Community Calendar

10/09-01/10
Travel into the rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History with Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches showing Oct. 3 – Jan. 17, 2010. This family-friendly exhibit educates visitors about the diversity of life found in and around the Amazon River with a fascinating journey that includes information about the animals and people who live there. Through hands-on activities, original multimedia presentations, storytelling, live fish, original artifacts, dance, music and live demonstrations, museum visitors investigate the region’s incredible biodiversity, encounter field researchers making new discoveries and participate in a celebration of the Amazon River. Admission is $8 adults ($7 Fla. residnets) and $5.50 youth ages 3-12.

11/5/09-11/29/09
Join the Ocala Civic Theatre for their production of Look Homeward Angel, opening on Thursday, November 5, and running through Sunday, November 29. Curtain times are 8:00 p.m. for evening performances and 2:00 p.m. for matinees. The box office is now open on for Flex Pass reservations and subscriber exchanges. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on October 26 at $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for full-time students. To make reservations, call (352) 236-2274. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

11/9/2009-11/10/2009
Ocala Civic Theatre will hold open auditions for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and November 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the Theatre. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, November 16, with performances scheduled for December 31, 2009 through January 17, 2010. Be prepared with 16 bars of both an up tempo and ballad song which best shows your voice and range. Bring sheet music in the correct key or a tape or CD. An accompanist will be provided or you can bring your own. There will also be cold readings of selected scenes from the script. For further information about the auditions, call the Theatre at (352) 236-2274.

11/28/2009
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 28, 2009 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 or call 352-334-3326.

Various dates and times:

*The Dignity Project provides refurbished vehicles and computers to the disadvantaged of Alachua County. This 501c.3 charity needs your support. Your unwanted car, truck or van provides a training opportunity for at-risk youth and more importantly reliable transportation for struggling families here in the heart of Florida. For more information, please call (352) 371-6792 or visit our website www.dignityproject.com

*Tours of the Historic Haile Homestead are offered on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm and Sundays from Noon to 4 pm. The 1856 restored plantation home is unique in the nation for its “Talking Walls” where Haile family and friends wrote over 12,500 words. Admission is $5 per person; under 12 free. Located at 8500 SW Archer Rd (SR 24) in Gainesville; approx 3 miles west of I-75 exit 384. For more info, visit hailehomestead.org or call 352-336-9096 or e-mail hailedocent@yahoo.com.

*Would you like to save money on your utility bills? The Community Weatherization Coalition can help with free home energy audits for low income homeowners. Trained volunteers inspect your home, check water and energy usage and replace all light bulbs with new compact fluorescent bulbs – all for free! To find out if you qualify for a free home energy audit, or if you would like to become a trained volunteer contact the Community Weatherization Coalition at 352-450-2100. The CWC is a partnership of GRU and several local nonprofit agencies, businesses, and faith communities.

*The Levy County Farmers Market and the Williston Lions Club membership drive and flea market are joining forces on Saturday March 7th at Williston Lions Club located at 401 SE 6th Ave (& SE 4th street) in Williston. These activities will be from 7:00 am- 3:00 pm every Saturday. The Levy County Farmers Market will be giving out their own vouchers for those in need. The vouchers are to be used at the market to purchase fresh and nutritious foods. You may call or come to our Grand Opening and apply for vouchers. Membership Information will be on hand to benefit the Williston Lions Club and tour their club house. There will be great food, fresh produce and fruits, honey, boiled peanuts, plants and flea market items. We will also be having demonstrations and FREE giveaways to all of the community. Please come and join us in all the fun. Spaces are now available first come first serve basis. Please call to reserve your space in advance. For more information please contact Erv at 352 486 1491 for membership/ flea market or Cindy at 352 486 6229 for farmers market information.

*Live Jazz at Emiliano’s Café Each Monday and Wednesday night, enjoy live jazz music at Emiliano’s Café. Local musicians will play your favorite songs as you drink half-price Spanish and Latin American wines all night. Visit Emiliano’s Café, 7 SE 1st Ave., or call 352-375-7381 for more information.

*United Way of Marion County is offering free personal budgeting workshops to businesses and organizations who are interested in hosting classes for their employees or clients or members at their facility. Classes are open to Marion County businesses, faith-based groups, civic organizations and non-profits. Workshop topics include basic introduction to terminology, borrowing basics, information on checking accounts, budgeting tools, how to get in the habit of saving money, keeping your money safe, access to credit reports, using credit cards and building good credit, getting a loan and owning your own home. Workshops will be conducted by trained volunteers and will last one hour. For more information or to sign up your organization, contact Chris Cotter at 732-9696 ext. 209 or ccotter@uwmc.org.

*Attention cigarette smokers! Are you interested in quitting smoking? What better time than now, the beginning of a new year! Researchers at University of Florida are recruiting healthy cigarette smokers between the ages of 18 and 60 to test a new behavioral treatment to help you quit smoking. You will be compensated for your participation. If you’re interested, please contact the University of Florida Smoking Laboratory and Clinic at 352-273-2188 or send an email to ufsmokelab@gmail.com.

*If anybody interested in working with animals during disasters and who loves animals in general, please e-mail Lesile Straub at northstar-dart@atlantic.net. The Dart group meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the downtown SFCC Blount off of NWth 6th street.

*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

*Are you a homemaker, 35 years or older? Have you lost your financial support? Need to get back in the work force? Santa Fe College is offering free classes and workshops beginning October 5, 2009. Focus on your future. Take a step toward a job or career. Call 352-395-5047 for information.

*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.

*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.