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NEWBERRY ‒ Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, along with other Republican leaders including Attorney General Ashley Moody, U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack, State Senator Keith Perry and Representative Chuck Clemons gathered in Newberry Monday morning to speak out against the City of Gainesville’s employee vaccine mandate, as well as the Biden administration’s recently announced mandate.

The event was originally planned for Alachua’s Legacy Park but was moved to a private Newberry venue reportedly to avoid public protests against the Governor's Covid regulations and restrictions. Despite the short notice, the venue was standing room only attended by a maskless crowd.

DeSantis and other officials spoke of the importance of considering vaccination, but said that the ultimate decision should remain with each individual. “This is not something that should be coerced onto people, it should be left to personal choice,” DeSantis said. “It should be something that they have access to and they can make that decision for themselves.”

Governor DeSantis made it clear that he is not against vaccines, but against mandates and he’s prepared to punish agencies like the City of Gainesville that are requiring vaccines by fining $5,000 for each violation of his orders.

“In a place like Gainesville, which has mandated vaccines for all employees and currently has 200 employees involved in a lawsuit against the mandates, that could be millions of dollars of their tax revenues,” DeSantis said. This comes after DeSantis withheld salaries of school board members in school districts that have mask mandates, including Alachua County, and recently passed a law prohibiting businesses from requiring customers to prove vaccination.

Most requirements from businesses, school systems and city governments have been in response to the recent surge in the more infectious Covid-19 Delta variant. Florida accounted for 20 percent of the cases in the U.S. during August. Cases are beginning to drop, especially in counties that have stricter masks or have higher vaccination rates. Alachua County has a higher vaccination rate at 67 percent and a positivity rate of 11.8 percent compared to the statewide rate of 13.5 percent. The county had 36,610 cases overall and dropped by 200 cases last week to a weekly total of 1,277.

The City of Gainesville is requiring all City employees to be vaccinated by the end of October or face disciplinary action with repeated incidents possibly resulting in termination. Alachua County and other cities in the county do not have as stringent requirements, but do encourage employees to get vaccinated. According to Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton, Alachua County employees are required to wear masks in buildings or in interactions with others, but neither testing nor vaccinations are mandatory. “We offer employees a $500 incentive to take the vaccine and offer free testing as well as paid time off if they catch the virus after getting the vaccine,” Sexton said.

Several City of Gainesville employees and firefighters spoke about the demand for vaccinations being an infringement on their freedom and a threat to their jobs. Christine Damm, who has worked for the City of Gainesville for 10 years, said she believes that it is nobody’s business if the person you’re are seated next to is vaccinated. She also repeatedly defended that position with a phrase often used in the pro-abortion issue of “My body, my choice, my business.”

Fire Rescue Lt. Jonathan Cicio is a 16-year department veteran and a member Florida’s Urban Search and Rescue team. He assisted in the Surfside building collapse in June as well as in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian in 2019. “We feel betrayed and used,” Cicio said. “While we were heroes and selfless not long ago, now we’re selfish and they’ll let us go. We are not anti-vaccine; we are anti-mandate.” Cicio also said many first responders “have natural immunity because of exposure.”

DeSantis said those who have recovered from COVID have “very strong immunity and are now safe.” Studies have shown that the immunity from having had COVID is not long lasting and there have been multiple cases including health workers who have had severe reinfections. In addition, they can still be a carrier and potentially infect others.

GRU employee Darris Friend claimed it was a loss of freedom that is being taken away slowly on multiple fronts, including religion.

Loud cheers erupted from the crowd when Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody spoke against Gainesville’s employee vaccine mandate, offering support to the employees who have filed the lawsuit against the City, saying, “You now have the attorney general and the state of Florida in your corner.”

Since the announcement last week of the federal government requiring the vaccine in certain instances, Congresswoman Kat Cammack said she’s using her power to “fight for what’s right.” She promised to fight against President Biden's planned vaccine mandate for some private employers. “I will use my power as a member of Congress to ensure any locality that infringes upon an individual’s personal medical choices will no longer receive federal funding.”

DeSantis said he does not believe the mandates are productive and are likely to have the opposite effect on people, forcing them to “dig in their heels” as they continue to question government officials. He also focused on the potential for lost jobs if employees still refuse to get vaccinated and get fired, especially among first responders.

“Thousands upon thousands could lose their jobs, pensions and livelihood, not based on performance but on illegal policies demanding vaccines.” DeSantis said that could cause a shortage of dedicated first responders and medical staff. He also said he believes that the “supposed shortages” of ICU beds is partially due, not to a shortage of treatment facilities, but a shortage of staff who have quit due to mask and vaccine mandates.

Unvaccinated individuals account for nine out of 10 of hospitalizations, and there are reports that Covid-19 is now the leading cause of death among U.S. law enforcement officers. Last month, 75 percent of the Lake City Fire Department staff were out with Covid or in quarantine. The virus itself has intensified staff shortages for the past year and a half, and has especially affected first responders and medical staff who are in frequent contact with people, often in a crisis situation.

While Governor DeSantis has fined the Alachua County Public School System for requiring masks and demanded in-class learning at school, the Alachua school system currently has 940 positive cases among students and 173 staff, as well as over 940 other student and staff in quarantine, none of whom can attend school.

While the cost of the pandemic may not ever be fully known, it can be counted in lost lives, lost jobs and businesses, and the associated financial cost of long-term health issues. Florida’s Republican leadership wants to eliminate mandates and its associated costs to individual freedom and personal choice.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Once again the High Springs Fire Department has conducted a life-saving rescue. On Aug. 29, in need of rescue was a goat that had fallen into a 30-foot-deep sinkhole. At 2:31 p.m., High Springs firefighters were dispatched to 14548 N.W. 268^th Street in High Springs for a report of a goat trapped in a sinkhole. Within minutes of arrival, a rescue plan was developed, and firefighter Adam Hudson descended into the sink.

Once at the bottom, the goat was found on a ledge a few feet away from Hudson. Firefighters report that the animal was scared and exhausted, and nearly fell into the outstretched arms of his rescuer. The goat and Hudson were hoisted back up, with little trouble and no injury.

This is the fifth sinkhole rescue High Springs Fire Department has responded to in a year. The fire department credits the quick rescue to a recent purchase of new rope-rescue gear and continued technical rescue classes attended by firefighters and crews.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Military veterans returning from Afghanistan will be welcomed home to Newberry and honored for their service. Major Stroupe and event organizer Bob Watson of Newberry American Legion Post 149 invited the Newbery City Commission to participate in a parade and expo at the commission’s Aug. 23 meeting.

The event will take place on Sept. 25, kicked off by a parade at 10 a.m. with Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe as Grand Marshal.

Other parade participants include this yeaar’s Watermelon Festival Teen Queen, Gainesville American Legion Post 16 Motorcycle Riders, Buchholz High School Young Marines and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), military vehicles from the National Guard Division 631 in Starke, floats from Concerned Veterans for America and Newberry Post 149 American Legion, Newberry Fire Department Fire Trucks and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles along with Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

The parade route begins at The Produce Place, 25040 W. Newberry Road, and runs through downtown to the First Baptist Church, 25520 W. Newberry Road.

Following the parade, the event will continue at Clark Plantation Event Venue LLC, 3700 S.W. 202^nd Street, Newberry.

“There will be a lot to see and do at the Expo,” said Watson. A display of old cars, military and other vehicles will be available, kids games, face painting, food trucks to keep everyone hydrated and fed, raffles and a silent auction with amazing gift items will be part of the day.

To help veterans and their families adjust to a different lifestyle, information booths will be available to help with housing, counseling, employment opportunities and a whole host of other useful information will be available to help smooth the transition from war time to peace time.

A formal welcome home ceremony will take place following the parade beginning with The Star-Spangled Banner, a color guard and an open prayer. Well wishes from area dignitaries will also round out the welcome home event.

Live music from area bands will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. A list of bands and their performance times will be available closer to the event.

“This is planned to be a fun day for veterans, their families and area residents to help welcome home those in the military who have been away from their families and friends overseas,” said Watson.

More sponsors are always appreciated and all proceeds will benefit American Legion sponsored veteran projects. For more information, contact Bob Watson at 352-262-5068 or Lynn Reeves at 386-365-2137.

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ALACHUA ‒ It’s harvest time, for grapes that is. Every year in late summer, Muscadine grapes ripen throughout the southeastern United States. Harvest season runs from the last week of July to early October, depending on location. They are unique to the Southeast from as far north as Kentucky and as far west as East Texas. They are a popular snack, good for making muscadine wine, pies and jellies. The thick skin and grape’s taste is sweeter than ordinary commercial grapes available in stores

During the short harvest season there are several local farms that offer the unique experience of picking your own grapes. Don Loftus started The Vineyard at Loftus Family Farm in 2004 with just three rows planted. The venture was meant to be a way to make some extra money when he retired and have an activity to keep him busy.

Originally the idea was to grow grapes to sell commercially. Each year he added a few more rows of vines until they covered 1.6 acres. The idea was to get started while he was still working so the vineyard would be ready once he retired, since a vine is not considered in full production until its fifth year.

By the time all the vines were planted, there was so much to keep track of that all other activities and hobbies were put on hold while Loftus spent holidays, vacation, and most weekends working on pruning, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating, building trellises, pulling wire and making repairs.

Don Loftus retired in 2010 and concentrated on the vineyard along with the help of his son, Curtis. Word had spread about the vineyard and friends began asking to come by and pick grapes, As the list of customers grew, the Loftus family realized it could become a business letting other people do the harvesting and pay for the grapes so they could concentrate on maintaining and expanding the vineyard. They also expanded the variety of Muscadine grapes with Ison, Supreme and Purple Rhine vines. Over the years Don turned over most of the farming work to Curtis who now runs the business.

“Even though the picking season is short, there is a lot of year-round work to maintain the vineyard and the “you pick” system seemed like a way to remove the harvesting work and let people enjoy themselves,” Curtis Loftus said. “We found people really enjoyed coming out and picking the grapes themselves. For a number of our customers, it became an annual event and many of them come every year. My father started an email list of customers to notify and there are now over 500 names.”

Customers George and Karen Arola agree about enjoying picking themselves. “We come every year,” Karen Arola said. “It’s a chance to get organically grown grapes and spend an afternoon outside enjoying ourselves while we gather the grapes.”

The picking season brings out a lot of customers.  According to Loftus, they often run out of grapes before they run out of customers, even though the vineyard produces between 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per season. “We used to be open for six to seven weeks, but as word spread and the customers increased, the picking season has shrunk,” said Loftus. “We will probably be out in three to four weeks this year.” Loftus said the first day the vineyard opened on Aug. 28, they sold over 2,100 pounds for $1.75 per pound.

The vineyard is now run by Curtis Lotus and his girlfriend, Katie Rodgers “It’s a lot of work, especially since we both have full time jobs as well,” Loftus said. At his fulltime job, he works with his brother, Ryan, at real estate company Lofthouse. They specialize in buying derelict properties to rehab and then rent or sell at affordable prices for first-time buyers or rentals at reasonable prices. “The idea is that for many people on a fixed income, owning a house has become too expensive, shutting them out of the market and unable to get a large loan.” The Loftus brothers repair the houses and clean the properties to help raise the desirability and image of the neighborhoods.

But his passion is the farm and vineyard. They have installed an automated watering system that irrigates the rows on a rotating system and have plans to expand the vineyard from the current 1.6 acres to over 2 acres. They are also considering expanding to other produce such as okra and persimmons.

“With our other jobs, and the extensive work it takes to run a farm year-round, we are only looking at expanding to plants that ripen in the same time period as the grapes,” Loftus said.” But we really enjoy interacting with our customers and seeing them enjoy the picking process. With some of our regular customers it becomes a yearly family outing involving the kids as well.”

The u-pick operation is only open on weekends, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The farm is located at 15585 N.W. 29^th Street, Gainesville. East of Alachua on Northwest 156^th Avenue, the farm is at the midway point between State Road 121 and County Road 231. Further information and status of the crop is available by calling 352-214-1028.

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NEWBERRY ‒ After more than 20 years of efforts and negotiations with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), the City of Newberry is forming the Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA will be responsible for developing and implementing a Community Redevelopment Plan that addresses the unique needs of Newberry’s community redevelopment area. The plan will include overall goals for redevelopment and identify programs and projects planned for the area.

Negotiations between the City of Newberry and the BoCC have been ongoing. On June 25, 2019, the Alachua County Commission approved an agreement between Alachua County Commission and the City of Newberry Commission, authorizing the creation of the Newberry CRA. This approval also provided the delegation of authority necessary to authorize the action.

At the June 14, 2021, meeting of the Newberry CRA Board, the Board voted unanimously to approve the draft CRA plan and to forward the plan to the Newberry and Alachua County commissions for review and approval. Upon receipt of the draft plan, the Newberry City Commission unanimously approved it.

On August 24, 2021, Newberry City Manager Mike New addressed the Alachua County BoCC and said it had taken more than 20 years to get to this point in establishing the CRA.

At the same meeting the Alachua County Commission approved the Newberry CRA plan, contingent upon City approval of the revised agreement. New said he realized the City Commission would have to also approve the changes voted on by the County, but felt he would not need to “twist any arms” to get the changes approved by his Commission. As it turned out he was right as Newberry city commissioners once again approved the agreement.at a Special City Commission meeting on Sept. 7, 2021. Ordinance 2021-45, which set forth the revised terms of the agreement, was unanimously approved on first reading by the Newberry City Commission following a public hearing.

The ordinance creates the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) trust fund for the Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency District where the annual TIF contributions from the City and County will be deposited.

Through the agreement with Alachua County, the Newberry CRA Plan runs for 20 years, beginning in 2021 and terminating in 2040. If the goals and initiatives of the CRA Plan have not been accomplished within the 20-year time horizon, the City and County commissions, through joint agreement, may choose to extend the CRA for an additional 20 years.

According to the City of Newberry, the ordinance is scheduled to be heard again for second reading and enactment at the Sept. 27 City Commission meeting following another public hearing.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ On Monday, Aug. 30, Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced that the Florida Department of Education (DOE) withheld monthly school board member salaries in Alachua and Broward counties, as directed by the State Board of Education.

Corcoran is making good on a threat targeting local school boards that required students to wear masks in direct violation of Governor Ron DeSantis’s executive order against mask mandates. The is in despite of Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper issuing a ruling that stops the Florida Department of Education from leveling sanctions on school districts that require face coverings.

In Alachua County, members make about $40,000 a year and in Broward County about $46,000. The money will be withheld on a monthly basis until the school systems come into compliance, amounting to a reduction of $13,429 per month for the Alachua County School System.

The state does not pay salaries of local officials and cannot withhold the salaries directly. Corcoran previously said that he may recommend withholding funds “in an amount equal to the salaries of the superintendent and all the members of the school board.”

On Monday, his department said that the counties had been instructed to cut school board compensation and nothing else despite that fact that the DOE is removing the funds from the general budget. While restricting the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) budget, the state will cover expenses for students that transfer to schools in neighboring counties or to private and charter schools that have no mask mandate.

SBAC has seen a continual reduction in state funding for the past decade including a 50-percent reduction in facilities money equaling a loss of $168 million to county schools. Many COVID-19 expenses for readjusting the teaching systems, sanitizing classrooms and buses and other changes and purchases required were absorbed in large part by the school districts, further strapping their budgets. The state did reimburse for digital distance learning equipment.

On issuing the order Monday evening, Corcoran said the department would fight to protect parents’ rights to make health care decisions for their children. “They know what is best for their children.”

The CDC and most medical experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have stated that mask mandates help control the infection rate. Corcoran also did not address whether the rights of the parents who want masking were considered as well in the Parents Bill of Rights.

The Delta variant has proven to be much more infectious with more serious illness than previous versions and infects younger age groups more. Currently Florida has a bigger surge than the peak rate last year. As of Aug. 28, there were 865,406 active cases in Florida. The state recorded more than 31,700 new COVID-19 cases in Floridians age 19 and younger last week. There were also two additional deaths of Floridians under the age of 16 reported.

Daily data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows there are currently 224 children in hospitals in Florida as of Monday, the highest reported number in more than a year. According to the data, there were only 20 children admitted to hospitals across the state on July 1. On Aug. 1, that number increased to 103 cases and as of Aug. 30.

Dr. Raul Pino with the Department of Health in Orange County says children make up the largest group of new cases, with 19 percent of all new cases in children ages 5-14, adding that this is the age group where most are not eligible to be vaccinated.

In the Alachua County School System there are currently 569 student cases with 412 of these in the last 14 days and 141 staff cases. In addition, 1,761 students and 48 staff are in quarantine totaling 2,330 students who cannot attend school. While these numbers are alarming, Alachua County, with a mask mandate for both the school system, government and businesses, has the second lowest positivity rate in the state at 15.8 percent. Neighboring Columbia County, which has no mask mandate, has a 30.8 percent positivity rate.

Due to the surge, the SBAC, along with 10 other school districts, are pursuing legal measures against the mandate. In response to Corcoran's restriction of funds, Alachua School Superintendent Carlee Simon released a statement on Tuesday regarding the decision of the SBAC to continue the mask mandate.

Simon said, “I'm very troubled by the state's action...We have already begun working with our colleagues in other districts to take legal action. We believe this is a necessary step to ensure that Florida's districts have the right to act in the best interests of those they serve.”

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