WILDFLOWERS?  WONDERFUL!

      Wildflowers Music Park had its first festival last weekend and it was a big success. For three days thousands of people enjoyed live music, spirited dance, and creative workshops within a 270-acre forest east of Gainesville.

       For weeks hundreds of volunteers had pitched in to mow, weed, and erect circus tents on the festival site. I was one of their sign makers.

 

 Francesca and I also got to draw bad portraits.

      With friends on Saturday, we drew the faces of over 100 fest fans to raise money for local charities. 

 

   They were guaranteed 'bad' or your money back.  There were no refunds.

 

God loves these gatherings. She kept the weather perfect and the rain away until the last band, 

"Dwayne Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers" had finished their last set at the end of the last day. 

"Punch", one of David's creations

    

 

 

As a lover of parades I was pleased to see artist David Ballard leading his friends wearing his puppets as they wandered through the crowd. He promised to bring them to the next Flying Pig procession.

      

David's beautiful big bird with flapping wings!

 

   A number of vendors were selling their wares. One was blacksmith Joe Scheerer of Keystone Heights. I asked him why his thumb was missing and replied, "Like many others, I gave up mine to table saw last year". Using his smithing skills he fashioned an iron one to replace it. 

 

 

 

 

Harvey Meyers and his children, Miami Beach, 1926

    

 

My grandfather lost his to farm equipment in 1921. Miraculously, after years of using power saws, I still have mine.

 

One of many festival fans enjoying a performance

    There was something for every person of every age. The Kid's Area had kites to fly, flower mandalas to make, and large logs to climb.  Heidi Stein taught 'em how to make mud masks on trees.

     In the Healing Arts Area I sat down for a chair massage.  Somehow the teen next to me managed to get his massage and text at the same time.  

 

 I guess we all have our priorities.   I just wanted to see this event succeed and indeed, it did.  Let's hope we have many more events in our county's glorious, new, nature park.

 

Two of the fantastic sculptures created by Melrose artist Patrick McGee

 

Dance floor built by Mark and friends

 

 

 

 

The singer and

 

his audience

Iver's light shows were incredible

 

     The Wildflowers Festival site is a nature park year-round.  It's just a couple of miles south of downtown Melrose.  The park is dedicated to music, dance, art, education, and nature-based recreation. The non-profit who runs is aims to bring all types of people together for shared artistic, cultural and outdoor experiences.

    If you have not been there go check it out. For more information here's their website,  www.wildflowersmusicpark.org .

                             ____________

 

 

                               NO KINGS III

    Its nice to have a festival now and then. They allow us a few hours to forget that evil billionaires are hell bent on destroying our country. Please join us to rally against them at our country's third No Kings protest. 

  The local one will take place again at Cora Roberson Park, 600 SW 6 St.,  on Saturday, March 28th, from noon to four.  Come.  Help save a country.

   (If you can help us carry our King Trump puppet at the rally please get in touch) 

 

                       DAVID WINS OSCAR!

       Former Gainesville musician turned filmmaker, David Borenstein, won an Oscar Sunday night for  "Best Documentary".  His film, "Mr. Nobody Against Putin", is about a Russian elementary school teacher who refused to comply with state propaganda and the quiet courage it takes to resist authoritarian pressure.

 In his acceptance speech Borenstein reminded us that freedom can be lost through "countless small acts of complicity".  He added that even a "nobody", like the teacher in his film, can be more powerful than they think.

      Borenstein grew up in South Florida.  The 2009 UF grad was valedictorian of his class. 

 

                           WEIRD NAMES 

Who ever thought  banks would run out of names?  Apparently they did. One opened up on NW 23d called "Fifth Third".  Who dreamed that up?  Did they come in third five times in a "Best Bank" contest?  I would never give put my greenbacks in an institution named Banksy, Usury R Us, or Fifth Third.

    Just next to them is new credit union.  Its name is the "Self Help Credit Union".  Does this mean we can go in and help ourselves to their money?   

 

                   BACK TO THE WOODS

      Since I last wrote my neighborhood newsletter Rainbow Bridge has gotten re-painted.  We thank the many people and families who pitched in.

 

 

      Last month neighbors gathered to rid the woods around the bridge of invasive coral ardisia plants.  They may be pretty but they do are not good for the critters and other plants that live there.

   

 

That's it for now.  We hope to see you on 3-28 when we say No to kings and Yes to democracy.

   

 -Glenn

                            

  

 

Latest Neighborhood Newsletter- Feb. '26

                                  THE END OF A GOOD THING

         We loved Saturday's farmer's market on 441 at NW 59 street. You could buy fresh produce while chatting with real farmers. Compact and simple, you could get in and out easily. The two "tractor barn" structures kept us dry in wet weather. That ended five weeks ago when the county closed it

and moved it to a shopping mall seven miles north.

       "Tech City" is not really shopping mall, it just looks and feels like one, a group of disjointed structures that allows shoppers to get drenched on rainy days.  The "city's"  glassy exterior's got no soul, nothin' "barn" or "farm" about it.

     

    The county says the move was necessary to make more room for the fire department facility next to the old market.  

         It was on the outer edge of Gainesville. Now it is seven miles north in Alachua, a city with one-tenth the population of GNV.  

We've been there twice  -there are plenty of shoppers- but not the Gainesville faces we're use to.

BUY BACON ON THE HOOF

    Most of the old farmers are selling their okra and squash elsewhere because they aren't allowed park their trucks nearby. The new market is three times as big, like one long strip mall. The old one was proudly "growers only" with little prepared food.  This one has people selling  everything from tacos and perfumed soap to bird houses.

        For now we'll be buying our greens in the heart of Gainesville, at the Monday market located at Cypress & Grove Brewery.

       Gainesville would be wise to create its own Saturday market, one with tractor barns and room for farmers and their trucks.

THE MARKET THAT WAS

 

 

  DEMOCRACY IS DYING

      You've probably noticed that the President is hell-bent on destroying our democracy. The similarities between U.S. life and that in 1930's Germany are beyond chilling.

        What he wants is an "autocracy",  a government where one person holds absolute power, it could be a monarchy or dictatorship.  

    Fortunately we live in a city that's fighting back. Last Friday 500 people took over University Avenue to demand that we end ICE and its gestapo tactics.

 

 

The following evening 150 of us gathered to honor  those killed by ICE in recent months.

   This is no time to sit on your hands. Call your senators, donate to good candidates, and come join  the next protest. The 3d "No Kings" rally will be held on March 28th at Cora Roberson Park, noon to 4 pm.

 

THE PIG THAT FLIES 

     There were a few political statements made at the Flying Pig Parade. The President tossed paper towels to hurricane victims, voters were chasing a ballot box, and free vasectomies were performed in the street.

     We just finished editing a 11-minute video of "Pig III".   Every group in the parade makes a brief appearance. You're invited to its World Premiere on Thursday, February 12th, 7 pm, at First Magnitude Brewery. 

 

   

    Come join us. It'll be like taking a bath in laughter.

 

A NEW LOOK FOR RAINBOW BRIDGE

    We're seeing less rainbows since the governor declared them illegal.  One that's remained is the wooden bridge crossing Rattlesnake Creek.

DeSatan missed it because it's on private property.  

     The neighbors re-paint it every year or two. Last month Teri covered it with white primer before the re-painting. 

Shocked neighbors thought the Gov had painted and renamed it "White Supremacy Bridge" but slowly, the colors are coming back.

 

    Let's hope we get our democracy back. In these distressing times, remember to stay vigilant, informed, and raise as much hell as you can.

                          _________________

 

                     Last weekend at Manatee Springs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PIG FLIES AGAIN

                  

   God must love the Flying Pig Parade. She held back the rain long enough for us to amaze a crowd of thousands. January 3rd's third annual downtown procession was one to remember. Let me tell you why.

Georg, Stan, and Glenn, ready to rock.

   It started with our emcees, Gregg and Stan, making a few introductions that include Georg Suzuki.  Every year she yodels a bombastic peace chant that wakes us up.

   

 

 

   Nearby stood Ward Shelley ready to lower his huge winged swine with a "10, 9, 8..." countdown in front of  two thousand  fans.

 

 

 

    Gregg led the countdown. When the pink pig hit the pavement, "Swine On The Wing" was off and running.

   

 

 

 

 

   Bobby and his grandchildren led the procession once more with their bright banner and a cardboard sign. 

   Stan and Gregg did a terrific job of announcing each entry. 

 

 

 

    

 

Most marchers are a part of one group. My buddy, Ward, managed to be in four of them.  After he dropped his pig he picked up a drum and joined our first band, the  "Bloco GNV Samba Saints".  In the distance you can see -up above- the exuberant Griffin Wulf, a sight to behold on long, stilted legs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Down below a young crowd took it all in.

 

   Some saw things they'd never seen before. It was not a homecoming parade, or anything like a Disney experience. 

 

 

  Surrounding Griffin were puppeteers with
characters as small as she was tall.

 

 

   Artist Iver Thue was Big Pig who seemed to be everywhere at once.

 

 

 

 

The parade had sixty entries. 

Some had 26 members  while others performed individually.

 

   This year's Grand Marshal was Joe Courter. He has published "The Gainesville Iguana" newspaper for forty years.  Every month Generous Joe gives us

 

THANK YOU, JOE!

 

all the news we need.

 

     Like Joe, Jill Dumas' clown band is pure Gainesville. Jill has led her colorful merrymakers in processions for years. 

 

    Each clown is a walking work of art. The "Freak Island Musical Sideshow" is so good we insisted that they go around twice.

JILL LEADING HER CREW

  

   We all know whatever courage Marco Rubio once had ended when he jumped on the Trump train. That's when he lost his spine. 

A  pig-nosed Gainesville resident recently found it and shared it with the audience.

   

 

 Later it was snatched by a hungry beagle.

Scott Camil leading his VFP troops

    Our parade promotes many social issues like solving problems without violence.  This is why
we have a local chapter of "Veterans For Peace", They march with us every year.W

Who do we bomb next...Canada, Cuba. or is terrorizing Minneapolis enough for now?

   "Free Palestine" was sponsored by a similar group, Jewish Voices For Peace. I saw the parade's future in this young, enthusiastic group.

G

GRANDMOTHER EARTH ROUNDING THE CORNER

     

LYNX'S BANNED WAGON.    

    Following Free Palestine was "Free Banned Books" sponsored by Main Street's Lynx Bookstore.  Lauren and her family passed out hundreds of them. 

 Behind them were friends of ours wearing a variety of banned books.

 

    People attended in huge numbers standing along the streets, looking down from balconies, and seated on the Hippodrome Theater steps.

    Everyone of them wanted to see the Epstein Files so I had my friend, Davy Dots, reveal them in the parade. 

 

 

     After seeing them many wondered why Trump had kidnapped a president and threatened to invade Greenland so we'd forget they existed.

        

                 WE WON'T FORGET 

 

    Neither will New York City's mayor, Zohran Mamdani. I knew his new job might be keeping him busy but still wanted him in "The Pig".

    I called his office and was told he was unavailable. Fortunately City Commissioner Bryan Eastman -who looks a bit like Zohran-  agreed to take his place.  

The City Commissioner Doin' the Zohran Shuffle

 

 

        The Smooth Flava Line Dancers are always a hit.  You can go to Bo Diddley Plaza on any Thursday afternoon and they'll show you how its done.

 

 

    Gainesville's Sierra Club was out in full force reminding us that we must continue the fight for control our city's "GRU" utilities.  They seemed unaware that they were being chased by a pack of dinosaurs.

The club had a second group protesting the latest Florida bear hunt. They were supporting the

BEARS, STILL UNAWARE, OF THE GAGGLE OF TYRANOSAURUS REXES BEHIND THEM

 Hot on their trail were the Stars of the Show, THE DANCIN' DINOSAURS! They came all the way from Melrose, Florida, to twerk for masses.

And twerk they did!

The fans' favorite boogied to "Dancin' In The Street" and "Crocodile Rock" with abandon. Our poster featuring them sold out in 27 seconds.

 

 

 

 

In Melrose every mother prays her child will grow up to be worthy of this local reptilian dance troupe.  

    If that doesn't work out they are always welcome to join the group that followed, "AMFIFA", Amphibians Against Fascists.

We thank Len Cohen for putting his group together.  He's the Kermit on the left.

 

   All of our parade's frogs, dinosaurs, and humans got to enjoy great live music from our

BANDS that included 

momma trish vs. godzilla

 

Eddie's group, LOS BROCHACHOS

 

And Russ's (who performed on piggyback) band, "YALLWEIRD" 

 

   This little quartet ("HelloReco") had had their own Brazilian beat ( and, Ward in his third incarnation).

   After the orange dinos passed we had actual people dancing like the
"Greenwood Morris Dancers". 

This  lively group, 

They'll teach you to dance any Wednesday night.

 

and the BEST LITTLE ROCK HORROR PICTURE SHOW troupe in Gainesville (we had three this last year).  We did the Time Warp again!

 

                

                   -i n t e r m i s s i o n-

    Are you exhausted from reading this?  It is a lot, my fingers hurt from tapping the keys.

    You may know this was my last parade.  After producing 33 of 'em I'm calling it quits. Someone will probably make the next one happen. If they do I'll be in it. 

     I dive deep into these zany events. This being my final production I wanted to put it all in writing.  

          WARNING:  I'm only half done. 

                  ________________ 

    I'm amazed by the hard work put in by some groups like the one representing our historic Duckpond neighborhood. They spent weekends making waterfowl, signs, and duck calls for the  WACKY QUACKERS.  Their fearless leader, David Goboff, showed them the way.

    Imagine having the "monsters under the bed" nightmare as an adult. Those monsters could very well be Trump's cabinet. The worst possible are people running our country. 

Michael Shields awakened to this too real nightmare in our parade. 

 

   I was proud to see Maple and Susan standing up for a woman's right to control her own body.

   They offered free vasectomies to all of the men in the audience who voted to end abortion rights in Florida two years ago.

 

David, my retired UF math professor neighbor, 

knows something about Greek mathematicians. 

 

 

     Sadly, we have a president whose idea of hurricane relief is tossing paper towels to storm victims. He made an appearance to the chagrin of the audience.

 

 

   My softball buddies, Dave and Steve, did their best to protect him.  He was only attacked twice, once by a red-clad clown and later, by Super Pig. 

Dave and Steve protecting comedian, Tom Miller

 

 

 

   You really can't have a decent Gainesville parade without a dancing purple lion. 

       This one, powered by the two UF students inside, delighted everyone.

 

 

  Gainesville's Colombian folk dancers are also a crowd favorite.

 

     One of my least favorite things is the new policy at Florida's 900 Public supermarkets. They now allow their customers to carry guns into their stores. 

    To mark this sad decision Rhonda did some shopping -with her AK-47- "where shooting is a pleasure". 

 

   

    Her husband, Bill Prouty, followed with his "I'm The Original Big Beautiful Bill" sign. 

 

   The United Church of Gainesville jumped into the fray with whistles in hand.

EXPOSING CORRUPTION AND ICE AGENTS WHILE HAVING A GOOD TIME

 

     Another group of UCG'ers followed wearing smart jail jumpsuits, "Future Fashions of the White House Cabinet".  Pete Hegseth (hard to see here) carried a bottle of scotch.

I don't think you'd see that in our other holiday parade. 

 

    Two months ago as I attended garden party one of the dancing dinosaurs asked if I needed anything for the parade. I told her, "Congress is doing nothing to reign in our deranged president. They need a huge spine. Can you get me one?"   

They happily led me to a Melrose artist who made me a fourteen-footer. 

 

 

 

               Moments like that are magical.

 

 

   Do you remember Mrs.Roper from Three's Company? She's more popular than ever with her big hair and psychedelic mu-mu's.  We had a bunch of 'em on our procession!

 

   Who doesn't love a parade with its own grave diggers chanting, "Hey hey ho ho, We dig the hole and in you go!"?  

  The Society of the Pick & Spade has marched with us from the beginning carrying their shovels, woven casket, and "Mr. Bones".  We can thank Jack K. for organizing them.

T

THEY DO THE DIGGING AT GAINESVILLE'S  PRAIRIE CREEK GREEN CEMETERY.

 

 

Giant puppets are a big part of the show and we had many.

Lee Malis brought his pirate and friends to wave the arms.

 

 

Our president has made it clear that he wants to be a king. Most agree that "King Trump" is a horrible idea and some of them joined us on January 3d.

Thank you Kirk for carrying the guy wearing the Burger King crown.

The next Gainesville No Kings rally will take place next month.

While we're disgusted by the Orange Menace, we are thrilled to have Pope Leo as an outstanding world leader. Kind and compassionate, he is everything that Trump is not. His fan club agreed.

THANK YOU, EDO, FOR  MARCHING INSIDE THE POPE. YOU GUYS WERE GREAT!

Don't listen to our governor, being "woke" is a good thing.

 

Doesn't it seem strange that people spend half  their lives staring at screens?  THE CELL PHONE ZOMBIES did nothing else.

 

 

They stumbled through the entire parade unaware that they were in one.

 

 

 

 I don't know who took this photo but it captured the spirit of the whole affair. Many of the older folks told me,"I haven't seen something like this in fifty years!"

 

 

 

Florida's governor keeps coming up with new ways to discriminate against Floridians and limit free speech. First you could not mentioned global warming then he moved on to  tell us to "Don't say gay".

We want to forget about the angry Tallahassee tyrant. We say,

 

QUEEN ALEXANDRA MADE QUITE A STATEMENT

 

 

 

Politicians make lousy educators. Both our governor and the president are doing their best to destroy public schools and free speech.

 Gary was our "Silenced Professor"   standing up for both of these and and all First Amendment rights.

    Destroying democracy is what it's all about and it starts with making it harder to vote. 

 

    This group, "LET THE PEOPLE VOTE" featured a ballot box with red legs (Ward was inside for his fourth appearance).

 

   Every fifty-feet a half dozen voters would approach it to cast their ballots. Once deposited, the box would toss them out and run away.

 

 

 

 

   Our procession had two bee groups this year. "Bee City USA" stressed the importance of bees in keeping plants pollinated. 

 

 

 

"Bee Hive" stressed the importance of coming up with good "bee" jokes like,

and

The Queen Bee (hive by Ward)

   The fool in the White House is thrilled every time someone gives him an award he didn't earn.  "Peace Prizes For Grifters" gave out similar awards to his entire cabinet.

The Pig doesn't allow everyone to march.

You have to be colorful and entertaining with one exception for kids. They only have to be cute and they always are. 

 

 

 

Amelia says, "Art Not Hate".

Sugarhill is a historic neighborhood in Southwest Gainesville.

 

For some the parade was too much. 

 

For the first time we had a real marching band in our procession, "Porkestra 352". They were perfect, a group of musical friends in pink coming together to have some fun.

Finally this story is winding down. The last group in our holiday parade is always "Daddy Santa and the Mrs.Claus"  Turbado and Teri have a sign that says.

       "Don't bother us we're on vacation". 

 

When they reached the end they stood up, stretched, and headed back to the North Pole.

  The rest of us headed over to our post-parade party, "Bo Diddley's Birthday Bash", which featured the Show Time Band

 

 

and a delicious decorated  cake. We sang "Happy Birthday" to the local legend who would have been 97 if he were still with us.

 

   What a day it was.  I couldn't imagine ending my

parade career on a happier note.

 

    I gratefully thank my wife, Francesca, Ward, Kim, Gregg, Stan, Kevin, Nigel, Eve, Shirley, Rhonda, John, Heidi, Ed, Bill, Shelby, Michael and all the other volunteers who pitched in to make Pig III happen.

   Parades aren't cheap. Let's not forget the grant organizations and donors who helped pay the many expenses. 

   As they say, "It takes a village to fly a pig".  

 

   I expect it'll fly again a year from now. While someone else runs the show I'll be dancin' with the dinosaurs.

 

-Glenn Terry,

  Founder of the Flying Pig Parade             January 24, 2026
                   __________________