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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the 24^th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on a brisk Nov. 26 evening. The event has been held continuously over the years—even through the pandemic.

Pre-Covid in 2019, the park was filled with a record crowd of families bringing their children to watch the Christmas tree lighting and a chance to meet Santa Claus. Businesses and local churches provided booths distributing candy, popcorn, cookies and other treats to the children. Another booth was set up to help children make Christmas ornaments. People dressed as Christmas characters roamed the crowd interacting with the children and posing for photos.  

Then in 2020 with the pandemic ever present, although much of the traditional fun was missing to be replaced by other activities. All the hands-on booths for face painting, gift design, card making and other activities for the children were gone due to social distancing. All treats at the booths were individually wrapped to avoid cross contact. While children still got to sit with Santa, they sat next to him, with Santa wearing a face shield and the kids in required masks. The audience was much smaller as well.

“This year we wanted to bring back the excitement and activities that had made this event a community tradition, but still be safe health wise,” said Chamber President Sharon Decker. The event was more spread out, with open air bleachers near the tree lighting. Much of the close contact games and activities like face painting were gone and all cookies and treats were handed out one at a time by gloved volunteers to limit contact. All the booths and games were held in the Farmers market at the other end of the field. Kids could still make cards and ornaments, but working as individuals to limit contact on the supplies.

The number of vendors was reduced to six, with the tables spread out. The Summit Baptist Church, High Springs Women’s Club and Garden Club had tables for children to make cards, ornaments and Christmas bookmarks. Witness of Christ Ministry gave out free cookies and baked goods. The Pink Flamingo brought a brightly lit food truck offering coffee and hot chocolate. Girl Scouts volunteered to help Santa as he listened to the children's wishes. A large model train also attracted the attention of youngsters. On a larger scale, the High Springs Lions Club brought their Polar Express train over to offer free rides to children. With the “train cars” only seating one child in open air and distanced apart, the tradition continued as the train circled the field.

But for most people it was the tree lighting and a visit from Santa that brought them to the event. As 6:30 p.m. approached, a large crowd gathered near the tree. High Springs Pastor Sammy Nelson was honored as “Citizen of the Year” and he led the crowd with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and introduced singer Dani MacKinzie, who sang Christmas songs.

At 6:30 sharp, Santa and Mrs. Claus were introduced and the tree was lit up with a multitude of lights and ornaments supplied by the High Springs CRA. Santa and Mrs. Claus stationed themselves at the Gazebo by the Farmers Market to listen to the long line of excited children and their wishes for Christmas.

“We were really glad how it all worked out,” said Decker. “From what I am being told, this is one of the biggest crowds and I think we were able to make it a great event and bring back the traditional celebration while still making health safety adjustments.’’

Decked sang the praises of volunteers who helped make the evening successful, crediting Chamber members and City staff, including Bruce Gillingham and David Fuller as well as the High Springs Police Department and Chief Antione Sheppard, Pastor Sammy Nelson and his church, and John Decker.

As for the future, Sharon Decker said,” We are looking forward to making it bigger next year and keep the tradition going.”

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ALACHUA ‒ Alachua Elementary fourth grade students were recognized at Nov. 15 Alachua City Commission meeting for their creative talents. The students’ artwork, representing “Cold & Warm,” is currently on display in the foyer of City Hall. Mayor Gib Coerper and Alachua Elementary’s Ann Robles presented a certificate to each student who came to the front of the Commission Chamber as their name was called.

Funding from the Florida Legislature, sponsored by State Representative Chuck Clemons, brings $375,000 for the Alachua Water Quality and Resiliency Improvement Project. In 2017, the City of Alachua experienced contamination of its water supply due to Hurricane Irma impacts. Currently, the city wells supplying the drinking water to the area are located in karst geology and geographically close together, increasing the likelihood of the wells to be overwhelmed during storm events and subject to potential impacts by surficial contamination.

The project consists of the engineering design and permitting needed to construct a 1.0 million gallon per day (MGD) supply well, raw water main, treatment improvements, an operating facility, yard piping improvements, electrical backup, and associated infrastructure improvements. Once constructed, these improvements will diversify local water supply sources and ensure availability of clean drinking water.

Additional funds to the City’s Water Utility Enterprise Fund will be appropriated from revenues and expenses related to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Grant. Alachua's allocation is $4,957,950, with half of the allocation received on Oct. 6, 2021. The remaining funds are anticipated to be distributed within a year for additional investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

The City will soon be constructing a parking lot in the downtown business district. The Commission approved amending the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget for the receipt of unanticipated revenue added to the CRA Special Revenue Fund to appropriate revenues and expenses for a $150,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business Services. The funds will be used for construction of a parking lot with underground water retention and utilities within the historic downtown core of Alachua. The 40-space parking lot will include two handicap-accessible spaces. Pedestrian connections to access historic Main Street will be included with the project. The project will also include the conversion of existing overhead electrical service to underground service.

In other business, the Commission approved a request to create two lots on a 16-acre property at Alachua Crossings. The replat will create two new lots and provide for maintenance of common areas such as stormwater facilities and the access driveway. There is an existing office building located on one of the proposed lots at 5550 N.W. 111^th Boulevard. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the request at their Oct. 12, 2021 hearing and forwarded the final plat application to the City Commission.

Due to notice requirements, the Commission deferred a decision to Nov. 29 for approval of the Preliminary Plat for Convergence Research Park, which proposes creating a subdivision on a 109-acre property into a total of 273 lots, with associated common areas and rights-of-way. The area is generally located south of the San Felasco Parkway, east of County Road 241, and north of Shaw Farms.

Troon Creek, LLC, developer of the new Briarwood subdivision located along CR 235A near Santa Fe High School, requested an extension of the Nov. 9, 2021 deadline for completion of infrastructure to Dec. 30, 2021. The developer cited supply chain constraints related to the COVID pandemic. The final plat and subdividers agreement was approved by the Commission on Nov. 9, 2020 and amended on July 26, 2021, to permit the construction of sidewalks as homes were completed.

Tara Baywood developers requested a change in the phasing development of the subdivision. The request would not change the number of houses or layout, only the order of construction within the development. If approved, construction plans will be required to demonstrate that all public utilities can be provided for each phase. Once construction plans are approved, the application for Final Plat and Subdivider's Agreement will return to the City Commission for consideration. The property is located near Lowes.

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NEWBERRY ‒ All aboard the Polar Express! This year the 2021 Polar Express event will be held at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd, Newberry. The event will take place on Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 10 – 11 and 17 – 18, plus bonus shows will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29 – 30. All shows are continuous from 5:30 – 8 p.m.

Readers of the popular book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express,” will likely remember that the writer takes a young boy and the readers on a magical train ride on Christmas Eve to the North Pole. There he receives a special gift from Santa Claus.

This presentation of the magical story is coordinated by Bob Watson and Lynn Reeves and includes real live visits with Santa along with complementary hot cocoa and cookies.

Although there is no cost for the Polar Express experience, there is a state park entrance fee of $5 per car load. Donations are encouraged to help defray costs and support this all-volunteer effort. Dudley Farm will be closed during this event.

For more information about this seasonal experience, call Bob Watson at 352-262-5068 or Lynn Reeves at 386-365-2137.

Visitors unfamiliar with Dudley Farm State Park will find a 325-acre historic park that offers an opportunity to see how Florida family farms evolved from the 1850s until the mid-1940s. Dudley Farm is an authentic working farm. Its buildings have been restored or are currently being restored to their original condition. Dudley Farm State Park is normally open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The farmstead closes at 4 p.m. For more information about this historic state park residents may call 352-472-1142 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/dudley-farm-historic-state-park.

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NEWBERRY – They City of Newberry may be offering property tax incentives for properties within the City’s historic district. At the Nov. 8 Newberry City Commission meeting, Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee sought direction from the Commission about a possible Historic Property Tax Incentive Program. The issue had previously been introduced during budget discussions.

Newberry is currently working to amend the historic district, but Lee presented a map of the current district for discussion purposes and provided an overview of a historic property tax incentive program and gave examples of how the program might work.

One option would be for the City to allow exemptions on the increase in value of approved improvements on a qualified historic property and could authorize up to 100 percent of the improved value of the tax increase for up to 10 years.

“Properties must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, be a contributing building in a National Register District or be designated under a local ordinance,” Lee said.

All of the properties within the current historic district would qualify. Renovation/rehabilitation work must be in accordance to federal guidelines and must be reviewed by the local preservation office or Division of Historic Resources. Property owners who are granted an exemption must enter into a covenant with the Florida Department of State, agreeing to maintain the architectural and historical integrity of the building.

The exemption would only apply to the amount of money spent on qualifying improvements resulting in an increase in assessed value.

Lee provided an example saying, “$25,000 in approved improvements times the approximate city millage rate of 0.006 equals $150 per year. If the City allowed an exemption for a period of up to 10 years, this would amount to a tax savings of $1,500 over that 10-year period.”

Lee added that Alachua County currently offers an exemption on the county’s taxes, which applies within the city.

The incentives are designed to encourage people to improve their properties in the downtown historic district. However, Lee said the program isn’t designed for small improvements like replacing the windows in a home and obtaining a $5 a year reduction in a property owner’s taxes.

Not all commissioners are on board with the idea as Commissioner Tim Marden said he wouldn’t be interested unless a threshold for a minimum amount of work was set that would make it worth the trouble of having staff implement the program.

The Commission didn’t discuss the length of time the tax credit would be allowed, although there was a brief mention that the Commission could pass an ordinance allowing a 50 percent exemption as opposed to a 100 percent, which is allowed by statute.

No formal action was taken on the matter, but Lee will develop a dollar threshold and present to the Commission at a future date.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A new mayor is taking the reins in High Springs as Commissioner Byran Williams was appointed to the position by the Commission at the Nov. 18 meeting. Outgoing Mayor Gloria James was appointed to serve as vice mayor. Long-time High Springs City Commissioner Scott Jamison retired from his seat after serving more than nine years as a commissioner and former mayor. As commission newcomer Katherine Weitz was the only qualified candidate running for Jamison’s seat, an election was not required and she was sworn in to Jamison’s former seat. Williams faced no opposition and was automatically returned to the Commission.

In other City business, the Commission upped monthly salaries for city commissioners to $900 and the mayor at $1,000. Ambrose pointed out that the salaries had been set at a higher rate in 2017 and have since been reduced. He suggested that the Commission consider raising the salaries for the next fiscal year. He said the 2017 salaries were set at $1,000 for commissioners and $1,200 for the mayor. City Manager Ashley Stathatos said staff would research salaries in the surrounding cities for Commission consideration.

The Commission also approved Resolution 2021-R, which amends the Land Development Code Administrative Fee Schedule. In some cases, the fees were lowered while in other cases they were raised. The changes were recommended following a survey of land development fees for neighboring cities of Alachua, Newberry and Gainesville and Alachua County.

Stathatos said the recommended fees are more in line with surrounding communities and will encourage development in High Springs. Annexation fees were removed, which were $500 for small annexations and $2,000 plus $50 per acre for large annexations. She said several cities in the area do not charge for annexations to encourage properties to come into their cities.

Additional changes included increasing the Land Development Code Text Amendment Fee from $1,500 to $5,000 per section due to the amount of time this takes staff. The fee for a lot split was decreased from $500 to $200.

The fee for a Planned Unit Development was increased from $3,500 to $6,000. A fee of $3,000 has been added for modification of a Planned Unit Development. Previously, there was no fee.

The Site Plan Review fee is $2,500, but with the approval of this resolution, the proposed fee for Minor Site Plan Review is to be set at $500, Major Site Plan Review will be set at $2,500 and Site Plan Review with Infrastructure will be $4,000.

The current fee for a Preliminary Plat is $3,750, Final Plat is $1,500 plus recording fees, and construction plans is $3,250. The proposed fees are $1,500 plus $10 per lot for Preliminary Plat, $1,500 plus $5 per lot for Final Plat and $3,000 plus $1 per lot for Construction Plans. The fee for a Zoning Verification Letter will decrease from $50 to $25.

Another item receiving unanimous approval was Ordinance 2021-12, which amends the adopted Fiscal Year 2020/2021 budget.

High Springs has been allocated $3,094,274 in American Rescue Plan Act Funds received with approximately half of it received thus far, according to Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham.

Gillingham offered several options for commission consideration, including engineering of the water plant, funds for the Opioid Task Force, Phase III of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, City Hall elevator replacement, body cameras for the High Springs Police Department, cardiac monitors, a new roof for City Hall, bonuses for first responders and broadband.

Commissioner Linda Jones suggested a Commission workshop to consider all the options and others agreed that would be preferred with so many options to consider. A workshop was set to take place at 5 p.m., Nov. 29, just prior to the next City Commission meeting.

The Commission narrowly approved Ordinances 2021-09, 2021-10 and 2021-11 involving annexation of approximately 735.17 acres into High Springs. The intent is for this area to be developed into a solar facility by Duke Energy.

All three measured passed separately with a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Katherine Weitz and Linda Jones voted against approval.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. with a workshop scheduled at 5 p.m.

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NEWBERRY – Two eighth grade girls recently completed a special project at Newberry Elementary School and at the same time earned a Silver Award from Girl Scouts of America. According to Troop Leader Lori Hilman, the Silver Award is one of three higher level awards in Girl Scouts.

Becca Noble, 14, of Howard Bishop Middle School and Brooklyn Hilman, 13, of Lincoln Middle School are both members of Girl Scout Troop 2177, High Springs. Spurring the girls into action was when they saw a Sensory Path online and thought creating one for elementary school-age children would be a perfect project for them.

A Sensory Path is a series of guided movements for kids to follow by markings on the ground or walls. As students follow the path and complete the movements, they work off excess energy and develop their gross motor skills. The various movements on a path are often designed to engage different parts of the body and brain, from frog hops to spins and wall pushes.

These paths can be especially effective for students who experience frustration, anger or other sensory overloads during a learning activity. “Sending them out to the hall to work off some of those emotions can help them re-focus when they return to their desk,” said the troop leader. “It’s an opportunity for kids to take a brain break and work out the wiggles.”

The pair decided to create their Sensory Path using comic book heroes as their theme to help engage the children in the various activities. The girls chose this particular project because, “We really like helping people,” said Brooklyn. “This seemed like a fun way to do that. Some kids have a difficult time focusing and we thought this would be a great way to help with that issue,” she said.

“All the kids that experience the Sensory Path are able to learn better because of this sustainable resource,” said Becca.

It took an entire year for the girls to plan the project, raise the funds to buy the materials, get approval and physically create the project. The pandemic also slowed things down a bit but, said Brooklyn, “It took a lot of planning to get all the elements just right.” The layout itself took approximately 10 – 15 hours to accomplish.

Some of the elements of their Sensory Path are handprints on the wall so kids can place their hands on the prints and do pushups, footprints on the floor so kids can walk like a super hero and a tall building painted on the wall so kids can jump up to save someone on top of the building.

“We also added a really cool tracing thing on the wall to help kids develop their fine motor skills,” said Becca. “At the end there is a section where the children got to fly like a super hero, which is really empowering and shows them they can do anything,” Becca said.

“It took the girls more than 70 hours to do the project,” said Troop Leader Hilman. “It came out great and the kids love it at the school.”

Explaining the various levels of Girl Scout awards, Hilman said, “Bronze Awards are for fourth and fifth graders and their project has to do with doing something in their community one time. It doesn’t need to be a sustainable project. Silver Awards are for girls in sixth - eighth grades and has to do with a more sustainable community level project. “The next level award is a Gold Award, which is for seniors. This is an award that has to be earned by one girl. It has to be sustainable and help more than just their community,” said Hilman.

Each project has to be approved by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, which serves all of the surrounding communities. The girls had to run their project by the Council, which evaluated the project to see if it suited the criteria before they began. Becca and Brooklyn completed their project this past spring.

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