Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA — Alachua County officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 30, 2025, to celebrate the opening of Fire Rescue Station 21, a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve the county for the next half-century.

Located at 16121 N.W. 173^rd Street in the City of Alachua, the new station spans 11,500 square feet and represents a $7 million investment in public safety infrastructure.

County leaders and first responders were joined by City of Alachua leaders and staff to mark the occasion with a public event that included remarks, a tour of the facility, and a traditional fire service hose uncoupling to commemorate the opening.

“This station is more than just a building — it’s a promise to our residents that help is never far away,” said Alachua County Fire Chief Harold Theus. “Fire Station 21 is built to meet the demands of today and the challenges of the next 50 years.”

Fire Chief Theus previously estimated a 12-month construction timeline, placing completion sometime in early to mid-2025. The new location was strategically selected to better align with the city's development patterns and to reduce response times in key areas.

The new station replaces an older facility and is strategically located to improve emergency response times in the northwestern part of the county, including key transportation corridors such as U.S. Highway 441 and nearby sections of Interstate 75.

Designed with growth in mind, the station includes expanded bays for emergency vehicles, modern living quarters for personnel, and advanced safety and communications technology. Officials said the facility also meets the latest standards in fire service design and sustainability. The single-story, concrete masonry structure includes energy-efficient systems, sustainable design features, and 100 percent backup power generation, ensuring operational readiness in all conditions.

Planning and funding for the new station began several years ago as part of the county’s long-term capital improvement strategy. The facility was funded through a combination of local revenues and public safety impact fees.

Residents who attended the ribbon-cutting were invited to tour the facility, speak with firefighters, and learn more about the station’s role in the county’s emergency response system.

Fire Rescue Station 21 is now fully operational and staffed to provide fire protection and emergency medical services to the City of Alachua and surrounding areas.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

GAINESVILLE - Navigating a new cancer diagnosis can mean walking through a scary new world, not only for patients but also for their families and caregivers. To help ease this complex and overwhelming transition, UF/IFAS Extension and UF Health Cancer Center experts have launched a new, free web-based curriculum, Taking Control of Your Cancer Diagnosis, designed to provide reliable, evidence-based information to those newly diagnosed with cancer about what to expect.

Developed by experts in social sciences and cancer treatment, the curriculum through UF Extension Online features 14 self-paced modules that address a wide range of concerns commonly faced during the early stages of a cancer journey. Topics include financial planning, managing stress and avoiding predatory practices, among others. Each module is presented by a subject matter expert and is meant to be used when you need it, not in any particular order.

“I think first and foremost, I want it to be a resource that someone can go to and know that this has been developed by experts,” said Melissa Vilaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of family, youth and community sciences and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center. “This is a place where people can come to find information that is evidence-based and accurate during one of the most stressful times of their lives.”

Ultimately, the goal is to provide a supportive, evolving resource that empowers individuals to take control of their diagnosis with confidence, she said.

The platform also recognizes the vital role of friends and family members, who often seek guidance on how to support their loved ones. Rather than turning to the internet at large, which can be full of misinformation, Vilaro said she hopes people can use this curriculum as a safe and trustworthy space to find clarity when they need it most.

Since the platform was just recently launched, Vilaro said she aims for it to grow as patients and their support systems go through the course since they can suggest topics that they’d like to see added and provide feedback on which topics were the most helpful.

“The hope is that, given that it’s a web-based platform, we’ll learn about things that aren’t there that people want added,” Vilaro said. “We’ll have the ability to adapt and refine this as we go.”

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Town Leaders and area dignitaries unveiled the Newberry Veterans Memorial honoring veterans who gave all / Photo special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY – A long-held vision became reality on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, as between 700 and 750 attendees gathered to witness the dedication of the Newberry Veterans Memorial. The ceremony honored local service members and celebrated the community’s dedication to bringing the memorial to life.

Newberry City Commissioner Mark Clark, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Iraq, was a driving force behind the project.

“The whole experience was an absolute pleasure,” Clark said. “I don’t know anywhere else where business owners and residents open their wallets wide and ask, ‘How much do you need?’”

The idea for the memorial took shape more than two years ago, when Clark and then-Mayor Jordan Marlowe began discussing the concept. Marlowe encouraged Clark to lead the charge. Having visited numerous veterans memorials around the country, Clark envisioned a design that would stand out. He sketched his concept, which artist Paula Willis transformed into a detailed rendering based on their conversations.

The core committee consisted of nine members who committed to the long-term effort. “We reached out to people we knew, and although many were interested, the two-plus year commitment was more than some could take on,” Clark said. Community volunteers formed an ad hoc committee to assist with fundraising.

The City of Newberry committed $350,000 in Wild Spaces & Public Places funds as seed money to launch the project. Additional contributions came from brick sales, T-shirt sales, and large private donations. Veteran names were engraved on bricks and benches placed throughout the site. Each level of contribution, whether monetary or in-kind, was acknowledged with permanent markers on benches.

Clark praised many contributors but gave special recognition to Debbie Boyd. “She kept the records and kept us straight. We met every two weeks and she was responsible for making sure everything went as planned,” he said.

Boyd confirmed the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction, set by Oelrich Construction, was $589,912. “In some cases, people provided in-kind services to help offset the specified cost,” said Boyd, “which was very helpful.”

A standout feature of the memorial is a life-sized bronze statue of a military working dog, a Belgian Malinois, sculpted by Master Sculptor Lena Toritch of Salt Lake City, Utah. Both Boyd and Clark noted the level of detail in the sculpture and said Toritch flew in to attend the dedication ceremony. Another guest, a man from California who had purchased memorial bricks for his two sons, also traveled to Newberry for the event.

“The ceremony took approximately 45 minutes,” Clark said. “Middle and high school bands performed the national anthem and the fight songs for each branch of service.”

Many audience members were unaware that among them sat decorated veterans, including recipients of the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star with Valor.

Asked for final thoughts, Clark replied simply: “Semper Fi” — always faithful.

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Zach Nichols received a standing ovation at the May 22, 2025, High Springs City Commission meeting in recognition of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout /Photo special to Alachua County Today

HIGH SPRINGS — The High Springs City Commission honored local resident Zach Nichols on May 22, 2025, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest distinction in the Boy Scouts of America.

Nichols received a formal proclamation during the commission's regularly scheduled meeting, followed by a standing ovation and photo opportunity. Commissioners praised his dedication, leadership, and community service.

Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth Jr. noted the significance of the achievement, while also announcing that the local Boy Scout troop would be disbanded. According to Bloodsworth, the current members had either already earned or were in the process of completing their Eagle Scout requirements, and no new boys had joined the troop.

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