Category Archives: Features

JFK Assassination among White House Memories of Former Marine Band Members

November 20, 2013News50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, Albert Johnson, Donna Green-Townsend, JFK funeral procession, JFK motorcade, Jim King, John Fitzgerald Kennedy assassination, Marine Band, Marine Band at the White House, presidential inaugurationDonna Green-Townsend

November 22nd, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, one of the most memorable tragedies in American history. Millions of Americans stayed glued to their television sets for news updates from Dallas, Texas where John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated by a sniper while travelling with his wife Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife Nellie, in a presidential motorcade. After a ten-month investigation, The Warren Commission made the conclusion that Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, and that Oswald acted alone. Since that time there have been many conspiracy theories.

Kennedy funeral procession best photo — *John F. Kennedy funeral procession November 25th, 1963*

In 1997 Donna Green-Townsend talked with trombonist Albert Johnson, a former Gainesville resident, and the late Jim King, a clarinetist from Gainesville. The two musicians have very distinct memories of the Camelot years in the White House. The two former Marine Band members played for many major events in Washington including inaugurations, dinner parties and sadly for the funeral procession of John F. Kennedy. (Originally aired on January 23, 1997)

Short Version:

Long original version in 1997:

Tim Tebow Foundation Reaches Out To Typhoon Victims In The Philippines

November 13, 2013NewsAid for the Philippines, Donna Green-Townsend, Philippines, Tim Tebow Foundation, typhoon hits the PhilippinesDonna Green-Townsend

A massive international aid effort is beginning to take shape in the Philippines to help the 600,000 people displaced by last Friday’s typhoon. The official death toll as of early afternoon (Wed., Nov. 13th) is up to 2,344 and is expected to rise. Former Florida Quarterback and Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines while his parents worked as missionaries there. The Tim Tebow Foundation in partnership with CURE International, has been constructing an orthopedic hospital in Davao City. The foundation is also working with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association on evangelism, church planting and orphan care ministries in the Philippines. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Executive Director of the Tim Tebow Foundation, Erik Dellenback, about how they are responding to the crisis in the Philippines. The Tim Tebow Foundation has activated a donation link on its website that will collect funds specifically for the Philippines at www.timtebowfoundation.org or by mail to the foundation lockbox at Tim Tebow Foundation, 2209 County Road 210 W, Suite 108 PMB 329, Jacksonville, FL 32259.

Remembering The Return of the 351st Military Police Company In Ocala

November 9, 2013News351st Military Police Company Returns, Donna Green-Townsend, Ocala's Veteran's Park, Operation Freedom Iraq, Veteran's DayDonna Green-Townsend

During this Veteran’s Day Holiday weekend, it seems appropriate to look back on a special day in Marion County. On Thursday, June 24th, 2004 several thousand people turned out at Veteran’s Park in Ocala to welcome home the 351st Military Police Company. The 130-member unit arrived on buses and participated in a short parade through the park. Many of those who turned out to cheer and greet the veterans carried homemade signs. A huge banner read, “America’s Hometown Heroes.” The military police unit had just completed a 13-month mission as part of Operation Freedom Iraq. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend was there and reports the celebration included a musical tribute and a military flyover. (Originally aired on WUFT on June 24th, 2004)

From my audio archives: Peter Rowan performed before sellout crowds in Gainesville and Melrose, FL in 2012 and 2013

November 6, 2013Artsbluegrass, Donna Green-Townsend, Peter Rowan, Shake Rag Series, Thomas CenterDonna Green-Townsend

Peter Rowan music feature produced by Donna Green-Townsend in May, 2012

Folk and bluegrass icon Peter Rowan and his Bluegrass band made a tour stop in Gainesville at the historic Thomas Center on Tuesday, November 12th, 2013.

In May of 2012 Grammy Award Winner and 5-time Grammy nominee Rowan gave his only Florida performance that year as part of the Shakerag Concert Series in Melrose. It was a sellout.

Peter Rowan performing in May, 2012 in Melrose, FL. He was introduced by the late Joe Saccocci.

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Here is a video of Peter performing a tribute to the late Doc Watson

“Song Weaver” Amy Carol Webb

November 4, 2013Arts, NewsAmy Carol Webb, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida singer songwriters, Song Weaver, South Floridaadmin

Amy Carol Webb at the Will McLean Folk Festival March 2012

Music critics have described Miami Springs singer songwriter Amy Carol Webb as passionate, powerful and profound. The nationally acclaimed acoustic musician is known as a Miami Herald, “One to Watch,” a Billboard “Act to Watch” and New Times “Best Solo Artist.” Donna Green-Townsend takes a closer look at just what inspires this award-winning artist in this interview that originally aired on WUFT-FM in September of 2004.

Amy Carol Webb’s, “I Come From Women,” is one of her most popular songs and typically gets the entire audience involved.

In 2015, on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March, Webb joined a thousand others in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the event that capped several tumultuous weeks in the American Civil Rights Movement in 1965. She also put the experience into song at the Will McLean Festival.

In a tribute to the Matriarch of Florida Folk, Margaret Longhill, Webb performed, “Oh Margaret.”

Webb performing on the Old Marble Stage at the Florida Folk Festival on May 27th, 2012 during a pouring rain. She received a request to do “These Are My Own.” As you will see in the video, it presented quite the challenge to the interpreter for the hearing-impaired assigned to the stage.

The pouring rain coming down also seemed like the appropriate time for Webb to sing her song, “We Are Made of Rain.”

*Amy Carol Webb and company at the Will McLean Folk Festival, 2012*

2012-11-11_15-54-54_883 — *Amy Carol Webb performing at the Sunday Sampler Series at the Old Train Depot in Dunnellon in the Fall of 2012.*

Jacksonmania In Jacksonville (update)

October 28, 2013NewsDonna Green-Townsend, Jackson Five in Jacksonville, Jackson Five Victory Tour, Jacksonmania, Jacksonville councilman Warren Jones, Michael JacksonDonna Green-Townsend

Jackson072384003 — Michael Jackson brought his Victory Tour to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL on three nights from July 21-23, 1984 to perform in front of over 135,000 fans.(The Florida Times-Union, Staff)

UPDATE: October 28th, 2013

Conrad Murray, the physician a California jury held responsible for the death of pop star Michael Jackson, is scheduled for release from prison today. His attorney says Murray wants to get his medical license back so he can set up a practice in Texas. Meanwhile, earlier this month a California jury decided that A.E.G. Live, Michael Jackson’s final concert promoter, was not responsible for the pop star’s death on June 25, 2009. That case is just one of many involving the pop star during his tumultuous career.

Though Michael Jackson never got to perform during that final concert tour, many in Florida will always remember his appearance here in 1984. In July of 1984, Michael Jackson and his brothers brought their “Victory Tour” to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. The Jacksons gave three separate concerts from July 21st thru the 23rd that July.

For weeks prior to the concerts there was Jacksonmania in Jacksonville in 1984. Days of preparation went into the three-show tour stop in JAX. As Donna Green-Townsend reported for WUFT’s statewide business show, “Speaking of Business,” some residents in Duvall County were not totally happy about what the community had to pay up front to bring the tour to Jacksonville. Meanwhile, other businesses made money catering food and housing the Jackson entourage. (1984 feature produced for Speaking of Business on WUFT)

Former Gov. Bob Graham Weighs In On Gov’t Shutdown, Adena Springs Ranch and Syria

October 2, 2013NewsAdena Springs Ranch, Bob Graham, Donna Green-Townsend, government shut down, low water levels, Silver River, Silver Springs State Park, Syria and chemical weaponsDonna Green-Townsend

Bob Graham, former governor of Florida and U.S. senator, discusses current issues. Having served as governor from 1979 to 1987 and senator from 1987 to 2005, Graham brought his insight to the table on topics both local and global.

While visiting Gainesville, former Florida governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham voiced his opinion on current issues such as the government shutdown, conflicts in Syria, the Adena Springs Ranch permit request and Silver Springs State Park.

Bob Graham, former governor of Florida and former U.S. senator, discusses current issues. Having served as governor from 1979 to 1987 and senator from 1987 to 2005, Graham brought his insight to the table on topics both local and global.

Graham, a Democrat, looked first at the nation and the recent government shutdown.

Discouraged but not surprised, he said the shutdown and the reasons behind it are a manifestation of changing attitudes in America. People are more concerned with their own personal best interests rather than what may be best for the country as a whole, he said.

The status quo, he believes, is not satisfactory, and the country needs a change.

“If you don’t like the plan that currently is underway, what is your alternative?” he asked. “Just to be an obstructionist and say ‘no’ is not fulfilling your responsibility of contributing to understanding our current problem.”

Also the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Graham discussed President Barack Obama’s stance on the conflict in Syria.

He said the situation has been handled about as well as it could be, and he believed Russia’s working together with the U.S. was an indication of cooperation in the future.

A plan proposed by Russia and now backed by President Obama began on Wednesday to work on destroying Syria’s chemical weapons.

A more locally discussed issue was also among those Graham commented on.

A consumptive use permit application by Adena Springs Ranch has raised questions about the state of Silver Springs State Park and the environment surrounding the ranch.

Graham said there are two problems to be concerned with in this case: quantity, because of a long-running drought and over-consumption and quality, because of a spike in phosphorous and nitrogen.

In the end, he wants to see the permit denied to Frank Stronach, the Austrian-Canadian businessman who owns the ranch. The permit, Graham said, is very large for an area already showing consequences of overuse. (NOTE: for more about water issues in North Central Florida click here)

Now, with Silver Springs’ new status as a state park, he hopes for a return to “more appropriate and adequate use” of the springs.

Graham will appear with Florida businessman Preston Haskell to discuss the importance of civic engagement at 6 p.m. Thursday in Pugh Hall at the University of Florida. He will also speak at the Florida Law Review’s 2013 Allen L. Poucher Lecture 10 a.m. Friday at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

By Katie Campbell and Donna Green-Townsend on October 2nd, 2013

Land of Flowers Music Video (highlighting area lake levels past and present)

September 30, 2013VideoDonna Green-Townsend, Elisabeth Williamson, Gatorbone Lake, Keystone Heights, lack of rainfall, Lake Brooklyn, Lake Geneva, Lake region, Land of Flowers, Lochloosa Lake, low lake levels, Newnan's Lake, Orange Lake, St. John's River Water Management District, White Sands LakeDonna Green-Townsend

Drought and overpumping of the Floridan aquifer are blamed for low lake levels in the Keystone Heights area.

Singer songwriter Elisabeth Williamson was so saddened by the low level of Gatorbone Lake in the Keystone Heights area in recent years that she wrote a song about it called, “Land of Flowers.” Lake levels in many North Central Florida lakes have been low for a long period of time (some say since 2005, the year after the busy 2004 hurricane season). Many blame not only the lack of rainfall, but also overpumping by businesses, agriculture and utilities. Scenes from Gatorbone Lake, White Sands Lake, Lake Geneva, Newnan’s Lake, Cross Creek and Orange and Lochloosa Lakes are included in this video produced by Donna Green-Townsend.

Some photos in this video were contributed by Keystone Heights Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth. Other video and pictures were taken by Donna Green-Townsend and Lee Townsend.

See more about the economic effects of low lake levels on the Keystone Heights area at: https://donnagreentownsend.com/residents-of-lake-communities-frustrated-over-low-water-levels-pt-1-09192013/#.Uko9_drD-Uk

and the effects of low lake levels on the Cross Creek area at: https://donnagreentownsend.com/cross-creek-area-businesses-hurting-from-low-water-levels-09192013/#.Uko-MNrD-Uk

The Effort To Save The Florida Panther

September 30, 2013Reporter and Editor, VideoDennis Jordan, Donna Green-Townsend, Fish and wildlife, Florida panther, panther, USFWS, wildlife rehabilitationDonna Green-Townsend

(From my archives)

Florida’s official state animal, the Florida panther, continues to be an endangered species with only between 50 to 150 animals left in the wild. Many of the big cats are hit by cars each year. Florida’s growing population has encroached on the panther’s historic territory. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, wildlife biologists and researchers continue to look for ways to save and increase the panther population while struggling with panther inbreeding, traffic mortalities and loss of panther habitat.

This story note: This feature originally aired on statewide public television in 1990. The panther “Big Guy” featured in this story has since died. Researchers hoping to use the “Big Guy’s” sperm for reproduction efforts found that most of it was deformed from inbreeding. Since that time, in an effort to save the species, the USFWS introduced some Texas cougars into Florida’s panther population to diversify the genetic material.

scan0001 — Florida panther on display for educational purposes at an Everglades Coalition Meeting in Key Largo in 1978. (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)

(from a report on January 12th, 2012) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reported three Florida panther deaths already this year. Two were hit by vehicles and the third fatality was caused by a fight with another panther. Last year 24 panther deaths were recorded, but FWC biologists also observed 11 radio-collared females giving birth to 32 panther kittens. Overall, the known number of newborn panthers in 2011 appears to have offset the known number of panther deaths. Today, an estimated 100 to 160 adults of this federally endangered species live in Florida.

Panthers almost disappeared from the wild in this state when their numbers fell to fewer than 30 in the 1970s. Collisions with vehicles continue to be the greatest source of human-caused mortality to the panther. The FWC officials say they will continue to work with many partners to conserve and increase habitat available to panthers on both public and private lands to try and ensure the survival of Florida’s official state animal.

People are encouraged to report sightings of an injured or dead panther by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone.

UF Neonatal Equine Unit: Helping Sick Foals

September 29, 2013VideoAnne Koterba, Donna Green-Townsend, neonatal equine unit, Ocala horse industry, sick foals, University of Florida College of Veterinary MedicineDonna Green-Townsend

(From my archives: Originally aired on Florida File on WUFT-TV in 1990)

The University of Florida Large Animal Hospital Neonatal Foal Intensive Care Unit was one of the first facilities dedicated to neonatal medicine for foals. Veterinarians and highly trained staff care for the most sensitive and complicated equine cases at the facility. They also offer classes for volunteers who can help provide care for the foals. Donna Green-Townsend reports on the kind of work the volunteers provide and why they love to do it. This story originally aired on the statewide IFAS television program Florida File in 1990.