PrimeTime Institute (PTI) provides a wide variety of educational programs for people age 50+ that foster wellness, encourage personal and intellectual growth, and that provide an environment for developing new interests, making new friends, and becoming involved as volunteers.

PTI is a program of ElderCare of Alachua County, a non-profit organization providing various services for seniors such as Meals-on-Wheels, Alz Place, etc.  All PTI programs and activities are planned and presented entirely by volunteer members and speakers, with expenses supported by optional memberships and donations.  Additional information about PTI, including program updates, is available at our website www.primetimeinstitute.org or by contacting Susan Williams at 352-214-6219.

We appreciate the speakers who provide free programs for our seniors; however, please understand that PTI does not endorse any company, product, or service.

We continue with HYBRID programs — the speaker in-person at the Senior Recreation Center, along with attendees willing to gather there, and a simultaneous online webinar option through Zoom.  We have learned that many people are able to participate online who are unable to come to the Center for a variety of reasons.  Watch for Sunday messages each week to learn of any changes in that week’s Thursday program.

TIME: Unless otherwise noted, programs will be on Thursdays from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Dec. 11th, Mount Everest Climb  Dr. Anand Rangarajan, Professor in the UF Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, will talk about his training and successful climb to the Mt. Everest Base Camp in May & June of this year. He was one of 10 participants led by Sherrilene Classen of Gainesville Health and Fitness. Learn about the rigorous pre-hike training, climbing and descending Mt. Everest in Nepal.

Dec. 18th,    Wildlife, Invasives, and Infrastructure: Linking Urban and Natural Ecosystems  Our environment is constantly changing, and many of those changes are linked to how people shape the land.  Alan Ivory is a Ph.D. student in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences at the University of Florida.  He will share how both invasive plants and city infrastructure influence the way wildlife lives and moves.

Dec. 25th,    NO program  observing Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Jan. 1st – NO program – Happy New Year!

Jan. 8th, You Can "Dig” This!  Jen Green, Collections Manager of South Florida Archeology and Ethnography and Cristina Oliveria, PhD student, will be presenting their current and past research on Animals and Archaeology at Jupiter Inlet, Florida

Jan. 15th, Understanding Stroke: What You Need to Know  Review of stroke risk factors, types of stroke, recognizing signs and symptoms of stroke, stroke treatments.  UF Health Shands Comprehensive Stroke Center Program Coordinators Jeannette Hester MSN, RN, CCRN and Ashley Magnuson BSN, RN, CCRN will provide this vital information.  Nicolle Davis, PhD, RN, Director of the UF Health Mobile Stroke Program will talk about their Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU), which will be outside for our viewing if available.

Jan. 22nd, Spiders Can Be Charming!  How to charm a cannibalistic mate: insights from colorful courtship in Jumping Spiders - Lisa Taylor, PhD Behavioral Ecologist in the Entomology and Nematology Dept at UF will present her research and show us these beautiful spiders and how they evolved to have so many colors.

Jan. 29th, Cultural Sites of North Florida: Cultural Sites of Florida, A Backroads Guide to Small Museums and Other Local Treasures highlights 43 intriguing, little-known destinations in the northern part of the Florida peninsula that reflect the stories and communities of the region and show what makes this area of the state unique.  Co-authors Ronnie Lovler and Dixie Neilson will discuss their book published this year.

Recent Events

 
Strolling to the River Sink

Outing to O'Leno State Park
 

Located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, the park features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps, and sandhills.  As the river courses through the park, it disappears underground and reemerges over three miles away in the River Rise State Preserve.  One of Florida's first state parks, O'Leno was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.  The suspension bridge built by the CCC still spans the river.  During our visit, park staff gave a fascinating presentation on the exploration of the underground portion of the Santa Fe.