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NEWBERRY ‒ The first Newberry City Commission meeting of the year began with a light agenda on Jan. 9. The Commission considered increases to building permit fees on an annual basis, a new Public Facilities zoning district and vacating an unimproved right-of-way.

Commissioner Monty Farnsworth was absent from this meeting. Commissioners Rick Coleman was also not in attendance during the first part of the meeting, but was on hand to consider and vote on two agenda items.

The Commission unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading that removes the building permit fee schedule from the City’s Code of Ordinances. As part of this action, the new Building Permit fee schedule will be reviewed annually as part of the City’s “Fees, Rates, and Charges” schedule considered as part of the annual budgeting process. The current Building Permit fee schedule has not been amended since 2003.

The Commission conducted a Legislative Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Code of Ordinances to establish the Public Facilities (PF) zoning district to align existing and proposed public buildings and uses with the Public future land use classification. Following discussion, the amendment was approved on first reading.

According to City of Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez, the Public future land use classification consists of areas that are used for public buildings and grounds, other public facilities including facilities for sewer, solid waste, drainage and potable water, public health facilities, solar energy facilities/solar farms and educational uses.

Perez said that the proposed Public Facilities zoning district provides flexible land development regulations for local, regional, state and federal agencies and entities to provide diverse services and facilities necessary to serve Newberry residents.

The proposed text amendment modifies the site and development plan process to require City Commission, in lieu of the Board of Adjustment, approval of proposed development within the Public Facilities zoning district. The Planning and Zoning Board will still function as a recommending body. This allows the City Commission to have final approval authority on City projects which may have budgetary implications and history and development by other governmental agencies and entities.

This district may only be applied to government owned or leased land which serves a public purpose.

In other business, following a quasi-judicial public hearing on second reading of an ordinance to vacate a portion of Southwest 2nd Avenue, the Commission approved the request with one condition.

“Following staff review it was found that an overhead electrical line and utility pole encumber the southern portion of the subject right-of-way. This line provides service to the southern abutting parcel,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas. “Therefore, staff is requesting the ordinance shall not become effective until a replacement utility easement to the benefit of the City for proper purposes is recorded into the Public Records of Alachua County.”

The application was made by Mark L. and Betty D. Clark to vacate a portion of a 50-foot public right-of-way between the CSX Railroad right-of-way and Southwest 252nd Street, and was created by plat dedication on the Original Newberry plat (Plat Book A, Page 129, ACPR). Vacating this right-of-way will return the lands it encumbers to the adjacent owners, the Clark’s, who are owners of the property located at 180 S.W. 252nd Street, the abutting parcel north of the subject right-of-way. Their application contains the signature of the owner south of the subject right-of-way consenting and accepting the vacation.

The unimproved right-of-way is not included on any future right-of-way maps, nor is improvement of it scheduled in the Capital Improvement Plan.

Commissioner Mark Clark was the applicant requesting vacating a portion of Southwest 2nd Avenue, and he abstained from voting on the issue. Commissioner Coleman was present during the hearing, maintaining the required quorum to hold a vote on the matter.

City Manager Mike New announced that City Hall would be closed Jan. 16 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A celebratory march will be conducted on that day to begin at Martin Luther King Center to the Municipal Building, where a lunch will be provided for the participants.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 13, 2023 – Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) and its FBO, the University Air Center (UAC) will once again host the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

A fly-in is a gathering for pilots who arrive by air. The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at University Air Center, 4701 N.E. 40^th Terrace, Gainesville, Fla. (Enter at General Aviation Entrance, Waldo Road) and is open to the public. Admission and parking are free, and a complimentary shuttle will be provided.

“Our annual Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day is our way of honoring all branches of the military, including some great Gator dignitaries, military and civil aviators who will be flying in many different types of aircraft to the UAC for the event,” says Allan Penksa, CEO, Gainesville Regional Airport. “It’s an exciting day for our community — especially anyone who is curious about flight — to learn more about aviation. We are honored to dedicate this year’s event to our dear friend and Gator Aviator Col. Joe Kittinger with a fitting and poignant ‘Flown West’ ceremony with a squadron of beautiful T-6 Texan and T-34 Mentors. We always look forward to sharing this very special celebration at our airport with the community.”

Celebrating our Military and Distinguished Gator Alumni

Planned events include opening ceremonies with a color guard and flyovers, most notably a T34 “Flown West” ceremony for the late Col. Joe Kittinger, USAF (ret.), Vietnam Prisoner of War (POW), Purple Heart Veteran and holder of the world record for the highest skydive (102,800 feet) from 1960 until 2012. The event begins with the first annual “Col. Joe ‘Pamcake’ Breakfast” at 8:30 a.m. and at 10 a.m., the gates will open to the public, with all participating aircraft in place. Opening ceremonies begin promptly at 11 a.m., with a color guard and drill team from the University of Florida (UF) ROTC program, followed by the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.” At 11:15 a.m. a T34 Mentor and T-6 Texan “Flown West” ceremony honoring the late Col. Joe Kittinger will commence with participation by the Milton Lewis Young Marines. In addition, invited dignitaries will make speeches. (Invited guests include guests renowned American Aviator and U.S. National Aerobatic Champion Patty Wagstaff and Jamie Beckett, AOPA Ambassador and Pilot Safety Expert, with more to be announced.) Veterans’ groups from the North Central Florida region have been invited to participate.

Static Display:

All branches of the military have been invited to fly in and participate in the event’s static display. We also expect aircraft manufacturers, privately owned aircraft and law enforcement aircraft to be on display. 

Best Aircraft Contest and People’s Choice Awards

A “Best Civilian Aircraft” and “People’s Choice: Best Aircraft” contest will be held, allowing event attendees to vote for their favorite aircraft at the Gator Fly-In. The two winners will be announced and presented with awards at 1 p.m.

Live Music, Classic Cars, Kids’ Activities and All-Day Food Trucks

Activities include static aircraft and classic car displays, military trucks, a kid’s corner with face painting, toy airplanes and coloring, arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks. Live Music by The Treetop Flyers will take place throughout the event. In addition to the “Col. Joe ‘Pamcake’ Breakfast” from 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., food trucks will operate throughout the event. Confirmed food vendors at the event include Cheffrey’s Food Trailer, Mexi Coquina, Mely’s Munchies and Iguana Joe’s Tropical Snow.

Aircraft Rides for purchase – North American T-6 Texan, Robinson 44 Helicopter and Cessna 172; “Swamp Tours”

For a fee, attendees can purchase rides in three different aircraft. Commemorative Air Force, Dixie Wing will provide North American T-6 Texan flights for purchase. A two-seat pilot trainer, the T-6 Texan is an American single-engine advanced trainer used to train pilots during World War II and into the 1970s. Interested parties may purchase T-6 Texan rides in advance of the event at https://airbasegeorgia.org/warbird-rides/ or walk-up tickets can be purchased at the UAC booth in the Mustang Hangar ($250 for 20 minutes; $320 for 40 minutes; $380 for 60 minutes.) Walk-up tickets can also be purchased at the event. In addition, UAC is offering “Swamp Tours” lasting about 15 minutes, in which passengers can fly over the UF Football Stadium in a Cessna 172 ($50) or a Robinson R-44 helicopter ($50).

Pilot Seminars

Jamie Beckett, AOPA Ambassador and Pilot Safety Expert will offer a pilot seminar at 10 a.m.  at the UAC Conference Room.

A wide variety of general aviation, corporate, aerobatic, glider and homebuilt aircraft are expected at the Gator Fly-In.

All branches of the military have been invited to fly in and participate in the event’s static display. Confirmed military aircraft will be updated as they are scheduled. We also expect aircraft manufacturers, privately owned aircraft and law enforcement aircraft to be on display. All aircraft are subject to change due to weather, mechanicals and availability.

 A schedule for the day follows:

1. 7 a.m. Vendors arrive for set up
2. 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. First Annual Col. Joe “Pamcake” Breakfast
3. 9 a.m. – aircraft arrive and park; all aircraft parked by 9:45 a.m.
4. 10 a.m. – Public Arrive; helicopter and airplane rides begin; Pilot Seminar with Jamie Beckett
5. 11 a.m. Opening Ceremony
6. 11:15 a.m. Flown West Ceremony for Col. Joe Kittinger
7. 11:20 a.m. Speakers begin
8. 12 noon Live Music, food trucks
9. 1 p.m. People’s choice and Best of Show Airplane Contest Announced
10. 3 p.m. Final thank you and prep for departures

Please tell your flying friends and anyone who would rather be “flying in.” For more information on the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day, please contact Pam Landis at paml@universityaircenter.com or phone (352) 416-0787, visit the Gator Fly-In Facebook page or https://www.flygainesville.com

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒The on-time graduation rate for high schools run by Alachua County Public Schools increased in 2022 from 90.9 percent to 91.4 percent according to data released today by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).

The state lists the district’s overall graduate rate as 85.8 percent for 2022, a decrease of 8/10ths of a percentage point over 2021. However, that includes the graduation rates for students at independently-operated charter schools in the county, which dropped from 39.6 percent to 37.7 percent

Florida’s overall graduation rate for 2022 fell by 2.8 percentage points in 2022, from 90.1 percent to 87.3 percent. Fifty-six of the state’s 67 school districts saw graduation rates fall for 2022.

In its report, FDOE pointed out that the Class of 2022 was the first required to pass state tests in order to graduate since 2019. During COVID, the test requirements for graduation were waived.

The district continues to address the ‘COVID lag,’ learning losses associated with the pandemic that have affected students worldwide. Jennie Wise, the district’s Chief of Teaching and Learning, says some of the most exciting initiatives involve collaborative efforts with the University of Florida and other partners.

“At the high school level, we’re working with our partners to give students opportunities outside of regular school time that connect the curriculum with the real world,” said Wise. “That includes experiences to bring to life subjects like algebra and biology, which students must pass to graduate.”

Newberry High School had the district’s highest graduation rate in 2022, at 98.5 percent, followed closely by the Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School with a 98.3 percent rate.

Alachua eSchool, the district’s virtual school, had the district’s highest jump in graduation rates in 2022, increasing from 68.4 percent to 85.5 percent.

“I’m very appreciative of the hard work of our faculty and staff and the dedication of students and parents who work together as a learning team to promote our students’ success,” said principal Jessely Alvarez.

PAM@Loften had the next-highest increase in graduation rates of nearly two percentage points.

“One of the best parts of being an educator is seeing a student who has worked so hard reach the required assessment score, raise their GPA or get the final credit they need for graduation,” said principal Kris Bracewell.

The 2022 graduation rates for district-operated high schools are:

Alachua eSchool:                                                                    85.5 percent

Buchholz High School:                                                             95.9 percent

Eastside High School:                                                               88.4 percent

Gainesville High School:                                                           88.7 percent

Hawthorne High School:                                                           81.4 percent

Newberry High School:                                                            98.5 percent

Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School:              98.3 percent

Santa Fe High School:                                                            88.8 percent

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Below are the updated City of Gainesville traffic impacts scheduled for January 13-20, 2023. 

 New Notices

NW Fifth Ave.: Northwest Fifth Avenue will be closed from Northwest 14th Terrace to Northwest 15th Street for curb and gutter repairs from Monday, Jan. 16-Monday, Jan. 23 (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.). 

Continuing Notices 

SW Ninth Terrace: Southwest Ninth Terrace will be closed between Southwest First Avenue and University Avenue due to the construction of a new development. Construction is expected to last through August 2023.

 Note: All lane and road closures are subject to change due to unforeseen conditions, such as inclement weather.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will host a hybrid public meeting Jan. 24, 2023, to discuss proposed median modifications to Northwest 39^th Avenue (State Road 222) and Northwest 13^th Street.

The meeting will take place both virtually and in person Tuesday, Jan. 24 at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 2715 N.W. 39^th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32348. A 4 to 6 p.m. open house will be followed by a presentation and public comment period at 6 p.m.

Virtual participation instructions and project documents are available at www.nflroads.com/VPH. Participants who are unable to attend the webinar virtually or in person may listen to the meeting by calling 213-929-4214, access code 780-905-322. All participants, regardless of the platform they choose, will be able to view project documents, ask questions and make comments for the public record.

Proposed changes include the addition of traffic separators on Northwest 39^th Avenue (State Road 222) along both the eastbound and westbound left turn lanes to Northwest 13^th Street. The project would also extend the existing eastbound and westbound left turn-lanes from 39^th Avenue to 13^th Street.

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Collaborative lab space enables the development and growth of the next generation of life science companies in the greater Gainesville region

ALACHUA, Fla - As part of its efforts to support emerging biotechnology companies with addressing key challenges of bringing new therapies to market, Thermo Fisher Scientific today announced it has become a founding sponsor of Momentum Labs in Alachua, Fla. Momentum Labs will serve as a collaborative laboratory and office space for growing biotech businesses in the greater Gainesville region.

“From a regional and state perspective, Momentum Labs provides critical infrastructure and business development resources to support the growth of life sciences in Florida, giving the ecosystem the opportunity to retain companies rather than losing them to other communities,” said Abhinav Akhoury, vice president, corporate accounts, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Through our sponsorship, Momentum Labs has the ability to provide the latest innovative technologies to high-growth life science companies that are developing tomorrow’s life-changing medicines.”

The North Central region of Florida is one of the largest biotech clusters in the state, home to over 100 life sciences companies and supporting around 1,200 jobs. Despite this established footing, there is a lack of flexible growth space, making it difficult for emerging companies to succeed. Momentum Labs will be the first space of its type in the region, providing growing life science companies with the ability to scale without having to move to other markets.

Companies that receive support from incubator programs are 87% more likely to survive after five years. Upon graduation, 84% of those companies stay in the communities where they received their support and funding. In partnership with Thermo Fisher, members of Momentum Labs will have access to innovative life science instruments and state-of-the-art lab equipment, infrastructure and resources within the region to support their growth.

“It’s challenging for growing companies to stay ahead of their space needs,” said Brian Crawford, chief executive officer at Concept Companies. “Not only is there a large expense for all the equipment needed, but there are also often extraordinary lead times associated with the acquisition and installation. Partnering with Thermo Fisher Scientific gives us the ability to offer the latest innovative instrumentation and equipment to our members allowing them to leverage their capital for growth.”

“By developing a purpose-built facility for emerging science in the Gainesville community, Momentum Labs is providing critical lab space, access to quality equipment, instrumentation and services, and tailored business development support these companies need for continued exponential growth,” said Kyla Frye, director of science and technology ecosystems and lead for Momentum Labs. “This ultimately helps us retain growing life sciences companies and their talent in the region while giving them the vital resources to advance their therapies from research to the clinic.”

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com

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