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ALACHUA ‒ Monthlong seasonal festivities are in full swing in Alachua. Merrymaking kicked off last Friday evening at 6 p.m. with crowds gathering around the towering Christmas tree across from Alachua’s Skinner Field. The annual tree lighting tradition began in 2006 when the City of Alachua began holding a number of events to celebrate the Christmas season with the community. Every year, on the first Friday of December, the tree lighting ceremony is held followed by a visit from Santa Claus. This year Alachua will enjoy multiple events to make the whole month a celebration of the holiday season.

Friday’s official tree lighting ceremony was the center of attention as all eyes were on the larger-than-life Christmas tree as crowds gathered under strings of colorful Christmas lights as excited children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus in his horse drawn carriage. Helping to keep the experience alive long after the event ended, a cheerful background display with chairs for Santa and Mrs. Claus was available to offer free photos by Magnolia Lane Photography. Children also enjoyed boxes of treat-filled boxes after having their photo taken with the jolly couple from the North Poole.

A popular activity for the children was the ornament making stations for youngsters to create their own paper Christmas ornaments. Refreshments were abundant as Capital City Bank provided popcorn and costumed characters wandering in the park for children to greet and take photos with. Alachua’s Boy Scout Troop 88 provided steaming hot chocolate with marshmallows for the crowd. Dollar General provided free candies and cookies and Walmart provided juice boxes for the children.

Another highlight of the event was the snow blowing machine that created imaginary snow flurries for the children to play in. While all these activities provided the crowd with the Christmas feel, the big event was the tree lighting and arrival of Santa.

After short speeches by Mayor Gib Coerper and City Manager Mike DaRoza, all attention turned toward Main Street as police cars with lights flashing escorted a shiny white carriage with Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves. Children excitedly lined the street for a glimpse of the carriage and its occupants.

DaRoza joined Santa in the street to lead a countdown for the tree to light up filling the park with shimmering multicolored illuminations. Families gathered around the tree to photograph their children as excited children waited in anticipation to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their Christmas wishes.

Alachua’s holiday celebrations will continue with a parade down Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 10 starting at 2 p.m. And for the next two Saturdays, “Holiday Nights” sponsored by the City of Alachua are also on tap on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 17 with a variety of activities in the historic downtown area. Free showings of The Santa Claus film series will be happening downtown as well as free carriage rides up and down Main Street. Free Christmas gift wrapping will be provided and Santa will again be set up near Magnolia Lane Photography for additional photos. Two stages will feature acoustic musicians playing Christmas music as well as a performance by the Gainesville Youth Choir.

Wrapping up the season’s activities is a performance of The Nutcracker by Dance Alive. This special event hosted by the City of Alachua takes place Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at Legacy Park, 15400 Peggy Road. This free event is not to be missed, and the public is encouraged to bring a bag chair and a blanket to enjoy this family tradition under a canopy of stars. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be available while supplies last, and a meet and greet the dancers will follow the performance.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH-Alachua) is announcing the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits. This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state. Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experiencing an overdose, friends, family members, and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Naloxone nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care professional present.

“Overdose deaths are tragic and preventable,” said Paul Myers, Administrator of the Alachua County Health Department. “These lifesaving medication kits have been effective in reducing the number of opioid overdose deaths in Alachua County, and with increased availability, provide additional hope of surviving an overdose." 

Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of being administered to a person who has overdosed. Naloxone can be administered by a bystander (non-healthcare professional) before emergency medical assistance becomes available, but it is not intended to substitute for professional medical care. Individuals should call 911 immediately when an opioid overdose is suspected before administering Naloxone.

Persons requesting a kit from DOH-Alachua must meet the following eligibility:

• Must be 18 years old or older
• Individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose
• Caregivers who may witness an opioid overdose or others likely to experience or witness an opioid overdose.

Naloxone kits can be obtained at the East Gainesville DOH-Alachua office located at 224 S.E. 24^th Street, Gainesville.

Naloxone kits are free, and no appointment is necessary. People using Naloxone receive educational material, referrals, and connections for substance abuse intervention.

Increasing access to Naloxone is a critical component in battling the opioid epidemic, especially in rural areas or counties with limited access to health care. Providing Naloxone through county health departments will increase support to individuals across the state dealing with substance use disorder and help prevent overdose deaths in Florida.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission has approved a municipal mural ordinance on first pubic reading. The controversial issue has dogged the commission

as various citizens and groups lobbied the commission to either approve or reject details related to the official ordinance.

Although the Planning and Zoning Board make several recommendations for modifications to the proposed ordinance regulating murals at an earlier meeting, Commissioners on Nov. 29 passed Ordinance 2022-13 on first reading with only one minor modification.

Section 7.12, which originally specified that murals would not be allowed 50 feet from residential properties, was eliminated. Newly elected Commissioner Tristan Grunder, who made the motion to approve the ordinance, pointed out that any mural that was 20 feet tall would be seen fairly far away. He said that a 50-foot distance would not make much difference. Commissioner Byran Williams agreed and seconded Grunder’s motion.

As has been the case at several meetings, this item took up most of the City Commission meeting and resulted in a 4-1 decision with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting vote. This item will be heard on second and final reading at the Dec. 8 City Commission meeting.

City Attorney Invoice Questioned

In other business, Weitz expressed concern that the city attorney’s bill for development of the mural ordinance was $18,426, which she considered excessive. The city attorney pointed out that the City has been dealing with this issue for nearly a year. No action was taken on this issue.

In a separate action, Weitz made a motion that the attorney’s contract should be revised and a request for proposal should be advertised to seek a new attorney. However, that motion died for lack of a second.

The city manager said staff would research the cost of an in-house attorney as the topic has been brought up several times.

Impact Fees

The Commission held the second required workshop prior to considering implementation of new impact fees for transportation, parks and general government impacts. On Nov. 29, City Manager Ashley Stathatos explained that general government includes impacts related to police, fire and facilities.

Impact fees are a one-time fee assessed on new residential and commercial development to pay for the costs associated with growth.

As part of the process, Duncan & Associates was hired to produce a technical report that establishes the need and appropriate amount to assess in impact fees to serve new development.

Stathatos reviewed the study’s findings during the workshop and said that the fees for new construction of single-family detached dwellings would be $4,989 and multi-family dwellings would be $3,130.

The assessed rate depends on the construction type is would be assessed at a rate based on each 1,000 square feet. Rates include retail/commercial construction assessed at $4,502, office construction at $3,242, industrial construction at $1,448, warehouse construction at $549 and public/institutional construction assessed at $1,498.

Stathatos said the Commission could lower those amounts after the water and sewer impact fees have been determined, but that increasing fees would require additional effort. She suggested the Commission consider approving the proposed impact fees at the discussed rates. The Commission unanimously approved upon first reading of Ordinance 2022-17 at the City Commission meeting held after the workshop.

Other Business

In other City business, a site plan was approved for an 8 ft. x 10 ft. shed for Chomper’s Diner, located at 23508 N.W. 185^th Road, behind their existing drive-through diner. The shed is not air conditioned and will be used for additional storage. “The shed will be constructed of Hardie board siding with an aluminum roof and will be painted to match the existing building,” said Stathatos. Bushes will also be planted on the rear and the side facing Northwest 235^th Street.

Commissioner Williams was appointed to be the City’s representative to the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. At times when he is unable to attend due to Commission meeting conflicts, Kristy Adkins will act as his delegate.

Commissioners unanimously approved the final amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget, which required approval by Nov. 30, in accordance with state statute. ARPA funding and expenditures were not included at the time of the FY22 budget development and were the only revisions in the amendment.

The next City Commission meeting will be held Dec. 8 at the Civic Center as construction on the City Hall elevators are to begin this week, with completion anticipated by the first of the year.

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ALACHUA CUNTY ‒ Crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to a reported vehicle crash with extrication early on Dec. 6, at Northwest 78^th Avenue and County Road 235. Upon arrival, first responders found a two-car accident with occupants trapped inside.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a 28-year-old male from Trenton was driving a white 2006 Ford pickup truck traveling east on Northwest 78th Avenue. As he approached the intersection, he failed to stop at the stop sign.

A 2001 Toyota SUV driven by a 66-year-old Gainesville woman was traveling north on County Road 235 approaching Northwest 78th Avenue. When the driver of the truck ran the stop sign, his right side was struck by the Toyota’s front end.

After the initial crash, the truck traveled off the roadway where it overturned on the east shoulder of County Road 235.

The driver of the Toyota was listed in serious condition. The driver of the truck was removed with minor extraction and no injuries.

First responders triaged the patient and began treatment. A trauma alert was issued and the driver of the Toyota was transported to UF Shands for further treatment.

Also in Alachua, a 39-year-old Alachua man was killed on Saturday, Dec. 3, in a single-vehicle crash on North County Road 225 at approximately 6:26 p.m. The man, who was the only occupant of the car, was pronounced deceased at the scene. No further information is available at this time.

In Archer on Dec. 2, a crash occurred at the intersection of State Road 26 and County Road 241 that resulted in a fatality. An 82-year-old Archer man was traveling west in a Chevrolet SUV on State Road 26 and attempted to make a left turn south onto County Road 241.

At the same time a 51-year-old man from Riverview, Florida, was driving his white Ford pickup truck through the same intersection. The pickup truck crashed into the Chevrolet SUV in the intersection.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol, a 77-year-old Archer woman, who was a passenger in the Chevy SUV, was fatally injured in the crash and succumbed to her injuries from the impact of the truck. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the crash scene.

The two drivers reported only minor injuries. All drivers and passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

In Waldo in the early morning hours of Dec. 2, crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue, Melrose Fire Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to a single vehicle accident on Northeast U.S. Highway 301 just south of Waldo.

The vehicle left the roadway and flipped multiple times, incurring significant damage before coming to rest against a large oak tree. The driver was transported to a local trauma center in serious, but stable condition. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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ALACHUA ‒ Masud D’Andre Headen, 29, was pulled over for speeding on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Alachua and found to have an outstanding warrant for stealing a Land Rover and altering the vehicle identification number (VIN). The arrest report also points to evidence that Headen was involved in multiple financial scams.

A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper pulled Headen over on U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua for traveling 63 mph in a 45-mph zone. The trooper learned that Headen’s driver’s license was suspended and that he has three prior convictions for driving with a suspended license. The trooper also learned that Headen was wanted on a felony warrant and arrested him.

In March 2022, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a child abuse investigation, and a witness, who had been in a relationship with Headen for three years, said there was a stolen Land Rover in her garage and she “want[ed] it gone.”

She reportedly told the officer that Headen takes stolen vehicles and switches out the VIN and has a number of tags registered under different names. She reportedly said she had “a bunch” of different vehicles registered under her name because of this scheme. She also reportedly said that Headen doesn’t get oil changes on his cars because there are different VINs on the vehicle. If someone looks up one of the VINs, it will show stolen parts.

The officer reportedly found two different VINs on the Land Rover; one had no title registered and one did not come back to any vehicle or title but matched a vehicle registration under the name of the witness.

During the investigation, Headen returned to the residence and was found to have the car keys on him. He was arrested in connection with the child abuse investigation, but those charges were later dropped.

Post Miranda, Headen reportedly said the Land Rover belonged to his sister and that she let him borrow it. He denied switching out any of the VINs.

The Land Rover was towed and later searched. An officer learned that neither of the VINs had ever been created; he was unable to find a physical VIN (besides the two fraudulent VINs already found) in the car but was able to turn on the car and retrieve the VIN from the car’s computer. That VIN showed that the car had been reported stolen from a car rental agency in Miami. The car had originally been black but had an “unprofessional” wrap that changed the color to gunmetal gray.

The officer spoke to an investigator at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) who said that the two fraudulent VINs had been applied for and added to the registrations for newly-purchased vehicles by a dealership in Opa-locka, Florida. The dealership has since been closed by DHSMV.

Headen reportedly gave consent to search his phones. The officer reportedly found communications in which Headen said he had bought the Land Rover for $20,000 and had paid $5,000 to get it registered; he also discussed how he had to change the color of the car to match the purchased registration.

The officer also found communications on the phones “involving a myriad of frauds.” He obtained a new search warrant and found information about Headen purchasing personal banking information for other people and selling it to others. There were reportedly communications about selling cloned credit cards, fake checks with real account information and fake money orders.

The officer reportedly found “dozens” of communications in which Headen tells others how to access the stolen bank account information and engage in a scam called “card cracking,” along with “conversations about how easy it is to make money doing these scams.”

Headen is currently charged with driving without a valid license, grand theft of a motor vehicle and possessing a vehicle with altered VINs. The warrant recommends a bond of $50,000.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ The Alachua County Legislative Delegation will be holding its annual public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 1:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held in the Lyceum Concert Hall on the campus of Santa Fe State College at 3000 N.W. 83^rd Street in Gainesville.

The Legislative Delegation includes State Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island), State Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville), State Representative Chuck Brannan III (R- Macclenny), State Representative Chuck Clemons (R-Newberry) and State Representative Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville). 

The Delegation Hearing is intended to afford local residents and officials an opportunity to request legislation or state funding, as well as to express opinions on any other matter of state concern, in advance of the 2023 Regular Legislative Session, slated to begin in Tallahassee on March 7.  This hearing is open to the public.

For additional information please contact the office of Speaker pro tempore Chuck Clemons, State Representative, District 22, at 352-313-6542. 

Members of the public wishing to be placed on the printed agenda can do so by emailing their request, along with any backup information, to HD022@myfloridahouse.gov.

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