otgv spring2014

Get a Birds Eye View of Gainesville

INTERVIEW: TOM PARSONS s RED CROSS GALA s GATOR INNOVATOR Spring 2014

GAINESVILLE

GalleryProtocol

A Brand NewArt Gallery

with a WholeLot of Gumption

Fine Art &Fresh Air

Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival

Celebrate 50 Years of

CreativityThe Cedar Key

Arts Festival

plus

Branch

Out!Get a Birds Eye View of Gainesville

INTERVIEW: TOM PARSONS s RED CROSS GALA s GATOR INNOVATOR Spring 2014

GAINESVILLE

GalleryProtocol

A Brand NewArt Gallery

with a WholeLot of Gumption

Fine Art &Fresh Air

Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival

Celebrate 50 Years of

CreativityThe Cedar Key

Arts Festival

plupluspl

1

CAN YOU DIG IT?

Event Marks its Eighth Year

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL

Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for Children in Need

DOUBLE DUTY

Landscaping withDinner in Mind

TRIP TO SEA TURTLES

Travel to the GeorgiaSea Turtle Center

FREE TAKE ONE

2 | Spring 2014

FAMILY DENTISTRY3655 SW 2nd Avenue Gainesville 352.378.2555

Jordan Webb, D.M.D. | Patti Webb, D.M.D., Ph.D. | Austin Webb, D.M.D.

From Our Family to Your Family

Read our story

on page 60!

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

352.378.2555www.gainesvilledentist.com

2

www.VisitOurTowns.com Spring 2014 | 3

3 5 2 . 3 7 5 . 2 7 2 0 2 4 4 1 N W 4 3 r d S T R E E T , S U I T E 2 A T H O R N E B R O O K V I L L A G E G A I N E S V I L L E

fffiiinnneee jjjeeewwwweelryyyy

AVA I L A B L E AT

3

4 | Spring 2014

Imagine what you could build on your next vacation.

an your stay in central Floridas favorite beach town!Pla

www.nsb a.com800-404-0244

Voted Best Beach 2007-2013ORLANDO SENTINEL

Floridas Top 10 Beach TownsUSA TODAY, DR. BEACH

Worlds Top 20 Surf TownsNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE

4


5

6 | Spring 2014

$

618 NW 60TH ST. OFF NEWBERRY ROAD NEXT TO BOOKS A MILLION

SKIN CARE FACIALS

MICRODERMABRASION

BOTOX & JUVEDERM

RED LIGHT THERAPY

WAXING

TANNING & SPRAY TANNING MYSTIC SPRAY TAN

CUSTOM AIRBRUSH

UV BEDS

PRO YOUTH SERVICES MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS

B12 + B-COMPLEX SHOTS

SPIDER VEIN REMOVAL

ENDERMOLOGIE

TEETH WHITENING

MASSAGE

FRESH SMARTHEALTHY

WWW.LAEBEAUTY.COM

FOLLOW FOR BEAUTY TIPS & COUPONS

352.331.9693

6


WILD CARD SATURDAY

15%offANY SERVICE REPAIR OR PARTS PURCHASE

How Many t imes have you seen and advert ised coupon for something you

dont need? You decide the service you need and wel l give you the discount!

Valid Saturdays!MOST MODELS. NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS

CHARGES OR SERVICES. PLEASE PRESENT COUPON WHEN ORDER IS

WRITTEN. PLUS TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES IF APPLICABLE. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXP 3-15-14

$ 9.98TIRE ROTATION

W/ BRAKE INSPECTION

MOST MODELS. NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS CHARGES OR SERVICES. PLEASE

PRESENT COUPON WHEN ORDER IS WRITTEN. PLUS TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES

IF APPLICABLE. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXP 3-15-14

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON?

WE WILL DIAGNOSE ANY MECHANICAL REPAIR FOR UP TO ONE HOUR LABORS

FREENO PURCHASE NECESSARY!MOST MODELS. NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS



WE PRICE MATCH ON ALL PASSENGER TIRESMOST MODELS. NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS



OIL CHANGE & FILTER CHANGEW/MULTIPOINT INSPECTION

352-372-25832101 N. MAIN ST. GAINESVILLE, FLWWW.GAINESVILLEBUICKANDGMC.COM TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER

HOME OF THE

UP TO 5 QTS. EXCLUDES SYNTHETIC, DEXOS OIL, DIESELS & SYNTHETICS.

MOST MODELS. NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS CHARGES OR SERVICES. PLEASE PRESENT COUPON WHEN ORDER IS WRITTEN. PLUS TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES IF APPLICABLE. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXP 3-15-14

$$

N

PPPPPPLELELELELELELELLE IFIFIFIFIFIF

N

EAEAEAEAEAEAEEEE SE SE SEESESEESE PREPREPREPREPREEPREPREPRESENSENSENSENENENNTT TT T TF F F FFFF APPAPAPPAPPAPPAPAPPP LICICLICLICLICLICLICCLICI ABLABLABLABLAABLA E.E.E.EE.E.

WE PPRICE

WE SERVICE

ALL MAKES & MODELS

$89.88VALUE

7

8 | Spring 2014

Michael Cotter, MD David Stewart, MD Ashley Walsh, MD Ronnie Jo Stringer, ARNP, CNM Cynthia Vista, ARNP, CNM Padi Sutherland, ARNP, CNM

We deliver more than expected.

O B S T E T R I C S M I D W I F E R Y G Y N E C O L O G Y

6400 West Newberry Rd., Suite 207 Gainesville Medical Arts Building ~ next to North Florida Regional Medical Center

352.371.2011 www.GainesvilleOBGYN.com

Come in and meet

Dr. Ashley WalshSpecializing in Obstetrics &

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Call today

and schedule

your free

consultation.

If youre looking for an Ob/Gyn, lets get to know one another.

8


Alachua Learning Center 386-418-2080 alachualearningcenter.com

Alachua Learning Center Elementary and Middle School located just North of the town of Alachua on State Road 235, serves students from all parts of Alachua and neighboring counties.

Charter Schools are part of the Florida Alternative System of Public School Choice and charge no tuition.

While having the benefits of a small-school environ-ment the Alachua Learning Center provides a challeng-ing and fulfilling academic, cultural and physical educa-tional program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Alachua Learning Center has consistently been rated an A school by the State of Florida. Our varied physical education curriculum includes on-campus rock climbing and subscribes to the Presidents Fitness Program.

The Alachua Learning Center offers inspiring classes on a variety of subjects: Science, Social Studies, Lan-guage Arts, Math, P.E. Sports, Rock Climbing, Drama, Music, Clay Sculpting, Computer Graphics, individual Student Book Publishing (writing, design, illustrating), Drawing, Painting, Crafts, Community Service Display Projects, and exciting Field Trips.

You Have a Choice for your childs education.

9

10 | Spring 2014

N E E D T O B U Y ? S E L L ? R E N T ?

I was born and raised in Gainesville. Real Estate is my passion. Not only do I love

selling Real Estate I also have ten plus years experience in the new construction fi eld

with Weseman Builders Inc. Along side builder/developer Gary Weseman & brother

William Weseman in a family owned & operated business for nearly 40 years. I know

what hard work is and Im ready to work hard for you!

352-317-3803 | mikeweseman@watsonrealtycorp.comwww.watsonrealtycorp.comwww.wesemanbuilders.com

MIKE WESEMAN

CALL A

FRIEND IN THE

BUSINESS TODAY!

CALL A

FRIEND IN THE

BUSINESS TODAY!

10


FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 2004

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTIONsingle family residential homes

REMODELINGkitchens, bathrooms, wood decks, room additions, etc.

WOOD FENCING

FLOORINGtile, carpet, wood, etc.

WINDOWS

DOORS

KITCHEN UPGRADES

BACK PORCHES & DECKS LICENSE # CBC1255246

11

12 | Spring 2014

28 By Shayna PossesGallery ProtocolTheres a new contemporary art

gallery in town! Founded in 2013,

Gallery Protocol is one prong of a

larger undertaking (Protocol Project)

in support of contemporary visual

arts and artists in North Florida and

beyond. Read all about Nick

Moskowitz and Chase Westfalls

artistic endeavors.

96 By Crystal HenryTake the Power BackChildren dont have much control

over their lives to begin with. So the

ones who are faced with a life-

threatening disease often feel

scared and powerless. But one

program is helping kids in local

hospitals gain inner strength and

take back control through martial

arts. And theyre kicking those

helpless feelings to the curb.

148 By Ericka WinterrowdMoto X ManIt seems that we have a celebrity

athlete among us here in Gainesville.

After winning the Dirt Shark Biggest

Whip Contest at the 2013 Monster

Energy Cup, Tom Parsons has the

world of motocross talking. Get to

know Tom, an underdog who is

whipping his way to the top.

28 | Spring 2014 Spring 2014 | 29

At Gallery Protocol, Chase Westfall is home. On Jan.

16, opening night for the gallerys third show in

as many months, the 33-year-old is constantly on

the move, patting local punk rockers on the back,

discussing art over beers in the corner, dancing

arm in arm with old friends. Making a beeline for an artist across

the room, he notices a 20-something holding a plate with one of

the giant dill plants that was intended as garnish for the vegetable

tray. He picks it up and laughs, Dill? Thats cool, man.

Its this anything-goes vibe that Westfall, Protocols director,

hopes will set the gallery apart from other venues in town. When

he started the gallery in August with Nick Moskowitz, a local

entrepreneur, the two noticed a gap in the Gainesville art com-

munity between art institutions like the Samuel P. Harn Museum

of Art and more grass roots, down and dirty efforts like the

experimental Display gallery downtown. This has a lot to do with

why Gainesville is not yet on the map as a contemporary art city,

Westfall said.

I think if we can just connect the dots, we can get close to a

critical mass of a thriving arts community, Westfall said. And

weve been pretty successful at getting the full spectrum here. We

Need Caption. 25 words.

A RT for allA Brand New Little Art Gallery with a Whole Lot of Gumption

WRITTEN BY SHAYNA POSSES PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM MORRISEY

>> MIXED MEDIA

96 | Spring 2014 www.VisitOurTowns.com Spring 2014 | 97

Kaylas school was offering karate classes, and

she was anxiously looking forward to stepping

out on the mats in a crisp white gi and a

yellow belt. Instead, she found herself stepping into

a hospital bed with a cancer diagnosis. The hospital

gown was a far cry from the karate uniform of her

11-year-old dreams.

Then one day Kayla looked up from her hospital bed

to see a man in a white gi standing in her doorway.

Karate, Kayla exclaimed leaping up in her bed.

Andrew Hix, the head instructor of Kids Kicking

Cancer of Gainesville, had heard about Kayla and came

to see if she would like to join his Heroes Circle. Her

exuberance was a pleasant surprise for Hix. He wasnt

used to such an energetic greeting and, as her smile

beamed across her entire face, he answered her, Yes.

He was here for karate.

Please can I go to karate class? Kayla asked her

mother, Sharon. Sharon told Hix about her missing karate

at school and agreed to let her join the Heroes Circle.

Hix told Kayla all about the fun she would have in

class and the martial arts secrets he would share with

her. But he also told Kayla that shed be teaching and

inspiring others, and she sat captivated. Then he told

her about the uniform.

She bolted up in bed. I get a uniform? she said.

When?

He explained that after two classes shed get the

uniform, and in time she could earn the yellow belt.

Kayla went to her rst two classes and got her

Packing a Punch and the Power of Positive Thinking

WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL HENRY

>> DISCIPLINE

Kids Kicking Cancer

PHOTO BY XX

Caption Need 30 Words

148 | Spring 2014 www.VisitOurTowns.com Spring 2014 | 149

How would you describe yourself?TP: Very mellow. Im a pretty slow-moving person until Im on a dirt bike

and then its completely different. I

like to tell people that I am just saving

everything for when I ride a dirt bike I

save the speediness and craziness for

when it really counts.

Where do you consider home?TP: Florida is home.

What is your connection with Gainesville?TP: Gainesville is kind of the city I grew up in because in Citra there isnt a whole

lot there, so you have to drive to either

Gainesville or Ocala to do anything.

Pretty much from the time I was in high

school Id come up to Gainesville either

to skate or BMX, or just hang out.

When did you start riding?TP: I started riding dirt bike when I was 12; it was pretty much right after

I moved to Florida. I watched a couple

local races here, and then decided I was

going to do it. Growing up, I always had

a four-wheeler and a skateboard, but

it wasnt until I moved to Florida and

started riding dirt bike that I began to

train and compete.

When did you become a professional?TP: I turned pro racing in 2003. When I was in the intermediate training group

it would have been around age 18 or

19 I thought to myself, maybe I can

actually do something with this. At that

point in time I started working towards

becoming a professional; but before

that, you are just trying to do your best

AGE: 32

HOMETOWN:TRABUCO CANYON, CALIFORNIA

PROFESSION: MOTOCROSS ATHLETE

TIME IN GAINESVILLE: LONG ENOUGH THAT IT FEELS LIKE HOME

PHOTOGRAPHY AND INTERVIEW BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

Tom ParsonsGainesville resident Tom Parsons is a professional motocross athlete who

recently took home the title of Biggest Whip at the 2013 Monster Energy Cup

held in Las Vegas. When he isnt training at his compound in Citra, Florida

he can be seen at least four days out of the week at his residence here in

Gainesville. Even though he is currently training and competing in California, he

managed to fit this phone interview into his busy schedule. And from the looks

of it, its pretty clear that this underdog is coming out on top.

>> INTERVIEW

MOTO

X MAN

SPRING 2014 VOL. 05 ISSUE 01

CONTENTS

12


The articles printed in Our Town Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Our Town Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Our Town Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. All rights reserved. 2013 Tower Publications, Inc.

38 Fine Art & Fresh AirSanta Fe Colleges Spring Arts Festival is a Welcome Sign of the Changing SeasonBY ANDREW V. PESTANO

44 One Child at a TimeKiwanis Internationals Commitment to Change the World Starts at HomeBY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

52 Branch OutOpening Our Eyes to the World Above UsBY ERICKA WINTERROWD

62 Double DutyLandscaping with Dinner in MindBY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

74 Startup QuestTurning Todays Unemployed into Tomorrows EntrepreneursBY CRYSTAL HENRY

80 Gator InnovatorThe UF Office of Technology is a Treasure Trove of Exciting New Advancements BY CRYSTAL HENRY

22 Charity of the Month Winners

122 Taste of the Town

128 Community Calendar

168 Advertiser Index

INFORMATION

34 Crystal HenryNAKED SALSA

70 Albert IsaacDIFFERENT NOTE

118 Brian Krash KrugerGATE CRASHING

154 Terri SchlichenmeyerREADING CORNER

164 Ericka WinterrowdADVENTURESIN APPETITE

COLUMNISTS

>> FEATURES

ON THE COVERExploring the wonder of the treetops, Danny Lyons gives a thumbs-up as he climbs Charlotte the live oak. Lions offers a service that helps climbers reconnect with nature and even rescues cats stranded high in trees.

PHOTO BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

52

13

14 | Spring 2014

88 Dancing Through the DecadesThe American Red Cross of North Central Floridas Upcoming GalaBY STYLIANA RESVANIS

114 Can You Dig It?Event Marks its Eighth Year at Florida Museum of Natural HistoryBY ILANA LIFSHITZ

104 A Trip to Sea TurtlesMeet an Endangered Species at the Georgia Sea Turtle CenterBY ERICKA WINTERROWD

142 Celebrating 50 Years of CreativityThe Cedar Key Arts FestivalBY SHAYNA POSSES

156 Circle of InfluenceWomens Giving Circle Increases Philanthropic ImpactBY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

114

>> FEATURES

Published quarterly byTower Publications, Inc.

www.towerpublications.com

PUBLISHERCharlie [email protected]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAlbert [email protected]: 1-800-967-7382

OFFICE MANAGERBonita [email protected]

ART DIRECTORHank [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNNeil [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCrystal HenryIlana LifshitzAndrew V. PestanoShayna PossesStyliana ResvanisDarla Kinney ScolesEricka Winterrowd

INTERNSShayna PossesEricka Winterrowd

ADVERTISING SALESNancy Short [email protected]

Helen Mincey [email protected]

Jenni Bennett [email protected]

Pam Sapp [email protected]

Annie Waite [email protected]

ADVERTISING OFFICE4400 NW 36th Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32606

352-372-5468

352-373-9178 fax

PHOTO BY KRISTEN GRACE

Matthew Smith, a senior lecturer at the University of Florida, demonstrates

volcanic eruptions outside the Florida Museum of Natural History at last

years Can You Dig It event.

14


15

16 | Spring 2014

The lights dim and the curtain

rises. This is where the theater

experience begins for most patrons

of the Hippodrome Theatre. But

for those looking to delve deeper

into the world of the theater,

the Hippodrome offers the Play

Observership.

The program takes patrons

inside the theater to witness the

conception and birth of a theatrical

production. This spring, partici-

pants will have the chance to get

inside Shakespeares The Tempest.

Its really an opportunity to

provide our theater-going patrons

with an experience theyd never

get, said Tammy Dygert, dramaturg

for the Hippodrome Theatre. The

program will take participants

from the page to the stage.

The program began in the 2006

season with Alice in Wonderland. It

was designed to let audiences see

a production come to life. Its a way

to make a very private process very

public, and it educates theatergoers

about the intense work that goes

into each production. Dygert said

many people dont realize that the

theater employs full-time designers

and directors. The costumes arent

store-bought or ordered online.

The designer creates each costume

from scratch and the set designers

work diligently in the scene shop

on site to produce the intricate sets

for each production.

Every person who has

attended always says something

along the lines of, I had no idea,

Dygert said.

The Observership consists of

a total of fi ve sessions beginning

March 14 plus a preview perfor-

mance at the end. Dygert said they

typically cap the program off at

about 20 participants, but they have

made exceptions and hosted as

many as 70. They encourage people

of all ages to participate, but she

advises people to look at the times

and dates for each session. Their

union contracts dictate regulations

for how long and when they can

rehearse, so rehearsals typically

end by 6 p.m. The schedule tends

to attract people who dont have

traditional work commitments

during the week. They usually get

a good senior crowd as well as

college students and sometimes a

high school student or two.

Everyone can learn something

from it, Dygert said.

Since The Tempest was one of

Shakespeares later plays, Dygert

said it is set to be a whimsical

production. There is a lot of magic

mixed with reality, so watching

it come to life will be an exciting

experience.

You wont fi nd a better bang for

your buck, Dygert said.

Registration is $75, but partici-

pants can get a $10 discount if they

register before March 1. Registration

includes a ticket to the preview

performance, and since theater

tickets range from $15 to $35 Dygert

said the program is a real bargain.

The Observership puts par-

ticipants right in the middle of the

action making it a unique commu-

nity education experience.

For more information visit thehipp.org or call the box offi ce at 352-375-4477.

SPECIAL >> THE WORLDS A STAGE

The Observership A Behind The Curtain Peek Inside The Hippodrome Theatre

16


MESSAGE >> FROM THE EDITOR

What a crazy season it has been. Hot. Cold. Freezing one weekend, sweltering the next.

Come to think of it, thats normal for Florida.

Thankfully, that is all behind us (or soon will be)

as we welcome spring and bid adieu to winter. Im

happy to see it go. Im looking forward to riding my

bicycle, planting a garden and indulging in my latest

obsession: motorcycling.

Yes, after a many year hiatus (I wont say how

many), Im back in the saddle. I have just taken my

motorcycle-training course so that I may once again

legally ride. I even have some motorcycles. Im driving

my wife, the Voice of Reason, insane with it all.

Speaking of motorcycles, in this issue we offer you

an interview with a motorcycle champion who has

recently brought home some high honors. When I

putt around on my dirt bike I drive about 15 mph and

avoid the jumps; Tom Parsons speeds up a ramp, fl ies

through the air, turns his motorcycle sideways and

lands some 75-odd feet down the road. On his wheels.

Spring also brings to my mind art festivals. To that

end, we have stories that include a new art gallery in

Gainesville, the Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival, and the

50th Anniversary of Art in Cedar Key (should I ride my

motorcycle?).

These are just some of the

stories you will fi nd within

these pages.

Enjoy!

: : : : : CORRECTION : : : : :Credit goes to Lindsy Carr for providing photos of the

band, The Rebel & The Anchor for Brian Krash Krugers

Gate Crashing review that appeared in Winter 2013.

COSMETIC, FAMILY & RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY

14211 NW 150th Ave AlachuaLD Pankey and Ross Nash Institute Preferred Dentist

Porcelain Laminates,Veneers, and OnlaysComputer Generated Crowns (in a single appointment)

Smile MakeoversTMJ Th erapy

Implant RestorationsDigital X-RaysCrowns & BridgesMetal Free FillingsLaser DentistryWhitening

SPECIALIZING IN:

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED - WE FILE FOR YOU

2-6 SHADES LIGHTER SAFE & PAINLESS WHITER TEETH IN 30 MIN

DOUGLAS M. ADEL, DDS SERVING ALACHUA & SURROUNDING COUNTIES SINCE 1990

www.DrDouglasAdel.com

For a limited time at Dr. Adels offi ce

$79 TEETHWHITENING

Call Today to schedule your whitening!

Gift certi cates are available.

386-462-4635

C E L E B R A T I N G

25 Years of Beautiful Smiles!

17

18 | Spring 2014

STAFF >> CONTRIBUTORS

Ilana Lifshitzis a senior journalism major at UF. She aspires to work for a food or travel magazine after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys watching Law and Order: SVU marathons, catching up with friends and trying out new recipes.

[email protected]

Andrew Valentine Pestanois usually daydreaming.He is a journalism graduate of the University of Florida who enjoys laughter, playing piano and fighting crime (in his head).

[email protected]

Shayna Possesis a UF journalism senior. She chose journalism for the commas and stayed for the stories. Her life is made possible by coffee, cardigans and the thought of the cats shell adopt upon graduation.

[email protected]

Styliana Resvanisreceived her bachelors degree in journalism from UF. She enjoys freelance writing, singing and testing new recipes in her spare time. A lover of all things cultural, she dreams of learning new languages and traveling the world.

[email protected]

Crystal Henryis a freelance writer and columnist born and raised in West Texas. She received her B.S. in Journalism in 2006 from the University ofFlorida. She is in love withthe Florida landscape.

[email protected]

Darla Kinney Scolesremembers taking a high school journalism class and falling in love with the process. Oodles of years, one husband, three daughters and multitudinous stories later, shes still in love with it all. That, and dark chocolate.

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

Brian Krash Krugeris writer, musician and a graduate of the UF College of Law. He has played in some 17 or so local bands, playing most every Gainesville venue friendly to original music(and some not so friendly).

[email protected]

$995Blow-dry style, curling

iron, set, design lines or specialty cuts extra.

ADULTHAIRCUTFREE Lite Dry & Shampoo

''OT

exp. 2/15/14

Oaks Mall Plaza (352) 333-03036763 W. Newberry Rd. (Oaks Mall Plaza, at the opposite end from Toys R Us) M-F 9-7 Sat 9-6 Sun 11-4

$3995Blow-dry style, curling

iron, set, design lines or specialty cuts extra.

CHI COLORIncludes Style

''OT

exp. 2/15/14

NEVER TRIED CHI COLOR? Experience longer lasting color with unparalleled shine.

STYLE. WITHOUT THE STICKER SHOCK.

exp. 5-15-14

exp. 5-15-14

18


$5OFF $10 OFFOaks Mall Location Only. Not Valid with any other offers. Offer expires 05-31-14

Oaks Mall Location Only. Not Valid with any other offers. Offer expires 05-31-14

AnAnAnAnAA y y yy y pupupupupurcrcrcrcchahahahah seseseseee oooooooof f f f f f $3$3$3$3$3$355555 orororororor mmmmmmorororororo eeeee AnAnAnAnAnAny y yy y y y pupuupupupuupupurcrcrcrcrcrccchahahahahhahahasessesesesesee oooof f fff f $6$6$6$6$66$6$65555555 orororororoor mmmmmmmororororoo eeeeeOakOakOakOakOaO s Ms Ms MMs MMs allallallalall LoLoLoLoocatcatcatcacationioniononono OnOnOOnly.ly.ly.yly. NoNoNoNoN t Vt Vt VVt Vt Vt VVValialialialialiliiid wd wd wd wd wd wd wd withithithiththithithh anyanyanyanyy totototo herhehherherher ofofofofferferferffers.ss.s OffOffOffOfff ferer er er er expexpexpexpexpireireireirer s 0s 0s 0s 0s 005-35-35-35-35-31 11-11-11-11-11 44444

OakOakOakOakOakOaka s Ms Ms Ms Ms MM Mallallallallalla LoLoLoLoLoLocatcatcatcattcationionionionionion OnOnOnOnOnOO ly.ly.ly.ly.ly NoNoNoNoN t Vt Vt Vt Vt Vt alialialialid wd d wd wd withithithith anyanyanyanyanyny otototototherherherheherher ofofofofofofferferferferffers.s.s.ss OffOffOffOffOffOffer er er ereer e expexpexpexpexpex ireireireirees 0s 0s 0s 0s 000s 05-35-35-35-35-35-31-11-11-11-1-11 444444

OAKS MALL - GAINESVILLE, FL 352.519.5161

WE STOCK LARGE SIZES!

Free Your Toes!

19

20 | Spring 2014

20


21

22 | Spring 2014

El Trapiche sits in the heart of Central America a Nicaraguan village of less than 200 people. Basic needs are barely met.

Families have to travel to

nearby villages to collect

an entire weeks worth

of clean water at one time. There

is no school to speak of in El

Trapiche, although dedicated

community members will sometimes create makeshift

classrooms inside homes. And Nicaragua in general

ranks as the second poorest country in the Western

hemisphere.

But change is coming.

With the help of international aid and the dedication

of locals, challenges are being overcome.

Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity at the

University of Florida, has spent this fall raising money

for the village. It has won SunState Federal Credit

Unions November Charity of the Month Contest with

3,255 votes on Facebook.

Including the $1,000 prize, they have raised $3,800 so far.

Alpha Phi Omega works in partnership with a

separate international development program, Free the

Children, whose goal is to improve access to education,

water, food, healthcare, and sustainable income in

impoverished areas.

Sammy Felman is Alpha Phi Omegas philanthropy

co-chair alongside Alicia Leva at the fraternity. Through

Free the Childrens Adopt a Village program, they

chose El Trapiche as their service project for this

semester. Felman was familiar with the area, having

taken a two-week trip to Nicaragua last summer.

Alpha Phi Omegas donation has helped build new

classrooms and a water reservoir that gives direct

access to all the homes in the village. Families no

longer have to walk to outside villages weekly.

Free the Children has also built sidewalks that give

better access to the new classrooms, helping to avoid the

dense mud during the rainy season, and planted gardens

and trees to prevent erosion of the new buildings.

The classrooms new mural,

painted in the colors of the

Nicaraguan fl ag, brings bright-

ness and hope.

Ultimately, Free the Children

states on its website, the pro-

gram is about freeing children

from poverty, from exploitation,

and from the notion that they

are powerless to effect change.

In spring semester, Felman

said Alpha Phi Omega will

continue its work with Free the

Children in El Trapiche. Felman

and Leva both plan to make

trips to Nicaragua, Felman said,

hopefully to see the progress they have helped create.

Felman recalled from her previous trip to Nicaragua,

where she worked to build a school on an island off the

coast, how grateful the locals were.

All the kids wanted was to learn so badly and to be

in school, she said. It was incredible to see how much

they appreciated it. s

Learn more at www.facebook.com/ufalphaphiomega.

CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Alpha Phi OmegaNOVEMBER 2013 WINNER 3,255 VOTES

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

www.facebook.com/SunStateFCUand click on Charity of the Month.

22 | Spring 2014

22


Meet Joe Akins

SunState Federal Credit Union has been serving its members for more than 55 years. Visit us today to see the difference it makes to do

your banking at the place where Joe works.

JOJOJOE E E AKAKAKINININSSSSSSSSSFCFCFCUUU PrPrPresesesidddenenent tt && & & CECECECEOOOO

Im going to do everythingin my power to put thecredit union in the best possible position to maintain and improveour current level ofsuccess. It all comesdown to our peopleand making sure theyare in the bestposition to succeed,as they help ourmembers to succeed.

gggggg

352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.orgProudly serving our members and our community since 1957

23

24 | Spring 2014

When Theresa Batchelor received a call about a young Arabian mare that had been seized by the county due to neglect, she knew the mare, now named Beauty, was not the only one in need of rescuing.

After a surgery to remove a tumor that was

growing inside Batchelors spinal cord, she

received the news that the extraction caused

permanent nerve damage. She was left quadriplegic

and was told she would never walk again.

Through physical therapy, tenacity and faith, she

did regain use of her limbs. However, Batchelor has no

feeling or proprioception below her neck she has no

idea where her arms and legs are unless she is look-

ing at them. She is what is known as an incomplete

quadriplegic. She was advised to give up many of her

favorite activities, including horseback riding.

Enter Beauty. The mare had been traumatized by

prior abuse, and to say she did not like people would be

an understatement. Gaining her trust seemed impos-

sible, but Batchelor has experience with overcoming

impossible situations.

She had a plan. She would spend each day with

Beauty, teaching her voice commands. Over the course

of a few months, Beauty fi nally began to heal. She

seems to sense that Batchelor is different. This has

only helped strengthen their bond, which developed

into a beautiful and trusting relationship, one that led

Batchelor to be able to horseback ride again.

Because of this experience, Batchelor was inspired

to start a nonprofi t organization in 2006 called Beautys

Haven Farm and Equine Recue. The purpose is to help

as many equine friends as possible when they are in

need. The charity networks with other rescue organiza-

tions and individuals, and works to educate others

about horse slaughter in an effort to make it illegal

not just in the United States, but also in Canada,

Mexico and other countries.

Horses that arrive at the rescue come from auctions

and kill buyers. Some are surrendered by owners who

can no longer care for them, and some are seized by

authorities. The organization tries to help horses that

are desperately in need of a safe place to go. Once a

horse is at the rescue, then comes the costs of rehabili-

tation, training, proper feed and care. Expenses include

initial care, grain, feed and other necessities, which

are costly. Some horses with special needs will live out

their days there.

Jeanne Bartsch is on the board of directors for the

rescue, and said this organization is unique because

Batchelor takes in horses that other rescues might not

because of the cost required to rehabilitate them.

If they need acupuncture, they get it. If they need

massage therapy, they get it, Bartsch said. She never

gives up on them. s


Beautys Haven Equine RescueDECEMBER 2013 WINNER 2,950 VOTES



24 | Spring 2014

24


Loans - Free Checking - Credit Cards

SunState Federal Credit Union has been serving its members for more than 55 years. Visit us today to see the difference it makes to do

your banking at the place where Richard works.

352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.orgProudly serving our members and our community since 1957

Meet Richard Baldwin

RIRIRICHCHCHAAAARARARD DD BABABALDLDLDWIWW NNNSSSS FCFCFCUUU DiDD reeectctctor ooof ff

HHHuumamamannn ReReRelalalationononsss

For me, the thing that sets SunState Federal Credit Union apart from other fi nancial institutions is our employees. From the president/CEO to tellers, our people genuinely practice the credit union philosophy of people helping people, day in and day out.

25

26 | Spring 2014

Magic the miniature horse has done it again.

Magic is part of a larger organization, Gentle

Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, which

has again won $1,000 in the January

SunState Federal Credit Unions Charity of the Month

contest. Gentle Carousel consists of a team of 27 min-

iature horses all therapy animals that visit hospitals,

hospices, assisted living programs and disaster relief

areas.

The registered nonprofi t was founded by Debbie

Garcia-Bengochea and her husband Jorge. It began

about a decade ago when the couple purchased their

fi rst two miniature horses for their North Florida ranch.

The horses would graze in a pasture in front of their

bed-bound neighbors window. With curiosity piqued,

the neighbor one day asked them to bring the minia-

ture horses closer so he could have a better look.

Immediately, the neighbor was thrilled.

He was so excited to see the tiny horses that he got

out of bed to pet and play with them. It was then that

Debbie and Jorge realized the emotional power these

pint-sized animals could have.

Since then, the couple has bought and bred an entire

team of horses and traveled the world bringing comfort

and happiness wherever they go.

The team has found international success.

Magic was named one of Time Magazines 10 most

heroic animals, and on the Readers Digest list of

Hometown Heroes, Magic was the only animal that

made the cut. The AARP also named Magic the most

heroic pet in America.

The Carousel therapy horses are now Breyer Model

horses, becoming a part of the classic toy legacy. And

some of the horses are now working outside of Athens,

Greece, in orphanages, hospitals, schools and programs

for the elderly.

But even though it has found success worldwide, the

North Florida organization remains involved at home.

Outside of visiting those in need, Gentle Carousel

runs an award-winning literacy program called Reading

is Magic. The miniature horses visit local libraries,

schools and at-risk youth programs to bring stories to

life and inspire young readers.

Whether visiting young children touched with

illness or communities faced with disaster, Gentle

Carousels miniature horses bring larger-than-life joy to

everyone they meet.

For 2014, charities will only be eligible for the $1,000

prize once a calendar year. However, these charities

are still welcome to enter every month and will be

eligible for the random $500 prize. Remember every

vote a charity gets counts as an entry into the random

drawing for the monthly $500 donation. s

Learn more at www.facebook.com/TherapyHorses.


Gentle Carousel Therapy HorsesJANUARY 2014 WINNER 2,664 VOTES



26 | Spring 2014

26


27

28 | Spring 2014

28

Spring 2014 | 29

At Gallery Protocol, Chase Westfall is home. On Jan.

16, opening night for the gallerys third show in

as many months, the 33-year-old is constantly on

the move, patting local punk rockers on the back,

discussing art over beers in the corner, dancing

arm in arm with old friends. Making a beeline for an artist across

the room, he notices a 20-something holding a plate with one of

the giant dill plants that was intended as garnish for the vegetable

tray. He picks it up and laughs, Dill? Thats cool, man.

Its this anything-goes vibe that Westfall, Protocols director,

hopes will set the gallery apart from other venues in town. When

he started the gallery in August with Nick Moskowitz, a local

entrepreneur, the two noticed a gap in the Gainesville art com-

munity between art institutions like the Samuel P. Harn Museum

of Art and more grass roots, down and dirty efforts like the

experimental Display gallery downtown. This has a lot to do with

why Gainesville is not yet on the map as a contemporary art city,

Westfall said.

I think if we can just connect the dots, we can get close to a

critical mass of a thriving arts community, Westfall said. And

weve been pretty successful at getting the full spectrum here. We

Gallery Protocol Director Chase Westfall stands with his right-hand

man, gallery employee Steven Speir, in front of a piece from A Horse

Walks Into A Painting.

ART for allA Brand New Little Art Gallerywith a Whole Lot of Gumption

WRITTEN BY SHAYNA POSSESPHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM MORRISEY

>> MIXED MEDIA

29

30 | Spring 2014

have the dean of the University of Floridas School of

Art and Art History and half the members of the punk

bands in town here.

Moskowitz originally bought the space as a new

home for the online T-shirt business he started a

decade ago, called Thread Pit. The property had a his-

tory. At one point, it was a mechanics shop. For a while,

it was home to the Humane Society. But as Thread Pit

gained popularity, the company outgrew the collection

of buildings at 2029 NW Sixth St. Moskowitz moved his

company to a former Lowes location on Waldo Road.

He was left with an empty property and an inclination

that he could do something good for the community.

A South Florida boy from Jupiter, a town a couple

hours north of Miami, Moskowitz moved to Gainesville

to study engineering at UF and never left.

Its not a common story.

I know a lot of creative, talented people who left

Gainesville after reaching a plateau, he said. The core

reason I started Protocol is be the change you want to

see in the world. I wanted to create a foundation for a

lasting arts culture in Gainesville.

Thats where Westfall came in. He comes from a

family of North Florida transplants who moved to the

area from the Northeast when he was 11. Westfalls sis-

ter works with Moskowitz

and suggested him for the

project. There was no real

plan, just a few buildings

and good intentions.

Westfall was nearing

the end of a two-year

studio-art teaching position

at East Tennessee State

University and jumped at

the chance to bring his wife

and fi ve young children to

Gainesville.

Hes not your typical art-

ist, though you would guess

otherwise from his incense-

scented offi ce, overfl owing

with books on everything

from contemporary art

to music and dotted with

random good luck charms

he received as a welcoming

gift a Chinese black cat,

jade, crystals and a tall,

green candle labeled Alleged

money drawing candle.

One of fi ve children,

Westfall took what he

calls the Florida circuit

of undergraduate colleges,

unsure of what he wanted

to do. It wasnt until he

spent a few years as a mis-

sionary in Costa Rica that

he had his epiphany.

I wasnt doing art, but I

had this feeling that when

I got back, art was what I

should be doing, he said. I

was in the zone spiritually, so any impulse I had at the

time I felt like was a good one.

He came back to the U.S. and got his bachelors in

painting at UF. On the side, he did any sort of work in

the art world he could get, everything from curating to

writing to helping hang work in galleries.

His masters from the University of Georgia is also in

painting, but the chance to make use of his broad range

of experiences in the art world brought him home.

I knew this position would challenge me on

all levels not just studio, but curatorial and

AT THE DOOR BY DAVID HUMPHREY.

30

Spring 2014 | 31

administration, he said. It was a one in a

million shot, to be able to do this in a town

where I have family and friends and history.

The men dove right into Westfalls

proposal, creating a gallery space with a

residency component. The main building

serves as the gallery, with the bulk of the art

displayed in a large concrete-walled room

that once housed cars in need of a tune-up.

On the other side of the building is a recep-

tion space, behind which a cozy living space

appears out of nowhere, complete with a

lounge area and kitchenette. The live/work

studio area is the foundation for Protocols

artist-in-residence program, giving out-of-

town artists the opportunity to set up shop

while theyre in the area. Phoenix artist

Colin Chillag left the space in January after

a month-long residency during which he

prepared for an upcoming exhibition.

Across a small courtyard sits a building

Daniel Skelleys graf ti-inspired installation

takes over The Fermenter, Protocols studio

space reserved for local artists. Skelley enjoys

the freedom at Protocol. Pretty much the only

rule is dont burn the house down, he said.

31

32 | Spring 2014

called The Fermenter. There, local artists who are

selected through an application process are given

studio space and left to their own devices.

We give them a key, and let them do whatever

they want, Westfall said. The only thing we require

is when we have openings, they open the space to the

public, so they can catch a glimpse of something in

the raw.

The result is an eclectic, collaborative space that

cultivates what Westfall calls a rowdy aesthetic. Its

peppered with pieces of the artistic process: Sunshine

Wheat Beer cans, a dusty Persian rug, half-fi nished

artworks and a forgotten pair of aviator sunglasses. The

building currently houses four artists, ranging from

visiting UF faculty member Lisa Iglesias, who creates

otherworldly collages with images of mountains and

outer space, and local artist Daniel Skelley, whose

graffi ti-inspired installations spill off the canvas onto

television sets and motorcycles.

To David Humphrey, a New York-based artist, the

outcomes are fascinating. One of Westfalls former

professors at UGA, Humphrey came down for the

opening of his show A Horse Walks Into a Painting at

Protocol in January.

He stood in the far corner of the gallery, next to

his large, colorful painting of a woman sculpting. A

cacophony of dots and lines and smudges of color

burst from behind her head. At fi rst, it seems like

chaos, until you take a few steps to the side and realize

the shapes form a self-portrait of Humphrey.

Watching locals move amidst the playful acrylic-on-

canvas works, Humphrey mused about Gainesvilles

alternative art culture.

I really believe in the grass roots feature of

arts potential to connect, he said. The art world

has become so rarefi ed and money-obsessed, but

Gainesville cultivates an independent scene.

And Westfall and Moskowitz are ready to make their

mark. Their next show, an exhibition of avant-garde

and underground comic books called Non Sequitur:

Abstraction in Contemporary Sequential Art, is

scheduled for late February, with an opening reception

to be held Feb. 28 from 7 to 10 p.m.

By bringing in well-known art fi gures such as

Humphrey and comic book artists Raymond Pettibon

and Gary Panter, Westfall and Moskowitz hope to get

the attention they need to make Gallery Protocol a

North Florida staple.

We live here. We want the arts to fl ourish, Moskowitz

said. This is something to add to Gainesville. s

Gallery Protocol is located at 2029 NW 6th Street in Gainesville. Visit galleryprotocol.com for more information.

The residency program offers space to both local artists with a rowdy aesthetic and visiting UF faculty members.

David Sistrand, of Archer, said the results are kind of spontaneous. Its fantastic.

32


Build more. Spend less.

ReUser Building Products buys and sells both new and used building materials. Our products come from manufacturers, surplus dealers, contractors, home owners and demolition contractors. We carry over 18 styles of all-wood cabinetry. Oak, maple, birch and hickory are a sample of available wood species. ReUser now has a consistent selection of exterior doors. Several different styles, sizes and designs are available. We always have over 5,000 sq ft of tile in stock, with several different colors to choose from, starting at 69 cents a sq ft. Stop in and see what we have, our inventory new & used changes daily.

622 SE 2nd St. Gainesville, Fl 32601352.379.4600 www.reuser.usHOURS:

M-F 10AM-5:30PMSAT 10AM-3PM

STOPIN TODAY & CHECK OUT OUR

NEW EXPANSION!

33

34 | Spring 2014

W hen I got married I fi gured I was done with the dating scene. We settled in nicely with couple friends, and once we decided to have kids I knew my

dating days were over. But about six months after my

darling Sunny was born I found myself getting ready

for a date. My fi rst playdate.

In the early days after her birth I wasnt ready

to meet anyone. I was still getting used to my new

motherly status. The childfree days of staying out late

or sleeping in past well sleeping at all those days

were over. And slowly the divide between me and my

childless friends started to widen. Its not that I didnt

love them anymore, but they werent in a place in their

lives where barf on their shirt was a sign of affection,

and they just didnt share my concern about the quan-

tity or consistency of my offsprings bowel movements.

The fi rst few months of motherhood were a little

lonely. But it gave me time to grieve for the childfree

life I left behind. I didnt expect to mourn it so much,

and although that sweet little cherub did capture my

heart I still longed for the days of eating lunch when I

felt like it and going to the bathroom by myself. Yes, a

person was quite literally attached to me most of the

day, but I couldnt help feeling a little stranded on this

baby island.

Then, about six months after my sweet one was

born, I started to shower and put on real pants. I was

ready to get out there again and make some new

friends. Someone I could talk to about my sudden

irrational obsession with hand sanitizer or share my

deepest confessions about who I was secretly sharing

my bed with.

In college, making friends came easy. Between

work and school I had all sorts of social avenues to sift

through. But now that I was out of the working world

and only going to Target a few times a week, it was a

little tougher to meet new people.

I ventured into the mama dating world gently by

asking the interwebs for help. I found a few local

moms groups online and started Internet dating them.

I would check out their Meetup.com profi les to weed

out the weirdos and fi nd some thread of similarities

that I might bond with. Instead of looking for someone

with blue eyes and a strong chin, I found myself getting

excited over our kids sharing a birth month or the

vegan mom I could swap dairy-free recipes with.

Another great avenue I found was the mommy

singles bar, also known as the playground. Moms will

casually saunter up with their little ones in tow, and

as the children scamper off to the slides the mommies

NakedSalsa

COLUMN >> CRYSTAL HENRY

Mamas Hot Date

L&S Auto Trim Seat Covers Headliners

Cycle Seats Convertible Tops

www.landsautotrim.com352.372.8661

The Finest Auto Interiors & Custom Boat Canvas

Since 1952

5721 N.W. 13th Street, Gainesville , FL 32653

See our See our gallery of work online!

34


mill about the cedar mulch dance fl oor or take a break

at the picnic table wet bar. Some great pickup lines I

learned were, Where did you get that baby carrier? or

Oh how precious. How old is he? This line is a great

opener because if your kids are close in age and she

doesnt seem like a freak you could be meeting your

new best friend. The playground is also a great neutral

ground to see how the kids play together. If her kid is

constantly shoving your kids face in the dirt at the

playground you can pretty much write off the friend-

ship. It wont get any better when you bring your kid to

her kids home turf.

I started to feel more comfortable in my mommy

dating world. And then came my fi rst blind date. My

husband played ball with her husband, our girls were

born just a few months apart, and the best part was

she was super lonely. Jackpot.

I asked her husband for her number one day at soft-

ball practice and I cant say my palms werent sweaty

as I dialed her number later that evening. I nervously

laughed and made a witty off-the-cuff suggestion that

we should get together since we popped out our kids at

roughly the same time and she agreed.

I spent half an hour picking an outfi t for myself. I

needed something cute but not too revealing so that

I could nurse discreetly if I had to. After all, I was

going to her house and I didnt want to give the wrong

impression. I probably spent another half hour picking

an outfi t for Sunny. I wanted her to look cute, but not

like Toddlers and Tiaras cute.

As I lugged my infant seat up to the door and

fumbled with my giant diaper bag my heart started

to pound. What if I couldnt think of anything to talk

about? What if her kid chewed on my kids teething

ring? But as the door opened and our eyes met, she

smiled, and Sunny ripped a huge fart. She cracked up,

ushered me in and I didnt leave until her husband

strolled in the door at 6 p.m.

It had been scary, exciting and downright exhausting

to get back out there in the dating world, and I met lots

of moms I would be wonderful friends with. But the day

of my fi rst blind playdate I knew Id met The One. s

BIRDFOOD FEEDERS OPTICSGARDEN ACCENTS UNIQUE GIFTS

WEVE MOVED! 352-381-1997 Gainesville.wbu.com

4212 NW 16th Blvd.

Come visit us at our new nest!Just down the way from

Th e Fresh Market

Annual Spring Arts FestivalCedar Key, FL

352-543-5400 cedarkeyartsfestival.com

April 12-13 2014 10am - 5 pm

Celebration of the ArtsOld FloridCelebration of the ArtsOld FlorOld Florida Honeymoon Cottage 1959 by Tony Krysinsky

35

36 | Spring 2014

Tree and Canopy WorkTree and Canopy Work Backhoe, Skidsteer and Dirt WorkBackhoe, Skidsteer and Dirt Work Concrete Prep/Pour/FinishConcrete Prep/Pour/Finish Landscaping/Property Maintenance Landscaping/Property Maintenance Irrigation/Lighting/HardscapesIrrigation/Lighting/Hardscapes Fence InstallationFence Installation Barn and Deck ConstructionBarn and Deck Construction Property Underbrushing and MulchingProperty Underbrushing and Mulching Outdoor ProjectsOutdoor Projects

352-494-7838

F A M I L Y O W N E D & O P E R A T E D

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL LICENSED INSURED

36


Tree and Canopy Work Backhoe, Skidsteer and Dirt Work Concrete Prep/Pour/Finish Landscaping/Property Maintenance Irrigation/Lighting/Hardscapes Fence Installation Barn and Deck Construction Property Underbrushing and Mulching Outdoor Projects FREE

HOME INSURANCE QUOTATIONS352-377-9819

Auto Home Business Life

LAWN MOWER SALES & SERVICEwww.jackssmallenginerepaironllne.com

16530 N.W. US HWY 441 1.3 miles west of I75 Alachua, FL

M-F: 8am - 5:30pm SAT: 8am - 12:00pm

Lawn Mowers

Riding Tractors

Blowers & Edgers

Trimmers & Tillers

Pressure Washers

Generators

Chainsaws

ATVs

Golf Carts

Go-Karts

PICK-UP & DELIVERYSERVICE AVAILABLE

Ask us aboutFINANCING!

Service, Repairs and PartsOn Most Makes & Models

Small Engine Repair386-462-2882

*Must present coupon EXP. 6/15/2014

10%OFF

%

SERVICE

SPRING TUNE UP

37

38 | Spring 2014

Dormant driveways and sleeping streets

have resurrected every spring for

decades. Life is captured and appreciated

through all senses during the Santa Fe

College Spring Arts Festival in downtown

Gainesville, where dogwood trees and

azalea fl owers paint the canvas that

surrounds enchanting homes.

Whether the event draws those seeking to appreciate art and

culture or those looking to satisfy a craving for springtime lem-

onade and funnel cake, the art festival delivers. The 45th Annual

Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival will be held on Saturday,

April 5 and Sunday, April 6.

Booths, barbecues, tents and tables will conquer North East

First Street and the Thomas Center lawn with art, music and food

in the citys Northeast Historic District, which was fi rst mapped

out in 1854 and includes iconic Floridian architecture from the

1880s to the 1950s.

The birth of the festival took place the same year man fi rst landed

on the moon. In 1969, Santa Fe faculty and staff noticed the lack of

fi ne arts festivals in the region and worked to bring artistic culture to

WRITTEN BY ANDREW V. PESTANO

>> HELLO SPRING

Fine Art a n d

Fresh AirSanta Fe Colleges SpringArts Festival is a Welcome Sign of the Changing Season

38


PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKIE SCHINDEHETTE

Schindehette has been an artist for about 30 years and specializes

in painting Florida landscapes. Schindehette paints en plein air, an

expression used to describe painting while outdoors.

39

40 | Spring 2014

Alachua County. It was one small step into the creation of

a tradition.

The inaugural festival hosted about 500 people on

the lawn of the Thomas Center.

That fi rst year, anyone with a table could sell

their work, Kathryn Lehman, coordinator of the event,

said in an email.

The festival established itself as part of Gainesvilles

customs. It evolved from hosting a few hundred

attendants to more than 100,000 every spring, and as

the festival matured, so too has the art.

Paintings, photography, jewelry, sculptures, glass and

watercolor artwork are few of the many types of art

visitors will fi nd bringing life to the event.

Its a chance for people to experience and be

inspired by high-quality, fi ne art pieces and the artists

who create them, Lehman said.

Artists must apply to join the ranks of one of the best

outdoors art festivals in the nation. Artists from all over

the United States and the world apply to the juried show.

In some years, we have had artists apply from as

far away as Egypt, Lehman said.

It took Jackie Schindehette a few years to build up

the courage to apply as an artist-participant in the

now-distinguished festival.

Schindehette has been an artist for about 30 years, but

felt a little intimidated because of the great competition

that attends and the prestigious reputation the festival

carries in the community of artists nationwide, she said.

She has been accepted into the festival for more

than 15 years now. This year, she is the poster artist, an

artist chosen each year to create a poster for the show

with information advertising the event. The poster art-

ist also has an exhibition of artwork in the Presidents

40


PHOTOS COURTESY

OF KATHRYN LEHMAN

Festival visitors browse the wide array

of art available. Many of the presenting

artists sell originals and prints of their art.

The popular event tends to take over Northeast

First Street as residents and tourists enjoy the

warm spring temperatures of Gainesville an

average high of 77 degrees.

Many different forms of art appear, including

sculpting, ber and woodwork almost

all of which are available

for purchase.

41

42 | Spring 2014

Hall Gallery at Santa Fe College. The news of this honor

came as an exciting surprise, she said.

Music also contributes to the vibrancy the fes-

tival brings to the community. Groups such as the

Gainesville Community Jazz Band and the Buchholz

Allegro Vocal Ensemble have performed over the years.

Each year brings new, diverse sounds to stage such

the Jacar Brazil ensemble, which performs traditional

and popular Brazilian music, and last years musical

headliner Tropix, a Latin band that covers multiple

artists including Marc Anthony and Olga Taon.

The music helps create a lively environment that

gives the festival a pleasant charm, Schindehette said.

One of the people who best represent the spirit of

the festival is Eleanor Blair. She fi rst participated in

1972 when she exhibited handmade dolls, but back

then, the festival was more of a whimsical garage-sale

party than the professional event it is today.

Blair has participated every year since and also has

a studio in downtown Gainesville. Throughout the

years, she has won many awards, including the 2013

Award of Distinction for two-dimensional art.

The competitive section is diffi cult to get into,

but there is a community section, Blair said. I

recommend it to young artists because its a great

opportunity to see how people react and respond to

your work.

Although the festival is a phenomenal place to get

recognized, the essence of the festival is not in the

competition or awards, she said.

After participating for more than 40 years, Blair

said one of the most enjoyable aspects of the event

is the weather. She recalls that, incredibly, for all the

years shes attended, there have been only a handful of

times when the wind was harsh or the skies dark.

However, rain or shine, the festival continues.

Schindehette has seen generations of family

members come back over the years to visit and buy her

work, which to her is very special.

Each year, both Schindehette and Blair look for-

ward to seeing what their fellow artists are up to, to

catch up with old friends, to meet people and foster

new friendships.

After so many decades, I see all my friends. Every

person I ever knew seems to walk by, Blair said. Its great

to sit in the sun and enjoy the parade of all the people.

The energy Santa Fe puts into planning the event, the

hard work by artists who travel to showcase their art and

the musicians who come out to play every year are what

make it a marvelous experience for everyone, Blair said.

For more than 40 years, the Spring Arts Festival has

been a signifi cant part of Blairs life, and she believes it

helped shape Gainesville into the city it has become

and for that, she is grateful. s

The 45th Annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival will be held Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 in Gainesvilles downtown historic district. Visit springartsfestival.com for more info.

14839 Main Street Alachua 386-462-0768Monday-Saturday 10am to 5:30pmHours:

We carry a complete line of baby items and furniture, as well as designer clothing, shoes, purses and more!

Designer Brands:Hollister Abercrombie & Fitch

American Eagle Chicos Talbots Ann Taylor & Many others

ColleensKloset

Re-Sale Boutique

Purses, BackpacksTotes and Wallets

WE CARRY ACOMPLETEBELVAH LINE:

WOMENS JUNIORSBABY CHILDRENS

HOME GOODS SCHOOL UNIFORMS

42


43

44 | Spring 2014

THOMAS WELLER Though attorney Thomas Weller has no children, he

has a soft spot in his heart for little ones just the same.

As president of the University City Kiwanis Club in

Gainesville, Weller fi nds plenty of opportunities to act

on his compassion for youngsters. Wellers introduction

to the group came when he moved to the area in 2004

and a friend invited him to a club luncheon.

I came because I was asked, Weller said. I contin-

ue to be involved because of the children. The welfare

of our communitys small children is important to my

wife and me. If you start young seeing to the needs of

children, they will be healthy. From that point you look

at what else you can do to help them succeed as they

grow. Plus, you go, you join the club, and then you end

up with new friends.

The club, a presence in Gainesville since 1955, has

many initiatives aimed at bettering the lives of area youth,

including reading programs, holiday food baskets, safety

presentations, health projects and leadership mentoring.

PATTI BARTLETT I was recruited by a member about 12 years ago,

said Kiwanis Board Director, Patti Bartlett. I like the

service projects, the idea behind Kiwanis itself, and the

fact that it is an international organization.

Currently, Bartlett is helping prepare for the annual

pancake breakfast, a major fundraising event co-

sponsored by both the University City Kiwanis Club

and Kiwanis Club of Gainesville. Hosted by Gainesville

High School, the $5 breakfast is open to the public with

attendance at about 500 hungry people each year.

Through ticket sales and donations, the breakfast

raises approximately $10,000 each year to fund service

projects. This years breakfast takes place Saturday,

March 15, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

JIM YALE Board Director Jim Yale was chosen to explain

to new members what Kiwanis is all about on the

organizations website.

One Childat a TimeKiwanis Internationals Commitment to Change the World Starts at Home

WRITTEN BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES

>> GLOBAL THINKING, LOCAL ACTION

As part of a global volunteer organization, Kiwanis International

members stage nearly 150,000 service projects, devote more than

six million hours to service and raise nearly $100 million every year

for communities, families and programs worldwide.

Yet, the overriding theme to all of this effort is focused on one child at a time.

Locally, each Kiwanis member has an individual story, that when added

to those of fellow volunteers, tells the collective tale of Kiwanis International

changing Gainesville.

44


Kiwanis Annual Pancake Breakfast

FundraiserLOCATION:

Gainesville High School

DATE:

Saturday, March 15

TIME:

7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

PRICE:

$5 all-you-can-eat.Children under 12, accompanied

by parent, eat free.

Take-out service available.

45

Kiwanis, through club meetings, offers an atmosphere of fun,

learning and fellowship, Yale said. Our service projects offer opportu-

nity for us to directly impact our community and allow each member

to give back to the community for all they have received from it.

Projects include an annual day of athletic events for the physi-

cally challenged, the Citizen of the Month program for fi fth graders

at Alachua County schools, and a Bringing up the Grades (BUGS)

program recognizing and rewarding students who have improved

their grades.

SHEILA CRAPO I was looking for a civic group to join, said Sheila Crapo, and

was asked by a Kiwanis member to visit a meeting. It was easy for

me to do and its been fun ever since.

A Kiwanis member for 13 years, Crapo is now heading the com-

mittee planning the February 22 Worlds Greatest Baby Shower a

major Kiwanis project for the past nine years.

The goal of the shower, Crapo said, is to reach young par-

ents and help them get the information and assistance

they need to be successful mothers and fathers and

to have healthy, happy children. We help them

navigate the avenues available to them and

educate them on how to care for their

young ones.

The free event, held from

8:30-1:00 at Lincoln Middle School

includes workshops and infor-

mational booths on a variety

of parenting topics, as well as

lunch, goodie-bags and door

prizes and is also coordi-

nated by both the Gainesville

clubs.

DAN and KAY GREATHOUSE Our minister invited

my husband and me to go to

a Kiwanis meeting, said Kay

Greathouse, and we liked it.

We knew nothing about Kiwanis

at the time, but liked the fact that

they helped children. Joining Kiwanis

of Gainesville gave us a new circle of

friends and we met a new cross-section of

the local population. They are a very interest-

ing even fascinating group of people.

Eight years later, as co-chairs of the pancake

breakfast committee, the Greathouses are excited about

the good the fundraiser will do.

The mission of Kiwanis International is Serving the Children of the

World, Dan said. This annual pancake day funds our service projects

aimed at helping children in our community and around the world.

Both Gainesville Kiwanis clubs meet weekly to hear from guest

speakers, share information, happenings, and events. Newcomers

and visitors are welcome. s

For more information, call 352-377-4000 or visit gainesville.kiwanisone.org.

The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis InternationalOriginally approved by Kiwanis club delegates at the 1924 International Convention in Denver, Colorado.

To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life

To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships

To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards

To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship

To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities

To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill

Why Join? Change childrens lives -

itll change yours

Improve the community and the world

Build friendships

Enhance leadership skills

Develop business contacts

Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan on January 21, 1915 and is now headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana

Today there are 582,272 adult and youth members in 80 countries

Kiwanis is a Native American word, meaning Make a noise

The organizations motto is: Serving the Children of the World

46 | Spring 2014

46


Handguns Ri es Shotguns Used Guns Gerber Gear Apparel Ammo Accessories

We specialize in rearms intended for concealed carry, backup carry, self defense, completing FFL transfers for interstate and internet buyers.

[email protected]

9420 NW 13th St. Gainesville, FL 32653

Mon-Fri: 10am-7pmSat: 10am-5pm

352-376-2045lawfuldefense.com

S TT OOOOOOO C KC K III N GN GN GNN DDDD E ADD L E R F O R

Full Service

Repairs

Batteries

Accessories

Pick-Up

Delivery

352-372-0667

9420 NW 13th St. Gainesville, FL JonesGolfcarts.com

Golf Carts Sales & Service

47

48 | Spring 2014

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

Tues-Thurs 10am - 8pm, Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 9:30am - 3:30pm Walk-Ins welcome!

2441 NW 43rd St Suite B 352-372-7374 www.paradiseforhair.com

2441 NW 43rd Street Gainesville Florida (across from SunState Credit Union)

www.thornebrookvillage.com

etc boutiqueArabesque DancewearIlenes for FashionTCBYThornebrook ChocolatesMalgorzatasMaureene & Co. SalonThornebrook Gallery

McIntyre Stained Glass Studio & Art Gallery

Floating Lotus SpaCreations Hair Styling Sun Station TanningThornebrook Hair DesignBead All About ItBagelandChopStix BistroThornebrook Optical

Crevasses FloristDOXA Dance StudioInteriors by SheilaJeannies AtticMaureen & Co. SalonGainesville Health &

Fitness for WomenGainesville LightingGainesville NutritionBrittanys Fine Jewelry

Govind & Sons Fine JewelryKlaus Fine JewelryA1 Sewing &

Vacuum CenterThe Floor StoreThe Painted TablePaul M. Green &

AssociatesDirty BarLozano Dental Care

48


SAME POLICIES,NEW FACES AND NEW OWNERSHIP!Find unique and one-of-a-kind items at Jeanies Attic in Thornbrook.

Ever-changing items with a reputation for having high-end furniture and home dcor at great prices.

You never know whats in store behind our door!

UPSCALE FURNITURE & HOME DECOR2441 NW 43rd St. #19 Gainesville, Florida

Jeannies AtticTUESDAY - FRIDAY 10:00 am 5:30 pm SATURDAY 10:00 am 3:00 pm

352.375.5678Hours

3 5 2 . 3 7 5 . 2 7 2 0 2 4 4 1 N W 4 3 r d S T R E E T , S U I T E 2 A T H O R N E B R O O K V I L L A G E G A I N E S V I L L E

ffiinne jjeeeeewwweelryyyfiinnee jeeeweelryyy

AVA I L A B L E AT

49

50 | Spring 2014

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

LOCATED IN THORNEBROOK VILLAGE visit us online at www.A1sewing.com

SEWING MACHINE SALES, SERVICE AND CLASSES AVAILABLE!

Come see the 5 newest models of Husqvarna Viking sewing machines!

352.371.9464

2441 NW 43rd St. Unit 20 Gainesville

352-376-2514

T H O R N E B R O O K V I L L A G ET H O R N E B R O O K V I L L A G E

Spring FLORALBOUQUETS!

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTHGift Certi cates Available

Far Infrared Biomatsand Organic Products

thefl oatinglotusspa.com 352.378.8125

Thornebrook Village Suite 3A

GIVE THEG VE E TGIVE THEGift

a

thefl oatinthhh

ThornebThornenT

ALTHALTHvailableiomatsoducts

2.378.8125

A MM1MMMM1MM 8362

nnnngggg tinggggooooaatttt gggo ggo gggg llllllllllllllooooooooooaaaatttttiiiilllllllllllllllllll t nnnnggggt nnnngii ooootttttuuuussss toottttt sooootttttuuuusssstott ss pppppppppppppppppppppapaaappppppppppppppppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppppppppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppppppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaFFloating loating LLotus otus SSpapaFloating loating Lotus otus SpapaThornebrook Village 352-378-6618

* SOME RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY

$$5.00 TAN5.00 TANWHEN YOU MENTION THIS AD!

$$34.0034.001-MO. TANNING1-MO. TANNING

$$59.0059.002-MO. TANNING2-MO. TANNING 52 3

SunSun StationStationTANNING CENTER

Wigs Sales, Restoring & Custom Fi ng

WWeee

CCuCCuConsulta ons & Services by Advance appointments only

www.34thstreetsalon.com

352.376.0201 4908 NW 34TH BLVD

50


Thornebrook Shopping Center 378-1051Tioga Town Center 332-88963102 SW 34th St. 376-5665

Looking for a healthy alternative? Gainesvilles only Super Fro-Yo is the healthiest frozen yogurt available and includes:

Vitamins A and D Probiotics Dietary Fiber Calcium Live and Active Cultures

YOGURT

give eat indulge

www.ThornebrookChocolates.com2441 NW 43rd Street #11B Gainesville, FL 32606

352.371.0800

Personalized individual and corprate gifts with delivery forthe holidays and any occasion...

eat indulge

d ndts y forand

n...

MORE INFORMATION AT: WWW.THORNEBROOKGALLERY.COM

When all you want is the very best...

Proudly presenting the finest quality art, crafts, jewelry

and custom framing in Gainesville for over thirty years.

In Thornebrook Village

2441 N.W. 43 St.378-4947378-4947

51

52 | Spring 2014

Lyons, 42, is the founder and

owner of Canopy Climbers,

an eco-adventure company in

Gainesville where people are guided up

into towering trees for fun and adventure

as well as inspiration. His journey to

creating this company began about seven years ago when he

read a book called The Wild Trees by Richard Preston. The story

is about how people fell in love with the Redwoods of California

while in search of the biggest trees in the world. Lyons was

inspired and has been climbing trees ever since.

He wasnt a complete newbie to tree climbing, though.

Growing up in New Jersey, he climbed his fi rst tree at the age 5, a

50-foot high sycamore that lived in his own back yard.

I couldnt reach the fi rst limbs so I would move the lawn

furniture under it, climb on that, then get up into the tree, and

I wouldnt tell my parents I was up there, Lyons said with a

chuckle. A whopping six blocks away, he remembers seeing his

school from the top of that Sycamore.

After his family relocated to Gainesville when he was 11 years

old, Lyons would eventually graduate from UF with a degree in

It wasnt until I reached for my recorder that I realized how high up I was.

Hands shaking, I tried to gather my thoughts. Pull yourself together, remember your questions, get the story,and whatever you do dontlook down.

Interviewing someone on a branch at 65 feet up in a live oak tree was definitely a first, but for Danny Lyons, it was just another day doing what he does best teaching someone to climb.

Danny Lyons Opens Our Eyesto the World Above Us

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTERROWD

>> BIRDS EYE VIEW

52


Danny Lyons limb-walks on

Charlotte the live oak at 65 feet in

the air. Canopy climbers believe

in protecting trees by installing

cambium savers for all climbs, as

well as walking lightly on limbs

to protect the resurrection ferns

that grow there.

53

54 | Spring 2014

American history. However, his love of nature was

always with him and ultimately led him to Atlanta, Ga.,

where he met Peter Jenkins, who founded recreational

tree climbing as an activity.

Jenkins also started Tree Climbers International,

which is the fi rst tree climbing school in the world.

Along with two other friends, Lyons took a beginning

tree-climbing course and fell in love with it.

I caught the bug, so to speak, Lyons said. And

I was pretty sure I was going to keep taking class. I

continued to learn over time by climbing with people

and taking advanced courses.

Lyons has taken just about every tree-climbing

course one can possibly take. He has spent the last year

becoming an instructor, and now teaches the beginning

tree climber course here in Gainesville.

He said there are many ways to climb, and Canopy

Climbers focuses on the doubled rope technique. It is

quite literally the rope being doubled over an anchor

point, and that anchor point is a branch that is nothing

less than 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

When it comes to tree protection, Lyons says the

most important part of the climbing system is the

cambium saver.

We install a sleeve that the rope goes through called

a cambium saver and we can remotely install that into

the anchor point because when we climb, the rope is

going to create a fl ossing motion, Lyons said. And that

friction with a lot of weight on it, along with the fl ossing

motion, can actually wear onto the bark very quickly.

Lyons res the Big Shot, an 8-foot-tall

slingshot, to place the throw-line where

he eventually installs the climbing line.

Placing his hand on the bark, Lyons

gives thanks to Charlotte the live oak

for his climbing experience. Climbers

sit in a harnessed saddle as they

ascend towards the treetops. Gear

such as helmets, carabiner clips, and

rope are just some of the things that

are required for the adventure.

54


In addition to being harnessed during the entire

climb, Lyons said the safety factor of climbing is

enhanced by the safety knot, which is a slipknot that is

tied by the climber as they go up every 5 to 6 feet. This

creates several short stopping points in the rope in

case of an emergency on the way down.

Lyons said a lot of people think a climb entails

only going up a tree and then coming back down, but

recreational climbers are highly mobile.

It may take a little bit of time, but you can move

around, Lyons said. You can limb walk, you can go up

and down, and even traverse from one side of the tree

to another side.

He is also extensively trained to get people of all

ages and physical abilities into the trees.

I have had the privilege of guiding people with

physical disabilities into the forest canopy, Lyons said.

It is an incredible visual to see a person climbing on

rope and their wheelchair is on the ground, at the base

of the tree.

Canopy Climbers offers guided climbs for two to four

people, which is a longer, more intensive experience.

The group climbs are usually for 10 people or more and

is a get acquainted type of climb. He also has tree

boat hammocks for people who just want to relax.

Ive had some couples come out and have a little date

where I set up a tree boat and they have a little picnic

in it, and thats a lot of fun, Lyons said. So we can do

anything. We are only limited by our own imagination.

He said the City of Gainesville has been

55

56 | Spring 2014

open-minded and very interested in increasing the

diversity of recreational activities in city parks, and he

is very grateful for their cooperation.

It took me about six months to get the city to agree

to create a contract with me to allow Canopy Climbers

to hold and provide tree climbing activities in certain

parks, Lyons said.

Canopy Climbers can only climb certain trees in

these parks. The trees have

been carefully scouted,

inspected and permitted

by the city arborist, nature

operations coordinator, and

Lyons himself. He said Canopy

Climbers can climb in about

six city parks and two or three

trees per park, on average.

In conjunction with Canopy

Climbers, Lyons also founded

Tree Cat Rescue, a service for

families whose cat is stuck in a tree. He gives all the

credit to Jenkins, who gave him his secrets and shared

the techniques for retrieving a cat from a tree.

I have all the skillset to go climb, and Ive since

learned how to talk with the cats and get them to try to

come down, Lyons said. Ill get a call from a distressed

cat parent/owner and the family will be upset because

the cat has been up in the tree for a couple days, and it

Gainesville resident Garland

Parker, 32, suspends from 70

feet in the air while climbing at

Gum Root Park. Garland said

she would recommend this

experience to everyone.

Serving Gainesville since 1997

HAIRSKININSTITUTE.COM

VALU

ED

CIT is an innovation in aesthetic medicine that utilizes micropen technology for fi ne lines, scars, stretch marks and skin rejuvenation. Call for your free consult TODAY!

AHRSI SM Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) Treatment!

Introducing

7550 West University Avenue, Suite CGainesville, Florida 32607 352.331.6797

56


cant come down. I will go there and assess the situa-

tion and then climb into the tree and retrieve the cat.

Using a welders glove, he has fashioned a gentle cat

trap by cutting a hole into the bottom of a laundry bag

and sewing that bag onto the cuff of the glove.

So instead of putting the cat in the bag you are

essentially pulling the cat through the bag by the nape

of its neck, Lyons said. It seems to be the easiest and

safest way to do the rescue.

He said he has never been scratched or bitten, and

most of the time, the cats come right to him because

they seem to be surrendering and just want to get out

of the tree.

When I come up on them, they are usually wide-

eyed. Theyre not only scared, but they dont know why

in the world you are up in the tree with them, Lyons

said. But on some level, they know that you are there

to help them.

In Alachua County, as well as a lot of other counties

around the nation, fi re stations do not rescue cats

anymore. He said the notion of cat rescue has become

something more of f

otgv spring2014

Documents