Orange and Blue magazine - Fall 2019 - The Move Issue

THE

FALL19

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Perfect

WORK SHOES

for the Girl on the Go

What to Know Before Making

A CAREER CHANGE

LOCAL ROLLER DERBY ROCKSTARS

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ISSUE GAINESVILLE IS GETTING A MOVE ON TRANSPORTATION

AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE’S Approach to Life

Camille Graham Editor-in-Chief

Carolina Watlington Photo Editor

Jacqueline Saguin Copy Editor

Jessica Curbelo Copy Editor

MEET THE STAFF

Rebecca Santana Blog Editor

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Kacey Finch Marketing Director

Anastasia Sims Social Media Editor

Maria Blokhina Designer

r o t i Ed

LETTER FROM

e h t

As a staff, we threw out over 150 ideas for magazine themes. While each idea was important and worthy of exploring, none of them were right, and we knew it. All of the themes felt flat. Our lives are constantly changing, especially as so many of us are figuring out what life after the University of Florida will look like. We needed something that wasn’t limiting, something that we could shape into a thousand different forms.

Enter: move.

We wanted to build a magazine that was reflective of our readers.

As it turns out, that’s not an easy thing to do. You, the people of Gainesville, contain multitudes. You are active and love your public spaces (just check out Depot Park on a sunny Sunday). You are driven and committed to making Gainesville a better place, one reusable bag at a time. You are always on the go, moving from one thing to the next at a pace that sometimes makes our heads spin.

As a staff, we thought about moving in its many forms. We broke a sweat, we were moved to tears, we talked about moving in and out of Gainesville gracefully. We also thought about how important it is to stop moving–slow down, take inventory of your actions and your intentions, practicing self-care when needed. We explored moving up in the world and moving in a way that’s good for you, your body and your community. We moved more than ever before so that we could write authentically about what it really means to move.

Aside from the 100 bad puns built on the foundation of ‘move,’ this magazine is a well-crafted labor of love. We have rewritten and scrapped so much, we have edited and fought for pieces that we love, we worked together even when we didn’t want to. We learned a lot and laughed way more than was professionally acceptable. This magazine was such an honor to make, and we’re really proud of it. We love it, and we think you might love it too.

Keep moving forward, Camille Graham

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ENTERTAINMENT 8 / Move Over Netflix 9 / Fast Fashion's Tipping Point 13 / Being a Mermaid is No Day at the Beach 15 / Move You to Tears

CAREER 22 / 9 Business Shoes for the Girl on the Go 26 / Making Money Moves 27 / Move On & Move Up 29 / 5 Hidden Costs to Know Before Moving

HEALTH 34 / Simon Says Self-Care 35 / Take a Trip with Toxins 37 / Florida’s Infamous House Guest 38 / From Mess to Less 39 / Am I the Only One Being Bullied

by My Apple Watch?

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COMMUNITY 44 / Get a Move on Public Transit 48 / Riding Through the 352 51 / Your Turn to Move 52 / Wandering Waste 54 / Moving with Forever in Mind 56 / Moving Gainesville Forward

FEATURE 16 / Rollin' with the Rebels 30 / Painting the Town 40 / The Fun in Fear 58 / A League of Her Own 64 / Staff on the Move orange&blue magazine

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ENTERTAINMENT

MOVE OVER NETFLIX story and photo by Carolina Watlington

Before moving to the United States from Brazil in 2012, Leticia Nunes

But Netflix isn’t giving up the fight. The streaming giant recently

hadn’t even heard of Netflix – but now the 19-year-old dietetics student

announced that it will be adding “Seinfeld,” an NBC show, to its

can’t imagine her life without it.

streaming in 2021 in the hopes of keeping the ‘90s-loving subscribers.

“I’m by no means addicted, but, for me, it’s my way of cooling off or relaxing at the end of a busy week,” Nunes said.

Disney+’s Nov. 12 launch has fans buzzing about its original content and diverse options from its catalog. It’s not just the content that Netflix has to worry about though.

With the upcoming launches of HBO Max, BET+ and NBCUniversal’s Peacock, the million-dollar question looming over Nunes’ and the rest

Disney+ offers its plan for $6.99 per month and a bundle that

of the world’s heads is this: What will this mean for Netflix?

includes Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month, with the ability

Netflix knows the streaming war battlefield all too well, as it has been

$8.99 for a single device, and the standard plan allows up to two.

fighting Hulu and Amazon Prime for the crown of best streaming

At nearly double the price with half of the available devices, will

service for years. The market is still dominated by Netflix due to

consumers stay with Netflix or make the switch?

to simultaneously stream on four devices. The basic Netflix plan is

brand loyalty, but with a high saturation in the market, a healthy amount of its 150 million subscribers are likely to jump ship.

Since its launch, most users haven’t ditched Netflix – yet. With not even one month under Disney+’s belt, even the most eager of Disney

It is no secret that the media giants behind the new streaming

fans want to test the waters before making a decision.

services are all simultaneously withdrawing their owned content from Netflix. Will there be room for one more? How many is too many?

With Disney’s eye-catching prices, fans are more likely to pull the plug on cable (if they haven’t already) to get the best of both worlds.

Three of Netflix’s most popular shows – “Friends,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” – are all leaving within the span of the

Nunes doesn’t think she’ll be leaving Netflix anytime soon.

next year and a half.

“My Netflix reaches Brazil,” she said. “I’m not sure if the others will be “I’m just not a big fan of what’s coming because you’ll have to

able to do that. If I go for two months, I won’t be able to watch anything.”

subscribe to multiple streaming services just to get what you used to be able to access on just one,” Nunes said.

Either way, Netflix needs to hang onto its crown for what’s coming, there's competition moving in. O&B

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FAST FASHION’S

TIPPING POINT

ENTERTAINMENT high rates of water and air pollution are no secret. This is why the power lies with the consumer and what they want.

“We live in a capitalistic society,” the study said. “The industry does not have to address the environment, as it is unlikely that the industry will change unless the consumers’ preferences change.”

Consumers can credit the rise of fast fashion to brands like Zara and H&M. The latter created a global initiative, The Garment Collection Program, in which people drop off unwanted clothes into the store’s recycling box in exchange for a 15%-off coupon. H&M then sends the clothes to a recycling plant and sorts it by hand, according to the company’s website.

Although fast fashion has picked up steam over the years thanks to online fashion websites such as Shein, Romwe and Princess Polly, it seems like the movement may finally be running into some roadblocks.

story by Jacqueline Saguin photos by Jane Pham

People are waking up to the fact that they can’t throw clothes away forever. Actions, meet consequences. Industries like fast fashion pave the way for cheap clothing that only lasts a few wears.

According to a 2016 study by Bard College, it’s disposable clothing that contributes toward natural resource depletion.

The term “fast fashion” refers to an approach to the design, creation and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers, according to the Merriam-Webster definition. This business model replicates runway trends in a fast, disposable manner. It appeals to big name companies because of its quick mass production turnaround at low prices. However, the cost is cheap labor, environmental harm and poor clothing quality.

The fashion analysis study from Bard College underlined the fashion industry’s large carbon footprint, which isn’t talked about often. Fast fashion’s products are made almost entirely from plastic fibers. These materials require a great amount of energy to produce, and they pollute the air with harmful chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency considers these factories hazardous, which moves production to underdeveloped countries, according to the study.

China accounts for about 30% of the world’s apparel exports, making it a key player in the fast fashion game. And the country’s

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ENTERTAINMENT Take a peek at Forever 21’s website, and about 10 sale offers flash across the screen, pleading for people to shop now: “Free shipping for orders $21 and up;” “Extra 50% off;” “Pick your deal!”

One of fashion’s fastest growing retailers, Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 29. The company announced in a letter to its customers that its operations would continue as normal, but the company planned to close a number of stores.

And the dominoes fall. The public’s opinion on fast fashion is shifting.

Steve Nichtberger, who started Flashbacks Recycled Fashion in 1986, said he can’t tell whether people buy clothes from his thrift store just because it’s “trendy” or because young people are making the conscious decision toward bettering the environment.

But, the owner of the Gainesville clothing staple said he sees all levels of society, young and old alike, showing an increased awareness toward their buying habits. In 2019, people bring in reusable bags and understand why someone would ask whether they want paper or plastic. It’s a message Nichtberger tried to convey for years.

“In the ‘80s, I’d ask people if they needed a bag, stressing the word ‘need,’” he said. “People would look at [me] like, ‘What do you mean?

A bag is part of the sale.’ Now, it’s a whole different world.”

A local reuse center in Gainesville, the Repurpose Project, restores life to products people don’t think twice about throwing away like an extra button or a broken doorknob. The nonprofit’s co-founder, Sarah Goff, promotes this as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.

“It’s so easy to get lost in the depths of what business is ethical or what product is more environmentally friendly,” Goff said, “But one sure bet is purchasing something used. It has already been manufactured, and it is already in your local community.”

This avoids giving money to the manufacturers who make clothing for cheap. Instead, it redirects the money to a local store, which usually has a noble mission to help people or animals. It’s an easy way to protect the planet and reduce global climate change, she said.

Goff’s team shares the same sentiment. Lynn Polke was the center’s first employee. A part of her role included starting a six-week workshop series and staging the nonprofit’s very own “Repurpose Project Runway Trashion Show,” which featured local designs made of recycled goods that would have been sent to a landfill otherwise.

Polke continues her sustainability efforts outside of work with clothing swaps. She rummages through her closet, picking out pieces she’s done wearing. She and her friends meet up, throw everything into one big pile and crack open a bottle of wine while they’re at it.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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ENTERTAINMENT

“In the ‘80s, I’d ask people if they needed a bag, stressing the word ‘need.’ People would look at [me] like, ‘What do you mean? A bag is part of the sale.’ Now, it’s a whole different world.”

“It’s just nice to find something that might fit you better or something you’re excited about,” she said. “[The clothes are] still new to you.”

Polke always shopped secondhand. She never wanted to wear what everyone else did. And, oftentimes, it’s better quality, she said. “It’s poorly made clothing that you can only wear a couple of times,” Polke said about fast fashion brands like Forever 21.

It looks like people are catching on. It’s apparent through the mounds of clothing dropped off at both Flashbacks and the Repurpose Project. Polke said the Repurpose Project had to put up fences because they were “inundated with clothes.” Their donation bins were stuffed so full, so fast, they abandoned the idea altogether, not knowing what to do with all the clothes.

Although no one can know for sure where the fast fashion industry is heading, it certainly isn’t up. O&B

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d i a rm ENTERTAINMENT

BEING A

e m IS NO DAY AT THE BEACH

story by Camille Graham photos by Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Long before mouse ears ruled central Florida, mermaids captivated the hearts and pockets of tourists. Just 100 miles south of Gainesville

“That shock of cold water in the morning, you never get used to it,” Goodlet says.

lay a place so unique, so quintessentially Florida, that it hardly seems real. Mermaids swim freely, and the whimsy of old Hollywood is

As a child visiting Weeki Wachee, Goodlet was infatuated with the

around every corner and under every surface.

beauty and wonder of it all. Like so many little girls, she dreamed of

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is home to the famous mermaid

its cast openings and the job posting went viral, Goodlet knew it

being a mermaid when she grew up. When Weeki Wachee advertised show. Since the 1940s, visitors from far and wide have come to see

was her one chance to be a real mermaid. While dozens of hopeful

living, breathing, swimming mermaids perform underwater in the

mermaids auditioned for spots, Goodlet was one of only three to

natural spring.

advance to the training phase.

The name Weeki Wachee means “little spring,” according to the

The training process for the Weeki Wachee mermaid show is no day

Seminole Indians. For a little spring, it gushes more than 110 million

at the beach. Before even thinking about getting in front of the crowd,

gallons of crystal clear water in sub-75 degree temperatures.

mermaids start surface training, figuring out how to move around under the water and getting scuba certified.

For Morgan Goodlet, a mermaid who has been performing at Weeki Wachee for over a year, every show is a new opportunity to be the

Mermaids spend two weeks practicing breathing and getting

best mermaid she can be. Every time feels like the first time, she says.

comfortable before learning the choreography for shows. They train

Before every show, the mermaids spend some time in the water just

for four-to-six months before ever performing in public. Though

breathing and getting comfortable.

vigorous, this process ensures that every mermaid can perform safely and to the best of their abilities.

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ENTERTAINMENT Weeki Wachee has lured tourists for decades. In the mermaid theater, different languages and accents overlap each other in an indeterminable chatter that falls silent once the curtain goes up.

A visitor from Tampa, Christina Davison, said she was in awe of the mermaids. Davison had never seen them perform but came on a whim when she learned that Weeki Wachee was only an hour away from her home. She says she’s been a mermaid lover since she was a kid and went to the show to “embrace her inner child.”

“I can’t believe that they can put on a 30-minute show underwater,” Davison says. “In comparison, I could hold my breath for maybe a grand total of 40 seconds.”

To remain buoyant, the mermaids are trained to use the air hoses to determine when to sink lower or float to the surface. If they need to go up, they take a bigger inhalation of air. To sink, they exhale more.

Goodlet says that everyone’s center of buoyancy is different.

In a state known for both its beaches and magical tourist attractions, it seems only fitting that the mermaids would make a home for themselves in Florida.

The mermaid show all started with Newton Perry, a former U.S. Navy Frogmen, who stumbled upon the spring when it was still a local dumping ground full of discarded appliances and rusty cars.

Perry envisioned a place beyond the dumped trash and into the potential of making the deepest freshwater cave system in the United States – a tourist destination on par with Disney World.

Multiple shows are performed during the day, ranging from a history of Weeki Wachee, a cast of old school all stars and a reinvention of

He had the spring cleaned and developed a method of using air

none other than “The Little Mermaid.” As pop hits and nautical ditties

compressors and underwater hoses to allow “underwater breathing.”

play over the speakers, all the elements come together in a modern

This process allows mermaids, after months of vigorous training, to

display of childhood magic, no matter what show it is.

spend long periods below the surface, breathing from hoses.

When asked about a favorite part to play in the mermaid show, On Oct. 13, 1947, Weeki Wachee opened its doors and premiered the

Goodlet says each role has its own perks and drawbacks.

very first live mermaid show. Performers dazzled crowds in retro one-piece bathing suits and simple tails, eating bananas underwater

“Some days you want to be the [character of] the witch,” Goodlet says.

and drinking old-fashioned soda pop.

“And some days you just want to feel pretty and be a mermaid.”

ABC purchased the spring from Perry in 1959 and rebuilt the theater to

These days Weeki Wachee is open 365 days a year, playing three shows

accommodate 400 seats. In its heyday, Weeki Wachee employed about

a day. For those who prefer to stay above water, glass-bottom boat tours

30 mermaids and attracted the biggest stars at the time. The 1950s saw

are available in addition to a playground and a snack shop. Settle in,

Don Knotts, Esther Williams, Arthur Godfrey and even Elvis Presley.

soak up the sun and watch tails flip as Florida magic comes to life. O&B

Gone are the days of simple costumes and gimmicky acts. Now, the costumes involve more Lycra and glitter than a figure skater. While the mermaids still perform gravity-defying tricks like snacking underwater, these days they also dance, flip and act with a whimsy that the little mermaid herself would be jealous of.

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ENTERTAINMENT

MOVE YOU TO TEARS story by Anastasia Sims photo by Jane Pham Andrew Plummer cries at everything. Not a sporting event goes by

called oxytocin, acts like neurotransmitters and tricks the brain

that his girlfriend doesn’t look over and see him silently shed a tear

into making us care for one another — even if, Zak explains, they’re

during the national anthem — but only when it’s sung live.

strangers or fictional characters.

Anna Blakley loves to cry. On her way home from a family vacation

Entertainment has advanced so much that it’s learned to take

to London, she couldn’t fall asleep on the plane. So, as the rest of

advantage of our brain, says Dr. Jeffrey Zacks, a professor of

her family slept around her, she watched “Happy Feet Two.” The

psychological and brain science at Washington University. The

waterworks began shortly after the main character died. It makes her

“mirror rule,” as Zacks named it, describes how we subconsciously

feel more human when she cries.

copy the expressions or feelings of the characters we read or watch.

Rebekah Malpass thinks crying is a part of life. While she was

This might be why people love when things make them “feel”

studying abroad in Ireland, she wept over “Go Set a Watchman” by

something. If you’ve found yourself becoming obsessed or in love

Harper Lee on a public bus to Belfast. She’s not embarrassed that

with a certain character or movie, this explains it. Perhaps it's one

a dozen or so foreign strangers watched her cry over one of her

of the reasons we have cult classics like “Donnie Darko” and “The

favorite books.

Shawshank Redemption.”

One quick Google search and it’s easy to see there’s an abundance

It’s nearly 2 a.m. on an October day in 2018, and Malpass and her

of movies, books and other types of entertainment that feel like they

friends walk out of a movie theater quietly after seeing the midnight

were made to make people cry. But why do we cry? Why is it that

premiere of Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born.” They are all wearing

when we see, read or even hear something, the floodgates open, and

jackets and pajama pants even though it’s too warm for either. Later,

we sometimes ugly cry until we can’t breathe?

Malpass recalls that even though no one was talking, there was a palpable feeling of sadness.

Paul Zak is the founding director of the Center for Neuroeconomics and a self-proclaimed movie crier. After crying while watching Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” with his wife, he searched for why

“It’s weird that we let things like a movie have so much control over us,” she says. “But I guess it makes sense. Sometimes our own lives can

we cry during movies. His answer lies in lots of complicated scientific

be so mundane that we start to crave something that can actually

jargon that can be boiled down to one word: empathy. A hormone,

move us [to tears].” O&B

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ROLLIN’ WITH THE REBELS

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story by Kacey Finch photos by Adrianna Santiago Three, two, one. All at once, 12 pairs of roller skates come to a screeching halt. “Bring it in,” someone yells. Twelve women roll to the middle of a makeshift roller derby track at the University of Florida’s Broward Outdoor Recreational Complex to take a sip of water. Next up: practicing a new defensive technique called the “burrito.”

On the other side of the rink lies a second makeshift track. It’s

occupied by “fresh meat,” as the veterans call them. While they begin

to practice a new move, the newbies skate in a circle, practicing falling to one knee. Their coach tells them it’s all about muscle memory.

This is a typical Tuesday night for the members of the Gainesville

Roller Rebels. Founded in 2007, it is the city’s only roller derby team.

In 2013, it became a full member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby

Association, which consists of about 400 leagues worldwide.

When one thinks of roller derby, they may picture men and women

marathon skating around a raised track. However, the sport evolved into a game that consists of two teams made up of five skaters. A

skater in the “jammer” position scores points by pushing through the other team’s blockers, passing their hips. It’s fast-paced and involves

a lot of falling, blocking and strategy.

Roller derby is more than a sport for members like Chelsea Tobias, the president of the Gainesville Roller Rebels. It’s a lifestyle.

“From the first day I went, I knew immediately this was for me,” says

Tobias, who goes by “Queen Slayer” in the rink. “It's like this constant group that you have connected to you.”

Running the league isn’t just about skating. Unlike other recreational

sports, Gainesville Roller Rebels is a business, she says. In 2008, the team became a registered nonprofit. It’s run entirely on

volunteers. Members of the team do their own marketing, run games,

plan fundraisers and find sponsors. Tobias admits it’s something

she has to invest a lot of time in while working her full-time job

as an assistant director for career engagements at UF’s Career Connections Center.

“I'm just doing it because I love it,” she says. “It's like a family.”

Outside of the hard work it takes to run the team, Tobias also

emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining derby. Even the biggest leagues, like those in Portland, Oregon, struggle to find a place

to skate. Gainesville Roller Rebels faces those challenges as well,

even now. Broward isn’t where they typically practice, but unlikely

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circumstances forced them away from their usual practice facility at the Alachua County Fairgrounds.

“It's hard to keep up with a sport like this when there's not places that have derby tracks on them already,” Tobias says. “We have to be incredibly adaptable and willing to play in less-than-ideal places.”

But even with the trials and tribulations, Tobias could never picture her life without roller derby. It challenges her. She’s always learning new things. And still, five years later, she enters the rink with butterflies in her stomach.

“Being on skates, it's exhilarating,” she says. “It makes me feel powerful, capable and confident. It's just a space where I can feel completely myself.”

Courtney Figueira, whose derby name is “Coconut Slaughter,” feels the same way, describing her roller derby experience as “life-changing.”

“I feel like I really found myself through the sport, which sounds cheesy, but it's totally true,” says Figueira, an office manager and advertising student at UF. “It's very empowering, which keeps you coming back.”

Almost four years ago, Figueira tossed the idea of joining the roller derby team back and forth in her mind. Should she do it? Maybe not. After all, she had only skated maybe once before in her life. Still, she took the leap and went to a one-on-one lesson. She never looked back, and now, she’s a captain.

“I definitely feel more confident as a person with a voice and as a woman being able to take my space, not just on the track, but, [also] in the world,” Figueira says. “It applies in my real life as well – not letting failures or things that are hard get me down.”

Brittany Evans, who goes by "Gnarly Rae Jepsen" when she’s not working at UF Health Shands, was looking for a way to be active and make new friends after graduation. She gave herself two options: join Gainesville Roller Rebels or run a marathon.

“This sounded a lot more fun than a marathon,” she laughs. “I stayed at first because I like to push myself, and I wanted to learn new things about skating. But ultimately, the friendships and that really tight social bond made me stay.”

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“Being on skates, it's exhilarating. It makes me feel powerful, capable and confident. It's just a space where I can feel completely myself.”

Evans describes the league as a diverse community with one

— a concussion on the first day, a broken ankle and 12 stitches above

obsession in common. When it comes to derby, Evans says no one is

the eye after passing out at practice. But she’s never lost sight of her

ever just a little into it – it’s all or nothing.

ultimate goal: to become a referee.

Roller derby is an obsession that extends far beyond Gainesville

“I'm 62 years old. I don't want to be out there beating and bumping,”

or even the state of Florida. Elisabeth Boycan joined the team after

she says. “But I love the rules. I love enforcing rules. That's the kind of

moving from West Virgina, where she played roller derby for two

person I am.”

years in college.

Claire serves as the head non-skating official for the Gainesville “I was an English major, and Macbeth has always been my favorite

and Ocala leagues. In total, she works for eight different teams

Shakespeare play. Lady Macbeth was my favorite character,”

around the state and worked 41 games this year. By the end of this

Boycan explains how she got her derby name. “I turned that into

season, she’ll be one step closer to her goal of becoming a certified

‘Lady Macdeath.ʼ”

non-skating official.

After moving to Gainesville in 2018, Boycan missed the friendships

Roller derby has become a constant in Claire’s life – so much so

she made through derby in West Virginia and having something to

that when she retires in 900-something days, she plans to take

do outside of working as a captioning assistant for deaf and hard of

a two-year motorcycle trip around the country. But she won’t be

hearing UF students. After working up the courage to contact the

driving aimlessly.

team, Boycan found a new derby family here in Gainesville.

“Every weekend, I'm going to be some place where I can officiate roller Now, she’s considered fresh meat at Gainesville Roller Rebels

derby,” she says with a smile. “That's the plan.”

because she hasn’t been on skates in over a year. While working on getting her muscle memory

Claire says she does roller derby for three reasons. The first is

back, she serves as the

simple: exercise. But the second and third reasons are what make

team’s scorekeeper.

roller derby so important to her. She suffers from PTSD after serving in the military and surviving child abuse. Roller derby is what keeps

“I'm new here, so I don’t have a

her from falling into the darkness.

position yet,” Boycan says.

“Do you know what the semicolon tattoo means?” She asks.

“She’s scorekeeper until I say otherwise,” Jami Claire giggles.

The semicolon tattoo represents the power to move forward and support those dealing with suicide.

Claire, known as “Bouncing Bite-Her” in the rink, has been

Claire turns her forearm to reveal a blue motorcycle tattoo. Four red

a Gainesville Roller Rebel's

semicolons sit within the motorcycle – one for every time she has

fan since the team’s inception

tried to take her own life.

in 2007. When her weight reached about 300 pounds, she changed her lifestyle.

“Doing derby and being around derby people, as positive as they are, as helpful as they are, keeps me from adding another one,” she says.

After losing 70 pounds, her weight loss plateaued. Claire

The third reason: Roller derby gives her a family. It’s a family that

hadn’t exercised in years,

accepts her with open arms for who she is: a transgender woman.

but she decided to give roller derby a shot.

“When I transitioned, none of my family wanted to be around me anymore,” she says. “Derby is family.”

“On my first day, I made it around the track twice in two hours,” she laughs.

The purpose of roller derby runs deeper than it just being a sport – it’s a community built on the basis of acceptance and empowerment.

The Roller Rebels are rolling on as just that. O&B

Claire’s derby journey has had plenty of bumps in the road

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CAREER

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BUSINESS SHOES FOR THE GIRL ON THE GO

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CAREER

story by Carolina Watlington photo by Jessica Curbelo illustrated by Carolina Watlington In the 1994 Oscar-winning film "Forrest Gump," Tom Hank’s titular

six inches but if there’s a platform on your toes, there’s way less

character said, “Mama always said you could tell an awful lot about a

strain on your feet.”

person by the kind of shoes they wear." His mama was right.

Shoes play a large role in identity and self-expression in fashion for multiple reasons. Your shoes can make or break an outfit. The type of

MONI BASU, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA & FORMER CNN REPORTER

Shoes are not just something Moni Basu wears on her feet to get

shoe, color, material and texture that we choose in our footwear say

from point A to point B — they’re a form of self-expression. With over

more about us in a 30-second glance than an elevator pitch ever could.

120 pairs, she doesn’t take her shoe collection lightly. Basu recalled once being referred to as Imelda, after the former First Lady of the

No matter what industry you work in, you can still look like a boss

Philippines who was known for her massive shoe collection.

without sacrificing comfort. Meet some fashion-conscious women on the go, and see what they’re wearing.

Just to get to her office, Basu has quite a walk ahead of her.

MICHELLE RUSSO, CONTENT STRATEGIST AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

“I have to park in a parking deck on one end of campus and walk all

Working in social media for a theme park means there’s no telling

the way to the building on another end,” she said. “When I’m finally teaching, I have to be on my feet for three hours straight.”

how much Michelle Russo will be on her feet on any given day. She might be constantly on her feet at an all-day video shoot one day, and

But when Basu worked at CNN, she had to wear much higher heels

the next, she might be sitting at her desk or in meetings. On average,

and always keep flats, sneakers and sometimes even hiking boots in

Russo said she stands for about two and a half hours out of a typical

her car just in case she got sent to report on a story.

eight-hour day. With the uncertainty of what her feet will be up to, when it comes to footwear, comfort is non-negotiable.

Since that’s no longer a concern for her, she has sworn off commuter shoes.

“I suffer from bunions, so it’s really hard to find shoes that won’t hurt me,” Russo said.

After moving to Florida, she took the initiative to expand her sandal collection. She now wears a lot of chunky-heeled sandals.

At the end of the day, finding the perfect balance of comfort and style is what’s important to Russo.

“Shoes are not something that I want to be overthinking, but I still strive for those clean, put-together looks that will go with any outfit,” she said.

LACEY MCGRIFF, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT WCJB TV 20

SHEMA FREEMAN, PATENT LAWYER, REAL ESTATE AGENT & ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Working three very different jobs, Shema Freeman wants a shoe that

can accommodate her career wherever she may be.

“If I’m showing houses, I’m always either standing, walking or driving,

During her mornings as an account executive at a local news station,

and I have to do that about twice a day,” Freeman said. “Twice a week,

Lacey McGriff typically doesn’t get up from meetings or her desk

when I’m teaching a lab, I have to stand for between three to four hours.”

very often. But after noon, she’s constantly on the move, in and out of her car and on the go. McGriff estimated she’s on her feet for five

And that’s not including when she’s working as a patent lawyer. All in

hours on an average workday.

all, she’s typically standing or walking between four to six hours daily.

“All of my outfits look terrible with flats,” McGriff laughed.

When looking for shoes, comfort is a number one priority — tied with being cute, of course. When teaching a lab, Freeman has to wear

She tries to steer away from high heels but won’t shy away from baby

closed-toe shoes, so she prefers a regular pair of flats.

heels if it’s the right mix of looking professional without killing her feet.

“I try to wear a lot of different colors of similar-looking flats to match my “While I’m probably more conscious than the next girl about heel

outfit,” Freeman said. “It’s a fun way to show my personality with details.”

size, it’s really about the incline,” McGriff said. “Your heel could be

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CAREER

THEIR PICKS: MICHELLE’S PICK CHESTNUT TIEKS, $175.00, TIEKS.COM “The light brown shade goes with absolutely everything,” Russo said. “I love the bluegreen soles­— they get a lot of compliments!”

LACEY’S PICK PINK MARBLE ANTONIO MILANI RAINAH PEEP-TOE PUMPS, $98, DILLARDS.COM “They’re classy and professional looking and still go with everything in my closet,” McGriff said. “I’ve had them for four and a half years and even have the same pair in navy blue!”

MONI’S PICK DONALD PLINER KLARISSA METALLIC SANDAL, $89.99, DONALDPLINER.COM “I got a pair of Donald Pliner sandals in metallic bronze over 11 years ago, and they’re still in perfect condition,” Basu said.

“They’re both comfortable and elegant.”

SHEMA’S PICK CORAL ALMOND PATENT TAIL BOW SKIMMER FLAT, COLE HAAN, $48.98, COLEHAAN.COM “They’re so versatile for me,” she said. “If I had to go from showing a house, to teach and then to court, I could still wear them.”

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CAREER

OUR PICKS:

MARITIME NAVY, ROTHY’S, $145.00, ROTHYS.COM

These navy flats will take the worry out of your mornings for easy outfit fixes. Don’t

BLACK LENA FLEX MID LEATHER ANKLE STRAP SANDALS, MICHAEL KORS, $69.30, SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

worry about getting them dirty — they’re made out of 100% recycled materials and are machine washable.

Black goes with everything, and these sandals are no exception. Wear them day and night and work to play with seamless transition.

YELLOW SUEDE GAVAN SANDAL, ESSEX LANE, $45.99, DSW.COM Sometimes a pop of color is all you need to make your look stand out. With a low, comfortable heel, you can finally say goodbye to your commuter shoes.

MEEKO BLOCK-HEEL BOOTIES, MADDEN GIRL $69.00, MACYS.COM Take the throne as your office fashionista in these white booties. The low incline won’t beat up your feet or take away from your outfit. Add them as an attention-grabbing pop of white to a monochromatic outfit or to neutralize a heavily patterned look.

SPANISH VANILLA PERENNA CONVERTIBLE LOAFER, VINCE CAMUTO, $59.37, NORDSTROM.COM You can rock them as loafers or convert them into mules with their collapsible heels. Either way, these baby pink shoes will be sure to stun — all while being comfortable.

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CAREER

MONEY MOVES story by Rebecca Santana photos by Carolina Watlington

What you don’t want is to invest recklessly or ignore it altogether.

The world of investments is complicated and feels inaccessible, which is why so many people just don’t do it. But saving all your disposable income and stashing it in the bank loses money. Your money is worth less and less every year because of inflation. If you’re only saving and not investing, you’re missing opportunities.

“The reality is, if you don’t invest, you’re not going to make any money from your money,” Di Virgilio said.

If you’re looking to start investing but don’t have much money, look into an automated investment portfolio. Companies like Betterment,

People run for the hills when they think about investments. Movies

Robinhood and Charles Schwab make it incredibly easy to invest,

paint the picture of million dollar stocks and bloodthirsty business

using Nobel Prize-winning science to invest your money automatically.

sharks on Wall Street. It’s much less daunting than one might think.

The co-founder of Chacon Diaz & Di Virgilio, a local fiduciary wealth

While it takes time to see the fruits of your investment, it’s important

management firm, James Di Virgilio, said that anyone can invest but

not to give up on your strategy when the going gets tough. Expect

some ways are smarter than others.

markets to naturally rise and fall, Di Virgilio said. Don’t throw out your investment strategy when the market’s down, or you could lose

First and foremost, good investing is based on science, statistics and

even more. Practice patience.

patterns in human behavior. Unless you’re planning on becoming an expert on this stuff, you should let a professional handle your investments. There will always be better options than DIY investing,

“Wise investing is slow,” Di Virgilio said. “It’s brick by brick. Your money builds itself over time.”

Di Virgilio said.

Money management is no simple task, but you can set yourself up So how much should you be investing? Di Virgilio said the short

for success if you take the time to do a little research and speak to a

answer is invest 10% of your gross income toward retirement,

professional. Investment isn’t all about big business or making crazy

whatever that may be. This assumes you have a steady income.

amounts of money, it’s about planning for your future and supporting ideas you believe in.

“If you don’t have any real income, don’t feel bad for not investing,” Di Virgilio said. “But as soon as you have your first ‘real’ job, it’s time to start thinking about financial planning.”

The first step for anyone who wants to start investing is to see a certified financial planner. The large majority of Americans don’t have good financial habits, Di Virgilio said. This includes your parents, so asking them for financial advice might not be in your best interest.

A certified financial planner will help you budget according to your personal income and expenses, helping you understand how much money you can set aside for investment. If you have debt, which a majority of college graduates do, it’s important that you pay down your debts while investing. Di Virgilio recommends devoting 10% of your gross income to pay off your debts and 10% for investing. The other 80% is yours to spend however you choose.

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“[You] invest in people,” Di Virgiolio said. “You’re primarily betting that their ideas will change the future for the better.” O&B

CAREER

MOVE ON &MOVE UP story and photo by Jessica Curbelo

The possibilities keep you up at night. Questions pile up, each

in the industry they’re in now. It’s hard to realize that you could do

clamoring for attention: Are you happy with your job? Is this what

what they did.

you’re meant to be doing? What if you tried something new?

You can absolutely, 100% and without a doubt, change your career Would you be able to make the change? Would it set you back? Would

— if you want to.

money be tight? Would you be happy?

Should you take the leap and change your job?

Making a career change may feel daunting and lonely, but there are

Celebrity stories may feel too out of reach, so let’s bring it a little closer to home with Irving Publications. The local magazine company based in Alachua County just celebrated its 10th anniversary and has enjoyed success with its two titles: Giggle Magazine and Wellness 360. But can you guess what the company’s co-founder and sales director, Shane Irving, was doing 10 years ago?

Hint: It wasn’t magazines.

more people on the same ride than you might think. A 2016 LinkedIn study estimated that people who graduated between 2006 and 2010

If you guessed running McAlister’s Deli restaurants, then that is one

averaged about three jobs in the first five years post-graduation.

lucky guess.

Various articles on the subject suggest the average person will have up to seven career changes in their lifetime. While the data

Irving started off as an assistant manager at the Archer Road

isn’t always detailed and there is a major difference between simply

location back in 1999. By the time he launched Irving Publications

changing jobs within an industry and jumping into an entirely new

in 2008 with his wife, Nicole Irving, he was in charge of seven stores

industry, the overabundance of articles, self-help books and studies

spanning from the Alabama-Florida border down to Tampa. Irving

show it’s not an uncommon practice.

continued working both jobs for about five years before finally leaving McAlister’s Deli to focus on the magazines.

In fact, there are plenty of well-known celebrities who have made a career change or two in their lifetime. Let’s not forget Arnold Scharwzenegger took a break from acting to pursue political office.

“It’s night and day,” Irving said. “They’re two totally different jobs.

One of the biggest things that made me go in one direction versus

Who could’ve predicted the Hollywood star would set his sights on

the other is ownership. If I was given the opportunity to own the

becoming the governor of California? Jessica Alba, Harrison Ford,

restaurants, I probably would still be at the restaurant, but that

Martha Stewart, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Oprah Winfrey are

opportunity wasn’t there for me, so I wanted something of our own,

only among a few more names people may recognize. It’s easy to

something that we could build and potentially leave to our kids or

forget that all of these people started somewhere else before working

retire from. I’m an entrepreneur at heart.”

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CAREER It was a scary move. When they launched Irving Publications, Shane

Indeed, an online job board, suggests researching available jobs to

and Nicole Irving had three small sons at home, aged 1, 4 and 5.

figure out what the pay is like, what opportunities exist and what the

Giggle Magazine was for parents just like them who needed a little

next steps may be toward jumping into a new industry. If you want to

help but couldn’t find good resources in Gainesville.

start your own business, look at what already exists in the market.

“It was an overnight success,” he said. “It was exactly what young

What’s worked, and what hasn’t? What sets your business apart?

parents were looking for.”

If you’ve jumped the gun, don’t worry. It’s not too late to do some But overnight success or not, leaving McAlister’s Deli wasn’t a light

research, and in some cases, going in blind can be helpful.

decision. It meant leaving behind a steady income and insurance, not knowing if the magazine would be enough to support the family of five.

“We didn’t even realize that there were other magazines in the area. Once we launched our magazine, we come to find out there is

Ten years later, here’s some advice Irving and others have for people taking the same leap of faith and switching careers:

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT

What can you do that would make you happy to get out of bed?

It’s one of the first questions all of those articles on career changes ask, and it’s the first step in making a

probably about 20 magazines at the time, which was crazy,” Irving

You can absolutely, 100% and without a doubt, change your career —if you want to.

change in your own life.

said. “We always say that being naive was something that was to our advantage because if we knew how difficult something was, if we knew how challenging something was, if we knew how much work something was, we would probably be more apprehensive to do the hard thing instead of going the easier route.”

ASK FOR HELP AND NETWORK

To Irving, it’s not about choosing your friends wisely. It’s about choosing your mentors wisely.

“You have to be passionate about what you do,” Irving said. “If you think that you’re just going to do something and then change your

“The biggest thing in life and in business is that you don’t go it alone,”

mind in a couple of years, that could be catastrophic for you. When

he said. “You need to ask for help, and try to talk with as many people

you have a mortgage, car payments and kids that are hungry, you

about business as you can.”

can’t just be gambling on what you’re doing. You definitely have to be sure about it and be driven toward your goal.”

Take advantage of the networks you have, both in-person and

Making a major career change is a hard adjustment, and there are

people who have made career changes too. Ask people about their

cons to it just as there are with any decision. It’s the passion that’ll

jobs, and see if it would be a good fit for you. Sometimes, they can

keep you going. Consider everything you love, and brainstorm how

even point you toward opportunities you didn’t know existed.

through online resources such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Talk to

you can get involved in those fields despite perceived limitations.

Do you love the music industry but can’t make music yourself?

A career change can be scary and uncertain. But there are resources

You still need agents, social media managers, event planners, etc.

out there to help, and there are plenty of people willing to lend you

Do you love books but don’t think you’re great with grammar or

a hand, offering helpful advice. If you want it, you can do it.

writing? Consider working in acquisitions or marketing or represent authors instead.

“What I always say is that if you’re driven and passionate and you have the ability to do it, then do it,” Irving said. “What I think now is

Just make sure to do a little research.

why didn’t I do it earlier? Why did I wait so long? Fifteen years of me

RESEARCH THE NEW INDUSTRY

and you really don’t have anything to show for those 15 years. You

Shane and Nicole Irving didn’t know a thing about magazines when

working at that particular business, and then you leave that business, move on. Right now, I’ve moved on to building a legacy for whatever

they started. They just had an idea. “What do you do?” Shane Irving

is down the road, whether it’s for my kids or for something that we’ve

asked. “You Google stuff. You start asking people. You start finding

created and we’re going to sell. For me, that’s really powerful.” O&B

resources, and you pull things together.”

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CAREER

5 HIDDEN COSTS TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING story by Carolina Watlington Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, moving

3. MOVERS OR TRUCK RENTALS | $50-4,000

can weigh down your wallet. To help prep for your next move, here are

The actual moving part of moving is no easy task. Even if you think

five hidden costs of moving you should know about before the big day.

you can handle it all yourself, you’ll still need to rent a truck. To rent

1. PACKING SUPPLIES | $100+

a 26-foot-long U-Haul for one day, even if you’re just moving across town, expect to pay a flat rate of $40 plus $1 per mile — in addition

To properly pack your belongings, you’ll need boxes, bubble wrap,

to extra fees. According to 2014 research by the American Moving &

packing paper, tape, markers and more. Even those flimsy cardboard

Storage Association, the average 7,100-pound move can cost $1,170

boxes you’ll toss after the move will dip into your wallet. Spending

in state and $5,630 out of state.

$1-3 per box, they won’t break the bank, but it will add up. For a three-bedroom home, the average cost of boxes alone is around $150. To save money or paper, look into getting some reusable containers you can use on your next move and for storage in the

4. MOVING INSURANCE AND LIABILITY PROTECTION | $100+

One way to combat the extensive costs of property damage is to

meantime. Companies offer programs to rent reusable boxes at rates

be prepared by purchasing moving insurance. Traditional moving

typically cheaper than purchasing one-time-use cardboard boxes.

insurance typically costs 1% of the valuation of your items. Moving

Plastic moving boxes from U-Haul on average cost $1.50 per box for

insurance isn’t for everyone, but if you’re making a big move or

a one-week rental.

2. LOSING YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT OR DOING REPAIRS | $500+

When you live somewhere for a while, you might not realize how

much wear and tear you put on the place. If you owned your home, you might need to do some touch-ups and repairs before someone else buys it. If you’re renting, it’s a different ballgame entirely. Some

have valuable items, it’s worth looking into. If you’re using a moving company, check out their liability value protection package options in case anything breaks during the move. It‘s cheaper and may be more suited to what you need. But if you’re worried about natural disaster damages, moving insurance is your best bet.

5. LOST WAGES FROM NOT WORKING | VARIABLE

It’s easy to forget how much stuff you own until you have to pack it up.

landlords will look for any reason to withhold your deposit. Just be

To completely pack up a three-bedroom house with no professional

ready to dish out a few hundred dollars if things go south.

assistance, you need between three-to-five full days on average. You might be able to use paid time off for it, but even then, you’ll have to sacrifice vacation days you’ve been saving up. O&B

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PAINTING THE TOWN: GAINESVILLE’S URBAN ART SCENE ON THE MOVE

photo by Iryna Kanishcheva This mural is located at 204 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601.

story by Rebecca Santana Artists have traveled from all over the world to make their mark in downtown Gainesville’s budding street art scene. A stroll downtown is like a walk through an art exhibit with beautiful murals around every corner. But beyond their beauty, each of these murals have their own story, character and purpose. Urban art has a unique ability to speak to communities and bring awareness to important issues. Though this can be a temporary art form, it leaves a lasting impact on the community.

The two featured muralists created visual movement but also used their platforms to make a statement. Each of these murals has its own power to be thought provoking and create change. Street art is for everyone. And in this community, anyone can participate in the urban art scene.

The 34th Street Wall gives everyone a platform to express themselves. Street art doesn’t discriminate. It’s accessible, and anyone can join the movement of thousands of street artists all over the world, aiming to engage their communities.

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“I always take my inspiration from the surrounding context from many points of view — natural, architectonical, social, cultural, etc. — and from the original structure my piece is going to interact with.”

MANUEL DI RITA

DANIEL VÉLEZ-CLIMENT

Peeta, jumps right off the building. When looking at it, the eye can’t

issues. He brings awareness to them. When he painted his mural

stop moving, and it might make the viewer stop and stare for awhile.

in 2017, the #MeToo movement was just gaining traction, and he

This captivating piece by Manuel Di Rita, who’s also referred to as

Local artist Daniel Vélez-Climent does not shy away from difficult

Di Rita lives in Venice, Italy, and was invited by Iryna Kanishcheva,

wanted to give an image to the movement. The mural depicts a girl

the project manager and founder of GNV Urban Art.

and shows how her experiences have “carved her life.” The #MeToo movement was also a vital part of the design, prompting people to

Though this decorative piece doesn’t create change, it’s a testament

stop and think, maybe even inspiring them to join the movement.

to the adaptability of street art. Di Rita created this piece with the structure in mind. If this piece were on a different building, it might

In his eyes, this was one small thing he could do to help women

look entirely different. The windows are essential to the structure

everywhere. Painting the first mural to come out of this movement

of the piece, and he used the colors of the building and the sky to

was a bold statement, but in Vélez-Climent’s eyes, a necessary one.

create a monotone effect. The viewer might have to move around a

He saw this community needed to know about #MeToo, so he used his

bit and look at it from different angles to experience its full effect.

platform to empower women and educate people about this injustice.

“I always take my inspiration from the surrounding context from many points of view — natural, architectonical, social, cultural, etc.

— and from the original structure my piece is going to interact with,” Di Rita said.

Vélez-Climent creates mostly social art. His pieces often comment on society’s state and strive to promote social justice. He doesn’t care if it’s uncomfortable or controversial. If he believes in the cause, he’ll use his art to bring awareness to it. Each of his pieces have a purpose and a place within its environment.

Street art is an ever evolving medium. And when Di Rita started out with graffiti, everyone told him it wouldn't last. From the beginning,

“If you do it correctly, it [becomes] part of the community,” he said.

Di Rita knew urban art wasn’t a fad and that it held influence. Since then, he’s painted murals all over the world, leaving his mark on

While visually stunning, Vélez-Climent ensures his art is more than just

global communities.

pretty. It makes people think and promotes positive social change. O&B

“[Murals] are huge and their impact is astonishing and exciting,” he said.

Seeing an opportunity to create a positive impact, he painted so the

photo by Rebecca Santana

viewer could feel “suspended from normality." It’s a break from the

This mural is located at 200 NE 1st St.,

humdrum routine of everyday life. Di Rita hopes its inspiring.

Gainesville, FL 32601.

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HEALTH

self-care

SIMON SAYS story by Anastasia Sims photo by Carolina Watlington Remember the days when the hardest thing in life was following the leader in “Simon says?” Now, hours, days and even weeks blur

3. PRIORITIZE SPENDING TIME WITH PEOPLE.

When work becomes consuming, it’s hard to make time to see friends,

together, with work sometimes taking a priority over family and

but human interaction helps us feel connected – especially when

taking care of ourselves. But work was never meant to be the defining

busyness starts to feel isolating.

feature of our lives, said Steve Tyler, a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Metropolitan University. When work becomes all consuming, it is difficult to find time to take care of yourself and explore what makes us happy.

4. “INDULGE” IN SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MEANT FOR WORK.

Much like making time to see friends, hobbies and passions fall by the wayside when life gets hectic. If we take time out of the week to be

Kelly Assien, a licensed mental health counselor in Gainesville, suspects

reminded of who we are and what we love, we feel more in touch

our society busies itself because we’ve become uncomfortable with

with ourselves.

being alone with ourselves. Whether it’s loading up your schedule until you have no more free time or simply staying at work late, we are a society that cannot stop going. As a licensed counselor of 17 years

5. SLEEP.

While sleep seems like the last thing on the list when you’re busy, a

with a variety of clients, Assien sees one overarching trend: We busy

National Institute of Health study shows that good sleep helps improve

ourselves because of unrealistic expectations.

problem-solving skills and memory performance. In the long run, sleeping might be just what you need to recharge for another busy day.

“Sadly, our society tells us we aren’t enough if we don’t do enough,” she said. “The discomfort of being present drives the distraction.”

6. VISIT A COUNSELOR.

Acknowledging the busyness is the hardest step, Assien said. Once Assien suggests one thing to her clients: self-care. While it’s

you do that, you don’t actually have to dedicate much time to it.

become a major buzz word in pop culture, self-care is a practice

While some of her clients visit once a week, Assien said it’s up to the

that allows everyone a chance to slow down and take a step back.

individual to schedule the frequency. Seeking help does not equate

The most reassuring part, Assien explained, is that relaxing is

to failure.

completely individualized.

Here are seven ways to slow down and take care of yourself:

1. TAKE A BREAK OUTSIDE.

7. TURN OFF ELECTRONICS.

Assien said that in a world of technology, we are easily distracted

24/7. Getting out of your head is hard, but by taking time away from electronics, we are open to connect with each other.

Luckily, Gainesville is full of nature trails and parks like Devil’s

Millhopper Geological State Park and Paynes Prairie Preserve State

In the same way that being busy is not always a bad thing, Assien

Park. This makes going outside fun and easy. Sometimes just being

said slowing down does not have to be boring. Instead of being so go,

in the open air allows for clearer thinking.

go, go, Simon says take time for you. O&B

2. DO YOGA AND MEDITATION.

As cliché as it sounds, taking time to physically slow down can make your mind slow down as well.

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HEALTH

TAKE A TRIP WITH TOXINS story and photos by Jessica Curbelo

If Dr. Scott Tomar had to wager a bet, he would say most adults have smoked a cigarette.

Once someone smokes a whole pack, their odds of becoming a regular smoker spikes dramatically, he said. And so do their odds of developing health issues.

Tomar, a University of Florida dentistry professor who researches the effects of tobacco, followed the path of tobacco through the body to highlight effects regular smokers might experience.

“There's no other consumer product in the world that comes remotely close to the negative impact that smoking has.”

MOUTH

Most know about stained teeth, but Tomar said it’s the least of

people’s worries.

Smoking is the major cause of periodontitis, an inflammation of dental structures. Smokers will likely see symptoms before any other smoking-related illnesses appear. The gums and bone support deteriorate — and once it’s gone, it’s usually gone for good.

Without healthy support, teeth become loose and develop infections, risking eventual tooth loss. Tomar said smokers have more difficulties with dental implants and other replacement methods.

However, quitting can prevent further damage.

THROAT

Down the throat carcinogens go, triggering chronic inflammation.

That smoker’s cough you’ve heard about? That’s one sign. If caught early, smokers can quit and improve symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.

But it’s in carcinogens' nature to damage DNA. Tumors can form, and smokers are at an increased risk for laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers.

“When you get to that stage, quitting smoking is not going to reverse that kind of cellular-level damage,” Tomar said. “It needs some type of intervention, either surgical or otherwise.”

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HEALTH

LUNGS

On average, Tomar said about 15% of long-term smokers develop lung cancer, but a higher percentage has generally weak lungs.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), about 75% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were smokers. The disease makes breathing difficult, affecting the entire body. Among other problems, people may have trouble eating enough food because of this. And there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BLOOD AND HEART

Not only can the lungs have a harder time taking in oxygen, but blood

can also have a harder time transporting it. Smoking can lead to atherosclerosis, a disease where plaque builds up, which causes arteries to narrow. According to NHLBI, this limits the amount of oxygen-rich blood that organs receive, compromising its ability to function.

When combined with other factors such as high blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels, smoking can cause heart disease, chest pain, heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

BRAIN

Smoking is a hard addiction to quit. According to Healthline, the nicotine in cigarettes causes chemical changes in the brain, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Someone trying to quit may feel irritable or anxious and crave nicotine.

Smokers have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment or dementia, which affects a person’s memory and behavior. Tomar said smoking can also lead to a brain aneurysm where a blood vessel ruptures and causes an internal bleed.

THE REST OF THE BODY AND LIFE

On average, Tomar said smokers lose about eight to 12 years of life. Those who live longer have a dramatically reduced quality of life. Long-term smoking can affect the immune system, eyesight,

reproductive health and more. It has also recently been added as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

“There's no other consumer product in the world that comes remotely close to the negative impact that smoking has,” he said.

While people who want to quit experiment with other forms of nicotine such as vapes, there’s a risk of becoming addicted to both unless someone addresses the behavioral aspects of addiction too, Tomar said.

People who want to quit should work with an experienced counselor. O&B

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HEALTH

FLORIDA’S INFAMOUS HOUSE GUEST story by Camille Graham While Floridians may love the state’s balmy weather and blue skies, there’s an unwanted guest that comes with the territory: cockroaches. The American cockroach or “roach,” the palmetto bug or that-thing-that-scurried-under-the-fridge; by any name, are unwanted house guests that love to settle into the nooks and crannies of old Florida homes.

These opportunistic pests will eat just about anything: crumbs, paper, pet food and even trash. While cockroaches are a threat in any

They bring with them diseases, allergens, pathogens and – for an

room of your house, the kitchen proves to be a consistent attraction.

unlucky some – severe asthma attacks. Coupled with the horrifying

Something as small as a stray sourdough crumb under the toaster

crunch of a roach exoskeleton meeting a human foot, roaches are

can lure a cockroach to the kitchen.

more than just a nuisance.

Pest control expert Barry from Hulett Environmental Services According to the National Pest Management Association, a reported

says that, in addition to keeping a tidy kitchen and interior, outdoor

63% of homes in the United States contain cockroach allergens.

maintenance could help with roach prevention. Make sure to trim all

For urban areas and large cities, up to 98% of homes harbor these

foliage surrounding your house, keeping at least one foot of distance

triggering allergens. Cockroach allergies are considered one of the

between the house and limb.

most common indoor allergies, despite people not realizing that they’re suffering because of it. A protein found in cockroaches’ saliva

Why exactly do these bugs love Florida homes so much? The

and excrement is found to cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma.

cockroaches don’t stick around for the amusement parks and white sandy beaches. Cockroaches of all varieties are attracted to damp,

Shaun Greyling, a Gainesville landlord of seven years, says that

warm and tropical climates.

cockroaches can infiltrate homes in unexpected ways. He’s seen bugs of all varieties come and go in the 11 houses he owns and rents.

Cockroaches, by nature, love small spaces. Avoid making these hiding holes by ensuring your counters are clutter free, even from seemingly

“They seem to love cardboard boxes,” Greyling says. “They’ll come in when you bring boxes in to open and then just settle into the house.”

inconspicuous things like a stack of mail. For long-term prevention, make sure your home is adequately sealed. Caulk sinks and cracks to prevent bugs from climbing in from the outside. Even something as

Greyling tells all his tenants to open boxes outside and avoid

minor as a hole in a baseboard can provide an entry for a cockroach.

bringing paper-based trash inside the house. The crevices and ridges of cardboard are too inviting for cockroaches.

While it’s disturbing to think that these creepy critters move into your house, there’s hope to get rid of them. Tidying up the house, sealing up the kitchen and keeping the place clean is half the battle.

If all else fails, seek professional extermination. These aren’t the houseguests you anticipated when you moved to Florida. O&B

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37

HEALTH

FROM MESS TO LESS story and photos by Maria Blokhina

Jeremy Christopher works as a computer specialist at the University

BEFORE The biggest challenge was finding a way to store all the equipment for

of Florida. He is also a photographer, a mountain biker, a musician

recording music. According to Christopher, microphones, speakers

and a collector of guitars. In the 16 years he’s lived in his home, he’s

and an infinite length of patch cords need to be accessible but not

accumulated more than his fair share of clutter.

necessarily used all the time. This problem was solved by storing the items in containers based on the frequency of use.

For Jeremy, cleaning his house is more a necessity than an enjoyable activity.

At the beginning of the cleaning session, Christopher couldn't tell for sure how many guitars he had in the room. By the end, the guitars

"It needs to happen, or it will become unbearable. I can tolerate a lot of

were neatly displayed and accessible on the wall.

it, though,” Christopher said. “Usually, what sets off a major cleaning spree is when I'm looking for something and can't find it."

The room was rearranged based on Christopher’s preference. The computer and light table were easier to access, proper shelving for the

At the same time, Christopher feels cleaning is futile as clutter just

printer and scanner was arranged and new curtains were installed.

keeps coming back.

"It certainly feels much more welcoming and enjoyable to walk After watching “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix, Christopher

into and work,” Christopher said. “It will take a little bit of time to

was inspired to try her methods of tidying up in his home office.

remember where things are now, but I am definitely happier to be in the space and work.”

“[My office] is a space where I can put things that are in the way,” he said. “It's a space that other people don't see when they visit because

He postponed the chore for too long, and after finishing the

it's out of sight."

experiment, Christopher felt relieved as the room finally became

He wanted to reorganize and repurpose his office into a structured

often neglect and avoid, but it is a necessary evil to living a healthy

creative studio, a space where he can play and record his music, edit

and organized life. O&B

manageable. Cleaning up and facing your mess is something we

his photographs and occasionally do computer work.

The first step to tidiness was addressing the loose piles of various items on the floor. Eight hours later, the room was unrecognizable.

Following Marie Kondo’s method of keeping what “sparks joy” and discarding what doesn’t was a good baseline, but Christopher found the ideology too limiting.

“I know what stuff I use and what I don't — some things you only need once or twice a year. Throwing infrequently used items away is a waste of money and resources,” Christopher said. “It might be possible that you have some things that you are not going to use in five years, but you'd have to buy them if you got rid of them."

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AFTER

HEALTH

AM I THE ONLY ONE BEING BULLIED

BY MY APPLE WATCH? story by Camille Graham photo by Carolina Watlington I used to sit peacefully on the couch, watching YouTube videos and

Smartwatch encourage wearers to meet certain step goals and

scrolling through my phone for hours on end. I’d think nothing of the

activity levels. The technology and goals may differ from watch to

days when I couldn’t make it to the gym or when I drove somewhere

watch, but the sentiment remains the same: Move when your watch

instead of biking. I was a happy little couch potato until my Apple

tells you to move. Is everyone as obedient to a time-telling personal

Watch came into my life.

trainer as I am?

I always loved the clean lines, usability and (absurd) status

When I asked 100 different smart watch wearers, there was a roughly

symbolism of Apple products. So when a friend offered to sell me

even split of obedient movers and watch-wearing rebels. Fifty-six

her brand new Apple Watch Series 4 for an incomparable low price, I jumped at the chance. I had no idea that I was buying a piece of wearable technology that would gently shame me into athleticism.

percent said they acknowledge but disregard their watches’ warnings – with varying degrees of guilt – while the other 44% said they always heed the moving instructions of their watch. With varying degrees of willingness, they find themselves walking laps around the office or doing

I wasn’t ready for the constant barrage of notifications reminding me

late-night jumping jacks to meet their exercise goals.

of my sedentary, couch potato lifestyle.

Elias Bouyounes, a microbiology lab technician, says that his Let me set the record straight: I am not totally averse to exercise. I

smart watch has quickly made him more active, and he relies on his

love being around nature, and my ideal Saturday involves a hike

movement notifications during work. His Fitbit Blaze Watch pushes

around a lake or time spent exploring wooded trails. However, I have a

him to take about 250 steps an hour, a task he does his best to

hard time mustering up the same enthusiasm for a trip to the gym to

complete every day.

spend an hour on the elliptical.

“It gives me a little firework show every time I reach ten thousand The hourly reminders ensure that I stand for at least one minute an

steps,” Bouyounes said. “I haven’t reached 20,000 steps yet so I don’t

hour for 12 hours, making me acutely aware of just how long I’ve been

know what happens, but I hear good things.”

stationary. While 30 minutes of exercise isn’t a lot to ask, it’s not something that happens accidentally. All of a sudden, I find myself

Like Bouyounes, I get excited for the buzzes and fireworks

jumping up when I get a notification, standing and power walking to

when I meet my activity goals. Although insignificant, it’s gentle

class rather than driving.

encouragement from my relentless, albeit a bit annoying, Apple Watch to be a little bit healthier and a little bit more active today. O&B

Apple users aren’t the only ones being told to move more. Other best-selling watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch and the Fossil

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THE FUN IN

FE AR story by Jacqueline Saguin photo by Adrianna Santiago

diving certification and bungee jumping under her belt, she’s proud of her adventurous identity.

In 2015, during a trip to Canada, Mercatante volunteered first out of her tour group to walk along Toronto’s CN Tower for the sheer fun of it. Swear words fell from her lips, a few new ones made up on the spot, as a single bungee cord dangled her over the ledge of a building stretching 356 meters above the ground. Each person who makes the trek is awarded a Guinness World Record for the “Highest External Walk on a Building.” She’s one of the recipients.

On her way home to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Mercatante made a detour to Sebastian, Florida, deciding to fit in a quick skydive.

She studied abroad in Australia going into her second year of college. Her parents thought she might come back with a tattoo and skydiving under her belt, and she did – along with bungee jumping

Wait for it. These three words reappeared to Shannon Mercatante

and scuba diving.

at random moments in her life: through her favorite television show, “How I Met Your Mother,” and her favorite musical, “Hamilton.” It’s

Terri Brown Crawford, a licensed clinician who specializes in trauma,

the push the 19-year-old needed to backflip out of an airplane and

said people seek out adrenaline in different ways. Crawford helps

bungee jump over a man-made pond in Australia.

veterans who return home from intense war zones. Their stability is thrown off, which typically causes thrill-seeking behavior that may

She took these coincidences as a sign from the universe, even

lead to danger.

tattooing it on her body as a permanent reminder. It tells her to look past the butterflies fluttering in her stomach as a tiny, rickety

In regards to activities like skydiving, it’s only negative if people

plane carries her and a skydiving instructor strapped flat to her

constantly seek out a way to keep their adrenaline pumping, she said.

back. She’s about to free-fall for a minute at a thousand feet up, a parachute carrying her the rest of the way down. She knows that

“As far as doing positive activities, it’s OK,” Crawford said. “It feels

afterward, it’s euphoria.

good when our adrenaline is flowing, and we’re having fun.”

Mercatante thrives on taking risks. It’s something her parents

It’s all about moderation. Although these activities seem extreme to

instilled in her, she said. They always tell her, “The way to achieve

people, anyone can become addicted to anything. It’s the motivation

your aspirations is by taking risks.” But, little did they know she’d

behind these acts that determines a problem.

take it to heightened levels.

Someone can take up something as simple as running and do it “I always feel a rush of adrenaline,” she said. “I want to do it again.”

constantly. But, if a runner, for example, only ever runs and finds him or herself losing an abnormal amount of weight, it’s a sign of

Her bright green eyes light up like a child on Christmas morning

unhealthy risk taking.

when Mercatante talks about her first big adventure: a family excursion to Italy in 2013.

Mercatante takes risks because it helps her grow and see the world

She’s in Tuscany, gliding across the sunrise in a hot air balloon with

scuba dives to see it from below.

from a different view. She skydives to see the world from above and her family. She floats about 1,000 feet in the air, ascending over stretches of mountains and miles of vineyards. Love and fascination

“We really are so small in comparison to everything on earth,” she

swells inside her from seeing this whole different world from above.

said. “It puts life into perspective.”

From then on, she knew she wanted to see more of this beauty.

So, Mercatante asks, “Why not?”

A toothy grin never fades from Mercatante’s face as she tucks her

Her skydiving instructor told her that people are more likely to get hit on

voluminous amber hair behind her ear. With three skydives, a scuba

the head by a coconut than get injured from skydiving. Of course, there

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are those chances, Mercatante said. But, in order to build strength and character, people need to overcome their mental obstacles.

“We see terror on the news all the time,” she said. “So, you need to appreciate life for what it is while you can because [fear] is not a way to live.”

“It helps me understand my limits and see where life takes me,” she said.

Mercatante’s excitement fuels her words when she talks about She went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef while she studied

what’s to come.

abroad. It took vigorous training, including spending two weekends getting certified beforehand. Scuba diving is a higher risk activity

The next stop is Queenstown, New Zealand, which lives up to its

because the safety of others is also at stake, so she needed to

reputation as the “adventure capital of the world.” People take on

educate herself and practice before she felt comfortable doing it.

white water rafting and zip lining among other activities.

“I never felt scared or in danger,” she said. “But it’s one of those things

Eagerness washes over her face. She wants to try a canyon swing

you need to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing.”

that a Yelp reviewer wrote, “Scared the life out of me.”

It applies to every activity she partakes in. Mercatante makes sure

Although nerves will settle into the pit of her stomach, Mercatante will

she’s finding a place she knows is reliable and safe.

stretch her arms out wide and soar through the air like Superwoman.

Wait for it. O&B

“People always tell me, ‘I could never do that,’” she said.

They’re stuck living on land – afraid to leave, Mercatante said. And she finds it baffling. Spontaneity and variety are her spices of life.

She craves it.

People tie a cord to your ankle, and one, two, three – you jump down, she said as if she were talking about the weather. It’s all a routine. All it takes is making that appointment.

“It helps me understand my limits and see where life takes me.” orange&blue magazine

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COMMUNITY

GET A MOVE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT

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COMMUNITY

story and photos by Jessica Curbelo Sabrina Fenske lives 14 minutes away from her job at the Bagel

article “Why Public Transportation Works Better Outside the U.S.,” he

Bakery — in theory. If she had a car, Fenske could get to her job in

points out that Europe’s older cities were developed long before cars

14 minutes and not worry about being late. A bus, on the other hand?

arrived on the scene. As for Asian cities, government investments

Well, first, she has to walk to her apartment’s bus stop and hop on the

in public transportation often accompanied growth. We’re here now

20 route all the way to Oaks Mall where she’ll switch over to the 5 bus.

though with our private cars and highways. The past is the past, and

The 5 will take Fenske down Newberry Road near the bus stop for the

while not everyone can afford a car, our public transportation will

43 bus. The 43 drops her off at Millhopper Plaza — just a short walk

have to do.

from Bagel Bakery where she works full time as a manager. It’s just an hourlong trip.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN GAINESVILLE

For the city of Gainesville, public transportation is centered around

“I use public transportation almost daily,” Fenske said. “The bus is more

the Regional Transit System buses. While the United States Census

cost effective than ride-share apps, but the downside is that it takes a

Bureau recorded about 132,000 people living in the city in 2017, RTS

lot of time and effort from my day.”

most recently reported 758,902 passengers in April 2019. The lowest

Fenske’s story isn’t unique.

She hears complaints every day about how unreliable and time-consuming buses are in Gainesville. It should come as no surprise that Gainesville does not rank in the top public transportation systems globally.

Nationally, Florida cities sometimes show up in the ranks, but it’s the bigger cities like Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville.

According to World Atlas, however, only one American city made it to its 2018 top ten list.

New York City, with its iconic subway system, managed to edge its way to No. 7. Every other city on the list (with Berlin at the top) is European or Asian. For a country that likes to be the

The buses are too inconsistent or aren’t frequent enough.

The stops are inconveniently placed and too far away.

The buses don’t run early enough or late enough or on the weekends or in some areas at all.

number of passengers recorded on its “Fiscal Year 2019 Ridership

by Route” report occurred in December 2018 at 386,108 people. Take into consideration that the University of Florida alone has about 56,000 students enrolled who account for multiple bus rides almost every day of the week. Santa Fe College has about 16,000. Winter break, when most students go home, may account for the drastically lower number of RTS passengers.

In Fenske’s opinion, Gainesville’s student population has a ridiculous amount of impact on the buses. Employers typically ask if applicants have a reliable source of transportation, and Fenske, a Bagel Bakery employee said most employers don’t consider buses reliable —

best in everything, the U.S. isn’t doing too hot in this category. Why don’t we boast more competitive

especially when school schedules tend to influence these buses. Even

transportation systems?

city routes may see less buses when school isn’t in session. The 43 bus, one of Fenske’s main routes, doesn’t run on weekends.

Jonathan English, a writer at CityLab, said the arrival of cars is what started our descent down the rankings. In the 20th century,

“The majority of people I see on that route aren’t college students,

the U.S. saw rapid growth in its cities and suburbs. The age of the

but rather people working jobs much like mine — food service,

automobile in America started around the same time in the 1920s,

retail, housekeeping, etc. — that don’t adhere to a Monday [through]

presenting a new competitor to railroads, which had dominated

Friday schedule,” Fenske said. “I have to get to work regardless of

before. With car costs dropping, more and more people opted

a college schedule. City buses being affected by a university just

to invest in a car rather than take a train. Public transportation

seems absurd.”

suffered as a result, and America was built around cars. In English’s

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COMMUNITY It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about public transportation: The buses are too inconsistent or aren’t frequent enough. The stops are inconveniently placed and too far away. The buses don’t run early enough or late enough or on the weekends or in some areas at all. Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola is all too familiar with these grievances from city residents.

Unfortunately, solutions cost money. According to Arreola, the cost of an entirely new bus route would be about $158,000.

“Is that the best use of our taxpayer dollars,” he asked, “Or is the best use creating something better?”

During a MetroLab Network conference, where mayors and other city leaders from across the country gather and discuss ways to improve their cities, Gainesville programs were highlighted.

Arreola said the city is trying to set itself as the national standard for innovative technology and policy. Here are three ways this innovation is being used to improve public transit:

AUTONOMOUS BUSES

Gainesville plans to roll out self-driving electric shuttle buses.

Previous reports from the Gainesville Sun and the Independent Florida Alligator chronicled the testing phases of four 12-person buses, which were operated by Transdev. The original target

date for the launch of autonomous bus services: August 2018.

Various issues with the federal government have created delays, Arreola said. Not only did the 2018 government shutdown put a halt on all plans, but the federal government doesn’t have regulations in place for how to deploy these buses. Arreola said the city is hoping the Florida state government will step in to write new regulations allowing a launch in the next year.

The buses could potentially take passengers to other stations such as the Rosa Parks Downtown Station, making it easier for people to catch the bus they need regardless of how far away the bus stop is.

For those worried about the job loss for bus drivers, city officials have said the autonomous buses will create jobs because people are needed to monitor them and control them remotely in cases of emergency.

I-STREET

About a year ago, the City of Gainesville partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation and UF’s Transportation Institute to create I-STREET. This project is the first real-time transportation research lab, Arreola said.

Using technology such as smart devices and sensors, the project monitors street traffic, pedestrian and cyclist patterns. Arreola

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COMMUNITY said the goal is to use the information to plan future infrastructure.

Figure out where pedestrians are crossing the street naturally (regardless of existing crosswalks), and you figure out where some crosswalks should probably be added. The same goes for vehicles.

The research could potentially figure out what works and what doesn’t in Gainesville’s infrastructure.

A part of the reason European cities have better public transportation is because their infrastructure is better suited to have modes of transportation such as trains, metros and more. As

said before, several American cities were built for cars because more people bought cars as they got more affordable.

“That was a stupid mistake,” Arreola said. “We need to rebuild to help people move around.”

In a city without a strong infrastructure for transportation or transit on demand, companies like Uber and Lyft become more popular. You get what you get when it comes to fixed bus routes. If the bus doesn’t show up or is late, that’s how it is. It doesn’t pick you up or drop you off when and where you want. Transit on demand beats out public transportation.

That’s where Arreola’s favorite city program comes in.

LAST MILE, FIRST MILE

For about $250,000, this pilot program was launched in the beginning

of 2019 and is only available in parts of southeast Gainesville.

Microbuses, similar to airport shuttles, go around the area and pick up people to take them to a bus stop, eliminating the inconvenience.

“One thing we know is that one of the reasons people don’t use RTS is because they don’t have a bus stop nearby or the route nearby doesn’t take them exactly where they need to be,” Arreola said.

“Getting to point A itself and leaving point B to go to where they need to go is difficult.”

Although the service is only available on weekdays from 5:30 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m., people can now download the TransLoc app, choose their pickup and dropoff locations and book their seats a week in advance, according to a Facebook announcement from RTS. Arreola said the program has been successful, especially with high school students who live too close to their school to get a bus ride there.

Gainesville recently passed a 10-year transit plan through which Arreola hopes the Last Mile, First Mile program will expand to all areas of the city that would benefit from better transit.

American cities may not rank high on the global list of public transportation, but cities like Gainesville are doing their best to change that. It’s going to cost money, and it’s going to take time. But step by step, we may even catch up to cities around the world. O&B

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47

COMMUNITY

RIDING THROUGH

THE 352

A LOOK INTO GAINESVILLE'S UBER DRIVERS story by Kacey Finch photos by Tommy Wolfe

The social aspect of being a driver is exactly why Collin Ulmer signed up as soon as he could. He registered in July on his 21st birthday.

He’s had a positive experience, even though he typically drives Thursday through Saturday from about 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“For the most part, it actually has been really nice people,” he says.

“I haven't really had any bad experiences with people, just people who've been rude.”

Passengers seem to have a great experience with Ulmer as well; he’s rated five stars on Uber. He did his research and read Reddit tips about how to make it a comfortable experience for both the rider and the driver. Any ride-share passenger would be happy to cruise in his Toyota Corolla on the way to their destination. He stocks it with water and snacks, keeping it clean and odor free.

“Make sure that people are happy right off the bat,” he advised.

“Make your car smell good, and do all these things to make it really comfortable for passengers.”

As a student, the best part about being an Uber and Lyft driver is the

Gainesville ride-share drivers get us where we need to go when we

flexibility it offers. Ulmer works another job, a research position and

need to be there. We rely on them, but we don’t always know them.

an internship and is applying to get into Ph.D. programs.

Who is the person behind the wheel? And what motivates them to chauffeur strangers around town?

He sets his own hours and drives as much or as little as he wants, allowing him to make money and keep his priorities in order.

Some do it for extra cash. Others do it to fill their free time. Peter Daniell drives people around for both reasons. When he’s not working at Trader Joe's, helping his Airbnb tenants or spending time with his girlfriend, Daniell hops on Uber or Lyft. Its flexibility attracted him to the side job.

“The best thing about doing this is that you can go on and off in your way,” he said. “I don't find very many jobs out there that allow you to clock in and [clock] out your own way.”

In his first year as a driver, Daniell hasn’t encountered any of the horror stories that flood the Internet. However, he mainly drives on Monday and Tuesday mornings, avoiding the chaos of late nights and game days. Daniell’s biggest concern is the increased time on the road.

“Just being on the road that many more hours or miles, especially during rush hour, the chance of car accidents are that much higher, as well as wear and tear on the car,” he said.

While some drivers may be more paranoid about the strangers getting in their vehicle, it’s the best part of Daniell’s job.

“I get a lot of international travelers, people coming to the University of Florida for either job interviews or school purposes,” he said.

“I've had people from India, China, France, Brazil, England [and] all over the states.”

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“The good thing is that I can be selective with my hours,” he said. “It's a low stress, easy way to make money.”

COMMUNITY It’s also exactly why Ananda Pacheco drives. Pacheco runs

It would help both passengers and drivers feel more secure, she said.

Community Unity Animal Sanctuary in Alachua—its animals ranging

It assures Uber that their drivers are not doing anything “stupid” with

from dogs to peacocks. She drives Uber and Lyft seven nights a

their passengers and vice versa.

week to fund the sanctuary, which has been registered as a nonprofit organization since 2016 that doesn’t rely on grants.

While ride-sharing has its safety flaws, Uber and Lyft have safety features in their apps for drivers. Drivers can cancel rides if they

“I can't have a regular 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job because of what I do. Trying to

feel unsafe, access a 911 feature if something goes wrong and allow

work a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. would not allow me to answer calls for rescues,”

friends and family to track rides. How safe she feels mostly depends

Pacheco says. “With Uber, it allows me to have the flexibility during

on how the passengers talk to her, Pacheco said.

the day to run my rescue and the sanctuary. And in the evenings, I just focus on Uber-ing so that I could provide for the animals.”

“People [who] make you feel uneasy or uncomfortable or like you don't want them in your car are the ones I rate a one-star passenger,”

While its job flexibility is convenient, Uber and Lyft can work on other

she said. “If you rate someone to one, Uber will never pair you with

areas. Pacheco believes one of the biggest downfalls of the ride-

them again.”

share apps is the lack of training to become a driver. Pacheco recalls having to pick up the tricks of the trade on her own, struggling to get her bearings when she first started the job three years ago.

However, lack of training is the least of Uber’s and Lyft’s worries. Safety issues, which news outlets have highlighted, are one of the biggest problems ride-sharing faces. Both riders and passengers need more thorough precautions to ensure safety before, during and after rides.

“The good thing is that I can be selective with my hours. It's a low stress, easy way to make money.”

As an Uber and Lyft driver, Pacheco’s greatest lesson learned is to not make immediate assumptions about a person. When accepting a ride, she doesn’t always know who is going to step into her vehicle. She’s picked up kind, young men on the side of town most Ubers wouldn’t dare to go, and she’s driven potentially dangerous 30 minutes away.

“It's good to be very cautious and good to be aware of your surroundings. But at the same time, learn that things are not always as they appear,” she said.

Fake Uber drivers are one of the greater

Even with the difficult days that come with being a driver, Pacheco

safety issues. On Oct. 5, after the Auburn

loves driving Uber and Lyft as a way to raise funds for her sanctuary.

football game in Gainesville, one of Pacheco’s passengers said a man who posed as her

And not all days feel like a chore. It’s given her the opportunity to

Uber driver pulled up and told her to get in

meet people she wouldn’t have otherwise. She took Cris Collinsworth,

the car before he cancelled the ride. Luckily,

a former UF wide receiver and current sports broadcaster, to Orlando

the college-aged girl felt suspicious and

after he served as Mr. Two Bits during a Gator game in 2018. She also

noticed the car was not the same as what her

drove former UF football player Martez Ivey home.

app said. When she asked the man to confirm her name, he couldn’t.

Not all days are bright, but fate placed the right person in Pacheco’s passengers’ seat. Pacheco, who is certified in first aid and mental

When Pacheco pulled up, the girl expressed

health for kids, once spent two hours talking down a suicidal teenager.

her relief that she had a female driver.

“It's also been an eye opener for me as a person to realize that “She was a little shaken up about it,” Pacheco

everyone has their own individual struggles,” she said.

said. “It happened off of 8th Avenue.”

A job as an Uber or Lyft driver goes beyond being a chauffeur or One safety precaution Pacheco takes upon

someone’s reliable form of transportation. Sometimes, Gainesville

herself is having a dashboard camera that

drivers can double as friends and confidants. O&B

records the inside of her car, something she believes Uber should equip its drivers with.

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photo by Jane Pham

COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY

YOUR TURN TO MOVE story by Maria Blokhina

Challenges make up our life. Some require more effort than others,

you stay motivated and positive throughout the process. You'll feel

but we always learn and grow from them. With that in mind, the

satisfied checking items off the list. The challenge is to complete as

Orange and Blue staff is challenging you to move around, have fun

many tasks from the following list as you possibly can and challenge

and do something new.

yourself daily.

To help you achieve that, we used the method of SMART goals first

The list consists of activities you can do anywhere and anytime you

introduced by George Doran in the Journal of Management Review

want as well as specific places to visit or actions to perform. There

in 1981 and created a checklist for you. Checklists are useful for all

is no particular timeline, therefore you can complete the challenge

sorts of things from groceries to bucket lists. They are especially

in a day or a year. We hope that while going through this, you will

helpful in personal development and achieving long-term goals.

discover and learn new things about Alachua County and yourself.

The big goal is broken down into smaller, bite-sized pieces to help

Let's see how many you can check off!

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Go for a morning walk Clean your entire apartment Eat at a restaurant you've never been to before Ask a friend to hang out Look for an alligator, but don't touch!

Visit a farmers market Donate to Goodwill Enjoy nice Florida weather Swim in the springs Check out an exhibition at the Harn Museum of Art Visit an arts festival Check out a performance Go to a game Visit a music festival Go to three different parks Feed the horses at Mill Creek Farm Enjoy live music Discover the Artwalk Have a cocktail Visit a coffee shop Eat a meal you enjoy Walk on the beach Eat healthy food for the whole day Play a board game Dress up Cook your dinner Do a chore you’ve been avoiding Wake up early and make pancakes Watch a sunset

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Photograph your neighborhood from a new perspective Visit a relative Say “I love you” in person Take a road trip Watch and repeat a tutorial Buy seasonal vegetables Host a brunch Paddle down the Santa Fe River Try a new sport Pet a dog or a cat Get caught in the rain Go to a flea market Learn a magic trick Organize a wine-tasting party with friends Say “thank you” Make your day plastic-free Get food from a food truck Go to the gym Hike at Alachua Sink Folk dance at the Boltin Center Visit an antique store in Micanopy Get a barbeque at Pearl Country Store & Barbecue Take pictures at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Try zero-waste for a day Dive in Devil's Den Tie-dye a t-shirt Play a game Find a new commuting route Finish reading the Orange and Blue Magazine’s Move Issue O&B

Take a hike Observe the night sky

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COMMUNITY

WANDERING WASTE story by Rebecca Santana Illustrated by Maria Blokhina

Everyone’s talking about trash these days, and most of those conversations focus on how to produce less of it. But it’s not so easy to reduce how much waste you produce. If you have trash, you just throw it away. It’s not something most people keep track of. Unfortunately, the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality doesn’t work when it comes to waste because everything we throw away goes somewhere.

Alachua County produces anywhere between 600 to 900 tons of garbage every day, according to Shelly Samec, a waste alternatives specialist. All of that garbage is collected from homes, businesses, apartment complexes, etc. and is taken directly to the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station for sorting.

Any waste that ends up in a garbage can goes straight to a landfill.

There is not enough time or manpower to sort through the thousands of pounds of trash this facility processes daily. The trash sits in big piles until it is pushed onto truck beds for out-of-county transportation. There are no active landfills in Alachua County, which means we have to transport our garbage elsewhere. Long-haul trailers go back and forth about 40 times a day to move all the trash that comes through.

Our trash goes to die a long and smelly death in landfills. Piled up pounds of trash create a low-oxygen environment. This can inhibit decomposition, meaning our trash piles up for years and years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the slow decomposition of these garbage heaps creates methane, a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change.

Recycling is a little more involved. It goes beyond just chucking a bottle into a green bin.

“Everything has to be bailed by type in order to be sent off to be recovered into new materials,” Samec said.

But nonrecyclables always sneak into those green bins, slowing down the process. Products like styrofoam, black plastic and take-out

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THE LEVEDA BROWN ENVIRONMENTAL PARK AND TRANSFER STATION

COMMUNITY containers are not recyclable and will eventually end up in a landfill.

“They incinerate it at a temperature hot enough that it breaks down

Paper, glass, steel, plastic and aluminum are recycled at this facility.

all the molecular bonds,” said Benjamin Marquez-Ayala, a hazardous

Once sorted, they’re sold to the highest bidder. The waste products

waste management specialist. “It’s pretty much in its pure elemental

go to mills to be turned into raw material. Companies buy that raw

form that it once was originally in, so it’s no longer hazardous.”

material to make its products and are more likely to buy these recycled materials if virgin materials are more expensive or rare.

The Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station offers a variety of unique services free to all Alachua County residents. This

“It’s like the stock market. The values of those commodities go

facility gives away free compost. It recycles tires, kitchen appliances

up and down on a daily basis,” said Alanna Carinio, a waste

and scrap metal, and it doubles as an environmental park. Where

alternatives specialist.

most facilities would have a runoff area for any contaminated waste water, this one serves as a wildlife habitat.

In 1999, the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department created what is known as the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center. This is a free hazardous waste disposal service for

“The vegetation is helping to circulate the water and clean it,” Samec said. “We’ve got alligators, migrating birds, turtles, ducks, you name it.”

all Alachua County residents, and it aims to keep these toxins out of our environment.

Waste management is a serious issue for any county, and the Leveda

Hazardous waste includes more than just harmful chemicals and

approach. This facility does more than manage waste. It acts as an

pesticides. This facility sorts prescription drugs, paint and other

educational space for all of Alachua County. Anyone can see exactly

hazardous materials in order to keep these toxins out of landfills.

what happens to our trash after it leaves our homes and the journey

Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station is taking a new

When things like battery acid, pesticides and lighter fluid end up in

it undergoes. But people don’t realize that not all trash is created

a landfill, they seep down to the very bottom, attacking the plastic

equal, and each material requires different processes.

liner that separates our waste from the land. The more fluid that accumulates in these liners, the faster they break down, leaving all

Managing this amount of waste takes resources, time and money,

those harmful chemicals to penetrate into the soil.

and our current processes are only a temporary solution. Waste is

This contamination can be especially dangerous in a state like Florida

a change. It’s important that we take advantage of educational

harming our environment, and it will continue to if we don’t make where almost all of the residents get their water from an aquifer. Any

resources like the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer

hazardous chemicals that leak into the soil will inevitably end up

Station, looking closer at the waste we contribute.

in our drinking water. The best way to prevent this is to keep your hazardous materials out of landfills. Batteries, electronics, cleaning

There are small things that each of us can do every day to reduce our

products and even cooking oil are all considered hazardous waste

footprint. Do your best to remember those reusable shopping bags.

that should be carefully disposed. Some items like pesticides and

Try composting that moldy bread. Think about thrifting the next time

herbicides need to be incinerated.

you need a new outfit. It’s practically impossible to be completely waste-free. But if each of us consider the consequences of our consumption, we may find a solution. O&B

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COMMUNITY

MOVING WITH

FOREVER IN MIND story by Kacey Finch photos by Sarena Seeger

gym in Palm Coast, they’ve added tai chi and total body fitness classes to their exercise routine.

“With the 'five years too early rather than being five minutes too late' sort of thing, particularly with a place like Oak Hammock when you're still fit and active, there's so much to do,” Bill says. “If you are here five years too early, so what? There’s [a lot] going on and things to do.”

The Connor had a smooth transition at the retirement community. It’s given them peace of mind. No longer do they have to worry about having to upkeep their yard or cook dinner.

“Now, everything's just taken care of,” Mary says. “I didn't know how I would adjust to not preparing meals, but I just did really quickly.”

“I’ve heard some people here use their oven for storage,” Bill jokes.

Moving can be emotional at any age. But choosing to move for the last time in life is a completely different ballgame that can mean

But what’s really brought peace of mind to the Connors is knowing

downsizing, packing up a lifetime worth of items and even facing

they will be taken care of when they need it.

one’s mortality. There’s a lot for someone to consider when deciding a place to live out the rest of his or her days. For the residents of Oak

Oak Hammock offers all levels of care for seniors at a CCRC, including

Hammock, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) at the

independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.

University of Florida, the biggest consideration is care.

“People come to us, and they pay an entrance fee that is basically the While living in their Palm Coast home for about 20 years, the thought

purchase of a long-term care contract,” says Nickie Doria, the director

of downsizing constantly loomed over Bill and Mary Connor’s heads.

of sales and marketing for independent living at Oak Hammock.

They thought about downsizing to a condo nearby, something with less maintenance. But they knew it would be pushing off the inevitable.

Entering the community at the independent-living level locks in a resident’s health care rate. It gives the resident first rights to a space

“With that, it was postponing another move later on,” says Bill, who is

in the next level of care.

retired from the computer software industry. “We were introduced to the idea of a CCRC. So we decided, ‘Let's just get it over with right off the bat.’”

“The idea is that you will continue to age and move through the continuum of care with your community, with the people you know, with

A few people they knew in the retirement community industry told

your neighbors, with your friends, with your dinner mates,” Doria says.

them it was better to move five years too early rather than five minutes too late. With that in the back of their minds, the Connors,

When making the choice to move to a CCRC, residents are

who were originally from Pittsburgh, took the leap and looked at

intentional with their decision. They are buying into an insurance

CCRCs in Florida.

policy that will provide them with care for the rest of their lives.

They first heard of Oak Hammock while visiting another CCRC. They made a phone call, visited within a few days and were sold.

“My hope is that when people make the choice to move into a community like Oak Hammock, they have a level of comfort and peace because they have everything laid out for them,” Doria says.

“We liked it because of all the amenities, activities and the proximity

“I'm proud to work for a place that can give that opportunity to a

to UF Health,” says Mary, who was a professor at the University of

couple or to a person that's moving up in age to have something like

Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

this as an option.”

Since moving to Oak Hammock in March, Mary and Bill have become

Oak Hammock has given that comfort and peace to Satya and

more physically active, she says. While they worked out at their home

Pushpa Kalra, retired UF professors and researchers. The Kalras,

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COMMUNITY who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, have lived in Gainesville since 1971, retiring from UF in 2006. After retirement, they didn’t want to leave Gainesville and the community they’d made for themselves. When it came time to downsize, they needed somewhere to call home for the rest of their lives.

“If we were going to move, then we needed to move where we could be taken care of,” Pushpa says. “This has every level of care available.

They'll take care of us. We don't have to worry, and our family doesn’t have to worry.”

However, moving was exhausting for the Kalras. Physically, they had help, but packing the home they had lived in for decades was a feat.

“I have to say the downsizing part was rough,” Pushpa says. “Just going through a lifetime of things and deciding what you're going to take and what you can do without, that was the hard part.”

Now having lived at Oak Hammock for over a year, they don’t miss the house or the material things they left behind. However, there’s one thing Pushpa wishes she could have taken with her.

“I’ll tell you what I miss,” she says. “We had a wall in our kitchen, and we had lived in the house for 35 years. I used to mark the height of the children – our son, then daughter-in-law and then our grandsons and my nephew. Everybody's heights were there in pencil.”

Pictures didn’t do the wall justice. While they had to leave the markings behind, it didn’t take long for the Kalras to feel at home at Oak Hammock or begin making their own mark. On their first day, they felt overwhelmed by the friendly welcome dinner. Now, the Kalras have involved themselves in multiple activities and are well known and well loved in the community.

“The first thing I do in the morning is look at the community calendar,” Sitya says.

Both participate in the Institute of Learning in Retirement, and Pushpa has taken on a full schedule, including Pilates, pickleball, stained-glass class and library committee.

“We get busier here than we did in the house,” Pushpa says. “Except there are no chores to do.”

For residents like the Connors and the Kalras, Oak Hammock is home.

And it will be for the rest of their lives. O&B

Bill and Mary Connor at their home in Oak Hammock.

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COMMUNITY

d r a w r fo

MOVING GAINESVILLE

story by Anastasia Sims photos by Carolina Watlington It’s early in the morning, and an annoying alarm is blaring until

Most of the money, Cimaglia explained, goes toward supplies and

it’s slapped off by a hand that’s broken out of the warm cocoon of

equipment. This is especially important for the voluntary fire and police

sheets. In the dreamlike haze of a brightly lit room, minutes seem to

programs and small counties in North-Central Florida. One of the

slowly tick by. But as everything seems to wake, the morning quickly

biggest — and most expensive — items is bulletproof vests. Cimaglia

becomes the crucial point where you must decide what the day is

said Grit is dedicated to helping servicemen and servicewomen get

going to look like. For some, it’s going back to bed and trying again

counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental

in half an hour. For others, it’s begrudgingly getting out of bed and

illness. According to a study directed by Ellen Kirschman, a clinical

prepping for a long day. But, for the very select few, they spring

psychologist specializing in police psychology, around 19% of all

awake excited with the possibility of

sworn-in police officers struggle with

what the day may bring them.

PTSD. Most officers don’t admit to

Although this could be said for any place at any time, Gainesville is filled with people living out the Gator’s “Get Up, and Go” mantra. For some, “get up, and go” means “get up, and go make Gainesville a little better.”

The Grit Foundation is a local nonprofit that supports first

For some, “get up, and go” means “get up, and go make Gainesville a little better.”

responders and hometown heroes in

emotional distress for fear of losing future promotions or getting pulled out of the force altogether.

Although Cimaglia is currently a public relations senior at the University of Florida, her age hasn’t stopped her from making a difference in the local community. Working with Grit is give and take — especially with servicemen and servicewomen.

the Third Congressional District. Although it only started in January 2017, people like Natalie Cimaglia help raise awareness and money

“We should be wanting to run toward officers, not away,” Cimaglia said.

for the foundation. She’s been the acting development and marketing

“With everything going on and issues with police, [I think] officers need

manager since August, but she has been passionate about nonprofit

to know they aren’t cruel.”

work her whole life. In her position, she oversees all event planning and outreach for the organization, which means she’s heavily involved

Even though most of Cimaglia’s job is helping raise and manage

with the Grit gala, an event at the beginning of each year that helps

finances for Grit, she said one of the biggest aspects of the foundation

raise money for the following year.

is boosting and keeping the morale of our hometown heroes high. And for her, that starts with our local community.

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COMMUNITY Mary McCready agrees there’s value in being a part of your

organic products to make different colors. Then, 10 months after she

community, she said. Gainesville residents love connecting with one

first started, she connected with the AUK Market, the curated mixed-

another. But that might be all Cimaglia and her have in common.

vendor marketplace attached to coffee shop Curia On The Drag. In April, McCready packed up some of her cord and drove across town

McCready is a stay-at-home mom who recently turned a longtime

to lead her first workshop on macramé plant hangers.

hobby into a small business venture. For most of her adult life, she’s had a knack at macramé, a style of art in which cord or string is

Since then, her little business is no longer just online. Instead, it

knotted in different patterns. However, the only people who knew of

has become a staple at the AUK Market. Once every few months,

her talent were the loved ones who’ve received plenty of homemade

McCready hosts free mini classes to encourage community

gifts over the years.

members to come together and try something new. It seemed to work; the attendance of each workshop grows in number and

But in June 2018, McCready opened an Etsy shop, a website focused

diversity. People of all ages, genders and races have tried their hand

on selling handmade and vintage items. It had been a long time

at macramé thanks to the AUK Market and McCready. Although

coming, she said. Friends and neighbors had mentioned she could

she doesn’t work at a nonprofit or foundation, McCready is a perfect

sell her creations. When she first opened her online shop, named

example of how one individual can help inspire their community.

Clove and Cotton, McCready almost exclusively sold white macramé plant holders. She finds most of her inspiration from the outdoors and

Whether it’s through a nonprofit, a local business or anything in

nature. And there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from in Gainesville.

between, what you do has the potential to help make Gainesville a

Alachua County is home to two state parks and several other local

better place. What drives amazing people is their passion for things

parks and lush wooded areas.

other than themselves — and it all can start with how you get up and go every morning. O&B

It didn’t take long for McCready to realize she could use her skills to create other pieces of art, including earrings and wall hangings. She also began creating her own dye made from plant-based ink and

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A LEAGUE OF HER OWN

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story by Jacqueline Saguin photos by Jane Pham She rocks into her stance, preparing to swing. She feels calm. In

Katelyn has her dad who caddied for her, which earned him the

fact, she’s never felt nervous about anything in her 13 years of life.

endearing title “caddy daddy.” Golf bonded the trio close together.

It’s natural to her — she grew up on a golf course. Katelyn glances

Her mom played golf in high school, but it wasn’t her forte. Still, she

ahead, raising the club high and powering back down to send the ball

jokes that she gave Katelyn her golf talent.

soaring. She rests on her back leg, hands over her shoulder, eyeing the ball as it lands on the stretches of green.

Jackie hops back onto their jet blue golf cart while Katelyn starts their red one, driving toward another hole on the green. Her mom steers

It’s been a long weekend for the Huber family. Jackie and Tim Huber’s

away from the paved path and across the grass, taking a shortcut.

soft, southern twang chimes from the phone speaker as they talk about

Katelyn stays on the road that curves back to where her mom just was.

the last few days. Their daughter, Katelyn, woke up around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, feeling sick. The teenager had hit 18 rounds of golf the day

“I don’t break the rules like she does,” she says.

before and needed to hit 18 more in the following hours at the Class 1A Girls Florida High School Athletic Association State Championship for golf. Her mother said Katelyn felt weak but finished strong, winning her 8th place out of 95.

In order to be successful in golf, people must learn to move on from a bad shot. Golf is about moving forward. Since she started playing golf at 6 years old, Katelyn’s learned the importance of adversity. It’s what landed her a spot on P.K. Yonge’s high school boy’s golf team as a middle school student.

“We now have parents who talk to us at events, telling us their daughters watch Katelyn play at events and are inspired by her performance”

“Beat ‘ya,” her mom jokes.

Her parents don’t have to say how proud they are for it to leak through the conversation. They know she made her personal best at the Florida Junior Tour Championship at Lemon Bay Golf Course last summer.

They know she shot a 65 when par was 72. They know she had five straight birdies, which is one under par for a hole. And they can tell you a similarly impressive background for any trophy or medal protected by the glass case in the corner of their cream-colored living room.

She’s in seventh grade at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research

Jackie touches blue P.K. Yonge high school varsity letters on the top

School. There’s no girl’s golf team, so she tried out for the high school

shelf, saying Katelyn received them in sixth grade.

boy’s team. Her parents hoped she’d make the team even if only at a practice capacity. But she joined and became the No. 4 player,

“These are some good tournaments, too,” Tim said, pointing to a

advancing out of districts and regionals to make it to states last year.

gator statue Katelyn won at the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation

According to the Junior Golf Scoreboard, she’s ranked the No. 1 girls

invitational in 2017. She was 10 years old playing in the 13-year-old

golfer in Florida for the class of 2025 — and she’s ranked the 11th

to 18-year-old division. He knocks over a few medals in the process.

girls golfer in the country for her class.

“Good job, dad,” Katelyn laughs, tidying her awards into place.

Katelyn never participated in organized sports before her first tournament at the Gainesville Junior Golf Tour. And even now, she’s

The golf community also serves as a tight-knit group of people.

only had a handful of golf lessons. Katelyn spends time with a coach

Jackie said Katelyn’s been blessed with great mentors in her life. She

when it’s during the high school boy’s golf team season. Other than

mentions the name Taylor Tomlinson, a local golfer who also lived on

that, she’s self-taught.

the golf course. Taylor, a high school student at the time, played golf with Katelyn when she first picked up the sport. Similar to Katelyn,

“Most girls, younger and older, who are competing at her level, have a

Taylor played on the high school boy’s team and then went on to play

golf coach,” Jackie said. “In addition to one overall coach, they’ll have a

at the University of Florida. It made a big impression on Katelyn,

swing coach, a physical trainer — a whole bevy of people behind them.”

Jackie said. It’s become a dream for her to play at UF.

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Katelyn plays about five times a week. Step off of the footpath leading away from their garage, and you’re on the golf course.

Sometimes, she joins the adults at the Gainesville Country Club.

She’s as comfortable with a group of 13-year-olds as she is with 70-year-olds, her mother said.

“She handles herself well with them,” her dad, Tim, said. “And they all invite her to play. She’s been around adults a lot, and her maturity level is off the charts.”

Jackie said she felt nervous as a mother to have her 11-year-old girl playing with 18-year-old high school boys. But both the boys and their parents eased her worries by offering support and acceptance.

“It’s very much like a brother-and-sister relationship where they trash-talk her and give her a hard time, and she gives it right back,” Jackie said. “But if there’s the smallest amount of disrespect from another team, [the high school boys] come right to her defense.”

Her parents emphasize Katelyn’s “even keel” attitude that makes her both a well-rounded athlete and person. Even when she was younger, her father noticed it didn’t matter whether or not she was making a great shot or making a royal mistake. Her emotions never changed.

Tim compared it to the final minutes of a football game when it’s time to drive down the field, score a touchdown and win the game. Katelyn may find out she’s down a couple shots from a competitor, and she musters something together.

“I’ve watched her do it in multiple tournaments: pull things out,” he said. “She keeps her emotions in check and has this willpower to push forward and go for the win.”

Her focus and discipline are what have her sitting outside doing her homework on a Sunday afternoon as her parents chat inside.

“It’s not atypical for her to be doing homework on a Friday night for an assignment that isn’t due for a few days,” Jackie said. “Her work ethic and self discipline are among her greatest traits.”

It seems like others have taken notice of her talent. A picture of Katelyn in a pink fluorescent long-sleeve with her golf club swung over her shoulder greets people to the “Katelyn Huber — Amateur Golfer” Facebook page. What started as a way to update family and friends has become a small-scale fan page.

“We now have parents who talk to us at events, telling us their daughters watch Katelyn play at events and are inspired by her performance,” Jackie said. “It’s wonderful to hear.”

Katelyn hopes to pay it forward and be someone young female golfers can look up to — and it looks like she’s well on her way. O&B

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61

STAFF ON THE MOVE While scientists debate the exact number of days it takes to build or

slightly queasy. I would overthink whatever I was about to try to the

break a habit, it is commonly said that 21 days is the minimum cut off.

point of feeling nauseous even before I put anything in my mouth.

The staff of the Orange and Blue Magazine Move issue decided to put their money where their mouths were and move toward better habits

It wasn’t until I started to try some fruits I liked, such as kiwi and

in just 21 days. Here are the takeaways from our team after three

pomegranate, that I learned how fun it can be to try new things. I

weeks of attempting new habits:

REBECCA SANTANA: PODCASTS

I never got into podcasts, and I don’t really know why. In high school, a

stopped staring at what I was about to try like it was poison and just ate it like it was something I’ve eaten my whole life. In the last two weeks of the challenge, I even tried some noodle alternatives that I swore I’d never like, such as spaghetti squash.

bunch of my friends listened to “Welcome to Night Vale,” which sparked my curiosity for only one or two episodes before I fell out of interest.

In the beginning, I was convinced I wouldn’t like anything. While it

But, as a member of Generation Z, I have no shortage of podcast

was hard to start a routine of trying different foods, the three weeks

recommendations, so I decided to give this medium another try.

taught me not to shy away from trying new things. The real win isn’t

“Welcome to Night Vale” seemed like a safe place to start. I was

a new habit that I know will follow me far past the original 21 days. I

just finding new foods to like. It’s breaking through fear and creating already sort of familiar with it, and the episodes are easy to digest, capping out at about 30 minutes long. It was surprisingly easy to listen to. It was entertaining but not super heavy — ideal content for busy listeners who can’t commit all their brainpower to listening to a podcast.

plan to continue to try new foods!

CAMILLE GRAHAM: GRATITUDE JOURNAL

I like to think I’m a pretty positive person. I try to wake up with a good

attitude, ready to take on the day and any challenges it may hold.

With that being said, I’m also a realistic person. Some seasons of

But I knew there was more to the podcast world than just Night Vale. I

life are difficult, and it’s easy to get bogged down in little grievances.

decided that if I was going to listen to a podcast, I would have to listen

When I thought about what habit I wanted to cultivate in 21 days, I

to THE podcast: “Serial.” It’s basically the most popular podcast of

cared less about doing an activity every day and more so about an

all time. And after listening to just the first episode, I knew why. It

attitude I wanted to have. Writing down at least five things I’m grateful

was enthralling. After it finished, I didn’t even realize a whole hour

for at the end of the day seemed like the perfect place to start.

had passed. This experience taught me the medium can be just as entertaining as any other, maybe even more. After 21 days, I am still

In the beginning, my grateful list consisted of a lot of low-hanging

listening to podcasts, just not as much.

fruit like my family and my education. While these are important to

ANASTASIA SIMS: EATING NEW FOODS

end of a long day, I realized that I was particularly grateful for being

feel thankful for, the list started to shift on the seventh day. At the

I’m an extremely picky eater and have been my whole life. The idea of

stopped at a red light next to a friend enthusiastically waving. It was

trying a new food every day for three weeks was daunting and exciting.

this and little things like “time to go to the gym” and “a particularly good bowl of oatmeal” that began to fill my list, helping me see just

In the beginning, it was difficult. The first day, I tried a banana and

how much I had to be thankful for. Big and small, writing a nightly list

immediately threw up. The rest of the first week went similarly: Any

of gratitude helps me recognize that my day is full of little joys and

food I tried, even dessert-like foods like pumpkin bread made me

victories, I just have to take the time to notice them.

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JACQUELINE SAGUIN: MEDITATING

It’s 8:30 a.m., and a bright blue light emits from my phone — the

“early riser” alarm tone wakes me. I set a 20-minute timer and drag myself into a criss-cross position on my fuzzy cream blanket that my friends penned “the cloud.” It’s meditation time.

I’m a relatively calm person as is. But it only appears this way because I cope with negative emotions and stress in my life by bottling it up until it’s too overwhelming to deal with myself. I hoped to find an outlet that would help me manage my anxieties. Thanks to an ever-so-enlightening Rolling Stones profile on Harry Styles, I tried starting my mornings in silence, practicing meditation.

I created a phone-free zone where I could get myself in the right headspace. I gave podcasts a try, but advertisements quickly interrupted me from achieving my Zen. Meditation apps like Calm and Headspace gave me a taste of what could be, but seven days later, my spirits crushed when it asked me to unlock daily calm for $69.99 a year. I guess everything has a price nowadays, even inner peace.

I settled on instrumental meditation playlists on Spotify. Birds’ light chirping and running water helped relax my mind, letting it wander. I felt relatively more peaceful for the rest of the day. I plan to continue leaving my room after my sessions to annoy my roommates with positive reinforcements such as, “It’s a good day to have a good day.”

JESSICA CURBELO: RUNNING

At the beginning of this challenge, I didn’t enjoy running at all. At the end of this challenge, I still don’t like running, so if there’s one thing I got out of it, it’s that I need to find another way to incorporate exercise into my routine. That being said, running did become an (albeit unpleasant) part of my morning routine. I grew used to running on a regular basis, and it got easier as time went on.

However, now that the challenge is over, I’m gladly tossing the habit out the window. What I want to keep are all the unintentional habits I built around it.

I preferred to run first thing in the morning because it’s cooler outside. There are fewer people around, and it gets it out of the way. Because of that, I was getting up anywhere between 6 and 7 a.m. to run instead of the usual 9 a.m. My body started to naturally wake up earlier after growing accustomed to the 21 days, giving me so many more hours in the day. On top of that, running admittedly gave me a jumpstart to the day. I saw an improvement in my energy levels, which means overall, I was being a lot more productive in the mornings. Sometimes the energy lasted throughout the entire day. I also found myself drinking more water and eating more because my body screamed for food and water after a run.

I’ll be honest: This challenge is the first time I’ve consistently exercised since I was a kid, and I get the benefits. More energy, more

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productivity and more healthy drinking and eating habits? Sign me up. Just not like this. There has to be another exercise I can enjoy.

KACEY FINCH: JOURNALING

I’ve kept a journal by my bedside since high school. However, how frequently I write in it varies: every other day, every other week or

maybe an entire month goes by. When challenged to make or break a habit, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to fill the pages I had been neglecting.

I set an alarm around my bedtime every night and made sure to write. I wrote in my journal every day for 21 days and found myself releasing emotions, recounting my days and scribbling with ferocity.

While the challenge is over, I want to keep up the habit of consistently writing in my journal. Someday, I’ll look back at my words and remember what it was like to be a last-semester senior in college waiting for her future to unfold.

CAROLINA WATLINGTON: NO PHONE DURING MEAL TIME For 21 days, I ate every meal without the use of my phone. It may

sound silly, but grabbing your phone can be such an instinctual thing to do, and you don’t even realize how much you rely on it until you can’t use it. Day one was a piece of cake. Just by putting my phone away, my friends took notice and put their phones down too, making dinner much more fun. But by day three, it was an entirely different story. I liked being able to enjoy my meals more, but when eating alone, it felt weird to do nothing but just eat. When midterms rolled around, I felt guilty for my loss of productivity and not using the time effectively to study while eating. It got to the point where I had to turn my phone completely off to keep myself from gravitating toward it.

By day 21, it was an easier habit to adopt without thinking. Will I continue to do this every day? Probably not. But when I’m eating with friends, I definitely will keep my phone put away at all costs just for the quality of conversation.

MARIA BLOKHINA: STRETCHING

I tried stretching into splits before bed for 21 days. I like stretching

exercises but never was able to commit to a routine. In the beginning, it was hard to even remember to stretch before bed, and it was troublesome to make reminders because I wasn't sure what time I’d go to sleep. Due to my inconsistent schedule throughout the week, I also found myself staying awake for too long. By the time I went to bed, I felt too tired and sleepy to do the exercises. During this 21-day experiment, I found that playing my favorite songs helped me go through the process. It was also important to not punish myself for not doing the full routine, which consists of nine exercises. On some days, I did the whole routine very fast. On others, I performed just the ones that I can do in bed. By the end of the 21 days, I was pleased to find myself enjoying the activity and wanting to continue this habit further. O&B

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We would like to thank our wonderful adviser and fearless leader Nicole Irving. She is patient and strong, and we’re lucky to have her. We would like to thank Ted Spiker, Dean Diane McFarlin, Spiro Kiousis, Martha Collada and Hal Herman. We would like to thank our beautiful (and flexible) cover model Ilaisah Martinez and our

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incredible cover photographer Jane Pham.

Orange & Blue is published semiannually by the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications students enrolled in Applied Magazines. This issue was printed by Publications Printers.

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