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10/3/2008 - 10/4/2008
"Go Native" - it's easy at the 2008 Fall Native Plant Sale at Morningside Nature Center! Share in our passion for gardening and native plants by joining us for the largest offering of native plants in North Florida during the 2008 Fall Native Plant sale on Saturday, October 4th - open to the general public from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The sale is hosted cooperatively by the Paynes Prairie chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Friends of Nature and the City of Gainesville's Nature Operations Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. On Saturday the sale features refreshments for sale, a kid's area, and a free naturalist-led wildflower walk at 11:30 a.m. An exclusive member's sale is on Friday, October 3rd, and it will run from 4:30 to 6:30 pm - open to members of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), and Friends of Nature Parks (FNP) only. Memberships available at the gate. The Native Plant sale features thousands of beautifully grown native wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, grasses, vines, and trees grown at area nurseries. Vendors are members of the FNPS and certify that plants are nursery propagated and grown rather than taken from wild populations. Join us for this family-friendly event, free expert plant advice at the FNPS booth, and our famous free Park-A-Plant service that allows you to shop hands free while we tag, store, and help load your plants! Morningside Nature Center is located at 3540 East University Avenue, just three miles east of downtown Gainesville. Proceeds from the sale benefit environmental and cultural history programs offered by the Nature Operations Division. For information about this event, joining FNPS or FNP, or programs offered by the Nature Operations Division, call Morningside Nature Center at 334-3326 or visit natureoperations.org.

10/4/08 - 10/5/08
The Art Festival at Thornebrook Village, NW 23rd Blvd. and 43rd Street, in its 24th year, features 140 artists and fine crafts people – is Saturday and Sunday October 4th & 5th from 10 – 5 each day.

10/10/08-10/12/08
The Classy and Oh So Sassy Ladies of Gamma Eta are bringing back
our Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Flag Football Tournament! The
teams consist of 7 players, with up to 3 alternates.The event will
be held on October 12 at Squirrel Ridge Park. Check-in begins at
10 AM, and we will begin playing promptly at 10:30 AM. The cost is
$5 per person. Registration forms are now out (they are due on
Oct.10 at 3 PM, which is the same day we will be having a
Captain's meeting). There is no registration after the 10th. All
the money raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation. Contact evenjgarcia@gmail.com for more
information.

10/13/2008
University of Florida College of Law Professor Emeritus Joe Little will speak on "Amending the Florida Constitution in 2008: Proposed Amendments" at the Florida Free Speech forum from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 13, at the Paramount Hotel and Conference Center, 2900 SW 13th Street. For luncheon reservations call 335-3938 on or before October 9.

10/16/2008
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invites participants to join us help fight blood cancer. Light The Night Walk is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 6 p.m. in front of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. For additional information, please call 800-868-0072. You can also register at www.LightTheNight.org.

10/18/08
The annual 1890’s Festival will be held in Victorian McIntosh Florida on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will be the 35th anniversary of the fall festival that will include nearly 300 arts, crafts and antiques vendors from all over the country and a large variety of tempting food. There is no admission fee. New to the festival this year will be craft vendors who are hand blowing glass, making candles and weaving baskets. McIntosh is located on Highway 441, midway between Ocala and Gainesville on Orange Lake. Marion County Sheriff’s department will direct traffic and parking will be available for nominal fees in several lots off of Highway 441, including one sponsored by the McIntosh Area Charter School. Festival updates can be found at friendsofmcintosh.org or by calling 352-591-4038.

10/9/08-10/19/08

Tuesdays With Morrie opens Thursday, October 9, and runs through Sunday, October 19. Curtain times are 8:00 p.m. for evening performances and 2:00 p.m. for matinees. The box office will open on September 15 for Flex Pass reservations and subscriber exchanges. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on September 22 at $16.00 for adults, $14.00 for MainStage subscribers and $8.00 for full-time students. For information or to make reservations, call (352) 236-2274. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on the Saturdays on which there are performances from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

10/19/2008
The UF Panhellenic Council's 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 8:30-10:30 a.m., at the O'Connell Center Parking Lot. Once again, the run will benefit Women Build and Peaceful Paths. Last year this event raised $5,000 for our House #5.
This event is open to the public. Registration is $12 (which includes a free breakfast for all participants!) - you can register at www.ufpanhellenic5k.eventbrite.com

10/19/08
The sisters of Gamma Eta Sorority will be hosting our 6th Annual
Breast Cancer Charity Brunch at the Sweetwater Branch Inn on
Sunday, Oct.19. The event will take place from 11 AM to 3 PM and
the cost is $30 per ticket. We will have speakers, musical
performances, a silent auction, and members from the Central
Florida Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation present at the
brunch. We will be accepting monetary donations, as all of the
proceeds from this event will be donated directly to the Susan G.
Koman Foundation. Contact breastcancerbrunch@gmail.com for more
information.

10/21/2008
The Gainesville VA Medical Center Visual Impairment Services Team, Division of Blind Services and the Elderly Blind Grant Program are sponsoring the 16th annual Vision Awareness Day. The Open House will be held on Tuesday, OCTOBER 21, 2008 from 9AM to 2PM in the auditorium of the VA Medical Center at 1601 SW Archer Road in Gainesville. We will be featuring exhibits from agencies and companies that provide services and equipment for the legally blind and visually impaired. Light refreshments will be provided. This is an opportunity for all residents of north Florida and South Georgia to learn about services and adaptive equipment for the visually impaired. We hope that you will be able to come and bring a friend!! For more information please call Bruce Davis at 1-800-324-8387 extension 5560.

10/23/2008
Light The Night Walk: Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Tuscawilla Park, Ocala The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts this evening 2-mile fundraising walk featuring illuminated balloons to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by blood cancer. Walkers will enjoy a scenic route around the lake at Tuscawilla Park. The evening's festivities will include music, food, activities for kids and FUN! Radio Disney will also be in attendance! To register or learn more contact 352.351.3261 or www.lightthenight.org/nfl.

10/25/08
There will be a Ghost Walk on October 25th at 7:00- 8:30 pm. The Saturday before Halloween at Morningside Nature Center, come with family and friends for a night hike to the Living History Farm! There you will meet ghosts from 1870 and hear about their lives in rural Florida. See you at Morningside Nature Center at 7:00 pm. Please meet at the Education Center. This program is free but admission is one can of food for each adult or child. For more information about this event or programs offered by the Nature Operations Division, call Morningside Nature Center at 334-3326 or visit www.natureoperations.org/.

10/26/2008
Sun Country Sports Center will host a Benefit Halloween Carnival at its
Tioga location on behalf of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sun Country will be accepting donations on behalf of the Foundation at the carnival. Sun Country’s staff will host an afternoon of play at their Tioga location, including a new 15,000 sq. ft. expansion, complete with obstacle courses, carnival games, face painting, rock climbing, Kidquest indoor playground and two haunted houses – a scary new one for older children and a gentler one for younger children. Outside will be Sun Country’s Gym Bus, hay rides, train rides, more carnival games and a new Bounce Room with three inflatable “bounce house” games. Pre-purchased tickets will be available for a discounted rate. Call for details. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Information for Sun Country can be found online at www.suncountrysports.com or at 352-331-8773. More information for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation is available at the Foundation’s website, www.sebastianferrero.org.

11/6/08
The Buchholz High School Band and Aviance dance team will be performing a free Veterans Day Concert at the UF Phillips Center for Performing Arts on Thursday, November 6th at 7:30 PM. Patriotic band and jazz music will be performed. Tickets will be distributed at the Phillips Center beginning at 7 PM. It is requested that individuals attending the concert bring one nonperishable food item to be distributed to local charities.

11/15/08 – 1/4/09
AIA Ganesville will be hosting the Polara Award winning "Celebrate Design" at the Thomas Center on November 15th - January 4th. The event will exhibit projects by local professionals as well as the National AIA Awards Traveling Exhibit. Reception will be held at 6:00PM on November 20th at the Thomas Center highlighted by an evening with Architect Kevin Schweitzer presenting the topic of Earth Stewardship. Kevin will discuss sustainability and the design of Higher Ground, a home that sustains itself with what the earth offers -sun, rain, wind and vistas of beauty as it sits on a dune ridge between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. Please plan to attend!

11/29/2008

Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle & Open String-Band Contest at the Cane Boil Make this event part of your Thanksgiving weekend tradition! The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Nature Operations Division is pleased to announce the Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle & Open String-Band Contest at the Cane Boil. On November 29, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., join costumed Living History Farm staff as they cut, press and boil sugar cane juice into syrup while interpreting day-to-day life on a 1870s Florida subsistence farm. Enjoy the sounds of the Youth Fiddle and Open String-Band Contest while experiencing traditional Florida. Observe cane pressing, syrup making and sample syrup with homemade biscuits cooked on the woodstove at our Living History Farm. This day will be fun for the whole family! Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids age 3-12, free for children less than 3 years. The Morningside Nature Center Living History Farm is located at 3540 East University Avenue. The Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle and Open String~Band Contest will take place during the Annual Cane Boil, thus bringing together the traditions of giving thanks and fall harvest with a music tradition that has been so influential throughout the South. Organizers wish to invite fiddlers to be part of creating a new family tradition with old roots: The Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle and Open String~Band Contest at the Cane Boil! Complete contest rules are available online. No entry fees and no fees for parents and accompanists. Registration forms for the Fiddle & Open String-Band Contests can be found online at www.natureoperations.org. This event was funded in part by a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourist Development Council.

1/17/2009
Easter Seals at Altrusa House will hold its annual fundraiser, Arts 4 the Senses, Saturday, January 17th, 2009 from 6-9 p.m., at Altrusa House, 2002 NW 36th Avenue in Gainesville. Arts 4 the Senses will feature an art show and sale of fine art from established favorites as well as from new and emerging area artists. Tickets can be purchased at Altrusa House. Please contact Brenda Grippaldi at Altrusa House for additional information - telephone number 352- 377-7708.

Various dates and times:

*Arbor House Motherhood Community is in need of volunteers. The mission of Arbor House is to break the cycles of poverty and empower adult expectant and single mothers. Volunteer opportunities include babysitters anytime and help with transportation as needed. Volunteers can also assist the Cottage Industries, a job training program at Arbor House. Cottage Industries allow residents to earn wages, develop skills, and work in an environment designed for growth. Volunteers are needed for Saturday morning sales. Please contact Andrea Pence at arborhousevolunteers@yahoo.com or 352-371-2229

*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.

*Join the Talking Gators and become a member of Toast Masters International. Improve your presentation and speaking skills in a fun and encouraging environment. We meet every Tuesday on campus in the Entomology Building, Room 1031, 970 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL, 32611 at 5:35 p.m. to 6:35 p.m. The meeting is open to everyone who would like to join. Please visit our website at www.TalkingGators.org or email us at info@TalkingGators.org for more information.

*The National Federation of the Blind, Gainesville Chapter meets the second Saturday of each month from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.; meeting place to be determined. Contact (352) 373-7806 for more information.

*Second Thought Improv live at The Marion Theatre. This Troop is a hilarious short form, improv comedy show in the tradition of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The showtimes are Thursdays at 8 p.m. and Fridays at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The tickets are $10 for adults $7 for students and seniors The newly restored Marion Theatre is located in Downtown Ocala at 50 South Magnolia Ave.

*Volunteers Needed to Drive Cancer Patients on their "Road To Recovery". The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program is stepping up efforts to recruit volunteer drivers. This essential patient service program needs volunteers who are willing to drive patients to their cancer appointments. Trainings, maps, and directions are provided to those who wish to volunteer as drivers. Requirements for volunteering include a good driving record, a valid driver's license, and a vehicle in good working condition. To volunteer as a driver or to request a ride, please call this toll free number: 1-800-ACS-2345 or in Ocala call your local office at 352-629-4727 and dial "0" for the receptionist. In Gainesville call 352-376-6866 and dial "0" for the receptionist. For cancer information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit us online at www.cancer.org.