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GAINESVILLE — Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) gathered today with dignitaries, community leaders, well-wishers and staff to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its 15,200 square foot, two-gate passenger terminal expansion and improvement project, less than two years after breaking ground.

The expanded terminal provides a variety of passenger amenities and services to accommodate increased passenger traffic and demand. New amenities include expanded restrooms, a second food and beverage area, mother’s lactation room, quiet/reflection room, an outdoor pet relief area, and connectivity features in every passenger chair.

In his opening comments to guests, GNV’s CEO Allan Penksa expressed gratitude to those who have “been instrumental in shaping the vision for this great community asset,” and paid homage to the local construction teams “working hard through all types of conditions” to realize the almost $16 million project that is part of the airport’s master plan.

“This project has been years in the making and is an important milestone in our continuing efforts to provide high quality air service and passenger facilities to our region,” Mr. Penksa said. “The fact that all involved were able to do this so well and uninterrupted despite the challenges of a worldwide pandemic is simply amazing.”

Gainesville Alachua County Regional Airport Authority (GACRAA) Chairwoman Grace Horvath said as the community comes out of the pandemic, passengers are truly responding to the airport’s enhanced service and GNV’s “Fly Easy” experience. “Beyond the capacity improvements and ability to support new service, this project provides an even more beautiful front door to our region, one we can all be proud of.”

The terminal expansion was paid for by a combination of state and federal grants, along with passenger facility charges, or PFCs collected by the airport’s carriers, Delta and American Airlines. The terminal expansion and boarding bridges are the second and third phases of terminal investment, with final phases including additional parking options, new outbound, baggage screening/ handling system and additional airline operations space to better accommodate existing and future carriers.

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ALACHUA ‒ Police are still searching for an assailant who shot an individual over the 4th of July weekend. The Alachua Police Department (APD) received a call on July 4 about an early morning shooting that took place at 14011 N.W. 158^th Avenue. Officers responded and were told a person had been shot and that the victim had been taken to Alachua County Fire Rescue Station 21 for treatment. Alachua police officers arrived at Station 21 and identified the victim as a 54-year-old female from High Springs.

According to witnesses, a silver sedan drove by the residence and fired several shots, striking the vehicle in which the victim was sitting. The silver sedan then fled the scene. The victim sustained gunshot wounds and was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where she was listed in stable condition.

This is an on-going investigation and detectives continue to follow up on leads. No suspects have been identified at this time and no further information from the department was available.

The Alachua Police Department asks that anyone having any knowledge of the incident to contact the police department at 386-462-1396. Those with information can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 352-372-STOP or download the Alachua Police App from your smartphone and submit a tip.

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NEWBERRY ‒ American Legion Post 149 conducted its elections of officers for the 60-member organization on July 1. American Legion Post 149 is located at 26821 West Newberry Road, Newberry. Election of Officers also took place the same evening for the Auxiliary Board members.

Installation of officers took place on July 6, with Elizabeth Chavous inducting the Auxiliary group and Vickie Van Buren inducting the American Legion officers. Officers of both groups will each serve one-year terms.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Summer can be hard on parents trying to balance work and accommodate time for young children. Pastor Adam Joy of the Deeper Purpose Community Church is offering parents of nursery and pre-school children an all-day program at the church called the Kid's Academy for toddlers and preschoolers ages 1-5.

Parents needn’t worry this is just a babysitting situation. In addition to meals and play time, youngsters will also receive educational assistance. Children will be helped to prepare for the Florida Department of Education approved Pinnacle Program curriculum, which offers a wide range of both secular and faith-based age-appropriate lesson plans and activities for children ages birth to 5.

The Academy is available Monday -Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The church also offers transportation by bus for parents who can’t bring their children to the church. While the program currently is for children over 1 year old, there are plans expand it to accept ad enroll infants in August according to Pastor Adam Joy.

“We feel it’s vital that we have the best teachers, assistants and childcare workers assisting us in ensuring your child is always able to play, learn and grow in a safe, caring and loving Christian environment,” Joy said. “We believe it is important to offer educational opportunities and socialization with other children to help children grow and expand their abilities.” Joy said the preschool is a member of Green Apple Accreditation of Children Services that licenses and accredits childcare centers and preschools nationwide.

In addition to the Kid's Academy program, the church also offers a summer camp for kids age 5-12, with educational classes in math, art, social studies, English and writing. The summer camp runs Monday -Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesday evenings they also offer a youth services for kids ages 12 to 18, which provides teens an opportunity to learn about the bible, play games and hold group discussions about issues involving their age group. It also includes a free dinner.

The church may also be offering a Head Start Program and an Early Head Start Program this fall that will start Aug. 18. In addition, there will also be before and after care for school aged children in the upcoming 2021-22 school year.

Joy said the church also plans to offer programs to families during the Alachua County Public Schools Thanksgiving break, and spring and winter breaks, based on the school calendar.

“We have also decided that since we now have the room, we will do our own pre-kindergarten program for this coming school year beginning Monday, August 16,” said Joy. This program will have 20 spots for students who are turning 4 no later than Sept. 1. Unlike VPK, which is only a three-hour program, this will be a full day for students to better prepare them for kindergarten.

“We really feel that three hours just isn’t enough,” said Joy. “Children are our future, and we have a responsibility to provide as many opportunities as we can to help them build successful lives.”

Deeper Purpose Community Church is located in High Springs at 19930 N U.S. Hwy 441. Additional information and registration can be discussed at 386-454-5300 or at https://www.facebook.com/KidsOfPurpose.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs has opted not to purchase the Priest Theater. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board had earlier asked staff to explore the possible purchase of the community landmark. City Manager Ashley Stathatos presented a report on the request on July 8 and reviewed the significance of the theater as an historic building, the costs involved in not only the purchase, but also required renovations and the appraisal value of the theater.

The building seats 240 people and has an appraised value in 2020 of $111,658. The market value according to the current appraisal is $325,000. Local architect Paul Stresing performed a condition assessment on the building and provided a list of recommended improvements.

Those improvements include Code Compliance Improvements, which he estimated could be up to $9,500 and Good Conscious Improvements which he estimated could be up to $271,750, excluding the bathroom building or up to $400,000 for the bathroom building. Additional recommended improvements include Advanced Improvements and Enhancements estimated at $94,200 and Future Improvements and Enhancements at a cost estimate of up to $165,000.

The total cost of improvements is $940,450. The total cost of the project if the CRA were to offer market value of $325,000 plus perform all the improvements is $1,265,450. Operating and maintenance cost would be the responsibility of the organization that operates and runs the theater.

Stathatos said that during the purchase contract period, the City could send out a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from organizations interested in a partnership. “A draft RFP has been written should the Commission decide to head in that direction,” she said. The CRA Board decided not to pursue the purchase of the theater at this time due to current pending projects. However, they said they want to continue to explore options to save this historic building. Should another organization purchase the building, Commissioners talked about possibly partnering with that organization to help in any way they can.

In other business, the CRA Board is considering an ad valorem tax exemption for historic properties within the CRA District. Stathatos will be drafting an ordinance for the CRA Board to review at their next meeting. Should the ordinance pass, an exemption from ad valorem taxes of up to 50 percent of the assessed value of a historic property can be granted.

To qualify for the proposed exemption, the property must meet other requirements in addition to being historic. The property must be used for commercial purposes or a not-for-profit organization and it must be open to the public. More details will be available when the ordinance is presented to the Board, and it was noted that the proposed exemption could possibly benefit the Priest Theater.

Stathatos was also asked to bring back specific information on a CRA business improvement program. The program would include façade improvements, tenant improvements and structural rehabilitation grants.

The Board decided that the CRA Residential Improvement Program would be limited to paint only with a 50/50 split between the property owner and the CRA.

The Board approved $8,000 for holiday decorations and banners, opting to rent rather than purchase. In addition to not having to store these items, the provider will do the installation and removal as well.

CRA Board members voted to allow the City’s Building Department to buy the old train depot, which they already have offices in, from the CRA. The CRA office will remain in the building and will pay rent to the City. This action puts more funds into the CRA, which can be used for other projects.

In upcoming business, on Aug. 5, the CRA Board will review the strategic plan developed over the past several weeks for the CRA District.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ The City of Hawthorne recently received a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for $500,000. The funding will allow Hawthorne to install green infrastructure stormwater gardens, also known as rain gardens, on Southeast 221^st Street (Johnson Street).

The grant will also allow the city to add curbs and gutters to the existing roadway. Landscaping and stormwater gardens will go into the unused areas of downtown as well.

The grant will enable the city to take another step toward the vision its citizens have for the downtown area and attract more businesses to that part of town.

In addition to helping to beautify the downtown, this project is a benefit to the environment as well. “Instead of sending the runoff out to the lake and draining it out in the wetlands, the gardens will help filter the water before it goes into the stormwater system,” said Mayor Matt Surrency.

Residents, commission and staff conducted a visioning workshop approximately seven years ago. “This is continuing the vision of what we’ve done in downtown already,” Surrency said. “We have a vision of what we want to see downtown look like. This is just another component of that vision.”

Surrency said the city has about 30 grants in process at any one time. “Some may be starting. Some are almost finished. We go after any grants that we feel we are qualified to submit on in order to help us accomplish the city’s vision,” he said.

One of the things the city did prior to submitting the grant was to complete the design process. “That gave us some extra points and makes it so that we can hit the ground running with the bidding process.”

Surrency is hopeful that they can quickly go out to bid and begin implementing the project by the end of the year. However, it is unknown at this time when the project will be completed.

The city is currently working with engineers and FDEP to begin the next steps in the procurement and bidding process.

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