dumas are on the right track.

the setup From the street, Embers has a very humble and unassuming appearance. In fact it doesn’t look like anything more than a regular storefront. But once I walked inside, the storefront look was all but forgotten. It was almost like stepping into another world. I was struck by the warmth flowing from the décor. Every single detail in the restaurant exudes decadence and lavishness. The walls are awash in a warm rustic orange that is echoed throughout the entire restaurant. Dimmer lighting helps to create a more intimate mood in the main dining area. In the front of the restaurant the lounge area features a full bar with a combination of small tables and chairs for more casual dining. Floral paintings that mimic Van Gogh rest above high-back sofas. This 40-person space is ideal for friends wanting to enjoy an informal night out or a small dinner party. The very interior of the restaurant boasts a main dining area ready to seat up to 100 people. There is also an outdoor patio and a private dining space which seats 35. The setup in the dining area is built for variety. The round tables are surrounded by dark leather chairs ready to host business meetings, formal dinners, anniversaries, graduations and even engagements. Whatever the occasion, patrons won’t feel out of place. But restaurant goers should be mindful of their appearance. A restaurant like this tailors to a business, semi-formal or semi-casual dress code. Flip-flops and t-shirts may be a little underdressed.

for the main course, I chose the citron King salmon. finished in a lemon and tangerine zest. I had the choice of having it bronzed or grilled

112 | Spring 2010

the fooD The decadence doesn’t stop with the décor; that is just the opening act. The main attraction is the menu, which offers a variety of steaks, beef, seafood, poultry and appetizers. The restaurant is the “only USDA Prime

Cut steakhouse” in Gainesville, according to their Web would say the lobster Mashed Potatoes won. The flavor site, and harvests their seafood and produce regionally. was rich and the texture just right. I had the opportunity to experience Embers one I finished off my meal with a spicy Merlot, suggested recent evening and this is what I witnessed. let’s start to me by my server. with the appetizer. The Prime Filet Mignon Flatbread Overall, my experience at Embers was excellent. was one of the featured items on the menu. It conPatrons can expect to pay between $30 to $50 dollars sisted of wood grilled filet mignon, sliced mushrooms, blue cheese and caramelized onions drizzled with a slightly sweet sauce over top. I do not consider myself a mushroom or onion lover, but I appreciate they were small enough that I was not distracted by their presence. I like my steak well done, but Embers is an expert in handling steaks so they will not hesitate to prepare dishes to specific customizations. For the main course, I chose the Citron King Salmon. Finished in a lemon and tangerine zest, this salmon weighed about 6 to 10 ounces. I had the choice of having it Photos By AlBert IsAAc bronzed or grilled. I went with grilled ABOVE: Warm ambient light because I wanted to see if Embers creates intimacy inside Embers’ would really live up its name. The Main Dining Area. salmon was tender and tasty. The RIGHT: Business partners lemon and tangerine enhanced the Charles Allen, Ryan Todd and natural flavor of the salmon without Briton Dumas in front of a leaving an overly fishy taste. wine rack at Embers Wood Unlike other restaurants of its Grill Restaurant. caliber, Embers offers its guests the opportunity to pick their own side dishes. Each main course is allowed two side dishes. per person. But fear not, the large portions make up I chose lobster Mashed Potatoes (sautéed lobster and for the price. The service was great. My server knew butter whipped potatoes) and Vanilla Whipped Sweet the wine menu and dining menu very well. He did not Potatoes with a hint of bourbon. Interesting choice, I hesitate to make suggestions or answer my questions know, but I eat salmon often and I know how it tastes regarding the menu. Embers Wood Grill knows what it with vegetables and rice. I wanted to see how these two specializes in and does not try to go beyond that. But different carbohydrates would pair with the salmon. if the pricing seems a little daunting, I would stick to They were both amazing and I am not even a huge fan dining during those special occasions. s of sweet potatoes. If I had to pick one over the other, I For more information, visit www.embersofflorida.com.

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page

72 >> you DoN’t KNow DiDDley

After a year of recovering from both a stroke and a heart attack, Bo Diddley died on June 2, 2008, of heart failure at his Archer home. Three dozen family members had gathered at Bo’s deathbed and sang the gospel song, ‘Walk Around Heaven.’ Bo’s last words were, “I’m going to heaven.”

116 | Spring 2010

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Queen of Peace Academy ..............94

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St. Francis High School ....................94

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pets and vets automotive Beck of Starke ....................................... 6 Ernie’s Southern Offroad................. 77 Santa Fe Ford ..................................... 119 Veneauto Cars .....................................63

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Domino’s Pizza ............................... 17, 19

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Action ChemDry .................................80

Mad Hatters Café ............................... 77

Weight Watchers................................69

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Mamma Mia Pizzeria .........................39

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Authorized Carpet Cleaning ........ 108

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Clint S. Davis Land Clearing ...........115

eDuCatioN & ChilD Care Alachua Learning Center .................. 3

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American Academy ...........................113

COX Communications ....................... 15

Gainesville Country Day School ...34

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TriRX................................................114, 118

Kiddie Academy of Gainesville ...... 31

Fresh Coat Painters ...........................64

Holly’s Cougar Den ............................85

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Gainesville Regional Airport ..........64

Government Jobs...............................118

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