GT's OCTOBER
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER
Take a deep breath, the fall is here. Lots is happening, this one's gonna be a long one.
For starters, there's the four parades.
It featured many marching bands and the UF Surf Club.
-On Halloween Eve we'll be having our annual Florida Park Halloween Parade.
Come out in costume at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31st. The parade begins, as usual, at the corner of NW 12 Rd. and 17th at 5:30. It usually ends about 12 minutes later.
-City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut is bringing a traditional Christmas parade to University Avenue on Saturday, December 2d. It will have marching bands, Santa Claus, but regrettably, no UF surf club.
-Four weeks later (Sat., Dec. 30th) the Flying Pig Parade will land in Hogtown.
It will be a satire of a holiday parade featuring airborne oinkers and no sacred cows. More at www.flyingpigparade.org.
SASSE SIGHTING
Our UF president, Ben Sasse, keeps a very low profile. Rarely seen, some think he does not exist.
But he does, I saw him when I went to hear presidential candidate, Cornell West speak on campus. Standing in the library's lobby, I glanced to my right and President Ben, suited up and lookin' good, was standing four feet away.
When I looked again a half second later he was gone. Turning to my right I saw him scurrying up a stairway with a few other suits. It happened so fast I has no time to say, "Hey Ben!" or "Are you really turning this place into the new New College?".
Cornell was great. He'd make a great President. Unlike the UF president, he'd be comfortable mingling with the people he represents.
HOT WHEELS
SCHROOMIN'
Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery is one of a few in this country providing green burials.
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| You'll know my grave by the mango-colored schrooms adorning it |
THIS BAGEL HAD IT ALL
I went into a bagel emporium here and ordered an "everything bagel".
The counterman asked me what I wanted on it. I replied, "Doesn't it already have 'everything'?".
He didn't get it.
FRIED FLAT FISH
We've got new luncheonette on Pleasant Street. Patty and Michael Sneed are livin' the dream with their new restaurant,
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| Flatfish Fish Fry (right) on Pleasant Street |
"Flatfish Fish Fry". It's open Mon-Fri from 10:30 to 3 at 308 NW 5th Avenue.
Yes, they have flat founder but also
shrimp, catfish, tempeh, and chicken thighs as well. Their stuffed donuts are to die for.
Stop by for lunch soon.
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| Patty's proud of her delicious donuts! |
Tell them "Glenn sent you" and they'll have no idea who you're talking about.
STREET PARTY
On our way home from lunch we stopped on twelfth road for lemonade.
The charming yellow stand was a part of what every neighborhood should have, an annual street party.
Dozens of people came out to enjoy conversation, live music and each other.
Our thanks to Megan, Eddie, Paul, and all the others who help make this happen every year.
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| You can't go wrong with cold watermelon on a hot day |
UPNA PICNIC
Our next neighborhood event is our homeowners association's (UPNA's)
picnic. It's another festive fall affair to enjoy.
You need not be an UPNA member to attend.
10-22-23, Sunday, 4-6 p.m., Parker Park
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- INTERMISSION -
It's a good time to search for snacks in the kitchen
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RECENT GATHERINGS
Dozens of of us attend monthly "roundtable" meetings to address housing issues in Gainesville. At the most recent gathering at the Blount Center, city commissioner Bryan Eastman presented his proposal to increase the number of "starter homes" here.
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| Comm. Eastman addressing the crowd at the Blount Center |
He suggests that we reduce the minimum lot size requirements from .28 acres to .18 acres. Now, the smallest lot allowed is about 50' wide. He'd like it to be reduced to 35'. His proposal will be considered by the city commission soon.
I went to the Clarence Kelly Center in East Gainesville for the first time a few days ago. What a beautiful gathering place it is.
The Mom's Demand Action group (our nation's largest grass-roots organization pushing for sane gun laws) was having a forum to discuss ways to reduce gun violence.
My suggestion? Get rid of the elected leaders who think we should all be gun totin' cowboys.
Vote them out!
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| Jacqueline Patterson , Keynote Speaker |
Two weeks ago (Sept. 20th) the GAINESVILLE CLIMATE SUMMIT was held at the United Church of Gainesville. Sponsored by the NAACP, it featured local experts discussing how climate change is affecting our food, water, health, and energy sources. It felt good to be with the people fighting on the front lines for environmental justice.
ONE HOT NAVY BAND
EMERGING 12TH RD. ARTIST
I enjoy checking out the displays of local artists' work. Today I was thrilled to see a painting by my neighbor, a retired UF professor. "Mullet Meet-Up In a Spring" can be yours for a very reasonable price.
FRONT YARD FRIGHTS
When I was a kid Halloween was so simple. The only people making money off it were the manufacturers of candy corn. It seems so weird that there's now a billion-dollar 'Ween industry. At Home Depot, for instance, you can buy a twelve-foot Chinese-made mummy that screams at passers by for $400.
A neighbor has taken the bait big time. He has filled his front yard (six weeks before fright night) with huge plastic monsters.
Hear them hiss and scream on the NE corner of NW 11 Ave and 12 St. They're plugged in and ready to freak you out.
BANNED BOOKS ON DISPLAY
Scarier than any front yard monsters are our dreadful politicians hell-bent on censoring books and re-writing history.
The United Church of Gainesville has a
small library. This fall they have created asection for banned books. Feel free to check out "Peace Pilgrim" or Barack Obama's "Dreams of my Father". |
| HARE KRISHNA's Welcome Wagon preparing for the Flying Pig Parade |