July 4th/Habitat for Humanity/magazine award

On holiday weekend, thousands flock to area springs to cool off
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009

As High Springs, Fort White and other surrounding areas clamored to find fireworks to celebrate American Independence, thousands of people flocked to the local springs.

But on average, the thousands of people filling the parks almost to capacity was a typical Saturday for some springs.

But Blue Springs and Ichetucknee Springs experienced larger crowds than normal.

Ichetucknee Springs Assistant Manager Patty Martin said unlike on 3-day weekends when the middle day is the busiest, Friday was the park’s busiest day, maxing out at the north entrance by 9:30 a.m. and drawing around 4,000 people throughout the day.

Saturday drew about 3,500 people, she said.

“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Martin said. “It’s usually the middle day (that’s the busiest).”

While people usually think the July 4 weekend will be the busiest weekend at the springs, Martin said the following weekend usually draws the most crowds because everyone waits to come, attempting to avoid the large crowds.

Blue Springs drew close to 1,400 people on July 4, about 450 up from the previous Saturday, General Manager and Owner Kim Davis said.

For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news07.txt


Habitat for Humanity to change lives, built three homes in area
By Jessica Chapman
For The Herald
Thursday, July 9, 2009

Ripping her letter open three years ago, Brenda Wesley began to cry, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

Soon, she would get her first home.

Wesley and two other families will get homes in High Springs, thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

Alachua Habitat for Humanity will build three homes in High Springs in the Douglas Village area and tentatively plans to start building in the fall, said Peg Iwata, resource development coordinator for the Alachua Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for those living in inadequate housing, aims to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. The organization will build houses through all of Alachua County.

High Springs was chosen when Habitat found available land in the area.

Habitat will begin building homes as soon as it has raised the money needed for the first home to be built, Wesley’s future home. The house will cost about $75,000.

Habitat doesn’t begin building a home until the money needed is raised to ensure that the family will get a home.

“We don’t want to build half a home and then have to stop because we don’t have the funds,” Iwata said. “We don’t want to get their (the family moving into the house) hopes up and then not be able to finish.”

Iwata said Habitat is asking local churches to help raise half of the money needed, about $35,000. They will be relying on local High Springs businesses to help provide the remainder of the funds.

“This is something fun for the people (in High Springs) to do,” Iwata said. “The community in High Springs is fun anyway, but this is an opportunity where we all can use ours gifts or talent. It’s a way to strengthen the community and each other.”

For full story visit: http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/07/09/news/news11.txt



The Fine Print earns top award
By Jessica Chapman, Alligator Writer
Thursday, July 9, 2009

The Fine Print, a progressive magazine designed for UF students, was deemed Best New Publication of the Year by Campus Progress Wednesday at a conference in Washington, D.C.

Speakers included former president Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, “The Daily Show” writer and correspondent John Oliver and White House green jobs adviser Van Jones.

“This award is just complete validation for what we’ve been doing,” said Jessica Newman, co-editor of the magazine and UF journalism senior. “It’s quite a shock. It’s been really inspirational.”

Along with co-editor Lydia Fiser, Newman decided to start The Fine Print to use as a sounding board for students to express their thoughts and “build a unified force,” she said.

The magazine covers politics, art, music and topics relevant to UF and the Gainesville community, Newman said.

“They always struggled to connect the two spheres,” she said, referring to the magazines goals to connect the Gainesville and UF communities. “Gainesville has so much to offer.”

For full story visit: http://www.alligator.org/articles/2009/07/09/news/local/090709_award.txt