ALACHUA—Beaker & Flask Fine Wine and Craft Cocktails, North Central Florida’s newest destination for wine enthusiasts, is delighted to announce the launch of its Wine Academy in partnership with the Society of Wine Educators. This alliance is set to lead wine education in the region by introducing cutting-edge blind-tasting courses, wine-tasting classes, and certifications that provide enthusiasts and professionals an exceptional opportunity to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of wine.

Beaker & Flask's Wine Academy is a significant addition to the state's educational landscape, as it is one of only three wine academies in Florida. This distinction reflects the academy's commitment to elevating the wine education experience and further solidifies its position as a premier destination for wine enthusiasts.

"Our goal is to create an educational platform that doesn't just convey knowledge but fosters a profound connection with the intricacies of winemaking, service, pairing, and tasting,” said Beverage Director and Operations Partner Melody Wilson.

The Beaker & Flask Wine Academy will break new ground with its exclusive curriculum, designed to encompass various topics, including the art of blind deductive tasting, wine theory, and service. From mastering the art of sensory evaluation to identifying complex aromas and flavors, participants will be guided through an immersive experience led by sommeliers, accomplished winemakers, and industry veterans.

“The establishment of Beaker & Flask's Wine Academy is not just about education; it's about building a community of best and next practices in the world of wine," said Elliott Welker, Founder of Beaker & Flask and Certified Specialist of Wine.

This partnership with the Society of Wine Educators ensures that the Wine Academy's curriculum aligns with the highest standards of wine education. As a globally recognized authority in advancing wine knowledge, the Society of Wine Educators brings a wealth of experience and credibility to this collaboration.

"We are thrilled to join forces with Beaker & Flask to establish a destination for preeminent wine education," said Ben Coffelt of the Society of Wine Educators.

Enrollment for the inaugural sessions at Beaker & Flask’s Wine Academy has commenced. For detailed information on course offerings, academy faculty, and registration details, prospective students are encouraged to visit Beaker & Flask’s website at www.BeakerAndFlaskWineBar.com.

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ALACHUA ‒ San Felasco Tech City (SFTC) will soon be bringing arts and culture into the heart of the innovative development.

San Felasco Tech City Co-developers Mitch Glaeser and Rich Blaser of San Felasco Tech City (SFTC) have announced that Momentum Dance Arts, LLC, will establish a 7,250 square foot dance school and studio in the Alachua location. Momentum Dance Arts (MDA) will occupy space in the newly completed Phase II of the Tech City development and open their new location at SFTC in January 2024.

According to MDA, their mission is to foster a lifetime of love for dance and fitness under the guidance of passionate, dedicated dance instructors who have trained extensively with the world’s top educators, mentors, and teachers. MDA offer a wide variety of dance and fitness classes that allow children to explore the art of dance and find their own path.

"Momentum Dance Arts opened in 2016 in Alachua,” said MDA owner Jamie Perez. “After almost eight years here, it was one of the best decisions we ever made. 

“We love this city and as our programs continue to grow, we are so excited to grow our facility and have the opportunity to stay in Alachua for years to come.

“We are really looking forward to relocating to Tech City January 2024. The energy and innovation surrounding this community is exactly what we were looking for.  As a creative company with a focus on the performing arts serving ages 2 to adult, we invite everyone to give their child the gift of dance and join us at our new state of the art new facility here at Tech City.”

Perez added, “We can’t wait to get here and start getting our tutus on.”

Mitch Glaeser, CEO, Emory Group Companies (Owner of San Felasco Tech City) says that adding a performing arts company as a tenant like Momentum Dance Arts, meets their goal and commitment to integrating art in many forms at San Felasco Tech City.

Dan Drotos Senior Vice President, Colliers, who represented San Felasco Tech City in the transaction, said “Tech City caters to a wide variety of individual needs and interests and MDA will provide yet another wonderful service for the residents and visitors of Tech City and the region.

“We are excited to facilitate Momentum Dance Arts to join the ever-growing list of innovative companies that have decided to call Tech City Home.”

According to Tech City officials, Momentum Dance Arts, LLC will be joining over 50 innovative companies that call SFTC home, including Vobile Inc., Okito America, Neurotronics, Anamar Environmental Consulting, Inc., TIMCO Engineering, Nextgen Biologics, Fracture, Novapproach Spine, Daft Cow Brewery, and Beaker & Flask among others.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ A new facility at Santa Fe College will soon help address the severe state-wide shortage in welding and HVAC certified skilled labor. Shovels were raised and dirt was flying as the College held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday, Sept. 11 for the Ralph W. Cellon Jr. Institute for Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing.

Construction on the facility is expected to begin next year with a projected opening of fall 2025. The institute will be built on SF’s Northwest Campus located at 3000 N.W. 83^rd Street across the street from the SF Gymnasium. It will more than double the college's capacity in the Welding and HVAC programs and the college will also begin a new degree program in Advanced Manufacturing.

The event was well attended by the Florida Legislature with State Senator Keith Perry, State Representative Chuck Clemons and State Representative Bobby Payne attending. Many members of the Cellon family, Santa Fe’s District Board of Trustees, Santa Fe’s Foundation Board members and other dignitaries were in attendance as well.

The facility is being named in honor of Ralph W. Cellon, a longtime supporter of the college. Cellon has been a central figure throughout the college’s history. He helped lead the effort to secure the land where the college’s Northwest Campus is located, served as an inaugural trustee on the college’s District Board of Trustees, and has continuously served for 54 years on the Board of the Santa Fe College Foundation.

“Ralph Cellon has been integral to the growth of Santa Fe College since its inception and it is fitting that this new facility be named in his honor,” Santa Fe President Paul Broadie II said. “He knows the power of a college education, and the need for highly skilled workers in the trades. As demand continues to grow in these industries, students graduating from our programs will be able to enter their career field knowing that they have been trained utilizing the latest technology and are poised for success.”

The new facility will increase space needed for students in SF’s Welding and HVAC programs. When the facility opens, the increased space will enable the college to see a 275 percent increase in the number of students that can be trained in HVAC and Welding.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Salary talks dominated the Newberry City Commission meeting on Sept. 6 as a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion ensued between the Commission and City Manager Mike New regarding employee compensation. Although all the Commissioners expressed concern about the economics facing the City of Newberry in the coming year, Commissioner Monty Farnsworth expressed the most trepidation about proposed employee compensation amounts.

Recently, six City employees successfully graduated from a two-year nationally-recognized Certified Public Manager (CPM) program at Florida State University's Center for Public Management. A seven percent raise was given to those six employees, and a two-percent cost of living raise was proposed across the board for all employees in the upcoming year’s budget plus an additional small merit increase was proposed based on performance evaluations by supervisors.

Farnsworth expressed concern about adding the cost of living and merit increased on those six employees who earned the seven percent increase due to their achievements in the CPM program. Commissioner Tim Marden also expressed reservations about the upcoming year’s financial situation and what the City can afford.

Commissioner Rick Coleman said that although he’d like to see all the employees get a 15 percent increase, he knew that was not possible. He agreed with the seven percent increase, but not for more than that for those six employees.

Coleman also said he would like to see the City Manager get an increase this year. In past years he has given up his salary increases so the employees could get increases. Lee said that whatever the COLA amount is set by the Commission and the percent of increases, New would get those increases as well.

A question about how the seven percent was determined led to Lee explaining that the City has a policy of salary increases for additional training and education.

A comment was made that the budget included the proposed salary increases while also proposing a millage decrease over the previous year’s millage rate.

In answer to a question by Commissioner Tony Mazon, Lee explained that financial reserves for the City nine years ago was $64 and the current reserve amount is $3.8 million. Mazon said the reserve amount indicates that the City Manager and staff have done a good job and he thought that if the increases were within the salary range for those positions, he didn’t understand why the Commission should question the city manager’s decision.

New said that the employees who participated in the CPM program began the program two years ago with the expectation that they would receive a pay bump for successfully completing the program and that several other employees also have benefitted from the Educational Incentive Program at the City.

New said if the Commission wishes to change the program, that can be done, but not for employees who have dedicated two years to completing a lengthy and time-consuming course while also maintaining their workload at the City. New considered this an eleventh-hour change and indicates to those staff members, “We were only kidding,” when this program was instituted.

New added that if the Commission decides not to provide cost of living or merit increases to those who participated in the CPM program, what the City is saying is “Well, you guys got an increase for going to class so the increases we were planning for all of your teammates, you are not eligible to receive.” He also mentioned that the salary study the City recently received indicated that at least four of the senior staff members were underpaid.

“If [the Commission] were to tell us at the beginning of the budget season that you think senior staff should make a lower percentage increase than our lower paid staff, we’re going to put that in the budget and it’s going to get approved by the Commission, gleefully with staff support,” said New. “But when we go to the eleventh hour after the people took the class, received their pay increase and get to the end [of the budget process] with a balanced budget that has a millage rate reduction and includes every project the Commission asked for, I believe it’s inappropriate to change the incentive program for those employees at this point.”

As Commissioner Mark Clark was not in attendance at this meeting, the discussion was postponed to second reading of the budget at the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 25 to allow all Commissioners to weigh in on the discussion.

Two other items relating to the budget were briefly discussed. The Commission indicated they wanted to remove the $75,000 wage study from the budget and the cemetery fence, which also would cost $75,000. The $75,000 was to adjust employee salaries that were determined to be under market from the results of the recently completed wage study.

Asked about how much this might lower the millage rate, if approved, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Dallas Lee calculated 0.214 mills. He also pointed out that if those expenditures were removed on second reading, the money could go toward a stormwater assessment or $35,000 for downtown.

A final determination of these items will be address at the Sept. 25 meeting.

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission on Aug. 24 gave approved on first reading to a zoning change requested by Josh Blackford of Turnsole Builders, LLC. The 2.39 +/- acres property is located south of U.S. Highway 441 and west of Memorial Park, and will be rezoned from R-1 (Residential) to C-3 (Commercial).

The property is anticipated to be used as a multi-storage facility. Concerns about the proximity of the site to the City’s three wells were raised, but those issues were quelled by a map that showed the distance of the property to the wells.

In other property action, the site plan for LifeSpring Church was also approved for the construction of a church on 11.71 +/- acres of land located at the unassigned address within the 15,000 block of Northwest State Road 45 (US Highway 41/27). The property is currently zoned R-1A, which allows for places of worship by right. City Manager Ashley Stathatos reported that “The site plan meets or exceeds all City regulations.”

Commissioner Katherine Weitz recused herself from voting on this issue, which passed in a 4-0 vote.

The property’s neighbor, Andrew Weitz, expressed concern about what appeared to be a sidewalk close to the next property, but was told that what he was seeing on the map was an underground utility easement which seemed to resolve the concern.

Vice-Mayor Ross Ambrose said the only thing he would like to see added to the plan was Dark Sky lighting, but he was reassured that there would be very little bright lighting on the property.

In other business, the Commission approved two related agreements related to foreclosure properties. The Commission approved an agreement for online foreclosure property registration services with HERA Property Registry, LLC of Melbourne, Florida, provides for monitoring of mortgage defaults, registration fee collections and late fee/penalty collections. Currently, the City has 28 properties in active foreclosure.

Previously, this service was provided to the City by Property Registration Champions, which is now out of business.

HERA will retain $100 of each registration fee collected and thirty-three percent of late fees. The city attorney recommended that approval of the agreement be contingent on several legal clauses, which were made part of the motion to approve.

The Commission also approved a related agreement for professional services with Break Point Law, LLC to provide property enforcement services for recovery of outstanding foreclosure property registration fees and associated fines and penalties that are over 30 days past due. This will include preparing all necessary municipal lien documents, witness statements/affidavits, invoice statements and/or other necessary documentation to enforce municipal lien/debts.

As part of this agreement, Break Point will retain 33 percent of all fines and penalties recovered on behalf of the City and will remit their fees to HERA Property Registry, LLC. HERA will remit to High Springs’ its portion of the fees in accordance with their contract with HERA.

Break Point, HERA and High Springs each agree to withdraw from these agreements at any time upon 60 days written notice to the other parties.

In other business, the Commission unanimously amended the Mayor’s Youth Council Ordinance to modify the number of Board Members from seven to five and to allow the two alternative Board members to vote. This measure also sets Board member terms to begin and expire in November of each year.

Addressing s variety of issues that had been raised, Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham said that the property next to Memorial Park will be kept up in the future. He also said, in response to an earlier question, that all three of the City’s water wells were drilled to the same depth.

In response to a question about opting out of the City’s trash ordinance, Gillingham said City staff had looked into it, but there didn’t seem to be any way for an opt-out clause. He added that signs identifying appropriate truck routes were being created and would be posted as soon as they arrive.

Commissioner Byran Williams asked the City Attorney to look into the possibility of posting a sign requiring visitors to City Hall must wear a shirt and shoes to be admitted.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14.

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~17,145 fatal doses of Fentanyl recovered~

ORLANDO, Fla.- Last week, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers from the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI), arrested four individuals in Orange County, FL, following an investigation that resulted in the seizure of Heroin (10.28 grams), Cocaine (6.4 grams) and 34.29 grams of Fentanyl-equivalent to 17,145 fatal doses.

On September 14, 2023, while on patrol in the early hours, FHP CIU observed a grey Kia driving in a residential area without headlights, failing to yield to a stop sign at an intersection. After conducting a traffic stop, troopers discovered the driver, Michael Ramos, 27, of Orlando, had a suspended license, and the passenger, Reina Mary Mora, 28, of Orlando, inadvertently exposed contraband within her purse when providing her ID to troopers.

Following a K-9 deployment, troopers were alerted to the further presence of narcotics within the vehicle, which, upon recovery, was discovered to be a white powdery substance that tested positive for Fentanyl.

Before transporting Ramos and Mora to the Orange County Detention Center, troopers received information leading them to a known Fentanyl dealer in Orlando. After arranging to meet the individual to order additional narcotics to sell, Ramos and FHP CIU members drove north of the original traffic stop to meet with the dealer.

Upon arrival, FHP identified Jose Luis Colon Melendez, 37, of Orlando, and Josue Joel Gomez, 40, of Longwood, wearing orange and yellow construction vests, driving without headlights. FHP conducted a traffic stop, and a K-9 alerted to narcotics in the vehicle. Before being transported to the Orange County Detention Center, Melendez agreed to speak with law enforcement and provided consent to enter his apartment and turn over all his narcotics to troopers.

The individuals arrested in connection to this investigation and the charges are as follows:

Reina Mary Mora

• Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription
• Felony Drug Paraphernalia

Michael Ramos

• Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription
• Felony Drug Paraphernalia

Jose Luis Colon Melendez

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
• Possession of Heroin with intent to sell
• Possession of Cocaine with intent to sell
• Possession of Fentanyl with intent to sell
• Felony drug Paraphernalia

Josue Joel Gomez

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
• Possession of Heroin with intent to sell
• Possession of Cocaine with intent to sell
• Possession of Fentanyl with intent to sell
• Felony drug Paraphernalia

After transport to Orange County Detention Center, upon fingerprinting Melendez, it was discovered that he had an active warrant out of Pennsylvania for a parole violation related to the sale of Heroin; he had absconded from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections since 2015. This investigation remains active, and additional charges are pending.

Total Recovered:

• Fentanyl 34.29 grams
• Heroin 10.28 grams
• Cocaine 6.4 grams

Individuals actively viewing a crime or criminal activity should dial *FHP (*347) or 911. If you have information or would like to provide an anonymous tip about a crime or about criminal activity from anywhere in the state dial **TIPS (8477). Dialing **TIPS from any cellphone will automatically route the caller to the Crime Stoppers office in the region where the call is generated.

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Major Interstate 75 (I-75) and U.S. 301 Projects Ready to Start Construction in 2025

 OCALA, FL– Today, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced important updates on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, including expected construction timelines for the following projects: I-75 from State Road 44 to State Road 326 in Ocala and U.S. 301 from County Road 470 to Florida’s Turnpike.

Proposed to the Legislature in January 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative will accelerate priority infrastructure projects across the state through an investment of $4 Billion from the General Revenue Surplus starting in the 2023-2024 budget year. These projects are slated to address congestion, improve safety, ensure a resilient transportation system, enhance the supply chain and economic growth, and address future needs as the state continues to experience rapid growth.

“Accelerated timelines for projects included in the Moving Florida Forward Initiative will help alleviate congestion on our roadways much sooner as our state’s population continues to grow exponentially,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “With Governor DeSantis’ bold vision and backing from the Legislature, FDOT and our partners stand poised and ready to begin these projects within the next four years to bring the relief that communities have been asking for.”

“I-75 is a critical route for our state, for tourists visiting Florida, and for the freight industry serving our businesses and residents,” said Lt. Patrick Riordan, Florida Highway Patrol Troop B Public Affairs Officer. “Data shows at least one lane of I-75 is closed every 16 hours due to crashes, and the addition of these auxiliary lanes will help with traffic congestion and make the interstate safer, not only for our FHP members but all road users.”

Interstate 75 (I-75) from State Road (S.R.) 44 to S.R. 326: This project involves adding auxiliary lanes to I-75 in each direction between S.R. 44 and S.R. 326. It will include interchange modifications and right-of-way acquisition for future widening. Construction starts in Spring 2025.

U.S. 301 from County Road (C.R.) 470 to Florida’s Turnpike: The project will reconstruct U.S. 301 from C.R. 470 to Florida’s Turnpike between the cities of Sumterville and Wildwood to increase the roadway capacity, respond to future travel demand, improve overall safety, and accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. The project includes realigning the roadway around the City of Coleman to avoid impacts to the City’s downtown businesses. Construction starts in Fall 2025.

“The 31 miles of new auxiliary lanes will be a positive step toward improving mobility and safety on I-75 through Marion and Sumter counties,” said FDOT District Five Secretary John Tyler. “While Moving Florida Forward provides projects on major interstates such as I-75, it also addresses needs on arterial roadways such as U.S. 301 in Sumter County. This project will widen and realign U.S. 301 to increase capacity, respond to future travel demand, and improve overall safety.”

With construction soon beginning on projects across the state, motorists are encouraged to always drive with caution and slow down in and around work zones. Let’s get everyone, including our workers, home safely.

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LAKE MARY, Fla. – Florida homeowners with insurance policies covered by the National Flood Insurance Program are urged to file claims as soon as possible. Advance payments may be available for some policyholders.

Policy holders should call their insurance agent or provider and initiate the claim even if they do not have all necessary documentation because they had to leave the property after the storm.

Homeowners with damage from both wind and flood will need to file two separate claims: a homeowner’s insurance claim and a flood insurance claim. They should let adjusters for each policy know of the claim filed with the other policy.

If filing a flood claim, ask about advance payments. You may be eligible for an advance payment of up to $5,000 prior to a visit from an adjuster. Your insurer will need to confirm covered flood damage to your property and may request additional documentation to support the amount of the advance.

Policy holders may also be eligible for an advance payment of up to $20,000 if they have photos and/or videos depicting damage and receipts validating out-of-pocket expenses related to the flood loss, or a contractor’s itemized estimate.

If the flood insurance policy recently expired, ask your agent if you are still within a renewal grace period. You may be able to pay in full to renew and be covered for a loss during that time.

The Standard Flood Insurance Policy does not cover expenses for code compliance unless the loss qualifies for Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage. Speak to your adjuster or insurer for more information.

The NFIP has additional information on floodsmart.gov/how-do-i-start-my-flood-claim for documenting your damage, re-entering safely, and rebuilding stronger, and where to go if you need additional assistance. 

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TALLAHASSEE - When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail. Sites listed on the official Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail are selected for inclusion based on their unique wildlife viewing opportunities and ecological significance, educational opportunities, access for the public and resilience to recreational use. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has proudly selected 14 new sites to receive this distinction.

The Trail is a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. Every year, millions of people, residents and visitors alike, participate in wildlife viewing activities, contributing billions of dollars to Florida’s economy but the ultimate goal of the Trail is to encourage conservation of Florida’s native habitats and species.

The new sites are described below, organized by county. Follow the included links for site-specific photos and more information on visiting each location.

• Alachua County: Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville is a well-known hotspot frequented by rare birds and home to iconic Florida species.
• Indian River County: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area in Vero Beach is a newly-opened site adjacent to Round Island Riverside Park and Conservation Area, extending the area available to birders looking to explore Indian River Lagoon.
• Leon County: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park in Tallahassee is part of an extensive trail network connecting Tom Brown Park to the west, L. Kirk Edwards Wildlife Management Area to the east and the J.R. Alford Greenway to the north, creating a valuable and extensive habitat for birds and other wildlife in an otherwise urban area.
• Manatee County: At the mouth of the Manatee River, Robinson Preserve in Bradenton is a popular recreation area where more than 200 bird species have been recorded.
• Marion County: Ocala Wetland Recharge Park is a constructed wetland that recharges the Upper Florida Aquifer. Birders and wildlife viewers will enjoy its diverse wildlife, easy walking paths and many educational displays.
• Palm Beach County: This county has six new sites. The Bureau of Land Management’s Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area offers excellent year-round birding and wildlife viewing at the confluence of the Indian River Lagoon and the Loxahatchee River. Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management manages the remaining sites; Cypress Creek Natural Area, North Jupiter Flatwoods, Pine Glades Natural Area in Jupiter, Winding Waters Natural Area in West Palm Beach and Yamato Scrub Natural Area in Boca Raton. These sites showcase a range of habitats (including cypress swamps, freshwater marshes, wet prairies, uplands and scrub) where visitors can experience south Florida’s abundant birdlife and wildlife.
• Polk County: The Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve in Lake Wales harbors rare plants and animals found only in central Florida. Over 10 miles of hiking trails let visitors venture safely into this remote wilderness.
• Saint Johns County: Named for a prominent civil rights activist, Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park in St. Augustine is a favorite with its local Audubon Society. This small park on the tip of a peninsula overlooks an expansive salt marsh and the many birds that live there.
• Santa Rosa County: Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area is perfect for those seeking an outdoor experience off the beaten path. Fall and spring migration are the best times to go birding at this coastal site.

The Trail is a program of the FWC, supported in part by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish & Wildlife Foundaton of Florida, and is possible thanks to dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners.

For more information on all things related to The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, visit FloridaBirdingTrail.com. There, you can plan your visits, pick up viewing tips, or donate to support the Trail’s mission.

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 ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that physical disaster loans are available in seven additional counties.

SBA’s low-interest disaster loans are available to Florida businesses and residents due to Hurricane Idalia, that began on August 27. The disaster declaration covers Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee, and Taylor County in Florida which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Alachua, Baker, Hillsborough, Leon, Marion, Polk, Sumter, Union, and Wakulla in Florida; and Brooks, Clinch, Echols, Lowndes, and Thomas in Georgia.

To assist small businesses and private nonprofit organizations with completing their applications and uploading documents, the SBA has established two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) which will operate as indicated below:

Mobile Business Recovery Center: Levy County

Cedar Key Community Center, 809 6th Street Cedar Key, FL 32625. 

Opening: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours: Wednesday, Sept. 6 through Tuesday, Sept. 12 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Permanently Closes: Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.

Business Recovery Center: Suwannee County

Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, 212 N Ohio Ave Live Oak, FL 32064.

Hours: Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

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TALLAHASSEE –Specialists are helping Hurricane Idalia survivors apply for FEMA assistance at these locations:

• Levy County: Cedar Key Fire Station parking lot, 489 1^st St., Cedar Key, FL 32625, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat-Sun
• Suwannee County: Agricultural Coliseum Exhibition Building 2, 1302 SW 11 St., Live Oak, FL 32064, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat-Sun
• Suwannee County: Dowling Park Church, 23500 County Road 250, Live Oak, FL 32060, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat-Sun
• Taylor County: Winn-Dixie parking lot, 2057 S. Byron Parkway, Perry, FL 32348, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Sun.

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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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