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ALACHUA ‒ Almost every community in America honors the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. King inspired millions of people in his lifetime, and he changed the face of American society by bringing awareness about equal rights. During the 1950s and 1960s he rose to national prominence, and his death on April 4, 1968 at the hands of an assassin shocked and angered the nation. But his legacy and accomplishments live on.

On Dec. 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Ala., Rosa Parks refused a bus driver’s demand that she give up her seat to a white male passenger, after the whites-only section was filled. This act of civil disobedience was done with quiet dignity rather than aggression or violence. King, who was a Baptist minister, used the incident to lead a black bus boycott which first brought him to national prominence. King was one of many people who became involved in the Civil Rights movement, but his speaking ability and organization of non-violent protests, large marches and economic boycotts made him the most visible leader of the movement. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of over 250,000 people. On Oct. 14, 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to fight racial inequality through nonviolent protests. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Martin Luther King Day was enacted as a federal holiday through legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Now each year, on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Day is celebrated to mark his birth on Jan. 15, 1929.

While each community may conduct its memorial celebration differently, all honor King’s use of nonviolent protest and his work toward unifying all Americans regardless of color, religion or gender. In High Springs, for the last 11 years there has been a memorial march down U.S. Highway 27 from City Hall to Catherine Taylor Park. This year, participants of all races gathered at the City government building at 11 a.m. The High Springs Police Department (HSPD) provided police car escorts to stop traffic and provide safety for the marchers. City officials and staff also joined the march with Mayor Gloria James leading the procession in a HSPD ATV while Police Chief Antione Sheppard led the walkers. Starting with a prayer, the march began at 11:30, walking down the sidewalk to Catherine Taylor Park.

For the past 17 years the City of Alachua has hosted a celebration of Martin Luther King Day with an event at the Cleather Hathcock Sr. Community Center. The City provides a catered lunch, equipment, law enforcement and some of the entertainment for the event. City employees from the parks and recreation department and the city manager's office volunteer their time and services for the event. Volunteers from churches and community organizations also offer their time to serve the food, prepare desserts and provide entertainment and information.

Pastor Natron Curtis, who is the chaplain with the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office (ASO ), was the Master of Ceremonies The opening prayer was offered by former City of Alachua Police Chief and current ASO Colonel Chad Scott. City Manager Mike DaRoza gave a short speech to welcome the crowd followed by the National Anthem sung by Amaris Walton. Additional entertainment included dancing by the Black Girls Club and music by The Neighborhood Kids and the Old Town COGIC Choir. Pastor Curtis delivered an impassioned speech about King and the importance of God in everyone's life. Afterword, lunch and deserts were served by the Mebane Alumni Association to the approximately 100 people who attended the event.

Events held throughout the country not only honor King and his legacy, but they also memorialize the changes in society that King helped bring about and serve as a reminder that there is still more work to do to bring equality to all Americans.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2022) ‒ Declaring, “We’ve reached a point of emergency on our roadways,” Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward opened a discussion at yesterday’s Joint City/County Special Meeting focused on solving what he terms a “traffic violence crisis in our community.”
 
Following a conversation in which Alachua County Commission Chair Anna Prizzia and Gainesville Commissioner Casey Willits both disclosed having been hit by cars while riding bicycles in Gainesville, the commissioners voted unanimously to commit resources aimed at improving traffic enforcement, engineering and education efforts countywide.
 
Gainesville and Alachua County commissioners specifically requested the development of a new public education campaign. Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton suggested it would be appropriate to convene a Joint Information Center (JIC). With both commissions in support of the idea, this group of communicators, representing governments, agencies and partners across the county, will work together to coordinate, develop and share crucial traffic safety information in the coming year.
 
For the Gainesville City Commission, traffic safety is a top priority and this declaration is the most recent in a series of efforts to reverse the upward trend in traffic accidents.
 
  • The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which manages University Avenue, has signaled a willingness to allow the City of Gainesville to transform the roadway into a Complete Street. This approach requires streets to be planned, designed, operated and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation.
 
  • As a result, Gainesville has applied for Complete Street funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. Award announcements are expected this spring. If selected, Gainesville will use the funds to begin resurfacing and restriping the roadway in preparation for a full Complete Streets redesign.
 
  • The City is working with an engineering firm on a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to envision the Complete Street transformation for University Avenue. Public meetings are planned for this fall and early next spring, with the study to be released by March 2024.
 
  • This week, City transportation officials are leading corridor walks along West 13th Street and University Avenue in Gainesville. The walks, which begin today and run through Thursday, are open to the public. The conversation will focus on plans to redesign parts of the City’s main thoroughfares to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety. Neighbors are asked to register in advance.
 
In one of their first actions of the New Year, Gainesville City Commissioners adopted updated guidelines Jan. 5 for sidewalk lights in newly developed areas, making sure the brightness and spacing meet FDOT lighting standards. This is designed to help pedestrians and bicyclists stay safer at night.
 
The commission adopted a Vision Zero Policy in 2018 with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in the City of Gainesville by 2040. Yesterday’s joint declaration is among the actions Gainesville City Commissioners are taking to continually reaffirm their commitment to achieving this goal.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. Three veteran teachers with combined experience in education of nearly 60 years have been selected as finalists in the Alachua County Teacher of the Year program. One of them will go on to represent Alachua County Public Schools in the Florida Teacher of the Year program.

Lilliemarie Gore, the elementary school finalist, has been the behavior resource teacher at Sidney Lanier School for nearly two years. Before joining the Lanier faculty, she taught at the Duval Fine Arts Academy and at Williams, Idylwild and Wiles elementary schools. During her career she’s also been a safety patrol sponsor, school advisory council member and a coordinator for the 21st Century after-school program. She was actually selected as the districtwide Teacher of the Year in 2018.

Gore says she enjoys being able to devote individual attention to students who are struggling and then seeing positive changes in them.

“I want to encourage them, inspire them, and set a good example for them,” she said. “I want them to know that they are amazing, that they can do anything and that they should never give up.”

Middle school finalist Richard Thomas is the dean at Kanapaha Middle School. Before taking on that role, he worked as a 6th grade math and science teacher at the school and as a teacher at Alachua Elementary. He’s also supported his students and schools as a team leader, robotics coordinator, site tech, safety patrol sponsor and a summer Extended Day Enrichment Program instructor.

Thomas is committed to helping students make progress and letting them know that there are people who support them and believe in them even when they make mistakes.

“I want them know that it’s OK to make mistakes. We all do,” he said. “But we learn from them, we grow from them and they help us to be the best we can be.”

Karen Kearney, this year’s high school finalist, teaches at Buchholz High School, the school from which she graduated. In her 21 years at the school she’s taught anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and physical science. She’s also participated in a wide variety of additional activities, including as a PTSA member, wellness coordinator, teacher mentor, department chair, assistant wrestling coach and sponsor for several school clubs.

Kearney says she wants her students to become engaged learners for the rest of their lives.

“It sounds like a cliché, but that light bulb moment is wonderful,” she said. “I tell them all the time that hearing ‘Ah, I get this!’ is everything to me. That’s why I teach, it’s music to my ears.”

The three finalists and 36 other nominees from Alachua County Public Schools will be honored at the upcoming Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year ceremony, which is named after the former Superintendent of Schools who established the program. The event is organized by The Education Foundation for Alachua County Public Schools, and the presenting sponsors include Cox, Florida Credit Union and SWI Photographers.

Each honoree will receive a $500 cash award and other gifts donated by businesses and individuals in the community.

About 500 people typically attend the event. The name of the overall Teacher of the Year and the district’s representative in the state recognition program will be announced near the end.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2023) – The Gainesville City Commission voted on Thursday to appoint four of the city’s five charter officers and remove the interim title. Expressing confidence in the work done by the interim charters during extended periods of service, the commissioners approved the positions for City Manager Cynthia W. Curry, General Manager of Utilities Anthony Cunningham, City Attorney Daniel Nee and Office of Equity and Inclusion Director Zeriah Folston. Interim City Auditor Brecka Anderson, who moved into her position on Jan. 14, will be evaluated at a later date.
 The motion was introduced by Mayor Pro-Tem Desmon Duncan-Walker and seconded by Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut. This move enables the city to forgo the $250,000, multi-month search process presented at the Jan. 5 City Commission meeting. Each charter office will have their employment contracts finalized and approved at an upcoming city commission meeting.
Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry
Cynthia W. Curry brings more than 35 years of experience as a leader, strategic communicator and manager. As city manager, she oversees all general government programs and services; is responsible for enforcement of all city laws, ordinances and policies; acts as purchasing agent for the city; prepares the city’s budget and performs other duties as assigned by the Gainesville City Commission.
GRU General Manager Anthony Cunningham
Tony Cunningham is a professional engineer with more than 26 years of experience in the utility and engineering industry, and has worked at GRU for more than 20 years. As general manager of utilities, Cunningham directs all GRU activities and advises the c commission with respect to all matters concerning GRU. He has exclusive management jurisdiction and control over all operating, administrative and financial affairs of GRU.
Gainesville City Attorney Daniel Nee
Dan Nee has worked as a lawyer in the City Attorney’s Office for more than 20 years. He is board certified in city, county and local government law. As a charter officer, he is responsible for providing legal counsel to the city regarding day-to-day transactional business and advises on any legal matters.
Office of Equity and Inclusion Director Zeriah Folston
Zeriah Folston served in government with Alachua County before joining the City of Gainesville as policy oversight administrator in 2020. He now focuses on creating equal opportunity for neighbor success and advancement through development of policies, programs and initiatives.
 
Curry and Nee have served as interims since October 2021; Cunningham has been interim since February 2022 and Folston has been interim since September 2021.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2023) – Gainesville City Commission is taking aim at two of the community’s biggest safety concerns with a pair of motions approved at today’s meeting. By passing both items, commissioners will bring to the Gainesville Police Department a new high-tech tool for solving gun crimes while also accepting Florida Department of Transportation funding that uses officer education to improve the safety of roads, streets and crosswalks.
 
The first item is a piece of equipment called the Brasstrax Acquisition Station. Paid for with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Brasstrax is a $144,853 search engine that investigators can use to match spent shell casings collected at local crime scenes with finely detailed images of casings from other jurisdictions. The funding for this piece of technology is part of the city’s One Community Initiative, which also includes support for Community Oriented Policing ($240,000), Community Education Efforts ($41,350) and a Public Safety Coordinator ($68,633).
 
The second motion touches on the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians on the city’s roads. Commissioners approved the acceptance of three grants from the Florida Department of Transportation. These will pay for officer education programs and projects designed to reduce crashes and crash-related fatalities in the City of Gainesville. The three together total $170,500, with special focus on motorcycle and scooter safety, preventing accidents by distracted drivers, and general traffic safety.
 
Patrol Support Captain Anthony M. Ferrara says of this training opportunity, “We look forward to sharing the benefit of this grant allocation with our neighbors through education and prevention. Vision Zero is a goal that is possible to reach if we all work together. That means drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike. We all have a role to play. Be cognizant of your surroundings, avoid unnecessary distractions, and increase your patience with others on the road. The life you save may be your own.”
 
Gainesville City Commission meetings begin at 10 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month. They are broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 12, livestreamed on the city’s website and archived online.

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