6/09-07/09
Summer is just around the corner! Are your kids looking for a fun and exciting way to spend part of their summer? The CFK! Program is organized by Santa Fe College’s Community Education department and is designed as an academic program, offering students ages 10 to 14 challenging, fun and hands-on learning experiences beyond the ordinary school environment. • Session One - July 6-16 • Session Two - July 20-30
A wide assortment of classes ranging from art to math to science to computer skills are available in block sessions. For more details or to register online, go online to http://dept.sfcollege.edu/ce/cfk.html or call (352) 395-5193.6/5/09-7/09
The Hippodrome Theatre announces the return of THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL. The most celebrated musical in Hippodrome history returns to the stage on June 5. The first and only musical set in Starke, Florida, THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL is filled with local references and humor. The original music for the show runs the gamut of country-pop, blues, touching ballads, rock, and even disco. There will be 8 shows a week; Tuesdays at 8pm; Wednesdays at 7pm; Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 5pm & 8:30pm; Sundays at 2pm & 7:30. Students & Starke Residents $12, Seniors $20, General $25-30, Group discounts available. Tickets at The Hippodrome Box Office (352) 375-HIPP & thehipp.org.6/15/09
The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is proud to announce the return of the “Kids on the Go” Summer Camp Program held at the Westside Recreation Center. The camp is open to children 5 to 12 years old. This year’s camp includes many local field trips, biweekly pool visits, guest speakers and many exciting recreational activities. Some highlights include a trip to St. Augustine, visiting a University of Florida Athletic Facility and Wild Waters in Ocala. The first session begins on Monday, June 15 and camp will continue for eight consecutive weeks. Registration is currently open. You can register either by visiting the Westside Recreation Center or online at https://activenet6.active.com/gainesvilleparksandrec/. The fee is $66 per weekly session for city residents and $99 per weekly session for non-city residents. Regular camp hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended care available starting at 6:30 a.m.and ending at 6:30 p.m. for an additional fee. Scholarships are also available on a limited basis. Register early, as space is limited and registration will be capped at 100 participants for each session. Westside Recreation Center is located at 1001 NW 34th St. Please call 352-334-2821 for more information.6/24/09
The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is proud to announce the start of a popular basketball program designed specifically for younger participants. Shorty Basketball is a program aimed at boys and girls age 3 to 5 who are just starting to develop an interest in basketball. The goal is to teach the basics of the game, while simultaneously enhancing motor skills. Each week a different skill is introduced, including dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, teamwork and rules of the game. During the final night of the program, participants will play in a real game, followed by a pizza party and awards ceremony. Shorty Basketball will begin on Wednesday, June 24 and will continue for six weeks. The program will take place on Wednesday nights from 6-7 p.m. at the MLK Multi-Purpose Center, located at 1028 NE 14th St. Registration for the program has begun. To register, please visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. The cost is $43 for city residents and $64 for non-city residents. Register early, as space is limited and registration will be limited to 20 participants for the program. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center is located at 1028 NE 14th St. Please call 352-334-5053 for more information.6/29/09-7/10/09
The Alachua County Foster Grandparent Program is currently seeking interested seniors to serve special-needs children in our community, especially in local child care centers and after-school programs. The next training session for new volunteers will be held June 29 thru July 10, 2009. Alachua County residents ages 60 and over who live on a limited income are encouraged to apply. Volunteers serve 15-40 hours per week, working one-on-one with special-needs children in schools, after-school programs, and other nonprofit organizations throughout the County. In return for their service, volunteers receive an hourly stipend of $2.65, a daily meal, assistance with transportation, an annual physical examination and supplemental insurance. For more information, call 264-6758.7/8/09
Join the Ocala Civic Theatre for their next Adult Workshop with the Aerial Angels. Combine the art of dancing with acrobatics and silk ribbons in the air, and you get aerial dancing. Add in some stretching and flexibility exercises, partner acrobatics, balancing and some basic tumbling, and you have the makings for a two-hour workshop presented by members of the Michigan-based Aerial Angels performance troupe, who will be in Ocala for a week to teach many of these same skills to young students enrolled in their Starfish Circus program. The workshop for adults (ages 15 and up) is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the stage at Ocala Civic Theatre. The cost for the workshop is $20.00. Space in the workshop is limited. To register, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. For information, call Ocala Civic Theatre Education Director Tom Whatley at (352) 236-2851 or e-mail educationdir@ocalacivictheatre.com.7/19/09-7/24/09
First Baptist Church of Alachua 14005 NW 146th Avenue, Alachua "Boomerang Express" Vacation Bible School It all comes back to Jesus! July 19 - 24 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm For children ages Kindergarten - Completed 5th Grade The cost is free! For further information or to register, call 386-462-1337.7/20/09-7/21/09
Ocala Civic Theatre will hold open auditions for the first show of its 2009-2010 MainStage Season, The Pajama Game, on Monday and Tuesday, July 20 and 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Theatre. Rehearsals for the show will begin on Monday, July 27, with performances scheduled for September 10 through October 4. Please be prepared with your sheet music or CD to sing 16 bars of either an up-tempo or ballad specific to the era. An accompanist will be provided. As well, be prepared to move and/or dance by wearing the proper clothing and close-toed shows. Anyone wearing flip-flops or sandals will not be allowed to do the movement portion of the audition. Copies of the script will be available for perusal at the Theatre during regular box office hours, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The script may also be checked out with a refundable deposit of $10.00, but call ahead to make sure there is one in stock. If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled auditions, call Mary Britt at (352) 236-2851 to inquire about a separate audition. For further information about the auditions, call the Theatre at (352) 236-2274.7/29/09-8/2/09
Join the Ocala Civic Theatre with their performance of Once Upon a Mattress. Shows are scheduled for July 23, July 24, July 25, July 30, July 31 and August 1 at 8:00 p.m., and July 26 and August 2 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for full-time students. For information and reservations, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com.8/1/09
WE SOAR, Inc. presents the 8th Annual Gospel Fest on Saturday - August 1 - from 11am - 5pm at the Williston Elelmentary School Cafetorium, 801 S Main Street. This event is a celebration of Gospel Music and is open to the public. Come out and enjoy various soloists, choirs, ensembles, quartets, instrumentalists, and performing art ministries. For more information, please contact Mimi Johnson at 352-361-6528 / 352-528-2170 or Elouise Carnegie at 352-246-1189.
Various dates and times:*TAKE A “STAYCATION” THIS YEAR AND HOST A FOREIGN TEEN. LEARN FIRSTHAND ABOUT ANOTHER CULTURE WITHOUT LEAVING THE UNITED STATES AND ESTABLISH A FRIENDSHIP THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. MANY LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS ARE STILL OPEN TO ENROLLMENT AND ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO GET INVOLVED. PACIFIC INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE HAS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES ARRIVING INTO THE AREA FOR HOMESTAY PROGRAMS. THEY REALLY NEED YOUR HELP. THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING FOR A FEW MORE CARING HOST FAMILIES TO SHARE THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A FOREIGN TEEN -- OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM -- PLEASE CALL P.I.E. IMMEDIATELY AT 1-800-828-9001 OR VISIT THEM ON THE WEB AT PIEUSA.ORG.
*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 calsses and workshops beginning February 9, 2009. Focus on your future. Take a step toward a job or career. Call 352-295-5047 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.