NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS- SEPTEMBER '23

 ALMOST A HURRICANE

           

    Gainesville got another pass when Hurricane Idalia blew through just north of us. Sadly, it knocked over one of our potted plants. 

     President Biden flew into G'ville yesterday.  He headed to Live Oak to see where the real damage occurred. It's the first time Air Force One has visited us in thirty years.

 

OUR NEW PARADE

     We continue to do the work necessary to create December's Flying Pig Parade. We'll have a website by the end of the week. (www.flyingpigparade.org)

      Attending the parade is free but it'll cost about $12,000 to produce. If you'd like to contribute we've got a GoFundMe campaign. Check it out at,  

 https://gofund.me/5c3ca5e2

 

 TOUGH CASE

     I found a 1940's suitcase on 10th road last week. 

It's the same kind the Terrys packed for family vacations years ago. Inside I found unusual things including an elegant hair pin, a photograph from the late 1800's and

All this plus a Confederate Museum match book

a receipt for income taxes paid in 1888 (14 cents).  

 

 

We have all the suitcases we need.  If you'd like this one let me know.

 

EASY CASE TO SOLVE

 Francesca and I discovered 18 ticks and 246 chigger bites on us 10 days ago.  We had failed to read "Swamp Hiking for Dummies"  After a springs dip we walked a two-mile trail through a wetland wearing shorts and sandals. The good news (there isn't any), it allowed me to photograph magnificent Lake George.

 

    We had gone to Ocala National Forest to check out Silver Glen Springs.  It's a wonderful place to escape the heat.  Looking south, you see this,

 

Once submerged, there were hundreds of striped bass slowly swimming around us

and looking north, a community of funky boats  anchored in paradise.

Some sold hot dogs, tacos, and sno-cones

     The next time I retire I might end up springs squatting on a funky boat as well.

 

SO LONG JIMMY

    Jimmy Buffett moved on to God's own Margaritaville a few days ago. I met him once but he was way too busy to consider becoming my new friend. Ten years ago I sent him a song but I never heard from him. 

 

     In 1974 Miami's PBS TV station announced that they needed an audience for a concert taping. My girlfriend and I entered their small studio that had hay bales for sixteen. The one up front was reserved for Jimmy who had just hit it big with "Come Monday".  It was a very special evening.

 

LOCAL PUNKS PLAY

I was curious about the city-sponsored "Punks in the Park" concert series that took place this summer.  I figured it would be good to expose myself to some raw, youthful, musical talent.

I attended last Sunday. There were no punks or even a park.  Eighteen kids gathered at the Thomas Center to share songs they had written.  It was a lovely thing for the city to promote.

 

GOODBYE MAYOR FLAGG

        Our former mayor, David Flagg, passed away two weeks ago. He and his family lived near our neighborhood for many years. The Gainesville native realized his dream when he was elected to our city commission in 1985 and served as mayor from '87 to '88.

      Mr. Flagg was well-known for being Shands Hospital's director of  governmental affairs.

     His son, attorney Byron Flagg, told me, "He was a wonderful father and loved being an active part of the Gainesville community."

.

BETTER LATE

     It took a year and a half but the ice cream shop on NW 13th St. at 16th Av. finally got a sign. A friend pointed out, "It just says 'Sweet Dreams' with no mention of ice cream.  Maybe people will think they're selling dope".  

 

LUKE'S sign on South Main let's folks know they're in the bagel business. It's amazing to see their long lines early on a Sunday morning.

It's probably G'ville's most successful tiny, part-time business.

SPORTS BEAT 

       I play senior league softball.  Last week one of

our newbies, Mike Johnson, won our annual Most Improved Player Award. He's doing a good job of learning the game from the ground up.

Any guy over 55 (45 for women) is welcome to play

Ginny Bhatia making a catch

                                 

 

 

LIVING IN HALF-A-CAN

       

        

    I love the quonset hut village in SE G'ville. These WWll-era shelters have enjoyed a long life. We had many on the UF campus when I attended a zillion years ago.

        

Like living in a half a can

They were first were manufactured in 1941 when the U.S. Navy needed an all-purpose, lightweight building that could be shipped anywhere and erected easily. After the war, 160,000 of them were disassembled, sold and dozens ended up here.

       Perhaps we could created a modern version to provide low-cost housing.  At the very least, I hope our city preserves these beauties for many years to come.

 

     

 

 ROLLING HISTORY

                    One final bit of news: Our neighbor, retired minister Larry Reimer, drove his 1929 Ford to church today. That rumble seat in the back? Popular Florida governor Lawton

Chiles once rode in it in a UF homecoming parade, long before there were flying pigs.                                                   _____________________