Local

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Bees are the most vital insect on the planet for plant pollination and the human food supply. Bees pollinate 80 percent of all flowering plants, including approximately 75 percent of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the United States. The sweet nectar is widely used as a natural sweetener and by many people in treating coughs and sore throats.

Daniel Dorosheff started beekeeping seven years ago. “At first, I got a few chickens for my yard, but found I wanted to expand to other animals. Both my father and grandfather had raised bees, so I already had an interest in it,” he said. “I read everything I could find on beekeeping to improve my chances of success.”

The practical value of bees as pollinators is enormously greater than the value of their honey and wax production. Bees are entirely dependent on flowers for food, which consists of pollen and nectar, which they modify and store as honey. As bees go from flower to flower gathering pollen, a small amount is rubbed from their bodies and deposited on the flowers they visit. The pollen transfer results in cross pollination, and without this process, plants cannot reproduce. A hive of bees will fly over 55,000 miles to make one pound of honey and can create 100 pounds in a year.

“Over the years I built from one hive and now have 27 hives in various locations,” said Dorosheff. “It was basically a hobby and a way to get honey, but it got to the point I had a large stock of honey.”

Dorosheff said, “At the time, my son Spencer was 16 and asking about getting a car. I offered to split the profits in half if he could sell some of the stored honey.” What began as a small operation turned into a booming business. “Like most of his generation, he made use of social media as a marketing tool and we were suddenly flooded with orders,” said Dorosheff. “Before that, we had just been selling to friends, but we now realized it could be a commercial business and founded our LLC as “Thy Will Bee Done.”

While beekeeping has been around for thousands of years, recently there has been growth in home-based small production beekeepers. Several local beekeepers now offer classes for the novice. Dorosheff received inquiries about how to become a beekeeper, and now with help from his son, they offer classes.

The first half of each two-hour class is lecture focusing on equipment, construction of the hives and the behavior of bees. The second half of the class offers hands-on training of handling the bees safely and the racks. Each hive contains between five and 10 racks that bees build their honeycombs on. In the center of each hive are brood racks, which house both honey and eggs. The outer racks contain mainly honey and are the ones they harvest from.

Classes are small with a limit of five students. Dorosheff outfits each person attending in personal protection gear (PPE) consisting of a hat with netting to keep bees off the face. Each person must wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants as well as gloves so all exposed flesh is covered. While bees are only aggressive when threatened, they will protect the hive and attack. Bees communicate through pheromones scent and if one feels threatened, the others will react to that.

The best way to calm bees is with smoke that both covers the pheromones and has a calming effect on the bees, letting the beekeeper make the hive inspection or honey harvest without major problems.

Dorosheff gathers the class around the hives and applies smoke to the bees, allowing him pull a rack to illustrate construction of the hive, how they harvest the honey and to show the queen and the brood nest.

Each student gets a chance to hold the rack as Dorosheff explains the harvesting process. He says that you never take all the honey since it is also the bee’s food source and good beekeeping management keeps the hive healthy.

Although there is no set schedule for a class, Dorosheff expects to have another class in mid-March. Interested people can contact Spencer at spencerdorosheff@gmail.com or on instagram@thy.willbeedone and facebook at thywillbeedone to register for classes.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ Join the fabulous Dance Alive National Ballet at the incomparable annual fundraiser on Saturday, March 12, 2022, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, 15400 Peggy Rd, Alachua.

A fabulous time will be had by all! Featuring the extraordinary ‘Dancing With the Stars’ production, this event has it all. Dining, dancing, a silent auction, and the wonderful Dance Alive dancers join with terrific celebrity stars to put on a dynamite show. 

It is without a doubt the most entertaining event you will attend! Chaired by the charming Susannah Peddie, hosted by the terrific Eric Godet, with sumptuous food provided by Blue Water Bay, stunningly decorated by Unforgettable Events, and entertained by the amazing Gosia and Ali band. Prepare to be transported!

PURCHASE TICKETS AND TABLES AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ‘STAR’ AT TICKETS AND VOTING.

Proceeds go to Dance Alive National Ballet’s Outreach and Educational Programming.Sponsored by Parris Dance, Unforgettable Events, Publix Super Market Charities, Legacy Park, and the City of Alachua. 

The STARS & their partners in Dancing With the Stars. Who will win the People's Choice Award? It's Up to YOU!

LADY ‘STARS’ and their professional dance partners

Star Bradbury Star and Jose Ramos

Aubrey Hall and Tim Cannon

Emma Luetgert Emma and Fhilipe Teixeira

Valesca Rugbi and Roberto Vega

Anna Olcese Anna and Andre Valladon

Tara Tara and Nathan Fernandes

Kathy Sarantos and Tales Ribeiro

GENTLEMEN ‘STARS’ and their professional dance partners

Wickie Ariet and Beatriz Correa

Adam Boukari Adam and Rosemary Deiorio

Luis Rodriguez Louis and Emilia Leon

Raymond Chobaz and Ashley Brooke Lunn

David Franklin and Carla Amancio

Maury Ivey and Luana Rayssa

Jeffrey Meldon and Jessie Dominguez

Matt Urban and Marilyn Deiorio

Robert de Rochement, Jr. and Rachel Ridley

#     #    #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A local legend known for his penchant to forego clothing is in need. Ed Watts, also known as Naked Ed, lived on the Santa Fe River for over 35 years. He served as caretaker for a piece of property that surrounds Lily Springs. As most locals know, most of the time, Ed doesn’t wear clothes.

When Ed first found the spring in 1984, it was covered in trash. Watts asked the owner if he could clean it up and swim in it—naked. Watts was called the springs' caretaker and was given a 20-year no-payment lease.

Ed first began staying at Lily Springs in a tent for only a few days week. After about a year he began living there full time, at first in a grass hut he built on the ground, and then in a hut on stilts due to flooding.

Over the years Ed became a local celebrity as people kayaking the river would stop at Lily Springs to see him. He became what he calls “a tourist attraction” due to the numbers of people who canoed the river to visit. Ed does acquiesce to convention when people are around as he wears a loincloth to be polite. Other times he is simply “Naked Ed.”

Even though Ed lives alone, he enjoys talking with visitors. And he does create quite an impression. Even the staff of two governors thought it was wise for the head of state to meet with the naked man during “field visits.” Watts became so well known in area that there was even a beer named after him.

Over the past few years, Naked Ed's health problems, including brittle bone disease, have forced him to spend less time on the river and more at a house on family land in Columbia County on Southwest Brawley Terrace. Tragedy struck on Feb. 1 when his home burned to the ground. Ed was inside with family at the time, but they quickly realized the fire was beyond their control to extinguish. They called the fire department, but it was too late.

Ed lost everything and is now living in a motel. Fiends and community members have set up several charity drives to help get him on his feet and get a new house.

One friend set up a GoFundMe at:https://www.gofundme.com/.../wbhcqe-help-naked-ed-rebuild. So far, over $3,000 has been collected. The Santa Fe Bar has also organized a benefit concert for Naked Ed and is a drop-off location for clothing, household items and monetary donations.

The benefit concert will be held at Rum 138, 2070 S.W. County Road 138, on Saturday, Feb. 26. Music starts at 1 p.m. and will play till 10 p.m., weather permitting. Six local bands or performers are donating their playing time for Naked Ed’s benefit. He needs a shed or tiny home for his property, at a reduced cost or donated. Volunteers to help with clean-up after the fire, as well as electrical and plumbing installation are also needed.

In addition to the music, the event includes food and drinks as well as a donation drive with a suggested $10 entry per person. An art auction of Naked Ed portraits by painter Michèle Karahalios and photographer John Moran will take place at 6 p.m., all to help raise funds for a new roof over his head and replace items lost in the fire so he can continue to live on his family land.

The music schedule is:1 – 2 p.m. DJ Scotti J; 2 – 3 p.m. Quartermoon; 3 – 4:30 p.m. Jim’s Livingroom; 4:30 – 6 p.m. Weeds of Eden; 6 – 6:30 p.m. art auction; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. In The Moment and 8:30 - 10 p.m. Lionel Jr. the Voodoo Cowboy.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS – Charles “Doc” Edward Williams, 79, High Springs, was arrested on Feb. 6 following an investigation in which it was discovered that he had solicited two individuals to clean out a house and dispose of the owner’s possessions without the owner’s permission.

The arrest followed an investigation in which High Springs Police Department (HSPD) patrol officer Nodarse noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at a residence at 23000 N.W. 182^nd Avenue in High Springs. The officer had prior knowledge that the current occupant of the home was incarcerated in a jail facility and was awaiting transport for long-term medical care.

According to the HSPD, Nodarse noticed the suspicious vehicle on Feb. 1 and made contact with an individual at the house, who said they had been hired to clean, paint and dispose of personal belongings inside the house, all without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

Williams had solicited Clarice Robinson and Eddie Russel, both of whom are also charged with exploitation of a disabled adult and scheming to defraud, to not only clean out the house, but also to pay the tax bill on the property and resume utilities at the house with the promise of letting them live in the home. Robinson and Russel discarded and burned most of the belongings inside the home and changed the locks.

Williams knew of the victim’s diminished mental capacity and was placed in a position of trust and confidence by the victim to care for the victim’s property and belongings.

Destroyed items included personal items, mattresses, clothing, photographs, artwork and furniture.

Williams has been released on his own recognizance with a GPS monitor. He also has a pending misdemeanor charge for selling beer without a license in June 2021. Williams was arrested in October on that charge and was also released on his own recognizance at that time.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry at the Feb. 15 commission meeting annexed nearly 76 acres of unincorporated Alachua County into the Newberry city limits. Ordinance 2022-01 was approved to annex three contiguous properties, tax parcels numbers 04273-002-000, 04273-002-001 and 04273-002-002, totaling approximately 15.53 acres. Ordinance 2022-02 includes parcel 01840-002-001 and includes approximately 20.02 acres. Ordinance 2022-03 includes two contiguous properties consisting of tax parcels 02597- 000-000 and 02597-001-000 for a total of approximately 40.32 acres.

Commissioners also approved a change in the Future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on approximately 38.2 acres of land previously annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-05/CPA 21-31. The subject property includes Tax Parcels 04443-000-000 and 04443-001-000, which are located on the south side of Southwest 30^th Avenue and east of Southwest 186^th Street.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-05/CPA 21-31 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-12/LDR 21-39 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same two tax parcels.

Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32 was approved to change the Future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on approximately two contiguous parcels totaling approximately 7.38 acres of land, which also had previously been annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32. The subject property includes Tax Parcels 02587-001-005 and 02587-000-007, which are located on the south side of Southwest 30th Avenue and east of Southwest 298th Street.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-06/CPA 21-32 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-13/LDR 21-40 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same two tax parcels.

Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34 was approved to change the future Land Use Map classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on one parcel totaling approximately 4.27 acres. The property, which is located on the south side State Road-26/West Newberry Road, west of Southwest 174th Street, was annexed into the City on Nov. 13, 2017. This action was taken following a legislative public hearing on second reading of Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34. The subject property includes Tax Parcel 04370-002-000.

Following approval of Ordinance 2022-08/CPA 21-34 on second reading, Commissioners heard Ordinance 2022-15/LDR21-42 in a quasi-judicial public hearing and approved a zoning change from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agricultural on the same tax parcel.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua City Commission Monday considered the final plat for Savannah Station 2C subdivision located north of Savannah Station Phase I and Pilot Forest subdivisions, west of the Shady Lane Acres and Interstate 75, and east of Northwest County Road 235. Phase 2C is the final portion of the already established subdivision.

Property developer and owner, Gloria's Way, is requesting to add 43 lots on a 9.3-acre plot, with associated right-of-way and common areas. The preliminary plat for Savannah Station Phase II was originally approved by the City Commission on Feb.12, 2019 and allowed for up to 180 houses with a maximum of four house per acre.

This request for the last part of the project is distinct from what has already been developed. As part of the approval the City would receive an irrevocable letter of credit from Gloria’s Way, LLC in the amount of $1,397,528 as the surety instrument for infrastructure improvements, other than sidewalks. The City would also accept a letter of credit from Gloria’s Way, LLC for $116,483 as the surety instrument for sidewalks.

Development of Savannah Station 2C involves removal of trees, that in accordance with the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs), requires replacement mitigation of those trees. The number of trees proposed for removal would require 873 replacement trees to be planted. The approved Construction Plans for Savannah Station Phase 2B and 2C propose to provide a total of 48 replacement trees on-site. The remainder would be planted elsewhere as off-site mitigation in accordance with the City’s LDRs.

Off-site mitigation trees may be planted in City-owned properties and parks, City rights-of-way, preservation or conservation areas owned by the City, and within medians and rights-of-way of State and County roads The cost for tree replacement and off-site mitigation must be paid by the developer prior to the start of construction on the final Phase 2C. The required payment for the off-site mitigation will amount to $128,434.

In other business, students from Irby Elementary School were recognized by the City Commission. The students currently have their artwork, “Fall Trees,” on display in the lobby of City Hall. Six students attended the meeting with their parents and were presented with a certificate by Mayor Gib Coerper and their picture taken with the full Commission.

In a related school matter, School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day is recognized annually throughout Florida. Crossing guards are vigilant at keeping students safe from harm as they monitor intersections and assist students cross roadways on school days. In recognition of school crossing guards in Alachua, Coerper read a proclamation officially declaring Feb. 4 as Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. He said that the proclamation is a gesture of gratitude for those who dedicate their service by ensuring the safety of children as they commute to and from school. Alachua Chief of Police Jesse Sandusky commended crossing guards for their invaluable service and dedication to the children of the community.

Alachua is scheduled to receive an estimated $33,507 through a potential settlement over opioid litigation. On April 13, 2021 the City received a letter from the Office of the State of Florida Attorney General regarding ongoing opioid litigation between the State and a number of defendants. The letter provided an update regarding the litigation and potential settlement for damage caused by opioid addiction.

The City Commission adopted a resolution authorizing Alachua County to act on behalf of the City to maximize any recovery from the litigation. The State has now reached a settlement with two companies. Both settlements are estimated to provide a combined total of $33,507 to the City of Alachua over an 18-year payout horizon. Funds received by the City are to be used for strategies, programming and services used to expand the availability of treatment for individuals impacted by substance abuse disorders, including education/awareness activities.

#     #    #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com