Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record at the beginning of the Jan. 24 Commission meeting in recognition of the community volunteers who organized several events during the 2021 holiday season.  He then presented plaques to honor those organizers.  

In the photograph, left to right are Kathi Thomas, who organized the Christmas Parade and also accepted a plaque on behalf of Christiana Norfleet for Christmas on the Square, Tracy Fair (City Staff) who organized Light Up Newberry and City decorations, Christina Bridwell, who accepted on behalf of Gail Hodge who organized the Christmas Lights Contest, Lisa Tate (Director of Newberry Main Street Organization) who accepted on behalf of Joel Searby for the Christmas Vintage Market and Francis Bradley (also NMSO) who organized the downtown decorations and Mayor Jordan Marlowe.

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ALACHUA ‒ Children naturally gravitate toward dancing almost as early as they can walk.  And benefits of dance for children are widely accepted.  From physical fitness to coordination, to balance, strength and posture, dance provides a variety of benefits in early childhood development.  

The City of Alachua has teamed up with the Dance Alive National Ballet (DANB) to bring their dance program for children directly to area youth.  Danceabout is a Dance Alive program for elementary and middle school children that brings dance to the community through experience and education in a fun and uplifting way. According to Outreach Director of Dance Alive Emily Pozek, the concept is “Educate, Entertain, Inspire.” Classes are designed to expose children to the art of dance as both a way to express themselves and a possible future career. 

DANB isn’t new to Alachua as the dance company has performed their annual Christmas Nutcracker performance in Alachua for the past four years as well as other dance performances.  The Gainesville based DANB has been performing over 56 years and has become an internationally recognized ballet company. Education and community outreach have always remained a priority to DANB, and in addition to their established professional school, the company has several programs to bring dance to the community and provide exposure of the arts to people and children that might not otherwise have the opportunity. 

Classes are designed to be fun for the students so they enjoy dancing, all with friendly encouragement from the teacher, Emily Pozek.  Pozek has been providing art based outreach programs to children and hospitals throughout her career. She graduated from the University of Florida with a BFA in dance and was the first graduate to earn a Masters in Arts in Medicine. For over five years, Pozek was the Dancer in Residence for UF Center for Arts In Medicine, as the lead instructor for their Parkinson’s dance program. 

Pozek also taught as an adjunct dance professor in the University of Florida School of  Theater and Dance. In Virginia, she served as outreach manager for Charlottesville Ballet overseeing multiple community programs including Chance to Dance, which provided over 250 elementary students free weekly dance classes.

Now the classes are being offered in Alachua as a joint collaboration between Dance Alive and Alachua’s City's Parks and Recreation Department.  Each Tuesday through March 1, Pozek will be offering free classes and dance experience for children in 1st through 8th grades at the Legacy Multipurpose Center from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

About the decision to offer the classes in Alachua, Interim City Manager Mike DaRoza said, “We heard about the school programs Dance Alive has conducted and that these classes made a positive difference in student performance and focus.” To register to attend, DaRoza said parents should call the Alachua Recreation and Culture Department at 386-462-0145.

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Cont: Free classes offered by Dance Alive National Ballet

HAWTHORNE ‒ A 60-year-old Hawthorne man was killed Friday, Jan. 29, and his 58-year-old male passenger, also from Hawthorne, is in serious condition after the pickup truck in which they were riding overturned.  The crash occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The truck was traveling north on U.S. Highway 301, just north of Southeast 57th Avenue.  According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a witness who was traveling behind the pickup truck saw the truck change lanes in front of him, almost colliding with the witnesses’ vehicle.  After changing lanes, the pickup truck’s tires went off-road causing the driver to lose control of the truck.  The driver attempted to correct the truck, but was unsuccessful.  The pickup truck hit a ditch and overturned, flipping over a fence.  The subject truck came to a final rest on 4701 U.S. Highway 301 South in Hawthorne.

Fire and rescue crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue and Melrose Fire Department responded to the scene.  The vehicle had sustained heavy damage and required the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver and the passenger.  

According to the FHP, neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

In Suwannee County, a 28-year-old High Springs man driving a pickup truck was involved in a three-car crash on Monday, Jan. 24, at 5:40 p.m.  

All three vehicles were traveling south on State Road 247.  The High Springs man was driving a 2013 F-150 truck and was stopped in traffic ahead of a 23-year-old O’Brien male, who was driving a 2004 VW.  A 2015 Ford Taurus, driven by a 21-year-old Branford woman failed to see the VW ahead slow down.  The front of her car hit the rear of the VW ahead.  After being struck by the Taurus, the VW was pushed forward where it struck the rear of the High Springs F-150 truck.

All vehicles came to a final rest on State Road 247, 100-feet north of Southwest Rough Road.  The 21-year-old Branford man was cited for following too closely.

According to the FHP report, no injuries were reported and all drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.

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TALLAHASSEE – The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention and leaders from science centers and museums from around the state assembled during STEM Day at the Florida Capitol on January 25, 2022. The goal was to engage legislators about the critical role that Science Centers and museums play with inspiring and creating the STEM workforce of tomorrow while also advocating for increased funding to support these efforts. 

Participants were stationed inside and outside the Capitol building with experiments, displays, robots and more! Throughout the day, state legislators took part in hands-on activities while learning how STEM education helps grow Florida’s technological workforce.  Science museums act as a hub for STEM learning and can easily facilitate opportunities between industry, education and the public. Collaborations between science museums, corporations and education are key to developing a comprehensive approach to promote STEM learning from cradle to career.

The challenges of the past 18 months have reminded all of us that science matters now more than ever. Science literacy not only leads to a better understanding of life’s problems, but it promotes the development of skills to help solve them. Through study and experimentation, we acquire knowledge, which leads to understanding, innovation and ultimately prosperity. Our youth can save the world and science can help them do it. 

“We are in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, seamlessly blending our digital and physical worlds. Technology is evolving so quickly, we don’t know what the future will look like, but we do know how we can prepare for it,” says Stephanie Bailes, CEO & President of the Cade Museum. “We can teach our children to think like inventors, to be creative and problem solve, to work in teams and explore new perspectives, and to learn how to be fueled by failure rather than fear it.” 

During STEM Day at the Capitol, participating partners, including student groups, shared their passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with legislators, demonstrating the impact that their efforts can have on economic development across the state.  Displays will reinforce how science museums light the spark of curiosity, promote future careers and build essential 21st century skills while also illustrating how increased funding could expand these efforts. 

STEM DAY 2022 PARTICIPANTS:

• Orlando Science Center 
• Motorola Solutions Foundation 
• Museum of Discovery and Science (Ft. Lauderdale) 
• Cox Science Center and Aquarium (West Palm Beach) 
• Tallahassee Museum 
• FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Northwest Florida  
• River City Science Academy (Jacksonville) 
• STEM SimX 

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ALACHUA COUNTY – Alachua County is offering gift cards to encourage residents to get vaccinated, and for those eligible, to receive a booster shot. The County’s program offering $25 gift cards for vaccinated people runs from Jan. 12, through Feb. 28. The gift card is available for those getting initial shots or the booster. The gift card is not retroactive to those already vaccinated.

It is recommended that before getting the shot, individuals should verify that the location has gift cards available. CVS satellite locations in Target stores are not participating and CVS MinuteClinics are not participating. 

Participating vaccine providers include:

The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County 

224 S.E. 24th St, Gainesville, FL 32641

Hitchcock's Pharmacies

15560 N.W. US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32615

24220 W. Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL 32669

West End Pharmacy

25340 W. Newberry Rd, Newberry, Fl 32669

Wise's Pharmacy

708 S.W. 4th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Winn Dixie Pharmacies

20303 N. US‐441, High Springs, FL 32643

300 S.W. 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

CVS Pharmacies

901 N. Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601

7430 S.W. Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608

6025 US‐301, Hawthorne, FL 32640

4354 N.W. 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606

4145 N.W. 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32653

3904 N.W. 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609

3404 S.W. Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608

2303 S.W. 75th St, Gainesville, FL 32607

19225 N.W. US Hwy 441, High Springs, FL 32643

1621 S.W. 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32608

15174 N.W. US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32615

1515 N.W. 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32601

14355 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville, Fl 32669

Able Pharmacy

5001 N.W. 34th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605

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ALACHUA COUNTY – North Central Florida is expected to see temperatures at or below freezing this weekend. The Alachua County Department of Animal Resources and Care wants to remind citizens that pets, just like people, need a warm place to stay. 

Due to the present quarantine for exposure to the canine distemper virus, Animal Resources & Care has several dogs housed in a large tent outdoors. On cold nights, like those forecast this weekend, the dogs are brought indoors. The public can rest assured that all efforts are made to keep these dogs safe and warm. Animal Resources and Care encourage all pet owners to do the same.

The common belief that dogs and cats are more resistant than people to cold weather because of their fur is untrue. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as Huskies and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather; but no pet should be left outside for long periods in below-freezing weather. Pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured, or killed if left outdoors. In addition, do not leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

Consider a sweater or dog coat for dogs with short coats or who seem bothered by the cold weather. Have several on hand, so dogs can use a dry sweater or coat each time it goes outside. Wet sweaters or coats can make dogs colder. Some pet owners also use booties to protect their dog's feet. Those who choose to use them should make sure they fit properly.

Just like people, pets' cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, and health. Dog owners should be aware of their pet's tolerance for cold weather and adjust accordingly. Owners will probably need to shorten their dogs’ walks in frigid weather to protect both owner and dogs from weather-associated health risks. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances (such as Cushing's disease) may have a more challenging time regulating their body temperature and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature extremes. The same goes for very young and very old pets. Pet owners should consult their veterinarian if they need help determining their pet's temperature limits.

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