• The assisted unit must be owner-occupied, the owner’s primary residence, and located in Alachua County and outside the City of Gainesville.
• Property taxes must be paid current on the unit to be assisted.
• Homeowners must be very low or low income, depending on the funding source.
• Each unit, with the exception of emergency repairs, must meet or exceed the minimum housing code.
• Other requirements may need to be met, depending on the funding source.

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Like many other cities in Florida, High Springs, Alachua and Newberry are growing rapidly in population. While some growth can have negative impacts as far as infrastructure needs and government services, some of the upsides includes more businesses and a diversity of stores and restaurants as new people move to the area.

A new addition to the High Springs culinary scene is thanks to a recent transplant, former pizza chef and truck driver from Philadelphia, who goes by his first name of Bruce. He says that although he always enjoyed cooking, time he spent working as a truck driver and travelling the country gave him abundant opportunities to sample various regional foods, many of which he added to his collection of recipes.

Over time, driving the highways and byways of America and sampling different cuisines served to feed his dream of finding the right location for a restaurant, one that would offer a diverse menu of dishes while maintaining the culinary traditions that diners in the northeast are known for.

According to Blue Star Grill head waitress Jessie Harshberger, after considering several locations, Jim settled in High Springs. “He wanted to create a unique restaurant that reflected the diners he grew up with that are open every day with a diverse menu,” said Harshberger. “He took what recipes he came across in his travels as a trucker and then added some southern cuisine once he relocated here.”

Harshberger said when they opened the Blue Star Grill over a month ago, it was just her, Bruce, and one other server. Since then, they have added more staff for quicker service and to handle what Harshberger describes as “the wonderful response we have had in this short time.”

“He named it the Blue Star Grill, and we saw good crowds from the day we opened, especially with all day breakfast,” said Hashberger. “Other local restaurants that are open for breakfast, shut down their breakfast menus around 10:30 to gear up for lunch, which limits late risers or church goers. Our busiest day is Sunday after church lets out.”

In addition to an extensive all day breakfast menu, the Blue Star Grill also serves lunch and dinner items with a six-page menu, and for stay-at-home folks, they offer take-out orders.

The Blue Star Grill is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is located at 23352 W. U.S. Highway 27, High Springs. Take out orders can be placed at 386-454 1055.

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NEWBERRY ‒ There was a large turnout for the joint City of Newberry Commission meeting with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on July 10 at the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex, a venue that was selected to accommodate the anticipated overflow of citizens. People filled the seats waiting to express their opinions on the proposed meat processing plant.

But prior to discussion of the topic most people were concerned about, Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe opened a lengthy dialog about roads, specifically CR 337.

Marlowe said the City was willing to provide land as part of the Newberry Environmental Park for property the County wanted to use for a rural waste collection center, meat processing facility and a $250,000 fire training tower. In exchange, Marlowe asked the County to move the schedule up on repairs to CR 337 to the date the Environmental Park would be completed in 2026.

County Commissioner Ken Cornell interjected that anticipated funding from the state had fallen through and suggested the meat processing facility be removed from consideration. He said he wanted to hear from Newberry’s residents and commissioners on the topic.

Throughout the meeting there was a tug of war between Cornell, who wanted to discuss the meat processing facility and other environmental projects, and Marlowe, who seemed primarily interested in hearing that the County would move the repairs for CR 337 up to 2026.

At one point Marlowe opened the floor for citizens to comment on their experience with CR 337 and the need for the road to be made safer. Approximately 18 people addressed both Commissions to explain just how dangerous the roadway was and their concerns about safety.

Alachua County Public Works Director Ramon D. Gavarrete addressed plans to improve roads in Alachua County as part of a planned pavement management plan approved by the County Commission. He said that a traffic study had been requested on CR 337 and it should be available in September. He suggested also that a four-way stop and turn lanes would likely remedy the problem with dangerous curves. He estimated the project cost would likely be $9 million.

County Commissioner Mary Alford moved to bump the timeline up on addressing the first segment of CR 337 and instruct City and County staff to work together on creating a funding and timeline solution to present to the commission.

Cornell proposed a substitute motion, which the commission split into two parts. The first part failed, 3-2, so the commission chose not to continue the vote to the second part. Returning to the original timeline, the commission carried Alford’s motion, 3-2.

County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler asked about the possibility of the county purchasing the land from Newberry instead of leasing it. Newberry City Manager Mike New said for logistics purposes of providing utilities, it is best for the land to be leased, but he and Marlowe expressed openness to working out an agreement that was long-term and permanent enough to satisfy the County. New also mentioned that the County indicated they wanted to have the same type of arrangement with the City that they had when they purchased the property for IFAS, which was also leased.

By the time the floor was opened up for comments on the meat processing facility, several of the farmers had left the lengthy meeting, which extended past midnight. Approximately 14 people, many of whom identified themselves as vegans, addressed the remaining commissioners to speak against the meat processing facility. One person mentioned an online petition against the facility and another explained that a survey had been done and citizens didn’t know the facility was even being considered.

The facility was referred to as the “slaughterhouse” and “murder facility.” Comments were made about facility workers experiencing PTSD, becoming aggressive because of their job and tending to be more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Speaking on behalf of approving the meat processing facility was the General Coordinator for the Agricultural Justice Project, Leah Cohen. She said that big agribusiness continues to thrive while small farms and retailers have gone out of business.

A local rancher said that people will continue to eat meat whether the plant is approved or not. He pointed out that currently the cattle have to be shipped to another location to be slaughtered and then shipped back, which ends up costing the consumer quite a bit more because of the shipping costs and prices other meat processing facilities charge.

As the subject of the meat processing facility was not to be decided at this meeting and the meeting had already run past midnight, the meeting was adjourned.

The topic is on the agenda for a BoCC meeting scheduled for the following day in the County Commission chambers.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ Geovani Osner Moreno-Maradiaga, 24, of Honduras, was arrested on Tuesday, July 4, in Hawthorne for driving under the influence and driving without a valid driver’s license.

A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper reported that she saw a white pickup truck weaving into the shoulder multiple times and that the driver was slow to pull over when she activated her lights and siren. The trooper reported that Moreno-Maradiaga initially said he understood English but later said he did not understand her and then handed her his Honduran passport.

A translation assistant was initially used to communicate with Moreno-Maradiaga, but a Spanish-speaking trooper was requested to respond to the scene because of the “poor translation quality over the phone.” When asked why he did not have a driver’s license, Moreno-Maradiaga reportedly said his mother has one, but he only has a passport. He reportedly told the translator over the phone that he wanted the troopers to give him a ticket and let him go home.

The trooper reported that she smelled a faint odor of alcohol from Moreno-Maradiaga’s breath, and a search of the car reportedly produced two cold beers that were open and four more that were unopened and cold to the touch. A warm open beer was reportedly found in the rear passenger door compartment and two empty beer bottles were found in a cooler in the bed of the truck.

Moreno-Maradiaga reportedly said he would only perform field sobriety exercises “if you let me go home” and then refused to perform the exercises, saying he could not do them because he was “messed up.”

Post Miranda, Moreno-Maradiaga reportedly told the Spanish-speaking trooper that “he made the error himself and that he is going to be forced back into his country.” He reportedly said he’d had six beers and that he’d been drinking while driving because it was hot and he was driving from Jacksonville to Tampa to see his brother. Moreno-Maradiaga’s breath tests reportedly gave results of 0.206 and 0.213; the legal limit is 0.08.

Bail was set at $4,000 by Judge Susan Miller-Jones. Moreno-Maradiaga is no longer in the Alachua County Jail.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ James Edward Harkins III, 36, of Hawthorne, was arrested on Sunday, June 11, and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening two store employees with a gun on June 6.

Harkins allegedly asked the two employees, who work for an auto services business in the 2900 block of Northeast 21^st Way, to do something that was a safety concern for the employees and against their employer’s policies.

The employees refused to provide the service, which reportedly caused Harkins to become upset. He reportedly got into his car and drove out of the gates of the business but then walked back through the gates, where the employees told him to stop.

Harkins allegedly reached into his pocket and took out a gun, then racked the slide back and pointed it at the two employees. At that point; both employees retreated and called 911. The employees made a note of Harkins’ tag number as he drove away.

A witness exiting the store as Harkins tried to come back in through the gate corroborated the employees’ story.

Harkins has a juvenile criminal history and three non violent misdemeanor convictions.

Judge Walter Green set bail at $70,000 at first appearance. According to Alachua County Jail records, Harkins has since been released.

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TALLAHASSEE ‒ Beginning Monday, July 24, and running through Sunday, Aug. 6, Florida families can save taxes on clothing, footwear, backpacks, school supplies, personal computers, and more. The traditional tax holiday has expanded this school year to include a second tax-exempt period from January 1 through January 14, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions for Consumers

1. What items will be exempt from sales tax during the 2023 and 2024 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays?
During the 2023 and 2024 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays, certain clothing, footwear, and accessories with a sales price $100 or less per item, certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less, and personal computers and related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use with a sales price of $1,500 or less, are exempt from sales tax. The 2023 tax holiday begins on Monday, July 24, 2023, and ends on Sunday, August 6, 2023; the 2024 tax holiday begins on Monday, January 1, 2024, and ends on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

A list of items that are exempt from tax during the 2023 and 2024 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays is provided in TIP No. 23A01-06. These include:

• Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use having a sales price of $1,500 or less:
o Personal computers* include:
 Electronic book readers
 Laptops
 Desktops
 Handhelds
 Tablets
 Tower computers
* The term does not include cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.
o Personal computer-related accessories* include:
 Keyboards
 Mice
 Personal digital assistants
 Monitors
 Other peripheral devices
 Modems
 Routers
 Nonrecreational software, regardless of whether the accessories are used in association with a personal computer base unit
* The term does not include furniture or systems, devices, software, monitors with a television tuner, or peripherals that are designed or intended primarily for recreational use.

• Items having a sales price of $100 or less per item:
o Wallets or bags*, including
 Handbags
 Backpacks
 Fanny packs
 Diaper bags
* Briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags are excluded.
o Clothing
 Any article of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body, excluding watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, and handkerchiefs
 All footwear, excluding skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates
• School supplies having a sales price of $50 or less per item:
o Pens
o Pencils
o Erasers
o Crayons
o Notebooks
o Notebook filler paper
o Legal pads
o Binders
o Lunch boxes
o Construction paper
o Markers
o Folders
o Poster board
o Composition books
o Poster paper
o Scissors
o Cellophane tape
o Glue or paste
o Rulers
o Computer disks
o Staplers
o Staples used to secure paper products
o Protractors
o Compasses
o Calculators
• Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles having a sales price of $30 or less:
o Flashcards or other learning cards
o Matching or other memory games
o Puzzle books and search-and-find books
o Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills
o Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

Please note: The 2023 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday overlaps with the 2023 Florida Freedom Summer Sales Tax Exemption Period (taking place Monday, May 29, 2023, through Monday, September 4, 2023), which includes tax exemptions on several similar products. During the Florida Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday, the retail sale of various children’s toys and children’s athletic equipment is tax-exempt, as is the first $35 of the sales price of pool toys. See TIP No. 23A01-03 for specific information.

2. If I purchase an item that costs more than the limits stated above, do I only owe sales tax on the portion of the price that exceeds the limit for that item?
If you purchase an item that would otherwise qualify for the sales tax exemption but costs more than the limits listed above, the item is not exempt, and you must pay sales tax on the entire price of the item.

3. Is there a limit on the number of items that can be purchased exempt during the sales tax holiday?
No. The exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not on the number of items purchased.

4. How exactly are learning aids defined?
“Learning aids” are flashcards or other learning cards, matching or other memory games, puzzle books and search-and-find books, interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills, and stacking or nesting blocks or sets. Examples of tax-exempt learning aids are the following items with a sales price of $30 or less per item:

• Electronic books
• Flashcards
• Interactive books
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Learning cards
• Matching games
• Memory games
• Puzzle books
• Search-and-find books
• Stacking or nesting blocks or sets
• Toys that teach reading or math skills

5. What types of items are not exempt?
The 2023 and 2024 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays do not apply to:
• Any item of clothing with a sales price of more than $100;
• Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50;
• Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of more than $30;
• Books that are not otherwise exempt;
• Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500;
• Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes;
• Rentals of any eligible items;
• Repairs or alterations of any eligible items; or
• Sales of any eligible items within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport.

6. If I buy a package or set of items that contains both taxable and tax-exempt items during the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays, how is sales tax calculated?
If a tax-exempt item is sold in a package with a taxable item, sales tax must be calculated on the sales price of the entire package or set.

7. If the store is offering a “buy one, get one free” or “buy one, get one for a reduced price” special on coats and I purchase one for $200 and get another for free, will the transaction be tax-free because I am effectively paying $100 for each pair?
No. The total price of items advertised as “buy one, get one free” or “buy one, get one for a
reduced price” cannot be averaged for both items to qualify for the exemption. In this case, the purchase of the coats is taxable.

8. If I purchase a gift card during the sales tax holiday, can I then purchase a qualifying item tax- exempt using the gift card after the tax holidays end?
No. The purchase of the qualifying item must be made during the sales tax holidays to be tax- exempt. However, when qualifying items are purchased during the tax holidays using a gift card, the items are tax-exempt; it does not matter when the gift card was purchased.

9. If a store issues me a rain check during the sales tax holiday, can I use it after the sales tax holidays to purchase the item tax-exempt?
No. The purchase of the qualifying item must be made during the sales tax holidays to be tax- exempt. When a rain check is issued, a sale has not occurred. The sale occurs when the rain check is redeemed and the item is purchased.

10. If I place an item on layaway, is it eligible for the tax exemption during the sales tax holiday? Yes. A layaway is when an item is set aside for a customer who makes a deposit, agrees to pay the balance of the purchase price over a period of time, and receives the merchandise at the end of the payment period. Qualifying items placed on layaway during the sales tax holidays are tax- exempt, even if final payment of the layaway is made after the tax holidays. If a customer makes a final payment and takes delivery of the items during the tax holiday, the qualifying items are tax- exempt.

11. Do the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays also apply to items I purchase online?
Yes. Items purchased online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during the sales tax holidays for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the tax holidays.

12. I purchased an exempt item during the sales tax holiday period, but the seller charged sales tax. How can I get a refund for the tax I paid?
You should take your receipt to the selling dealer and request a refund of the tax collected in error. If the dealer does not issue the refund, you may report this tax violation to the Department of Revenue.

13. Who is responsible for determining which items are exempt and which aren’t?
The 2023 and 2024 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays are established through the lawmaking authority of the Florida Legislature. Sales tax holidays, and the items exempted by them, must be passed into law by the Legislature.

14. How can I request that a certain type of product be added to the list?
Sales tax holidays, and the items exempted by them, are passed into law by the Florida Legislature. You may wish to contact your local representative regarding your suggestion. You can find your representative at www.myfloridahouse.gov.

15. I didn’t see my question listed here. Where can I find additional information about the 2023 and 2024 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holidays?
If you have a question about a specific item that is not listed in TIP No. 23A01-06, contact the Florida Department of Revenue at (850) 488-6800.

16. I heard there were several sales tax holidays this year. Where can I find more information about the other holidays?
House Bill 7063 from the 2023 regular legislative session was signed into law on May 25, 2023. The new law contains six tax relief holidays and specifies the timeframe for each holiday. For a printable calendar of the tax relief holidays, you can visit our website: Florida Dept. of Revenue - Tax Holidays and Exemption Periods (floridarevenue.com)

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TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), announced the kick-off of “Operation Southern Slow Down,” a joint effort with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the southeastern states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. All five states and local law enforcement agencies will conduct a week-long speed enforcement campaign. FHP will specifically focus on detecting and citing drivers for exceeding the posted speed limits across Florida’s interstate corridors.

“The Florida Highway Patrol will be working with our many dedicated law enforcement partners toward providing highway safety,” said Colonel Gary L. Howze, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol.  “Your FHP Troopers will be on patrol monitoring traffic for hazardous drivers and enforcing traffic laws along Florida’s state highways in support of Operations Southern Slowdown.”

Preliminary data from the FLHSMV shows more than 13296 crashes in 2022 in Florida involving speeding or driving too fast for conditions. Speeding contributed to 10.5 % of all crash fatalities statewide, resulting in more than 368 fatalities.

"When motorists make the decision to engage in dangerous speeds on our roadways, they needlessly place themselves and other road users at risk of deadly outcomes,” said Will N. Watts, Jr., P.E., FDOT Assistant Secretary for Engineering and Operations, and the Florida Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety. “FDOT remains committed to achieving its target of zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, and we are proud to join transportation and law enforcement partners across the state – and our neighboring southern states— in the Operation Southern Slow Down effort. Together, we can help get everyone home safely.” 

As you travel, here are some tips to stay safe on Florida’s roadways this summer:

• Anticipate increased traffic during peak travel periods. Plan ahead and give yourself ample drive time.
• Buckle up and make sure all passengers are buckled up the entire trip.
• Slow down in construction zones. Keep in mind that construction increases during the summer season.
• No matter how eager you are to reach your destination, speeding and driving aggressively is dangerous. Stay patient and give other road users plenty of space.

If you observe aggressive driving, do not engage with the other driver. Dial *FHP (*347) or 911 for local law enforcement.

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TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is sending this notice to all property and casualty insurers authorized to do business in Florida to remind them of upcoming deadlines for the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) Depopulation program.

Companies interested in participating in the Citizens Depopulation program must submit an application to OIR. Insurers interested in requesting policies for a November assumption must apply by July 28, 2023.

OIR is seeing greater participation and interest in the Citizens Depopulation program this year. For additional context, there are currently seven companies participating in the Citizens Depopulation program for 2023 and the number of policies being requested in the first half of 2023 is more than the total number of policies requested in 2022. In 2023, OIR has already approved 91,000 policies for takeout. OIR is anticipating continued growth in participation, with 184,000 policies requested for the October assumption date.

OIR encourages insurers to learn more about the Citizens Depopulation program and apply if interested. Additional information on the Citizens Depopulation program and application process is available below.

Citizens Depopulation Program Overview and Application Process

Takeout, or depopulation, is the program created by the Florida Legislature that was developed to reduce the number of Citizens’ insured properties and exposure. The program, created by section 627.351(6)(q), F.S., allows new and existing insurance companies to assume policies currently covered by Citizens in an attempt to transfer policies back to the private insurance market.

To assume policies from Citizens, private-market insurance companies must submit documentation to OIR verifying they meet OIR standards and have the financial resources and business plan in place to properly pay claims.

If approved, OIR will issue a consent order indicating the number of policies eligible for removal, the assumption date and any additional stipulations.

The requirements for requesting approval to participate in the takeout process is available here. The deadlines for companies to submit a request for approval to participate is available here.

For more information about the takeout process, visit the Depopulation page on Citizens’ website or contact the Citizens Customer Care Center at (888) 685-1555.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance, and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about OIR, please visit www.floir.com or follow on Twitter @FLOIR_comm.

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TALLAHASSEE, FL – On July 12, the Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce) announced that the deadline to apply for funding through the Broadband Opportunity Program has been extended to Friday, July 21, 2023, at 5 p.m., Eastern Time. This extension will allow applicants extra time to make any necessary application adjustments as a result of Governor DeSantis’ recent Capital Projects Fund-Broadband Infrastructure awards, $247 million to fund 63 projects across 43 counties. 

Eligible applicants include corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, Indian Tribes and others. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the ConnectedFlorida map, which identifies project areas submitted in applications and project areas that were awarded grant funding to inform more accurate and effective applications. Eligible applicants have until Friday, July 21, 2023, at 5 p.m., Eastern Time to submit an application.

The Broadband Opportunity Program was created to expand broadband Internet service to unserved areas of this state, which will encourage job creation, capital investment and the strengthening and diversification of local economies. Governor DeSantis previously announced the first round of awards in February totaling more than $144 million for 58 projects in 41 Florida counties, a second round of awards in April totaling more than $22 million for eight projects across eight Florida counties, and a third round of awards in May totaling $60 million for 22 projects in 19 Florida counties. 
 
For more information about the Broadband Opportunity Program, the application webinar and how to apply, please visit the Broadband Opportunity Program webpage.

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LAKE CITY, Fla.  – For the third year in a row, Ellianos Coffee is one of just 30 franchise companies to be named an award-winning franchise by Franchise Business Review in its 2023 report on the Top Food and Beverage Franchises.

Ellianos Coffee is a double-sided coffee franchise founded on the principles of quality, speed, and consistency. Founders Scott and Pam Stewart have dedicated their lives to this mission, developing systems and strategies to satisfy the consumer and franchisee alike. One such system is the proven, efficient double-sided drive-thru. This design provides consumers with speedy, convenient service while offering high-quality coffee and allows the franchisee to maximize sales. Ellianos Coffee is a rapidly growing brand with territory availability in states across the southeast United States.

Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent satisfaction research in the franchise sector, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes rankings of the top franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as special interest reports throughout the year recognizing the top franchises in specific sectors.

To select the companies on this year’s list of top food franchises, Franchise Business Review analyzed 18 months’ worth of data from over 10,500 franchise owners in the food sector regarding their overall satisfaction with their brands and their likelihood to recommend them to others.

Ellianos Coffee franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems including training & support, operations, leadership, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.

“The food franchise sector is historically one of the toughest, but delivers a tremendous return on investment for many,” said Eric Stites, CEO of Franchise Business Review. “The key is to choose the right brand. When you look at the data, the award-winning brands that we identified as the Top Food Franchises outrank their competitors in owner satisfaction and provide a higher return on investment to their franchisees. Ninety-one percent say they enjoy being part of their franchise organization, and 4 out of 5 owners would recommend their franchise to others. That’s an extremely important consideration for anyone considering investing in a food franchise.” 

Scott Stewart, President and Founder of Ellianos commented on this recognition: “We are truly honored to have once again made the Top Food Franchise list. Our franchisees’ satisfaction is beyond important to us, and we are excited to continue to grow the brand, while sticking to our family-focused franchise model that supports and values each member of our team.”

Visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com to learn more about the 2023 Top Food & Beverage Franchises.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Angela Howard was not expected to live past childhood. Diagnosed with sickle cell disease at age 2, her doctors and nurses predicted the painful disease would kill her by age 18. Now 52, Howard has dedicated her life to educating the public about the stigma and misunderstanding associated with sickle cell disease.

She is not alone in this fight. A new commission report from  The Lancet Haematology outlines the global burden caused by sickle cell disease and identifies the need for important governmental commitments and investments. It also offers health care-related and education recommendations experts say would improve outcomes for those living with the blood disorder, which mainly occurs in the Black population.

University of Florida College of Nursing researcher Diana Wilkie, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, the Prairieview Trust - Earl and Margo Powers Endowed Professor, is a co-author of the commission report, published July 11. The commission includes 33 co-authors comprising experts in sickle cell disease, as well as patients and activists from around the world.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that changes red blood cells into a C shape. People with sickle cell disease report being stigmatized due to their race and because they may be seen as drug seekers or addicts when they pursue medications to control pain.

The commission reports that sickle cell disease is one of the most common severe inherited diseases in the world, and 95% of people diagnosed with it live in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and India. Although diagnosis is inconsistent, as many as 8 million people worldwide are estimated to have sickle cell disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 Americans are living with the condition, which occurs in about 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births.

Wilkie — an expert on sickle cell disease, health disparities and palliative care — was most involved in the education portion of the commission report. She said it is crucial for health care professionals, the public and individuals with sickle cell disease to understand its severity and how it can be better managed.

“It is critical for individuals with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait to understand the genetic inheritance of the disease and to know about reproductive options that will allow them, if it is their wish, to avoid their child being born with sickle cell disease,” Wilkie said. “On the other hand, it is just as important for health care workers to believe people who say they are in pain and to give them appropriate therapies to control it. We need a workforce educated about sickle cell disease and committed to eliminating the stigma and health disparities of this disease.”

The Lancet Haematology Commission’s report calls for the global standardization of collecting routine epidemiological data by the year 2025 and, further, for countries to be held accountable for public health intervention measures and progress. Most people with sickle cell disease are not properly diagnosed until the onset of symptoms. Conducting mandatory newborn screenings would allow for treatment to be provided before symptoms develop.

Another recommendation involves the accessibility of effective treatment and further development of innovative treatment methods. Penicillin, the drug hydroxyurea and blood transfusions are all effective but are not available in low-income countries where sickle cell disease is prevalent. The commission implores governments to give people access to a minimum standard of health care regardless of where they live. Additionally, access to innovative treatments, like stem-cell transplantation and gene therapies, should be expanded and studies accelerated to provide safe, accessible and affordable cures globally by the year 2040.

Howard, the president of the Sickle Cell Association of North Central Florida, is a citizen scientist who encourages her community to participate in UF Health research projects to advance expertise and understanding of sickle cell disease. She also volunteers as a guest speaker for UF medical students, sharing her experience with the disease.

“When I was a child, they didn’t really know much about sickle cell,” Howard said. “It was considered an orphan disease. I’ve lived to be an adult, but I think a lot of that has to do with me becoming educated about my disease and learning the things that trigger a crisis. I’ve learned to eat healthier, stay hydrated, exercise and avoid stress.”

For furthering education, Wilkie points to the current work taking place at the College of Nursing, including her own CHOICES project — a web-based educational tool that helps young adults understand sickle cell disease and prevent it from being inherited — and self-management interventions from associate professor Miriam Ezenwa, Ph.D., M.S.N, R.N., FAAN, that help improve pain management.

“The work being done at the College of Nursing is an important piece to contributing to the elimination of health disparities and promoting health equity,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie said it is important to advance innovative treatments, but she is also a proponent of using palliative care principles to manage the disease and symptoms.

“This vulnerable population deserves better care than they have been receiving,” Wilkie said. “We have made progress over the years, but we still have a long way to go. I am very honored to be a part of this group of international scholars who are committed to improving the lives of people living with sickle cell disease.”

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Today, we pause in reverence to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his unyielding courage in the face of adversity, his boundless love in the face of hate, and his servant leadership in the face of supremacy. This great American not only chartered a new course in the fight for civil rights, he also illustrated how we should boldly advocate for our causes while exhibiting grace and humility. 

As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, the Alachua County Labor Coalition typically avoids weighing in on electoral contests. And we never endorse political candidates. But a recent dark-money mailer attacking one of our dedicated activists who is running for office and two of our signature policies he worked on requires us to speak up.

Residents of Gainesville Commission District 2 recently opened their mailboxes to find a cowardly postcard attacking Commission candidate James Ingle. It was paid for by the so-called Responsible Leadership Committee, Inc.—a dark money PAC. Two of three false claims made in the mailing are that Ingle “worked to limit our private property rights” and “fought for more government control over our wages.” These are references to the Alachua County Renters’ Rights and Wage Theft ordinances, respectively.

The Renters’ Rights ordinance does not limit private property rights any more than do laws prohibiting retail shops on your neighborhood cul-de-sacs or rats in restaurants. The reality is that the ordinance offers three simple, commonsense protections for Alachua County’s tenants. First, it requires universal inspections of rental properties. This merely ensures that landlords are adhering to the rules and regulations of the building code that ALREADY EXIST. Without universal inspections, tenants are forced to choose between blowing the whistle on hazardous living conditions or risking retaliation from a minority of bad landlords. Second, it requires landlords to inform tenants of the rights they ALREADY HAVE. Why should landlords be afraid of their renters knowing the law? Third, it sets reasonable water and energy efficiency standards for rental properties. These are necessary to lower utility costs for renters, reduce greenhouse emissions that cause climate change, and protect our aquifer. Why landlords would want to deplete our aquifer, unnecessarily spew harmful emissions into the air, and subject their tenants to unaffordable utility bills is beyond our understanding. But the bottom line is this: the landlord-tenant relationship is a business relationship, not a relationship between a landholder and their serf, and it should be regulated as such.

Describing the Wage Theft ordinance as “government control over our wages” is possibly more bizarre. This ordinance merely provides an avenue for workers to ensure the contracts between them and their employers are enforced—an avenue much cheaper than seeking recourse in the courts. The ordinance does not limit how much an employer can pay their workers, which is what I presume the mailer attempts to falsely imply. What’s more, the program has been a smashing success! Since, 2014, the ordinance has allowed the Office of Equal Opportunity to win back over $100,000 of unpaid wages for 152 workers.

It should be clear by now that the folks over at the so-called Responsible Leadership Committee, Inc. are not trying to protect your freedoms. They are promoting serfdom!

Lastly, the mailer asserts that James Ingle’s leadership has “failed us.” While we cannot endorse James or any other candidate (and this letter is not an endorsement), readers should know this is as big of a lie as any other in the mailer. James Ingle has been a great leader in the Alachua County Labor Coalition, the AFL-CIO, and his own union—International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1205. In fact, the basic protections afforded to tenants in Alachua County and the over $100,000 returned to workers would not be possible without him. We thank him for his leadership on these issues. Perhaps the best description for James is, in fact, responsible leader.

Bobby Mermer, Gainesville, Florida, PhD, ACLC Coordinator

It’s high time the local business owners speak up. I am a small business owner in High Springs for seven years now, and before that, helped run the High Springs Art Coop for six years. As we all know, our area is growing at a crazy rate. People have discovered our area for the treasure it is, as we all have at one point, so we have to learn to accept change in a reasonable way. The key word is reasonable.

Landlord greed with unreasonable rents kills business, most of all small business. Even big business suffers. I remember a story before Covid of the famous Barney’s of NYC, an icon for years that closed because the owners of their building raised the rent. They were already paying a million dollars a month!

Locally, look how the lovely town of Alachua went from being a vibrant historic downtown that we in High Springs envied and now it struggles to make it. Why? I feel it is because of large land owners who own the majority of real estate. They get renters in the first year at a low rate and after a year jack up the rent. I was told by a previous store owner than they over charge for utilities, too. These small places can barely make $1,000 to $1,500 a month total and most don’t bring in a monthly salary for themselves. How are they going to pay over $2,000 a month rent? Shame on what has happened in that lovely town.

Micanopy is another depressed town because of unreasonable people and then just look at downtown Gainesville. I wonder how long all those huge apartment houses will sit empty because of the humongous rents they are charging.

We can still save High Springs. We can make it a model historic small-town success. Here we have a few local hero landowners who are logical, honest and smart business owners. They charge rents that these small businesses can sustain.

The Barber and Grady families in our town are a blessing to all who rent from them—unlike some of the newbies who have bought up some of our buildings. The newbies’ unrealistic expectations can kill small businesses, or no one will pay such high rents, so their structures remain empty.

For example, in downtown High Springs there is the corner spot where River Run Olive Oil sat. It is a prime location, and here it is another year that it sits empty. The original owners sold because they wished to retire.

Across the street from me is the largest group of modern local store spaces. There was a quilt store there for a bit, but she couldn’t sustain the high rent. The same with rentals on the other side of her, the buildings have sat empty for years now. The owner is from Miami and thinks she is going to get Miami prices. All of these are prime real estate, front and center on Main Street and empty.

The main inspiration to this letter is The Florida Springs Institute. It is our local nonprofit, which does so much good protecting and bringing awareness to our local waters. I understand they are being kicked out of their corner space by their landlord. I heard they weren’t even given the offer to stay at a higher rate. The landlord is going to put someone in there at a huge increase in rent.

Although the landlord professes to support the springs, it seems that is the bottom line is taking precedence. We will see if the “new” business can sustain the ridiculously high rent or will downtown have another empty store front?

I had to say something and bring attention to this issue, even though I don’t think there is much we can do. The town is at the mercy of landowners who decide the bottom line. We can only hope and pray that our little town of High Springs continues to grow with sweet businesses that add to our charm with newbies coming who want to add to our world.

We are not against “reasonable” change. We welcome new and younger people looking to share in our small-town dream. Younger entrepreneurs bring vitality and freshness. We are just asking new and old landlords to keep it real and not let the over inflated prices for everything else invade common sense business practices. We expect you to make “reasonable” incomes, just not overpriced ones.

The future is determined right now. We either jack up rents, run the little charming business out and we get replaced by offices, empty stores and decay, or we support the small-town flair, encouraging the entrepreneur and make a small local business possible for everyone.

Remember that a store that sits empty for years produces zero rent. The more spaces that are filled, the better it is for all businesses.

Tina Corbett

High Springs, Florida

It is a great honor to serve High Springs as your new Postmaster. In my years with the United States Postal Service, I have seen firsthand the role the Postal Service plays connecting neighbors and our community to the nation.

Our Post Offices serve as a lifeline for our small businesses to reach customers no matter where they are. Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s leadership and Delivering For America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan, we are maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and expanded seven-day package delivery, stabilizing our workforce, and spurring innovation to meet the needs of our modern customers.

Just as the Postal Service continues to provide a vital service for our nation, the staff of the High Springs Post Office will proudly continue that same public service in this community.

On behalf of the 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, I thank you for continuing to support the Postal Service. Providing reliable mail delivery while strengthening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to you.

Angel Cruz

Postmaster High Springs, FL 32643-9998

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As a volunteer and advocate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, this month I am asking everyone to join us and demand #MoreForMentalHealth.

I am doing more by calling on my legislators at the federal and state levels to support legislation that will fund the implementation of 988 and the suicide and mental health crisis system across our nation, particularly for those in underserved communities.

Currently, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255 and de-escalates the crises of tens of thousands of callers each day. On July 16, those in distress and those that support them will be able to reach the Lifeline through a simple 3-digit number: 988.

By making the Lifeline more accessible through this shorter number, calls, texts, and chats to the Lifeline's network of crisis call centers are expected to increase. It is vital that the federal government work with states to ensure callers in distress will have: 1) someone to call, 2) someone to come help, and 3) somewhere safe to go.

We must act NOW to secure funding to equip call centers and community crisis response services throughout the country with the staff and resources to respond to everyone in crisis.

Join me this month in urging our federal and state public officials to do #MoreForMentalHealth. You can start by visiting moreformentalhealth.org.

Together, we can help #StopSuicide.

Peggy Portwine

Alachua, Florida

“I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” These words are as moving today as when first spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the passionate and influential civil rights leader who stood as a “pillar of hope and a model of grace” in his fight towards equality for all.

On January 17, we will reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, who, with his brave supporters, stood in strong opposition to racial discrimination, as well as the wrongful and unequal treatment of people who differed in national origin and religious beliefs.

The State of Florida continues to carry Dr. King’s legacy forward, committed to ending discrimination and ensuring all within our state have fair and equal access to employment and housing - because every person deserves to live the American Dream. The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) was established in 1969 to enforce the Florida Civil Rights Act and address discrimination through education, outreach, and partnership. Annually, the FCHR recognizes and honors Floridians who advance civil rights throughout the state in the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

As we take this time to honor Dr. King, let us consider how we can improve our own communities. Everyone should have the opportunity to live the American Dream. Dr. King paved the way for our society to embrace equality, and it is our job as Americans and Floridians to ensure the civil rights of all people.

Angela Primiano, Vice-Chair

Florida Commission on Human Relations

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