For the 4th year in a row, the historic community of Cross Creek has held a Christmas Parade. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s December 7th, 2013 parade:
Tag Archives: Donna Green-Townsend
Audio Archive Feature: Danny Wuerffel Heisman Profile on NPR’s Morning Edition
Aired on NPR’s Morning Edition on December 13th, 1996
(Original Intro) In New York tomorrow (Dec.14th,1996) the Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the nation’s top college football player. One of the top finalists is Danny Wuerffel, the quarterback from the University of Florida who’s helped the Gators win four consecutive Southeastern conference titles and a place in this year’s Sugar Bowl. But in his home state of Florida, Danny Wuerffel is known for being much more than just a great football player. From member station WUFT in Gainesville, Donna Green-Townsend has this profile.
On December 10th, 2013 Danny Wuerffel was named to the 2013 College Football Hall of Fame Induction Class. Voters said he had one of the most impressive records ever compiled. Wuerffel was the only player in college football history to start at quarterback for a conference champion four straight years — plus win a national title and the 1996 Heisman. In addition, Wuerffel, a two-time first-team academic All-American, was awarded the Draddy Trophy (also called the “academic Heisman”) presented annually by the College Football Hall of Fame, to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete.
And then there were his statistics. In Wuerffel’s career at UF he completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 10,875 yards, 114 touchdowns and 42 interceptions in starting 36 of his 46 games.
During Wuerffel’s four seasons, Florida won four-consecutive SEC title games. As a senior, Wuerffel’s 3,625 yards passing yards were an SEC record. He also set a national record for his 39 touchdowns. In his final two games in a Gator uniform, Wuerffel threw for 401 yards and 6 touchdowns to beat Alabama (which at the time was the No. 1-ranked pass defense) for that fourth-straight league crown. In the Sugar Bowl national championship rematch over rival Florida State, Wuerffel threw for more than 300 yards and 3 touchdowns (also rushing for a TD) in a 52-20 victory against the top-ranked defense in the country
Danny Wuerffel on his Christmas CD Project to Benefit Desire Street Ministries
Aside from football, Danny Wuerffel has dedicated his time to the work of Desire Street Ministries. Danny produced “Heaven & Nature Sings” Christmas CD to help with the goals of the ministry which is transforming impoverished urban neighborhoods into flourishing, healthy communities.
Bill Goss: The Luckiest Unlucky Man
One day navy pilot Bill Goss from Orange Park, Florida says he was flying one of the fastest jets in the world. Just a day later he learned he could be dead from cancer in only six months. What happened over the next few months became the subject of Bill’s popular book, “There’s a Flying Squirrel In My Coffee- Coping With Cancer With The Help of My Pet.”
Goss, now medically retired from the navy, sat down with Donna Green-Townsend to talk about how his flying squirrel, “Rocky,” helped him to survive his greatest battle. (Originally broadcast on WUFT on March 14th, 2003. The documentary won a first place Edward R. Murrow Regional Award from the Radio and Television Digital News Association in 2004 as well as a first place award for documentary from the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters in 2004)
Donna Green-Townsend with Bill Goss and the famous “Rocky”
The one-hour documentary is divided up into 5 segments below:
Pt 1
Pt 2
Pt 3
Pt 4
Pt 5
JFK Assassination among White House Memories of Former Marine Band Members
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.
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
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
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
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.
Here is a video of Peter performing a tribute to the late Doc Watson
“Song Weaver” Amy Carol Webb
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.”
Jacksonmania In Jacksonville (update)
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
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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