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ALACHUA ‒ After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid Pandemic, the Relay For Life Cancer event has returned to Alachua. This year the venue was moved to the new Legacy Park Amphitheater but the dedication of the volunteers and supporters remained unchanged. Despite the hiatus, the event and support of the community came back even larger than before.

Relay for Life is a team fund raising event featuring team members walking around a track. Each event is four to 24 hours in length and each team has a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps.

In Alachua, 21 teams and nine sponsors fielded teams and made additional donations or had items for sale including the City of Alachua, Waste Pro, Campus USA, UF Health, Cisco, Santa Fe Kiwanis Club and Santa Fe High School. The school's FFA brought a pig, that based on donations, was to be kissed by a city official.

The concept behind the event is that no one has to fight cancer alone and that the community supports and celebrates the accomplishment and struggles of cancer survivors and caregivers. Many of the runners are survivors or people memorializing loved ones who died of cancer. Every year, Relay events are organized, staffed and coordinated by volunteers in thousands of communities and 27 countries to remember those who have succumbed to the disease, honor the survivors of all cancers, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society make a global impact on disease.

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer. Even if the cancer is defeated or put into remission, the specter of the disease remains, as does the fear it could return. In 2021, there were 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 608,570 cancer deaths in the United States. That equates to over 1,600 deaths a day.

Although each community puts individual touches to their Relay For Life Event, there is a general format they follow. Each team and sponsors set up a fund-raising tent where people can make donations and sponsor a runner. Some teams also offer items for sale like baked goods, food, stuffed animals or even offer a service people.

After the opening ceremony, the relays begin in a specific order with the first one featuring the cancer survivors walking, The second one features their spouses and caregivers. This year, the third walking team was comprised of police, first responders and military members, several of whom were survivors as well. After that, the teams take to the course as well as the general public.

This year prior to the walk, there was a tribute to Robin True, who had been heavily involved in the previous Relay For Life events. True was a victim of Ovarian Cancer and had fought it for six years until she passed in 2021. Before the first walk, her extended family, friends and supporters gathered before the stage to accept an award from Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper as True’s son played the harmonica in tribute to his mother's life.

The event is always held when the sun sets and darkness falls, representing the darkness of the disease. Bringing honor and remembrance as well as hope, luminaries glow in dedication to cancer victims and survivors. Each luminary carries the name of a survivor or someone who has died of cancer as well as information about that person.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event that represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. Alachua’s Relay for Life at Legacy Park was organized to remember those lost to cancer, celebrate cancer survivorship and to raise money for medical research and programs conducted by the American Cancer Society.

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HAWTHORNE ‒ Hawthorne Branch Librarian Guylene Resue was honored by the Alachua County Library District Foundation by presenting her with the 15^th Annual Guy Hudspeth Award. Resue was touted as having made her branch library an integral part of the community over her 20-year tenure.

The foundation added Resue’s name to Katherine’s Tree, a 10-foot glass etching of the Tree of Knowledge standing in the Gainesville Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Avenue. Each leaf represents a $2,000 gift to the foundation’s endowment fund, which supports library services and facilities. Nine honorees and donors also joined Resue on the tree this year. 

Sponsored by the Kosman Foundation, the Guy Hudspeth Award honors an outstanding Library District employee annually. The award is named after retired librarian Guy Hudspeth.

“Receiving the Guy Hudspeth Award from the Alachua County Library District Foundation and the Kosman Foundation is a true honor,” Resue said. “I have truly enjoyed serving my greater Hawthorne community these 20 years.”

In her two decades serving as a librarian at the Hawthorne Library Branch, Resue has overseen the popular annual art show, fostered partnerships with the Hawthorne Area Historical Society and spearheaded the branch’s participation in community festivals and holiday parades. When Georgia-Pacific closed its Hawthorne plant, Resue partnered with local employment agencies and was ready to help the laid-off workers learn to use computers to access services and apply for jobs.

“(Her work) truly made a difference in the lives of the individuals and the community as a whole,” the award selection committee wrote.

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ALACHUA ‒ All kindergarten- through 8^th-grade students attending schools in the city of Alachua will be provided with either a laptop or an iPad under a new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) initiative that will be in place for the next school year.

Teachers are already receiving devices and training to help implement the new I.A.M. STEAM program. (I.A.M. stands for Irby Elementary, Alachua Elementary and Mebane Middle, the three participating schools.) The training is focused on incorporating the devices into their lessons and helping students learn to use them effectively. For example, students will be taught to navigate the Internet safely and how to access digital learning materials at home.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity for our school and community,” said Heather Harbour, principal at Alachua Elementary School. “Our students will gain experience in research, problem solving and critical thinking. They’ll also be able to develop and practice their digital literacy and citizenship skills.”

Students will receive their devices in the fall of 2022. Those at Irby will receive iPads, while those attending Alachua and Mebane will receive laptops. The students will be able to take the devices home to complete homework and other assignments, and those without Internet access will also receive hotspots.

Another key element of I.A.M STEAM is a new biomedical magnet program at Mebane Middle. The magnet will be open to students from throughout the district, starting with 6^th graders, although other students at the school would be able to participate in individual courses. They will begin by studying forensics, which involves the use of science to examine and analyze evidence from crime scenes. In later grades students will study such topics as biomechanics (the science of the movement of a living body), prosthetics (artificial devices to replace missing body parts), infectious diseases, cloning and other subjects.

Hands-on learning activities will be a big part of the curriculum. For example, the forensics course will wrap up with the investigation of a mock crime scene. The biomechanics class will include the programming of a robotic hand.

“STEAM learning will provide opportunities for our students to view the world through a different lens,” said Mebane principal Manda Bessner. “They’ll learn to put to use their imagination and creativity as they tackle modern day issues in science and medicine.”

Mitch Glaeser, president of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, says the new magnet and the I.A.M. project are great fits for the community. Alachua is home to a strong and growing biotechnology industry, which Glaeser has helped develop and promote. The Chamber will be providing additional support for the program, such as purchasing covers and cases for the devices and providing classroom speakers and field trips.

“We’re excited about the collaboration between the business community and the schools,” he said. “This initiative is an important element of a long-term strategic plan, a shared vision for creating opportunities in technology and biotechnology for our students,” he said.

District staff say students will be able to build on what they’ve learned as they move up through the community’s schools. Santa Fe High School already has a highly successful biotechnology magnet program.    

“We want to provide students with a seamless transition from one grade level to the next and from one school to the next,” said Kevin Berry, the district’s director of curriculum. “Throughout their education they’ll be developing skills that will serve them well in STEAM or any other field.”

The district is currently working on a plan to provide devices and internet access to students in other parts of the county who don’t currently have them. In the next few weeks, families will be asked to respond to a survey about their student’s needs. The goal is to provide devices and access to students who need them for the upcoming school year.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A proposed solar farm in High Springs has raised the ire of some residents. CHW Professional Consultants Executive Vice President and Principal Planner Gerry Dedenbach provided an update on the project to the City Commission at the April 14 meeting. Dorothy Pernu representing Duke Energy was also present.

Dedenbach says the City Commission could expect to receive applications for Land Use and Zoning changes within a month or so. He said that in the next week or so he expected to submit the development plan application to the City. The plan includes all of the specifics about the overall site. If the plan is approved, Dedenbach hopes to have it finalized this June, which means construction could begin in mid-summer this year.

Commissioner Katherine Weitz read two emails from people who were unable to attend the meeting, but asked that their comments be read into the record. The first was from Jennifer and Stephen Davis whose property abuts the property under consideration for the solar array. They noted concerns that the solar panels would damage the ground, reduce the property values of the homes near it and raise the temperature.

Weitz read a second letter by Christina and George Tatum who raised concerns that their property backs up to the City’s wastewater treatment plant and noted medical issues within their family. They said their well was contaminated by e-coli and that two family members had serious folic acid deficiency. They were concerned about the wildlife that would be displaced by this construction and would end up in yards and on the roads.

The Tatums also said that trees were being burned on the property under consideration and they had to buy air purifiers for their home and that their son wasn’t able to stay in his room because of the smoke.

It was noted that because the construction and any smoke arising from the property was not generated by Duke Energy, it was difficult to see how Duke could be responsible for the poor air quality.

Commissioner Ross Ambrose pointed out that a solar array does not leak and that they are not routinely washed so damage to the water supply and wells would be unlikely to occur.

Weitz maintained her contention that Duke and other power agencies have pushed for legislation that would eliminate property owners’ ability to net meter or sell excess power back to the power companies after 2023. She pointed to other legislative actions that also increase dependence on power agencies.

She suggested that Duke place their solar array on any one of four closed landfills in Alachua County rather than on land near homeowners.

Ambrose referenced Duke’s right to place their solar array on the property based on the City’s Comprehensive Plan. He also said he is withholding judgment until he sees the site plan. “We need to hear what they have to say and hold them accountable.”

Ambrose said the solar plant would increase the City’s tax base. “We don’t have to pave more roads. We don’t have to provide infrastructure. We don’t have to increase fire protection. And we will be removing a dairy farm from a sensitive recharge area and preserving that recharge area for at least 35 years.”

Resident Stacy Gay addressed the Commission to say he didn’t think the solar farm was a problem. “It’s not Chernobyl. We need to look farther down the road.”

“They have not submitted their site plan yet,” said City Manager Ashley Stathatos. “We review those very carefully.”

City Attorney Andrea Parker said that Florida Statutes allow solar farms to be permitted by right on Agricultural zoned properties. “However,” she said, “the City can specify buffering and other items.”

In other City business, a site plan for Simed Medical Office, 23741 West U.S. 27 across the street from City Hall was unanimously approved.

A 50/50 match was approved for a Department of Environmental Protection grant totaling $822,000. The City’s match amount of $422,000 was approved using impact fees and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fees. The grant will phase out 22 septic tanks east of the force main that runs down CR 236. A lift station will also be part of that project, which will serve other homes as well.

Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham said, “Once this phase is complete, there will be another phase to this project probably next year.”

Stathatos said a facility plan will be on the next agenda. “We will be looking at impact fees, which will likely have to increase to pay for more projects.” Currently, the City has $561,000 in impact fees, which will be reduced by the matching grant funds.

In other City business, the Commission unanimously approved the purchase of a rescue water craft for use by High Springs Fire Department personnel for water rescue. “Since we have owned the Canoe Outpost, we have been called out five times to help rescue people on the water,” said Gillingham. “We already have 90 percent of the equipment we would need for these types of rescues.” A certified boat captain is a member of the fire department and personnel can work under his supervision. The price of the boat is $35,467 and is being purchased from Tailwinds, a High Springs company.

The Commission approved the $155,294 purchase of a brush truck for the High Springs Fire Department. The existing 1997 brush truck has been out of service for 18 months. The City has located a new four-door 2022 Dodge Ram 5500 4X4 chassis purchased by the Federal Forestry Department that was not picked up.

The Commission is renaming part of U.S. 27 from U.S. Highway 441 to High Springs Main Street as 186th Place for E-9 1 1 purposes. Commissioners agreed that having numbers makes it easier for people to locate the addresses.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for April 28.

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission is continuing its work on a gateway overlay district for the city. Gateway overlay districts typically include a zoning district that extends on top of a base zoning district that regulates the uses, while the overlay zoning district regulates development standards. City staff report there are currently 17 different major projects in some stage of development in Newberry.

The Commission met in a workshop on Tuesday, March 29, to discuss specifics of the Gateway Overlay District with CHW Consultants who will develop design codes and bring that back to the Planning and Zoning Board for consideration and recommendation.

Newberry Senior Project Manager Ryan Thompson said that the Gateway Overlay areas under discussion are the roadways into the city, such as U.S. Highway 27/41 and State Road 26/West Newberry Road. He estimated that it would be June or July before new regulations stemming from this process would be enacted and he encouraged all stakeholders and citizens to participate in the process.

Based on comments from citizens, Thompson said that residents appreciate the downtown Historic District, but didn’t want the entire city to be in the same style. Under consideration are exposed parking lots along the corridor that should be smaller with no more than 100 parking spaces. Regulations could be written for those areas to require landscaping or other screening methods to minimize the visual impact of parking lots. Parking for larger commercial could be located behind the buildings similar to the way Town of Tioga has been structured.

In terms of architectural styles, the City could require that builders incorporate no fewer than three architectural elements such as roof lines, shutters and other elements that are cohesive but not “cookie cutter.”

CHW Senior Project Manager Caeli Tolar, Landscape Architect, reviewed site-specific elements such as density. She recommended a tree list be developed and minimum size requirements for installation be established in an effort to develop roadway buffers and maintain the character of the city.

Tolar summarized landscape buffers for three different roadway zones, the number of canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs and grasses that would be specific to each zone and broke some of the zones into commercial and non-commercial uses. She suggested that they attempt to limit the driveway entries onto the main road and instead have ingress/egress on a secondary road and that commercial buildings with double and triple frontage are preferable.

Mayor Jordan Marlowe said it would likely be June or July before the new guidelines would be completed.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Easter Bunny made appearances in both High Springs and Alachua over the weekend as children took to grassy fields to find colorful eggs on Saturday, April 16.

In Alachua, the City's Recreation and Culture Department hosted an Easter Egg hunt at the Legacy Park at 10 a.m. Over 220 families filled the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center to have a photo taken with the Easter Bunny and form lines to be taken to four different fields where the plastic eggs were hidden.

“We decided based on past experience to divide it by age groups so that the little kids could have their own area and not get overrun by older kids,” said the City’s Recreation Department Event Coordinator Kimberly Vermillion. “We wanted everyone to have an equal chance.” Groups were divided by age groups of 1-3; 4-6; 7-8 and 9 and up.

“We had over 1,400 eggs that the staff had put either a piece of individually wrapped candy or a ticket inside,” said Vermillion. There were 200 tickets, which entitled the lucky children who found those eggs to a large Easter basket or stuffed animal donated by Dollar General. Vermillion added that Pro Tae KwonDo also provided tickets in eggs as well.

While the planning stage and egg stuffing had taken the staff weeks to organize, the event was over in under 20 minutes after the kids were assembled and rushed out to the fields to pick up every egg.

“We were really pleased with how smoothly the event went and we received a lot of positive comments from the parents,” said Vermillion. “We weren't sure how many would attend due to COVID, which shut us down in 2019 and 2020, but the participation was bigger than expected and nothing was left over after the event.”

An hour later it was High Springs’ turn with an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce. The downtown area along Main Street had several activities going on the same day including the High Springs Art Walk and the first Easter parade and Easter egg hunt in more than 15 years.

Children brought their Easter baskets to go “trick or treating” as the downtown stores on Main Street handed out sweet treats. The chamber led groups of children from the chamber office, located at 23517 N.W. 185^th Road, next to the Farmers Market Pavilion, over to the museum to meet the Easter Bunny and parade back through downtown to the chamber office for an Easter Egg hunt.

“We had to divide them into several groups for the parade due to the high turnout,” said Chamber President Sharon Decker. “We had tried to get an idea of how many were coming by asking for pre-registration so we would know how much eggs and candy to buy.” The chamber purchased over 1,000 eggs, the 1^st Baptist Church donated stuffed animals and the pre-registration numbered 41 families.

But the event turned out to be even more popular and drew over 200 families. “This was a good start on what will be an annual event, but I think we might have to plan bigger next year,” said Decker. She added that next year the chamber is going to require pre-sign-up only so they can have a better idea of how much to buy and make sure that everyone, especially the younger kids, get plenty of candy or prizes.

“The businesses on Main Street were great at helping out and distributing their own treats as well” Decker said.” It was a great success and we look forward to making it an annual event.”

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