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GAINESVILLE – Alachua County Public Schools’ Maria Eunice has become the area’s latest celebrity. It’s her photo on the Wheaties box, but Alachua County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) director Eunice says her recent national recognition is a tribute to her entire department.

Eunice has been named a ‘Trayblazer’ by General Mills, the U.S.-based company that produces thousands of food products, including the cereal brand Wheaties in its iconic box. The company is currently recognizing school nutrition staff across the nation “who have gone above and beyond to ensure kids are fed in their communities” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides being one of four Trayblazers featured on the company’s website, Eunice has received a commemorative Wheaties box replica featuring her name and photo.

“I’m honored to be recognized, but I have to give credit to our amazing team,” said Eunice. “They are committed serving students every day, despite all the challenges of the pandemic.”

Eunice, who has led the FNS Department for 16 years, says that team has made it possible for the district to take advantage of every meal program offered to schools by the federal government. There is a significant amount of additional paperwork, planning and monitoring required for each program, besides all the work required to actually implement them. But Eunice and her staff have made it happen.

Currently the district provides breakfasts, lunches, snacks and suppers in both brick-and-mortar settings and curbside. Since the beginning of the pandemic, FNS has provided more than 6 million free meals to children ages 0 to 18 throughout Alachua County, and those meals will continue through the end of July.

This is not the first national recognition for Eunice recently. Just a few months ago, she was named winner of the prestigious Golden School Foodservice Director of the Year Award, the highest honor awarded by the School Nutrition Association.

Since that award was announced, Eunice has received many calls from colleagues throughout the nation.

“We’ve had a lot of people wanting to know how it is we have been so successful during the pandemic, and how we’ve been able to serve so many children and keep our program thriving,” she said.

During the pandemic, the department has used many innovative strategies to support children, including the delivery of meals by school bus during the shutdown period and the use of QR codes on food bags to provide families with recipes and other important information.

More information about Eunice and the Trayblazer recognition program is available at https://bit.ly/3dvQ1zn. More information about the district’s meal programs is available at www.yourchoicefresh.com.

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HIGH SPRINGS – A suspect has been arrested in the armed robberies of a High Springs pharmacy. The High Springs Police Department (HSPD) has released information about the suspect who is accused of robbing Caring Pharmacy, 19214 N.W. U.S. Highway 441 in High Springs on March 4, 2020 and Feb. 16, 2021.

The suspect, 61-year-old Robert Joseph Canciglia, of Fort White, was apprehended in Columbia County at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, following an in-depth joint investigation with the Florida Department of Law     Enforcement (FDLE).

The arrest was made with the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the FDLE after an arrest warrant on the charge of Robbery with a Firearm was obtained earlier the same day in Columbia County issued by the Eighth Judicial       Circuit.

“I am proud of the way that our agency investigated this case and I am thankful for the collaboration and support from our law enforcement partners,” said HSPD Chief of Police Antoine Sheppard. “That includes the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “A violent offender has been removed from our streets and our community is safer due to those actions.”

As of May 3, Canciglia was in the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Jail awaiting extradition to Alachua County on the existing charges.

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ALACHUA ‒ As they do every year, Hitchcock’s Markets participated in livestock auctions throughout North Central Florida to support 4-H and Future Farmers of America, organizations that focus on agriculture education and learning to help youth develop leadership and life skills through a positive developmental approach.

Taking place throughout the month of March, the county fairs attended included the Alachua County Fair, Suwanee River Fair, and the Putnam County Fair. At the livestock auctions, Hitchcock’s executives took the time to learn more about the students’ projects and donated over $30,000 by purchasing steers, swine and goats this year. Purchases included Trystan Hobby's Grand Champion Steer from Williston, Ryan Barber's Grand Champion Steer from Interlachen and Emily Lands' Home-Grown Champion Steer from Palatka.

Hitchcock’s Markets gives back to their communities year-round. The family owned and operated 12 store chain is proud to be able to support their local youth and give back in many ways. Carlos Alvarez, CEO of Hitchcock’s Markets stated, “The youth of our communities are our future. It is imperative that we come together and support them every step of the way so our communities will continue to thrive going forward”.

The 4-H and FFA groups rely on support from community members and businesses, such as Hitchcock’s Markets. These auctions provide children and young adults the opportunity to learn and get familiar with the business side of farming and agriculture, as well as gain a better understanding of the cattle industry. The money that is raised at the auctions goes directly to the kids so they can support their project for the following year and save up for their college studies.

Hitchcock’s Markets is a family owned and operated chain of grocery stores based out of Alachua, Florida. Since 1945, Hitchcock’s has recognized the need for rural towns in Central Florida to have clean, well-stocked, and service driven food stores. The Hitchcock’s company has continued to grow over the years to locations across the state of Florida providing full-service grocery stores in many towns that used to be considered food deserts. Today, Hitchcock’s has 12 stores and two pharmacies. Hitchcock’s prides itself in having the best meats and butchers and being a place where locals can count on the highest quality products, competitive prices, clean stores, and well trained and knowledgeable employees. More information is available at www.myhitchcocks.com

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NEWBERRY – The City of Newberry will soon be collaborating with residents to develop a vision for the community's future - and a strategic plan to make that vision a reality. Community forums are the first step in this process.

The city will host two forums, one in-person and one virtual, to gather input and feedback from the community. The first forum, which is in person, will be held Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Easton Newberry Sports Complex, 24880 N.W. 16^th Avenue, Newberry. Citizens who have not already submitted an RSVP are encouraged to attend the May 11 forum, which will be held virtually on Tuesday, May 11, 6 – 9 p.m. via Zoom. Additional information about connecting via Zoom will be provided on the City’s web page closer to the forum date.

These two forums will kick off the process and start conversations among residents about the future of Newberry. The discussion will focus on identifying those things about the community that residents wish to preserve, as well as the community’s hopes and aspirations for the future. The forum’s agenda will include a combination of small-group discussions and large-group workshop activities that aim to facilitate open conversation and the sharing of ideas.

Additional areas for input will include an online, anonymous resident survey that will be made available in the coming months. The project is expected to wrap up in the fall of 2021 with a formal document and presentation delivered to the City of Newberry City Commission.

The City has engaged the Florida Institute of Government (FIOG) to facilitate this project and to write and present that final strategic plan to the Commission. While the project team from the FIOG includes additional staff, the facilitators for this forum will be Mari Rains and Karen Allen from the FIOG at the University of Central Florida.

Press, city staff, and elected officials are welcome to attend these events, but will be encouraged to act largely as observers so that the process may progress without too much external input. More information on this project and its components is available at www.newberryfl.gov/administration/page/strategic-planning

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ALACHUA ‒ After 12 years and four terms on the Alachua City Commission, Alachua City Commissioner Gary Hardacre is looking forward to putting politics behind him and spending more time with his family.  He formally stepped down from his seat on the Commission May 10.

Hardacre and his family have been residents and homeowners in Alachua since 1987. He retired from AT&T after working as a technician, engineer, and manager for nearly 43 years.  But his “retirement” was hardly idle.

During his time on the City Commission, Hardacre was selected three times by his fellow commissioners to serve as Vice Mayor.  As a citizen of Alachua, he has been involved with the community and service.

Service with Purpose

He is an active member of the Alachua Lions Club where he serves as the Treasurer of the Club. While the Lions Club may be best known for its sight and hearing programs, diabetes can be a significant factor in eye degeneration and retina damage. Hardacre initiated a program to purchase portable eye machines that check a patient for retina issues. Club members travel to various locations in the county with the machines, especially rural areas and small towns where residents don't have facilities locally.

Hardacre is also active in the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and served as the City Commission representative to the Suwannee River Water Management District. Among his community projects, he tutors 3rd graders at Alachua Elementary School during the school year, volunteers at the Cleather Hathcock, Sr. Community Center during the week and is a member of AL’Z Place Caregiver Support Group for Alzheimer’s.

In the past, he has served on the City of Alachua’s Planning & Zoning Board, Downtown Redevelopment Trust Board, and the Visions 2010 Committee.  He has been a Cub Scout Pack 88 Webelos Leader, Boy Scout Troop 88 Assistant Scout Master, and served on the Alachua District Boy Scout Leadership Training Staff.  Over the years, he also served on the Schools of the Future Task Force, Alachua County Charter Review Commission, Alachua County Improved Economic Opportunity Council, Alachua County Visions 2000 Committee, Region 5 Private Industry Council, and as a Coordinator for the United Way Campaigns. He is a USAF Vietnam Era Veteran, serving from 1968-1971.

It’s safe to say that Hardacre certainly earned another retirement as his time on the City Commission drew to a close.  “It's been a wonderful time and I feel we have accomplished a lot over the last 12 years that will also work toward the future,” Hardacre said. “One of the eight goals I set for myself when I took the office was to make this a place where our children didn't have to leave to find good jobs and to grow while still maintaining the small-town charm that makes Alachua unique” he said.

Watershed Moment

“In the late 1970s the two big businesses in town shut down. Copeland Sausage employed 40 percent of the town and many of the others worked at the battery factory south of town. It devastated Alachua employment wise and it took a long while to recover,” Hardacre said.

“Both of my kids moved elsewhere for employment and so did a lot of others,” he said.  Hardacre recalled it was then that city officials realized how much the town had relied on those two businesses and the need to diversify businesses and the local economy. “The present Commission's predecessors began moving in that direction with the establishment of Progress Park and its diverse group of high-tech companies,” Hardacre said.

“The big factor is planning ahead on multiple fronts,” he said. “Growth has to be controlled and the ability to support it has to be in the plan.”

Hardacre added that too much residential growth without the utility infrastructure or too much interest in single large employers with low paying jobs is bound to create issues. “On infrastructure, we have expanded the water and utility capability with new water systems in the western and southern edges of the city to compensate for both current and future development,” said Hardacre.  “We are one of the very few smaller cities in Florida with two electrical substations.”

“With businesses, we have a attracted a diversity of high-tech companies that are mainly located south of town, thereby keeping the center of town with that small-town charm.” Hardacre said.

“The best part of it is our financial shape while still getting all this done,” he said.  Hardacre explained that all the municipal projects completed have been paid for and that the City maintains a healthy budget. “Besides the great work by the city staff on our finances, we also apply for numerous grants, especially involving preserving the natural environment, creating park and recreation space and creating initiatives and support for new businesses and startups. Those grants have helped a lot.” Hardacre said.

On to the Future

Just because Hardacre is retiring from the Alachua City Commission, don’t expect him to fade from the community.  As far as the future, involvement in the community and the non-profit organizations he works with will top his list. As for relaxing, he enjoys fresh and salt water fishing, doing honey-dos around the house for his wife, Debbie, and following the University of Florida Gator athletic teams.

Will Hardacre miss being a City Commissioner?

“I feel it's time to move on and let someone else take us forward,” Hardacre said. “I have been proud to work with the city staff and other commissioners for over a decade. It's all those people that do the actual work.”

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A local High Springs student was among just a handful of students statewide to be named winners in the state’s 2021 Black History Month Contest. Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis held a student essay and art contest with six winning students receiving a fully paid four-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

“The Governor and I are honored to celebrate this year’s Black History Month student and teacher award winners and their achievements,” DeSantis said in a news release from the Governor’s Office. “It is our hope that today’s award recipients continue to share their gifts and serve as inspirations across our great State of Florida.”

This year’s contest theme was “Community Champions – Celebrating the Contributions of African Americans in Florida’s Communities,” sponsored by the Florida Lottery and other partners. The contest received thousands of student entries across the state. On April 22, 2021 First Lady DeSantis announced the six winners, two of whom are from Alachua County. Brynley Ashraf from the High Springs Community School had the winning essay and Immanuel Howard from W. A. Metcalfe Elementary won the art contest.

Ashraf wrote the top elementary school essay, while Howard was one of just two Florida students to win the art contest.

When Ashraf chose the person she considered a ‘community champion,’ she didn’t have to look further than her own school. Ashraf featured Officer Adam Joy, her school resource officer, who serves their community not only through his profession, but also by giving back through his involvement with numerous organizations and as an Ordained Minister at the Deeper Purpose Community Church.

Ashraf, who is a fourth grader at High Springs Community School, bypassed a list of suggested subjects and instead decided to write about Officer Adam Joy. In her essay, entitled “The ‘Joy’ of Our Community,” she outlined the many ways Officer Joy serves the High Springs community, including organizing programs like Meals on Wheels, No Son Left Behind, back-to-school haircuts, backpacks with school supplies, senior citizen Valentine meals, Easter and Christmas gift giveaways, and even raising money to donate cars to families in need and a variety of giveaways and community events. This past January, Officer Joy rallied the community to gather necessities for a family whose home burned down.

“I believe Officer Joy should be recognized for his amazing work,” wrote Ashraf. “From mentoring kids, supporting families and helping senior citizens, there’s no limit to his kindness. I cannot think of anyone more worthy of recognition. My family has contributed to the toy drive and I gave Officer Joy some stuffed animals, which he keeps in his patrol car to help calm kids that are scared or have been in accidents,” Ashraf said.

Joy grew up in High Springs where he currently serves as a police officer and as of this year he is also assigned as the School resource Officer for the Community School. As a boy he always wanted to be a police officer and make a positive impact on the community. In 2007, Adam graduated from the Police Academy.

Joy is also an Ordained Elder at his church. Over the 14 years, he has sponsored over 300 events and programs that are completely free to the public. Some programs include Meals on Wheels, where he cooks and delivers meals to senior citizens in need. He also runs “No Son Left Behind,” a program for boys K-12th grade. “The purpose is to provide a positive male role model while focusing on mentoring, behavioral updates and goal setting. It's all about the children, they are our future,” Joy said.

He was surprised when Ashraf chose to make him the focus of her essay and asked to interview him. “It was very humbling,” he said. “You just never know who may be watching what you do. I’m really honored. When they announced she had won out of the thousands of entries it reminded me how good this school is to help nurture students like Brynley. She did a great job and put a lot of work into this project,” Joy said.

For Brynley Ashraf it was a story she felt needed telling, never expecting the scholarship. But despite being in fourth grade, she already has plans laid out for that scholarship. “I want to be a sign language interpreter and translator. The University of North Florida has a good program so I am planning to go there,” she said.

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