HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The Gentle Carousel Mini Therapy Horses are well known area celebrities. Local children and parents who have met these loving animals in person may not be surprised to learn that the little horses with big hearts are the subject of a new book written about their therapy program. “Mini Horse, Mighty Hope: How a Heard of Miniature Horses Provides Comfort and Healing,” was published by Revell Publishing and released nationally on Amazon and all major booksellers on Oct. 19.

Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and Peggy Frezon co-authored the 200-plus page book about one of the largest equine therapy programs in the world. The book, which already has five-star reviews on Amazon, begins with a first-person account of how the program came about by one of the charity’s founders, Garcia-Bengochea.

The book also includes stories about individual horses and events during the 20-plus years of doing this charity work, including a chapter about the guardian dogs that live with the horses. “Each chapter includes what we learned and individual people we’ve met along the way,” said Garcia-Bengochea.

When the charity went to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after the school shootings they experienced so many kind and thoughtful things that people did to make their trip as comfortable as possible. “It was cold, but we had a heated horse ambulance for our horses to help keep them warm. One man made hot chocolate and went looking for us. We were just getting ready to go into the police station when he appeared with the hot drinks,” she said. The book includes simple stories and real-life miracles that happened on that trip as well as others over the years.

“Some of the places we go, we see some pretty tough times that people are going through,” she said. “But in the worst of times you see the best in people. Whenever there is a disaster, people who may be divided in other ways are risking their lives to rescue others.”

Garcia-Bengochea and Frezon had met earlier when Frezon included a chapter on therapy horse, Magic, in her book. “She was fascinated with the horses,” said Garcia-Bengochea. “She came down and visited them. We wound up talking on Mondays and then we began to work together.”

The book includes a story about Terry Lee, a woman who was in her last hours of life at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Elizabeth Mann, Lee’s doctor, asked what she could do for the dying woman. She responded that she wanted to lie in a pasture filled with horses.

As it turned out Gentle Carousel happened to be in New York City teaching a class at Columbia Medical School. The couple brought therapy horse Magic to the hospital into Lee’s ICU room to the patient’s delight. Because the charity was coming to the hospital, television crews were on hand to film Magic’s patient visit. The “Today Show” crew was in Lee’s room. Shortly after their visit Terry Lee passed away, having had her wish granted.

Gentle Carousel had a photograph of Magic in Lee’s room along with her doctor and the Today Show film crew. The charity had obtained photo releases from everyone in the room as always. However, as part of the publisher’s requirements, they required photo releases signed again on their company’s release forms.

“The amount of work that it took to get permission for many new photo releases during the pandemic was monumental,” said Garcia-Bengochea. Lee’s physician, Elizabeth Mann, M.D., had left Mount Sinai Hospital and was working on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma. We had to find her during the pandemic and get a photo release.

The charity had also worked with families at Ronald McDonald House. “We had to locate parents across the country and get updated written permission to use their photographs as well,” she said.

Meanwhile, the authors were working with people from the publishing house. “There was someone from public relations, a cover designer, the editors, a legal team – at least 20 people in all. They have been super supportive,” Garcia-Bengochea said. “It actually took a couple of years between the time they started writing and the Oct. 19 release date.”

The last chapter in the book was when COVID-19 was starting. “We had just returned from New York right before COVID hit there. We were doing an event at the Javits Center for Universal NBC,” she said. “They paid for the trip so we could do our hospital visits on the east coast. Due to the pandemic the Javits Center was transformed into a hospital in the weeks after we left,” said Garcia-Bengochea.

Asked how the book is doing on Amazon Garcia-Bengochea said, “This book is the number one new release in a number of categories and on Amazon Bestseller lists. For Inspirational Books it has been ranked number four on Amazon. We are really pleased with the reviews. They have been very encouraging. Barnes and Noble released the book a few days early, so we began hearing from people before the official release date.”

Usually, when a book comes out the authors schedule a book-signing tour. Due to COVID, that has had to be modified. Many bookstores are not doing in-person book signings. “We are doing creative book signings at outdoor venues,” said Garcia-Bengochea. “We also have had ‘Hoof-o-graphed’ books signed by the horses at book signings.”

Proceeds from Garcia-Bengochea’s share of book sales will help support the horses and the Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse charity. Garcia-Bengochea said they have had to make temporary changes to the program in light of the pandemic. The couple filmed videos for kids, and they also started doing outdoor reading programs at parks and on library lawns. “We’re constantly trying to find new ways to do things.” The couple set up a studio in their living room in order to conduct “face-time” communication with young patients in hospitals. Children also receive calls from their favorite horse to check on how they are doing at home. “The children are told their horse is calling them to check on them,” she said. “They are delighted.”

The charity has visited assisted living programs for many years. During the pandemic the horses visited with residents through the windows and sent stuffed toy horses inside for each person. “The last picture in the book is of a visit to an assisted living program that was taken at the window,” she said. “We’ve just had to be more creative through the pandemic, but we don’t want people not to see the horses if there is some way we can make it happen safely,” she said. This week the horses will be visiting that same program with residents in an outdoor patio area.

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This interview was conducted with local author Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. Co-author of this book, Peggy Frezon, is contributing editor of All Creatures magazine and author of books about the human-animal bond. She's a regular contributor to Guideposts magazine and Angels on Earth. Her stories also appear in books such as "The Ultimate Dog Lover," "Miracles and Animals," and more than twenty Chicken Soup for the Soul™ books. She also blogs at The Writer's Dog. She lives in New York, where she and her husband rescue senior golden retrievers and do therapy dog work. They share their home with two golden retrievers, Ernest and Pete.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs will hold a two-day celebration of its 125^th anniversary Nov. 6 through Nov. 7 that is open to the community. The church has roots that extend throughout the community and has been holding regular Sunday services for 125 years in its present location, making it the oldest continuous church in High Springs. According to Reverend Canon Lance Horne, the services actually go back further, with the congregation holding services in private homes.

The current location became a reality when a parishioner deeded the land for the church that would be built in the Carpenter’s Gothic style with a steep central gable, wheel windows and pointed-arched windows. At the time, railroads were booming, and in 1883, the railroad had extended from Live Oak to Gainesville, passing through the small community of Santa Fe, named for the nearby Santa Fe River. A post office and railroad station were established, and in 1888, the name was changed to High Springs. When phosphate was discovered in the area that same year, three branches of the Atlantic Coast Line converged in the town which became known as "The Railroad Center."

But in 1896, a tornado devastated High Springs, including the church. The “Great Storm” as it became known, caused 202 deaths and was one of the costliest hurricanes on record at the time. With winds at 125 mph, the storm surge destroyed almost every building on the coast and spawned tornadoes, including the one that devastated High Springs. It was a tragic chapter in the church’s history, but St. Bartholomew's was an important part of the community with its influence extending well beyond its walls, and railroad workers and townspeople worked tirelessly to rebuild the damaged church, cutting down pine trees and even using railroad ties to bring the church back to life. St. Bartholomew's Church became a landmark and an integral part of the town.

Since its reconstruction, the congregation has held two services every Sunday for the past 125 years. This year, the church and community will celebrate the anniversary with a BBQ, music, tours of the sanctuary and original memorabilia along with other activities for children. Speakers include High Springs CRA Coordinator David Sutton who will discuss the early history of High Springs, retired CBS radio host Ben Hill who will be the MC and also speak about the history of St. Bartholomew's, and High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos who will talk about High Springs today.

BBQ luncheons will be provided on site by Mr. P's BBQ and the High Springs Lions Club. There will also be a UF Clinical Research Vehicle (CRV) for free health screenings and vaccinations. Julie's Pin's & Needles will be displaying quilts on the back of the pews. To promote the historical aspect of the anniversary, some parishioners will be dressed in period costume. Music will be provided by four acts starting at 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., starting with gospel singers Band Together, followed by Canopy Road, Disney's Alpine Rose Band and ending with a performance by High Springs recording artist Cliff Dorsey.

On Sunday there will be a special service with Bishop Samuel Howard, Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, officiating the 10 a.m. service with baptisms, and confirmations along with the church's Reverend Canon Lance Horne. Horne, a career Naval officer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters of Divinity, has been the reverend at the church for over a decade. Although he and his wife live in the Mayport area of Jacksonville, they make the trip for Wednesday Bible Study and Youth Services as well as the two services on Sunday.

“Travel time is over two hours, but there are absolutely wonderful people in this congregation,” Horne said. “It’s a family I am proud to be part of it.”

St. Bartholomew's church is located at18615 N.W. 238^th Street, High Springs. For more information about the anniversary celebration, call 386-454-9812.

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GAINESVILLE – At 32, Newberry resident Jessica Gray was thrilled to show her artwork last weekend at the 36^th Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook. Gray is a painter and jeweler who uses and re-uses materials in what she calls a “closed loop practice.”

“My work is abstract and heavily influenced by nature and natural textures,” said Gray. When she talks about closed loop work she is referring to using items left over from one project to enhance another. She says she uses an extremely heavy amount of paint and recycled material…sometimes soil with an acrylic paint base.

“I use recycled paint from work surfaces to close the loop rather than throwing it away or washing paint down the drain into the water supply.”

While Gray’s jewelry is unique and interesting, she says she tries to keep it simple. She builds pieces using epoxy and clay along with gemstones. Her jewelry is often electroformed using copper wire suspended in a bath of chemicals connected to a power supply.

It has taken Gray research and trial and error to develop her method. “There is a resurgence in popularity of this method,” said Gray. “You have to troubleshoot on your own until you get it right.” This method is scientific and very “left brain,” she said. “Painting, on the other hand is right brained.” The two different methods help keep her grounded – along with her cat “Remy” who she says is boss of the household.

Gray said she “sort of side-stepped into becoming an artist ” as she studied businesses at Santa Fe College and took a few art classes on the side. She obtained her business degree while at Santa Fe but she stayed on and got her degree in Graphic Design.

“Our family has a creative streak running through it so my parents supported me in taking art classes while working on my business degree.” Gray’s grandmother is a ceramicist, her father and brother are into drawing and photography. Her mother did fiber arts – crocheting, quilting, etc.

Gray worked in graphic arts and marketing for more than 10 years. Over the years she dabbled in art but still kept her day job. “In 2020 I set priorities and knew I’d rather be making art than anything else. I decided to use the skills I had developed over the years to market my own business.”

Using those fun art classes, a lot of trial and error and a certain amount of recklessness, the primarily self-taught artist officially launched her own business. She said she has been selling her art for some time, but this is the first time she has focused all of her energy on these two types of artworks.

“You have to make bad art before you can make good art,” she said. “If you let the fear of a blank canvas paralyze you, you’re never going to make anything.” She launched her website www.andpersestudios.com earlier this year. Using social media and in-person local events in the north Florida area, she has made a name for herself in the art world.

Gray launched a new collection just prior to the festival and visitors to her booth seemed interested in her unique new designs. “In person, the stones just pop, but,” she says, “it’s difficult to photograph some of these stones to capture their wonderful colors. People just have to see them in person sometimes in order to really appreciate the work.”

Another local artist, Archer resident Amber Rust, 43, also showed her artwork at this year’s Art Festival at Thornebrook. Her web, Instagram and Facebook pages are all called “Fluidity by Amber” and show her fluid acrylic pour painting techniques on canvases, wood and other substrates.

The results are abstract, but focus heavily on beach and seashore types of scenes. Rust enjoys adding embellishments with realism such as hand-painted turtles, manatees and other sea creatures.

“I will sit with a finished product until I can envision what completes the scene,” said Rust. Referring to a large turtle painting she said, “I sat with that painting for a year before it came to me what would complete it.”

Rust spent the first 20 years of her working life in management at a credit union. As a teenager she spent time drawing, but a career and family took center stage for several years.

“I was always interested in art,” she said. Once she began playing with painting her interest in art was rekindled from a spark to a flame. “I was non-stop on art after that,” she said. She converted her dining room into her studio and has been going strong ever since.

“I had to focus my attention on one theme and that became oceans and shore life.” She learned that different additives to paint can cause shimmer and other different effects. “I learned how to create an ocean feel,” she said. The addition of resin over paint brings out the colors.

Rust also creates earrings and jewelry using an acrylic pour on a silicone mat. “I cut out the shapes I want for earrings and pendants and seal them with resin, which really makes the colors pop,” said Rust. “They are really light because there is no heavy metal behind the painted jewelry item, so they are very comfortable to wear.”

Rust claims because she is an introvert, she has shied away from YouTube videos. “The process of doing what I do is messy and requires specialized equipment and protective gear. It’s not just something I can easily show in a YouTube video without a whole lot of editing.”

Rust likes art shows for the interaction with her customers. “I have been doing this for two and a half years now and really enjoy talking with people about the work and seeing what they are interested in.

Rust’s art includes wall art, serving boards, trays, coasters, jewelry, occasional bracelets and specialized custom furniture pieces.

Rust will be showing also at the Ocala Art Festival, the Micanopy Art Festival and the Gainesville Downtown Art Festival in the next few weeks.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Dozens of community volunteers gathered on Saturday, Oct. 9, to plant new trees throughout downtown High Springs. 

Thirty-three beautiful new Live Oak and Cypress trees now beautify downtown High Springs from the Farmers' Market Pavilion to High Springs Brewing Company.

The program, funded by Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection and Keep Alachua County Beautiful, was led by Alachua County Arborist Lacy Holzworth. Holzworth and her team will continue to oversee the care and watering of all 36 trees until they are established.

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