True Florida Stories
Zechariah Blanchard grew up with one hand on a motor and the other in a toolbox.
Ever since he was four he has been learning the ins and outs of mechanical work, and he has become an expert in vehicle diagnostics … Read moreNot perfect but his best
In 1954, a moonless night settled over a small college town in the swampy heart of Florida. The University of Florida campus in Gainesville was quiet, its dorm rooms mostly empty awaiting winter break’s end. But morning at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house brought a bloody discovery … Read moreMascot for cruelty
As 73-year-old Stephen Smith switches on the machine, a dirty gown swishes and spins inside, reminiscent of when its bride wore the dress for her first dance … Read moreYour stain, his gain
I’m off to do something I’ve never done before and, for a long time, swore I’d never do. A mix of fear, guilt and hesitant excitement finds a home in the pit of my stomach, but I try to push it aside … Read moreI’d never seen a gun before. Days later, I fired one
Since her classroom already had plenty of furniture, she asked if any of the students needed it. To her surprise, many hands shot up.
Louise realized something: Maybe these students and their families have needs that we have no idea about, she thought. The Gainesville High School ESOL Closet was born … Read moreHow The ESOL Closet helps Gainesville feel more like home