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ALACHUA ‒ Santa Fe High School (SFHS) has played a big part in Julie Rye’s life. Now she is playing a big part in the lives of students and staff at the school.

Rye has been a clerical assistant at SFHS for the last seven years, but her ties to the school go back much further. Both her parents graduated from the school, as did she. Her son is also a SFHS alumnus, and her daughter is a current student.

The school’s principal and coworkers consider her the ‘face and voice’ of Santa Fe High. Stationed just behind the school’s front desk, Rye is the person who greets students, families and staff first thing in the morning and responds to questions—and problems—throughout the day.

“Serving in such a role can be demanding and stressful,” said Principal Dr. Tim Wright. “But Julie makes parents and students feel welcomed and valued. She listens intently to their questions and reassures them that she’ll help them with their situation.”

Rye says her long-standing connection to the school and community are a big help in her work.

“I know a majority of the kids here, and I went to school with a lot of their parents,” she said. “They know they can call me personally if they need something, which is really nice.”

Rye’s contributions to the school are not limited to her work in the front office. She also sponsors a number of student groups and teams, including Student Government and the Junior and Senior classes. Evenings and weekends, she can often be found at games, concerts, fundraisers and other activities in which students are participating, both on and off campus.

“I love being a part of their lives,” said Rye. “I hope it inspires them to see that I care about them whether they’re at school or out in the community.”

For her dedication to the school and its students, Rye has been named Alachua County Public Schools’ (ACPS) School-Related Employee of the Year. She is one of 44 district employees nominated for the honor this year and will now go on to represent ACPS in the Florida School Related Employee of the Year program.

“I’m very honored,” said Rye of her selection. “I feel really appreciated.”

The Alachua County School District plans to recognize all of this year’s 44 honorees at a special celebration in May, the district’s first in-person event for the School Related Employee of the Year program since the pandemic began. The Commissioner of Education will be identifying the overall winning employee out of more than 70 schools in Florida sometime in April or May of this year.

Since the program was established in 1993, honorees have received a check for $110 to represent the 110 percent they give to their work. Community fundraising makes those awards possible.

Anyone interested in contributing to the School Related Employee of the Year program can do so online through The Education Foundation at edfoundationac.org. They can click on the red DONATE button near the top right-hand side of the page and select the ‘School Related Employee of the Year Program’ when asked to designate their donation.

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HAWTHORNE –  As part of the of widening improvements on State Road 20 from the Putnam County line to SW 56^th Avenue, eastbound and westbound travel lanes on State Road 20 from Southeast 65^th Lane to Gordon Chapel Road (map below) will be shifted to the north side of the roadway onto new pavement and the newly constructed bridge just west of Gordon Chapel Road Wednesday, March 9.

Anderson Columbia Co. Inc. is estimated to complete the $49 million widening improvements by early 2023. Construction schedule and completion estimates are fluid and subject to change, weather and schedule permitting. 

March is bicycle safety month. When cycling always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction of traffic on the street. Obey all traffic signs, signals, and markings.

Stay informed about lane closures and roadwork in your area by following FDOT District 2 at @MyFDOT_NEFL on Twitter or at MyFDOTNEFL on Facebook.

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PALATKA ― The St. Johns River Water Management District has long been dedicated to protecting Florida’s springs. Demonstrating that commitment, the District’s Governing Board approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month for the ninth consecutive year. The annual designation, which was adopted at Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting, helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

“The support provided by Gov. DeSantis and our partners at Florida Department of Environmental Protection and funding provided by the Legislature for springs restoration is vital to the success of our work at the District,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “Over the past eight years, the District has co-funded 154 projects, which has saved more than 100 million of gallons of water a day to help protect Outstanding Florida Springs—springs we hope offer places our children, grandchildren and future generations can continue to enjoy.”

Steps to reduce pollution and groundwater usage and minimize other impacts on the springs are at the heart of many projects and initiatives now underway. The District continues to build on partnerships with many entities, pursuing protection and restoration of springs through scientific research, restoration projects, water use regulation, water supply planning and stakeholder outreach.

Rep. Charles “Chuck” Clemons of Newberry recently introduced resolution (HR 8029) recognizing April 2022 as Springs Protection Awareness Month in Florida. Since 2013, water management districts across the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have joined the Legislature in recognizing the importance of springs and encouraging behaviors that will enhance springs protection.

Visit www.sjrwmd.com/springs for more information about the District’s work to protect springs.

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ALACHUA COUNTY - The Alachua County Clerk of the Court J.K. "Jess" Irby, Esq., along with Clerk's offices statewide, is participating in Operation Green Light. Operation Green Light runs from April 4, through April 8, 2022, and gives those with suspended driver's licenses an opportunity to pay overdue court obligations, including traffic tickets, while saving up to 35 percent in additional fees. Customers may also be able to have suspended driver licenses reinstated.

NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission on Feb. 28 approved a letter of support for House Bill 1493, sponsored by State Representative Chuck Clemons. The action is in support of a measure before the Florida Legislature to place a referendum on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot allowing the Alachua County electorate an opportunity to vote on whether they do or do not want single member districts for the Alachua County Commission.

This legislation would change the current County Commission at-large representation to five single member districts. Elected members would be required to live in one of the five county districts, and each commissioner would be nominated and elected by the people living in the same district. The Alachua County Commission and the City of Gainesville Commission have voiced their opposition to the idea of putting the issue to a vote.

In other business, Newberry Commissioners are tackling the City’s Urban Service Area (USA) boundary. On Jan. 10, a public workshop was held to allow members of the public, as well as Commissioners, to markup maps to show their suggested USA boundary. The USA will help identify areas where services are intended to be provided in an attempt to focus development in areas where governmental services will be available to the development.

“Although the location of the urban service area appears as a boundary on a map, it is most often used to implement a growth management strategy designed to direct growth over a projected time horizon (typically 20 years or more),” said Thomas.

He presented five proposed USA options, some of which reduced the current USA boundary and some which expanded it. Commissioners whittled down five proposed options to three and postponed further discussion until the full Commission was in attendance. The amendment process can take approximately six months to go through all of the required steps, reviews and hearings.

In other City business, the Commission approved three projects by giving authorization to the Utilities and Public Works Department to proceed. The Newberry Lane Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-12 was approved and the go ahead was given to City Manager Mike New to execute a contract for $370,558 for the total of the base bid and a Deductive Alternate in the amount of $8,440 with Andrews Paving, Inc.

The Commission also approved the State Road 26 Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-13. Commissioners authorized New to execute a contract for $994,239 for the total base bid with O’Steen Brothers, Inc. The authorization is conditioned upon the completion of the land rights process.

The third project authorized by the Commission is the Southwest 4^th Avenue Sidewalk Project #2022-01.   New was authorized to execute a contract with Andrews Paving, Inc. for the total of the base bid of $48,757. The developer is paying for half of the project and street lights will be installed after the sidewalk project is completed.

The City of Newberry is looking for an experienced planner as Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell retires after 15 years as a grant writer and city planner. “It will be difficult to find someone as experienced to fill Wendy’s shoes,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.

In honor of her retirement Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record during the Feb. 28 Commission meeting honoring Kinser-Maxwell and naming March 3, her last day with the City, as Wendy Kinser-Maxwell Day in Newberry. He also presented her with a plaque and an award for her years of service and wished her well.

In one of her last acts prior to her retirement, Kinser-Maxwell introduced Ordinance 2022-19/LDR 22-02 on first reading. This item is an amendment to the City’s Land Development Regulations to allow electronic message signage at city-owned public facilities, specifically City Hall.

“The electronic signage provides a public service through better and increased communication with the public about upcoming city events and important announcements that can affect the community’s health, safety and welfare, such as emergency or hurricane safety alerts,” Kinser-Maxwell said. In addition, for those residents who do not use the internet, a changeable copy electronic message board offers a consistent, straightforward way to gain information. “It is a practical means of communication that will give the City another tool to share important information with its residents,” she said.

Because City Hall is within the Historic District, the proposed amendment to the current city sign regulations is necessary and will not compromise the intent of the district. Kinser-Maxwell pointed out that public hearings were held before the Historic Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Board. In both cases the vote was unanimous to recommend approval.

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