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HIGH SPRINGS – In just their second season, the High Springs SwampBots (Team Frogman) came in third place out of 32 teams at the Lego League Panther Prowl Qualifier at Palatka High School on Saturday, Feb. 5. “This is a remarkable feat for local coaches and participants,” said High Springs Parks and Recreation Director Damon Messina.

The objective of SwampBots is to have robots, which are built by the teams, do runs for a period of time. “This is another avenue for children to express themselves creatively,” said Messina. “It’s not only children building robots, but also robots building children.”

There are several teams in Alachua County, and two of those teams are from High Springs and Alachua that partner with the City of High Springs Parks and Recreation Department. Each team consists of eight to 10 kids. The teams practice two to three times a week in the multi-purpose rooms of the old school building behind City Hall. The season is August to February/March each year. Children from fourth to eighth grades are eligible to participate free of charge.

The organization is funded by a grant from the Alachua County Children’s Trust. All funds go toward the registrations, programming, equipment (Lego robotic set), computers, coaches’ stipend, league and tournament fees.

Based on the third-place results, the teams may go on to play in a Southeast Regional competition. Messina said he is grateful to the Alachua County Children’s Trust for their consistent contribution, to President of SwampBots, Ben Sanders for his dedication to the program, and to the High Springs Parks and Recreation Board for advocating the program.

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The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention’s popular adults-only evening event, Cade After Dark 21+, returns with spring dates and all new activities centered around a different theme each month. 

At Cade After Dark 21+, guests can relax with adult beverages while reliving their childhood with board games and science experiments and checking out the museum’s latest exhibits. Past events have gotten visitors’ hands sticky with gooey slime while blowing minds with Shrinky Dinks, 3D-pen drawing tables, and radioactive snow, and entertaining with giant Jenga and other old school games. 

Cade After Dark guests can enjoy some snacks and then work them off by testing their strength and endurance in the Sweat Solution, the Cade’s permanent exhibit that tells the story of the invention of Gatorade.  

They can then take an afterhours look at the Cade’s current museum-wide themes and temporary exhibits. This spring, the Cade unravels textile technology in the theme Tech Tapestry and exhibit Fabric Frontiers, demonstrating how a penchant for fancy silks in 18th century France inspired the first computers, or how the evolution of cold weather clothing unfolded through three generations of Antarctic explorers.  

A host of tactile, experimental and STEAM-powered activities fill every nook and cranny at Cade After Dark. Each month something new and surprising awaits participants. 

Cure the end-of-season, post-Super Bowl blues at the February 18 Cade After Dark, where a roster full of football-themed games, refreshments and activities provide adults a much-needed timeout.  

Recharge those drained, mid-semester batteries on March 18. Participants will have an electrifyingly good time as all things light and electricity course through the museum’s activities and games. The Cade’s brand-new exhibit on the inventions you find in bathrooms (that’s right, bathrooms) will be brimming with scavenger hunts and other bathroom-related distractions and adventures. 

After getting wired up in March, the Cade will switch its flip for an ultimate glow in the dark vibe session on April 8th. Attendees’ smiles will surely light up the room, along with their glow sticks and glowing slime. Afterall, growing up can be hard. Why not glow up instead?  

Speaking of growing up, the Cade is turning four in May! Party hats and kazoos will be encouraged at the Cade After Dark Birthday Bazar on May 20th. Attendees will also be able to explore the world of storytelling through animation in the Cade’s latest exhibit, Animationland. 

“We’re thrilled to be able to set aside this time just for adults, away from the hustle and bustle of daily museum activities, field trips, and group tours,” says Cade Museum President and CEO, Stephanie Bailes. “It’s a chance to really be immersed in the museum. I love seeing the wild experiments our educators come up with and the games that take over the museum at night. It’s the perfect date night or friends’ night out!”  

Cade After Dark 21+ takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, March 18, April 8, and May 20. To register in advance, visit cademuseum.org/calendar. Adults 21 and older only will be admitted. Admission is $15 per person and includes a drink ticket, redeemable at the Cade’s cash bar. Additional drinks will be available for purchase. Also included is a free ticket to a raffle prize drawing.  

Cade After Dark is sponsored by First Magnitude Brewing Company and Goldie’s Burgers. 

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ On a chilly Feb. 12 morning, 50 runners gathered at the High Springs Civic Center to compete in the aptly named 5K Frozen Foot Race. The 3.1 mile run winds through the High Springs Sports Complex, around Bailey Estates and back into town with varying terrains and elevation changes.

Runners were divided by age and gender into eight groups, with competitors in both male and female categories starting at ages 1 to 18; 18-39; 40-49 and finishing with over 50 years old. Younger kids accompanied their parents in strollers.

The event was started in 2016 by the City of High Springs Parks Department to raise money for improvements at City owned parks. All proceeds go to the department’s budget to purchase playground equipment and facility improvements at area parks. The race has garnered support and sponsorship from other groups as well, including the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe and the High Springs Police and Fire departments. Additional organization sponsoring this year’s event were AAA Porta Serve, Florida Credit Union, McDonalds and Start To Finish Race Management.

The event has grown each year, although the event was canceled last year due to the pandemic, and this year’s event was scaled down with fewer activities than previous races. High Springs CRA director David Sutton says the City is working toward reestablishing the event next year and expand it with children's activities, bounce houses and food trucks.

With the City's recent purchase of the Canoe Outpost on the Santa Fe River, the future may bring a triathlon of sorts that would include a bike ride to the river, a swim and then back to the Civic Center for the footrace.

This past Saturday, at 9 a.m., runners started on the 3.1-mile course, and 21 minutes and 36 seconds later the overall winner, Tim Guinn, crossed the finish line. Female winner Jessica Frey crossed the finish line three minutes later. Both were also the winners in the 18-49 age category.

Awards are given for the top three runners in each group who completed the course. Hudson Williams and Eisley Moore were the winners in the 1 – 18 age category. The winners of the 40-49 category were Spencer- Smith Corbett and Carol Ellis. High Springs Police Chief Antione Shepard finished third in the 40-49 category. In the Senior category of 50 – 98, winners were Thomas Story and Sally Chappell.

Two runners not receiving awards were High Springs Fire Department Lt. Kevin Pearson and Deputy Chief Andy Burkhalter who ran the 3.1-mile course in full turnout gear and on-air, which is similar to a SCUBA tank, in just 41 minutes. The combined weight of the gear and air pack comes in at over 60 pounds.

“This is what we would wear to an actual fire, so doing it for the marathon was good practice to stay fit,” said Burkhalter. “We wanted to challenge ourselves and always be physically prepared for an actual emergency and this was a cause that benefits the community as well with funding for our parks.”

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GAINESVILLE  – Students and faculty at Santa Fe College (SF) will join others across the nation during the month of February to celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. CTE Month is recognized to celebrate and highlight the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs both in the state of Florida and across the nation.   

  “Our CTE programs are designed to work in collaboration with our business community, to provide students with the training required for the high-demand careers here in North Central Florida,” SF Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs – CTE, Dr. Tyran Butler said. “We are proud of the work our students do, this CTE month and every month.”   

CTE can accelerate personal and professional success. With little to no barriers to enrollment and 17 career pathways to choose from, individuals can acquire the skills needed through real-world, hands-on experience.   

“The CTE programs at Santa Fe College provide our community with highly skilled workers in a number of regionally in-demand industries, including critical fields like healthcare and biotechnology,” added SF Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs – Health, Dr. Jodi Long. “What students learn in the classroom and labs provides the necessary training for successful careers that promote economic security and opportunities for upward mobility and even higher wages.” 

As our faculty prepare CTE students for their future careers as skilled professionals, students engage in hands-on learning with real life applications. These approaches to teaching are linked to greater understanding, comprehension, and retention.  

  CTE offers a way for students to gain skills and earn certifications in some of Florida’s most critical and desirable industries. Unlike traditional higher education, CTE programs can set individuals on the right path in less time with less cost. 

  To see what SF has to offer in Career and Technical Education, visit sfcollege.edu/cte.

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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, Chesser Monroe Road at State Road 20 will close to traffic Wednesday, February 16 through late April, weather and schedule permitting. The temporary closure is necessary to complete driveway, sidewalk and asphalt paving tie-in work.

Drivers will detour via Baden Powel Avenue to East Washington Avenue to return to Chesser Monroe Road (map below).

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

February is “hit-and-run” awareness month in Florida. When you flee the scene of a crash, you are breaking the law, which carries serious consequences. FDOT reminds motorists to take responsibility and stay at the scene of a crash.

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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