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5/31/07- 6/10/07:
Suwannee Valley Players announces its upcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Performances will be held two consecutive weekends May 31st through June 10th starting at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Productions are held at the Chief Theatre, 25 E. Park Avenue, Chiefland.
For more information, please call 493-ARTS.

6/11/07:
The Florida Association of Community Farmers Markets, Inc. will hold an Association meeting and strategic planning session for its Buy Local Florida Program on June 11 starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Florida Farm Bureau headquarters which is located at 5700 SW 34th Street. For more information, please call 386-454-3950.

6/14/07:
Family Care and Council of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities will hold a meeting at 4:30 p.m. June 14th in the conference room of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Area Headquarters which is located at, 1621 NE Waldo Road. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct routine council business. For more information, please call 955-5798.

6/15/07:
Ocala Civic Theatre is showing performances of the production "Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen". The shows are scheduled for June 15, at 7:00 p.m.; and June 16, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for full-time students. Ocala Civic Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard East State Road 40 in the Appleton Cultural Center. For more information or to make reservations, please call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274.

6/16/07:
Ocala Civic Theatre is showing performances of the production "Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen". The shows are scheduled for June 15, at 7:00 p.m.; and June 16, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for full-time students. Ocala Civic Theatre is located at 4337 East Silver Springs Boulevard East State Road 40 in the Appleton Cultural Center. For more information or to make reservations, please call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274.

6/16/07:
There will be a Father's Day Show and Waltrip Challenge to benefit the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research on June 16th at the Lazy P Nursery in Ellisville. This event, held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature vendors, games, NASCAR, plants and trees, pizza, and more. Admission is free and open to the public. The Lazy P Nursery is located on Highway 441 north of I-75 exit 414. For more information, please call (386) 454-0302.

6/18/07:
The Alachua County Foster Grandparent Program is currently seeking interested seniors to serve special-needs children in our community. The next training session for new volunteers will begin on June 18th. Alachua County residents ages 60 and over who live on a limited income are encouraged to apply. For more information, please call 264-6757.

6/20/07:
The Gainesville Area Women's Network hosts their monthly luncheon on June 20, at 11:30am at the Sweetwater Branch Inn at 625 E. University Ave. Guest speaker, Marina Blomberg, a 30 years journalist with the Gainesville Sun. Cost of the meeting is Members $18, Non-members $20 and at the door $25. For more information, please visit GAWN.org.

6/20/07:
The Alachua County Crisis Center will hold a meeting for survivors of suicide or for those that have lost a loved one to suicide on June 20th at 6:30 p.m. at the Alachua County Crisis Center which is located at 218 S.E. 24th St. For more information, please call 264-6789.

6/22/07:
The Breakfast Club is having a Reunion open to all former and prospective members June 22 nd at 7:00 am at the Holiday Inn West on Newberry Road. The Club has been meeting weekly for over ten years for tips, leads and referrals, fellowship and informative conversation. For more information, please call 375-7283.

6/23/07:
The Gainesville Amateur Radio Club and the Santa Fe Amateur
Radio Club are hosting this year's annual National Field Day event. On June 23rd and June 24th the Amateur Radio Operators of Gainesville will be at the Santa Fe Community College Campus for this year's simulated Emergency Operation. The event begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday and runs through 2 p.m. on Sunday. The public is invited to observe and participate in this simulated national emergency. For more information, please call 468-2122.

7/03/07:
Public broadcasting stations WUFT-TV, Channel 5, WUFT-DT, Digital 36, WUFT-FM, Classic 89 and WJUF-FM, Nature Coast 90 will present Fanfares & Fireworks, the annual Independence Day eve celebration, on Tuesday, July 3 beginning at 7 p.m. at the University of Florida Flavet Field. Fireworks will begin at 9:40 p.m. For more information, please call 392-5551, ext. 1106.

8/17/07:
Altrusa House presents the 4th annual Arts 4 the Senses sale on Friday, August 17th from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The fundraiser, benefiting Easter Seals at Altrusa House client care, features an art show, sale and auction with works in a number of visual art media by some of the area's most renowned artists. Tickets are $30 in advance and are available at Omni Books, Book Gallery West or Altrusa House. Altrusa House of Gainesville is located at 2002 NW 36th Avenue. For more information, please call 377-7708.

Various dates and times:

*Every Friday night in June, from 8pm until 10pm, Gainesville's Downtown Community Plaza will present a program of entertainment to commemorate Black Music Month with some of the area's most talented entertainment. The Let's Go Downtown entertainment series, presented by the City of Gainesville's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, will feature a variety of musical and performing arts. There will be something for everyone, with styles ranging from the more familiar to the more eclectic, with all programs proving to be the finest quality entertainment for family and friends. For more information, please call 334-ARTS.

*Santa Fe Community College is offering free classes and workshops to homemakers who have lost their financial support and need to get back into the workforce. For more information on the Displaced Homemaker Program, please call 395-5047.

*St. John's River Community College is offering free G.E.D. prep classes for those interested in obtaining a high school diploma. Classes are offered year-round at several times of the day to accommodate those who work. For more information, please visit their website at SJRCC.edu.

*Haven Hospice provides understanding and support to individuals and families in our community who are faced with loss. They have several programs that meet during the week for all ages learning to cope with grief and the loss of a loved one. Registration is required for each program. For more information or to register, please contact Cheryl Bailey at 692-5100 or 1-800-727-1889.

*Support local farmers by shopping at the High Springs Farmers Market. The market is open every Thursday, rain or shine, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. in James Paul Park, behind City Hall on NW 1st Avenue in historic downtown High Springs. For more information, please call (386) 454-3950.

Currently running art exhibits:

* The Harn Museum of Art presents "African Arts of Healing and Divination" from February 20 to June 24. This exhibition includes 72 objects selected to illustrate the broad range of objects used in African divination and healing practices, as well as their extraordinary aesthetic qualities and iconographies. For more information visit www.harn.ufl.edu or call 352.392.9826.

* As part of a campus celebration of African art, the College of Fine Arts' Grinter Gallery presents "In the House: Domestic Arts from the Horn of Africa" from March 5th through August 24th. This exhibition examines the evolution of the distinctive stylistic traditions that appear both in secular and religious arts from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The Grinter Gallery is located in the main lobby of Grinter Hall on the University of Florida campus. For more information, please call 392-0201 extension 229.