United States
Every community has its charm. I've had the pleasure of working in several, and with every move comes a new thrill. The best part is the people. I learn and share what they do, what they love, what they fear. I explore what's new in their city and what needs to change. I report on the excitements and the concerns, the food and the fashion. I look into it all as a community reporter.
Ocala Star-Banner
When Casey Oliver was 3 years old, she asked her family if there were cats in 4-H. If you go The Southeastern Youth Fair will run from Saturday through Feb. 27 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. The daily shows are free and open to the public.
The horses and heifers made competing look effortless. Their tails were full of body. Their coats were glossy. Their luscious eyelashes could make a steer swoon. It's easy to feel envious, but beauty takes work. Behind the scenes at the Southeastern Youth Fair horse and beef heifer shows on Sunday, the animals went through extensive primping and prepping to dazzle the judges.
James LeFils held up his hand and pinched his thumb and index finger about two inches apart. "I studied this thick of paper," the 10-year-old said Tuesday afternoon before he was called to show off his steer knowledge at the Southeastern Youth Fair's Steer Skill-a-Thon.
Bees die after they sting prey because they dislodge their stingers, which rips out part of their intestines. If you go The Southeastern Youth Fair will run from Saturday through Feb. 27 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. The daily shows are free and open to the public.
Gainesville Sun
On the eve of Collectors Day, Jane Anne Carey covered a black science board with facts about puffins. During the event Saturday, passersby learned the birds are about 10 inches tall, eat sand eels and fly 48 to 55 miles per hour. What first caught their eyes, however, was purple-haired Carey manning the table sprinkled with puffin memorabilia.
As soon as she walked into Target, 7-year-old Celis Williams ran toward the dresses. Anything pink and sparkly fit in with the crayon drawings she made on her holiday wish list. "Ooh!" she squealed, marching toward the rack of Frozen merchandise. "Ooh!"
Susan Bowles' classroom is open and bright, with multicolored numbers and letters hanging from the walls. There are suns printed with smiley faces, paintings of autumn trees and a rainbow color-blocked carpet. As she gave instructions one recent morning to the 19 Chiles Elementary School kindergarteners sitting criss-cross-applesauce, her voice rose with a playful inflection.
Arthur Seabrooks sat in the cafeteria of the Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School with two friends Wednesday, eating salad made with lettuce they grew. The Buchholz junior is one of the 21 students using newfound agriculture skills to bring the Alachua County Farm to School Work Hub initiative to life.
The Independent Florida Alligator
It was like a circus under the tent on the Reitz Union North Lawn - with games, an alligator and a Fuchs. UF's 16 colleges were brought together under one tent during the Campus Showcase on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Four years later, Ben Judkins still can't describe the tunnel. Thick concrete muffles the sounds of more than 90,000 fans, but the Gator Band musicians push in their earplugs anyway. They know the quiet is short lived. Bodies tense with pre-show jitters. Elbows up. Reeds to the lips. Sticks above the snares.
They also have a target on their backs. About 3,500 black bears live throughout seven fragmented regions in the state. The number shows tremendous growth, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. So beginning Saturday, the hunt is on to thin the population by about 320.
The statewide harvest objective was set at 320. The bear season was set to run until Friday unless the harvest objective was met in any of the four Bear Management Units. After the first day, Saturday, the commission found harvest objectives were met in the East Panhandle and Central units.
Now the hard work is done, and they can recline on the couch together and look forward to their simultaneous graduations. Costagliola, 45, will accept her Ph.D. in Spanish literature Thursday. Gonzalez, 23, will earn his master's in sociology and a certificate in Latin American studies three days later.
Abeleda, 21, was a freshman when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, in January 2013. In the bone marrow wing of UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital recently, he leaned back on the couch and shrugged, unfazed by the IVs and his guests' yellow hospital masks.
And at about 3 p.m., Abeleda - diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia as a freshman - was lying comfortably in the room his family rented in Wildflower Apartments. After finding out his brother was a perfect bone marrow match and undergoing a transplant 19 days ago, Abeleda's white blood cell count rose to 812, exceeding the 500 needed to get leave the hospital.
Morgan, a Tampa Bay Times reporter since 1968, was named the center's Citizen of the Year for 2015. She's the third person honored. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist said she is humbled. She will be honored at a ceremony on May 20 in Jacksonville.
"We're making an effort to show we have holsters," the 19-year-old UF health science sophomore said. "If we were really carrying firearms, no one would even know." A sister bill - Senate Bill 0176 - was approved through a Senate committee Monday and the house bill through a House committee Wednesday.
Beyond the parking lot exception, UF opposes guns on campus, spokeswoman Janine Sikes wrote in a statement. UF will look to law enforcement for recommendations on matters of public safety. "The State of Florida University Police Chiefs, including UF Police Chief Linda Stump, are united in opposition to any legislation that would allow guns on campus," Sikes wrote.
According to a tweet from Zac Johnson, vice president of Children's Miracle Network, this makes UF the No. 2 Dance Marathon benefiting the network and was the fastest to $2 million in the history of the program. They did it. @floridadm just became the number 2 Miracle Network DM. 31% increase.
"I love this city," he said. "It offers an amazing quality of life." Hayes-Santos, 30, is running for the Gainesville City Commission At-Large Seat 1 in Tuesday's elections to further that quality for residents by running on a platform of economic development and government efficiency, he said.
Next semester, don't be surprised to see Kent Fuchs on the way to class. The president of a university should be visible, he said. That is the most exciting part. The five-month search for the 12th president of The Gator Nation ended in October, selecting Fuchs as President Bernie Machen's successor.
The president expanded on his earlier proposal to make two years of community college free for students in good academic standing. He said this would reduce the cost of a four-year education and improve the quality of community college, which enrolls nearly 40 percent of all undergraduates.
Even at 7:45 a.m., UF's 12th president was full of energy, cracking jokes on stage in his orange-and-blue striped tie. His second week on the job, Fuchs addressed a crowd of faculty and community members Tuesday morning about his goals for the university in the Century Ballroom at the Hilton UF Conference Center at the monthly Eye Opener Discovery Breakfast, organized by UF Community Relations.
"The stuff they do here is unbelievable," she said almost six weeks into her training. "It makes me so proud, so honored to be a part of such an incredible company." She started the tour in Miami on Friday, gearing up to start performing this coming weekend as one of the ninjas and joining Gator alumni Nicola Willis, Corey Hartung and Melanie Sinclair in the Cirque du Soleil company.
"There's a man with a gun that just shot at someone on the first floor," Natalie wrote back. "I'm hiding with everyone else on the second floor. Just know that I love you, Sara." Shourds said she leapt out of bed, shaking so hard she had trouble getting the key in the door handle.
Silently, about 200 people collapsed on top of one another on the middle of Turlington Plaza. They lay lifelessly for four and a half minutes. Cardboard signs read "AmeriKKKa we can't breathe," "Justice for who?" and "I am your citizen, too, America." Shirts read "black lives matter."
Yik Yak was full of support for Florida State University after the shooting in Strozier Library early Thursday morning, but Rachel Werk wanted to put faces to the words of kindness. The UF behavioral and cognitive neuroscience senior formed a demonstration of Florida unity with her friend Alyssa Lowder on Turlington Plaza at 11:30 a.m.
As of now, four commencement ceremonies are planned for the stadium in the Spring, UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes wrote in an email. Each one will be at 7 p.m. from Thursday, April 30 until Sunday, May 3. "These ceremonies will occur rain or shine just like football games but could be cancelled for serious weather conditions such as lightening," Sikes said.
It took less than three minutes for the Board of Trustees to unanimously determine UF's 12th president, Kent Fuchs (pronounced "fox"), on Wednesday. After five months of searching and a $95,000 search committee fee, the provost of Cornell University will succeed President Bernie Machen's seat on Jan.1.
Understanding the flag's logistical issues, the group's president, Marcus Tucker, said he worked with Growl staff to stand on stage and wave during an appreciation video. But the night before dress rehearsals, he was verbally told the society would not be in the show. Tucker was not given wristbands allowing the group to be on stage.
"It was amazing. Better than we could have dreamed of, as cheesy as that sounds," Meg The Losen, FM Brewery president, said. The doors opened at 2 p.m., and just fifteen minutes later, The Losen was getting texts from her team saying the parking lot was already full.
The activist and "Star Trek" actor was brought by the Accent Speaker's Bureau, Pride Student Union and Asian American Student Union to share his message on democracy and the connection between minorities at 8 p.m. "Throughout the year, we celebrate the diversity in America," Takei said.
Kent Fuchs and David McLaughlin made it through a final interview round with the Presidential Search Committee on Tuesday morning, where they were asked 13 questions on topics such as goals, strategies and leadership. Each candidate also attended a faculty and campus/community assembly Tuesday evening in Emerson Alumni Hall.
"All of these people have academic distinctions that are exquisite, and I'm very pleased," said committee chairman Steven Scott. UF Provost Joseph Glover withdrew his application Friday and was not among the 15 applicants, said UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes. Scott told the committee that choosing the next president would be a fast process, Sikes said.
The 2006 criminology graduate said he still has the Gainesville phone number that came with a new phone he bought as a student. "I kept the number proudly," the 30-year-old said. "I have no plans to change it." Before settling in Gainesville, Platt was born in Philadelphia, where he lived until moving to Orlando at 11 years old.
The nightly program includes student volunteers in teams of two to be stationed by Southwest Recreation Center, Library West, Marston Science Library, Broward Dining Center, the Reitz Union and the Hub. Students can call 392-SNAP to dispatch a volunteer to walk with them. Students can also approach the vested volunteers, who are encouraged to solicit help.
"It is appalling to have a war criminal on campus," Tesneem Shraiteh, a 20-year-old UF linguistics junior said about Oren. "We want to voice our opinions that this is not okay with us." Moderator Matthew Jacobs, UF associate professor of U.S. foreign relations, sat in between the two guests on the University Auditorium stage.
At the meeting, the Board of Governors approved its 2015-2016 legislative budget request and updated its 2025 strategic plan goals. The approved legislative budget request includes $100 million in new performance funds that the State University System would match with $200 million in existing funds.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said applications are not closed, but if an applicant wants to be considered, his or her application has to be submitted by Monday. "Monday will be the applicant review, and the search committee will narrow the list of applicants," Sikes said.
UF's ambitious plan to become a top 10 university has recently gained substantial financial backing. Machen said research contracts and grants increased from $641 million to $702 million within the last year. Annual donations reached $215.3 million, topping $2 million for the second year.
"Luckily, because my class starts at 5:10, I can park on campus instead of having to take the bus," Mossman said. "My bus stop is nowhere near the psychology building, so it would be a really far walk in the dark." UF and University Police have taken extra measures to keep students safe after their evening classes let out.
The committee discussed key traits and objectives the next president should possess when UF President Bernie Machen retires in December. Some of the first applicants for the position include UF Provost Joseph Glover; Abraham Joseph Layon, Geisinger Health System director of critical care; Ronald Nykiel, Special Advisor to the CEO of the Pantheon Chemical Corp.; and Kamal Dean Parhizgar, professor of management and business ethics at Texas A&M International University.
Bailey, a 25-year-old UF landscape architecture junior, was one of the 50 UF students randomly chosen to participate in the UAA's first student tunnel. "It's super special," he said. "I didn't know it was a thing." The randomly selected students and their chosen guest were invited by email to create a tunnel the Gator team would run through at the start of the game.
Gainesville Magazine
When UF journalism student Alyssa Fisher signed up for an internship in Israel, she didn't expect to embark on a life-changing experience as rockets flew overhead
Return to the '70s with these free-spirited fashions
Fabulously finish out winter and head into spring with these colorful sweater-weather fashions
For UF Prof Emeritus R. Gary Langford, there's no retiring from giving his community the gift of music
For Kim Tuttle and Judy Skinner, created Dance Alive National Ballet Company came together naturally after a childhood at their mother's studio.
Whatever the weather, step into spring with chic, wear-anywhere pieces
Punch up your landscape's personality with these bold new items
Gainesville designers help us transition into spring with whimsical touches for our wardrobe.
Think local when it comes to unique - and sweet - Valentine's Day gifts.
Dazzle this winter in the season's most stunning evening wear.
Landscape architecture alum David Font quiets the competition on HGTV's "Brother versus Brother."
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Behind-the-scenes as the Phillips Center's production crew quickly help create fantastical sets for the Diavolo Dance Theater.
Get motivated to exercise with workout wear inspired by fall's best trends
Try these quick "remixes" for healthy munching without a side of guilt
Some must-have accessories to help you enjoy the best of the city
Gainesville Fashion Week Blogs
The PureData Analytics system optimizes hundreds of millions of records to create patterns and answer questions faster. With PureData Analytics, researchers can do queries of 10 to 100 million records in three seconds, versus the 27 hours it would have normally taken, said Elias Eldayrie, vice president and chief information officer of UF Information Technology.
As GFW interns, we have it pretty good. While it's certainly not easy putting on such a large-scale event, we can't help but enjoy every minute of it. On Saturday night, our job description included mingling, schmoozing and scoping out Gainesville's most beautiful people as we took over Sharab Lounge.
Last night Sharab was thumping as always, but something at the third model rehearsal was different than the rest. A cool, calm vibe replaced the typically nervous, chaotic energy, signaling how confident our models are feeling about the upcoming festivities. Smooth and controlled, their walks stunned us all.
We all brush it off as a cliché quote, but after last night's walking clinic, the bold potential models proved that practice really does make perfect. A little apprehensive about the turnout, we were thrilled to see so many people filing into Cellar 12, prepared to master the art of the runway walk.
Congratulations to the 106 models that made it through to Callbacks last night! The entire GFW staff was blown away by the abundance of natural talent that waltzed through Cellar's 12 elegant double doors. It's going to be a tough cut - I wouldn't want to be in those judges' shoes.