Alachua County Today

Alachua Learning Center expo highlights community learning

Photo 1: First grade class  singing song entitled “ Swingin’ Through the  Alphabet;” Photo 2: Middle School student, Ciara Ramirez, explains the benefits of staying fit.; Photo 3: Third grade class singing song entitled “ Nifty Fifty States;” Photo 4: Seventh and eighth grade girls displaying sign language during the performance; Photo 5: Kindergarten singing Japanese Snowflake song

Projects ranged from cleaning up the Santa Fe River, teacher’s assistant, working on a retired horse farm, to being a juror in Teen Court.  Students had an opportunity to directly work in and experience changing the world for the better.

Both the elementary and middle school students sang songs, recited poems, and put on a play performance that tied in to their curriculum projects. Enthusiasm was contagious and the audience beamed as students  joyfully performed traditional folk songs, like “Winter’s Song,” a Japanese Folk Song, “If I Had a Hammer,” an American folksong and “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie.

The fifth grade class simulated a mock game-show with the appearance of historical figures.  The evening ended with a song called “Love in any Language,” also performed in sign language.

Alachua Children's Theater at Harvest Fest

The group of children are part of the afterschool drama program at Sprout. Carol Velasques Richardson, executive director of the Alachua Children's Theater, led them around Main Street to interact with festival goers while dressed in their cast costumes.

“They've basically been told this is a job they have to do today,” Richardson said. “I think it's a real life experience for them but they're also having a lot of fun.”

She said that this year's harvest festival “seems to be a little more interactive,” and her troupes became a part of that interactive scene Sunday.

“Coming from just sitting at a booth,” Richardson said, to “being part of the street theatre, where I can actually go up and down the street, it's really nice to see all the people engaged.”

So far, the children, ranging from 6 to 11 years old, have been rehearsing for the upcoming production for four weeks. They rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Richardson, who has been involved in theater for over 20 years.

“I've always had an attachment to Main Street, Alachua,” she said. “I think anything we can do with the arts and with the festival... to continually promote downtown Alachua... I like to be a part of that.”

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will show at 8 p.m. from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20 at Sprout. Visit http://www.alachuachildrenstheater.org/ for more information.

Lighting up the holidays

  HIGH SPRINGS -- Chilly weather set the mood for the High Springs’ Chamber of Commerce annual tree lighting Friday evening.  Bringing warmth to the downtown festivities was the High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, which not only served up sweet treats, but also bowls of steaming chili on a bed of corn chips and topped with cheese, otherwise known as Frito pies. 

Meanwhile, the International Outreach branch of the Woman’s Club coordinated a Christmas card campaign, engaging youngsters in coloring and writing personal greetings for soldiers stationed abroad.  After a few brief welcoming comments from High Springs Chamber of Commerce officials and High Springs Mayor Dean Davis, children were called to circle the town’s Christmas tree and join hands to ring in the holiday season.  Moments later, the enormous colorfully decorated evergreen was lit, illuminating the promise of a joyous Christmas season for all.

Superheroes and small tigers run wild at High Springs Fall Festival

The High Springs Fall Festival offered an exciting day of fun and festivities as children got into the Halloween spirit by wearing costumes and collecting candy.

HIGH SPRINGS – Captain America spends his days fighting for patriotism, protecting the red, white and blue with unbelievable strength and agility.

On Saturday, Captain America had a special mission.

Running around the Kid’s Korral in a mask printed with a graphic “A,” Kentrell Hayes, 7, attended the High Springs Fall Festival with his family. He took a break from bounce houses and bungee jumping to grab some candy

“My favorite part of Halloween is taking candy from babies,” he said, looking deviously at the innocent tiger sitting in a stroller nearby.

The Chamber of Commerce has put on the festival for over five years at James Paul Park. Sandra Webb, event manager, has been involved for two years and said the event attracts people from all over North Central Florida.

“We throw it to get people into our town,” she said. “And we make sure everybody has fun.”

She said it is a way for the town to thank the businesses that are a part of the chamber. Webb said that by encouraging downtown businesses to stay open, the commerce hoped to give them a chance to share their goods with the people.

Vendors from nearby towns also set up kiosks, traveling from places like Melrose and Gainesville to sell their wares. From kettle corn made in a giant metal vat to camouflage gear for the whole family, the festival gave visitors a variety of offerings.

Webb said since this was her second year involved in the festival, she wanted to bring new touches to the event. Children participated in the festival’s first costume contest.

“We spruced the festival up a little this year,” she said. “It being followed with Halloween, I thought it would be cute to have the kids dress up.”

Awards were given out for the prettiest, cutest, funniest and scariest costumes. Two children were named Mr. and Mrs. Fall Festival. They will be riding on Santa’s float in the annual Twilight Christmas Parade.

Margaret Klys dressed up like a forest fairy and brought her grandchildren to the festival. She said she brought her grandchildren to the event to get them in the Halloween spirit.

However, she admitted that she had an ulterior motive for attending.

“It’s fun,” she said. “I’m just a big kid at heart anyway. Especially when I’m with the little ones.”