TALLAHASSEE – On Monday, March 16, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the Department of Revenue (Department) to provide flexibility on tax due dates to assist those adversely affected by COVID-19. Today, Department of Revenue Executive Director Jim Zingale issued an emergency order to extend the final due date for property tax payments for the 2019 tax year. The Department also extended the due date to file railroad, railroad terminal, private car and freight line and equipment company property tax returns.

Order of Emergency Waiver/Deviation #20-52-DOR-01 applies to all 67 Florida counties. Property tax is normally due by March 31 in the year following the year the taxes are assessed. The Department waives the due date so that payments remitted by April 15, 2020, for the 2019 tax year will be considered timely paid. Property tax returns for railroad, railroad terminal, private car and freight line and equipment company property are normally due by April 1. Returns will be timely filed if filed by April 15, 2020.

The Department has implemented the filing date extensions pursuant to subsection 213.005(2), F.S., which authorizes the Executive Director of the Department of Revenue to carry out certain actions during a declared state of emergency. On March 9, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-52, declaring a state of emergency in response to the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Property taxpayers who have additional questions should contact their county tax collectors. Railroad and private car line companies with additional questions may contact the Department at DORPTO@floridarevenue.com.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA COUNTY – A pandemic has gripped the world and its effects are rapidly mounting in America. The COVID-19 virus has gone from a single case in Washington state on Jan.21, 2020 to over 5,981 cases covering all 50 states as of March 17, 2020.

By March 17, 2020, it has killed 99 people, most either elderly or with prior health issues. For many younger people it is not fatal, similar to a bad flu with dry cough, fever, trouble breathing, weakness and some mental disorientation. Many of these, especially lower- and middle-income people have jobs in the service industry or retail, interact with a number of people while needing to work to pay their bills. The problem becomes not only who has it, but who their interactions.

Someone younger going to work and interacting with others can spread the virus quickly. While it may not seem bad enough to miss work to the younger person, it can be deadly to those in the at-risk groups. The same goes for public events such as concerts, movie theaters, restaurants and bars. An infected person can easily spread to others unknowingly. There is usually a 4-14-day incubation period before symptoms show up and health experts have not confirmed when it becomes communicable, but believe it can be spread before symptoms show.

The virus is highly communicable, with the infection rate typically doubling in 2-4 days in most of the 146 countries it is currently in, with the numbers changing constantly. Nations are closing their borders, limiting travel by air, train or bus, mass quarantining of anyone suspected of being in contact with an infected person and closing businesses, putting many people out of work and affecting the world economy. It is currently estimated to cost the global economy $2.7 trillion.

Although slow to realize the scope of the epidemic in America and being unprepared for expanding numbers that needed supplies or hospitalization, the federal government has begun expanding their efforts to contain the epidemic and get supplies and test kits to a much broader audience, working with state governments to get what they need to minimize the virus's spread.

Guidelines

The Federal government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) health experts have announced a variety of suggested restrictions. They initially said to avoid groups over 250 and practice “social distancing” by keeping six feet away from others. Within days that was revised to groups of 50 and then on March 16 it was further reduced to groups of 10.

These restrictions have resulted in cancellations or postponement of most events. Major sports games or events have been canceled including all NBA games, Kentucky Derby, NASCAR, tennis and soccer tournaments. Any event with more than 10 people is suggested to cancel. Museums, movie and show theaters, libraries and schools have all closed down. Many businesses have also shut their doors and many companies are asking their employees to work from home to avoid spreading the disease.

In Florida, both state and local governments have put restrictions on businesses and events. On March 17, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered all of Florida’s bars and nightclubs closed for 30 days starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, upending St. Patrick’s Day revelries as the state acts more aggressively to contain the COVID-19 virus that has infected more than 171 people in Florida and killed six as of his announcement.

He also said he’s asking Florida’s University Board of Governors to require students to return home for remote learning for the rest of the spring semester. All schools in the state are closed until at least March 27. A decision will be made at that time whether to reopen.

Florida also unveiled a new online dashboard that provides the public with a clearer picture of where the virus has hit. The COVID-19 surveillance dashboard provides a color-coded map that shows the intensity of infections across the state. Information on the virus, testing, restrictions and current status can be found at http://www.floridahealth.gov

Alachua County has been lucky so far with only four confirmed cases but testing has been limited and is just getting up to speed. Each of the city governments have tried to limit contact and the spread by canceling events.

Newberry

In Newberry, Mayor Jordan Marlowe announced on March 17 that he will be declaring a State of Emergency for the City of Newberry. This will help make additional funds available to the city to combat the virus. Gainesville has also declared a State of Emergency and canceled all public events. Newberry has canceled all recreation programs, including any activities at the Easton Sports Complex. They have canceled all city meetings that are not time sensitive and set up a drive-through center for people interacting with city departments as well as creating online payments for all utilities. The mayor has also recommended that employees work from home. Open air parks in Newberry will remain open at present. Newberry also has two meal programs to feed students that depend on school meals. The city distributes meals at the MLK Community Center during the week. For information call the city at 352-472-2161. United Methodist Church also has a food program on Sundays for students.

High Springs

In High Springs, the city has suspended all city activities, including food giveaways, excluding school board-sanctioned services, until further notice. Enclosed structures, including the bathrooms in city parks and playground equipment are closed. Large pickup games and parties in city parks are also discouraged, as the CDC encourages “social distancing.” High Springs City Hall will be closed as of March 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. and will remain closed until April 6. Residents are encouraged to utilize online services available through the website at highsprings.us, including tag renewal.

Online fees will be reduced during this time from $3.50 to $2.50. Canceled events include the weekly Farmers Market, Music in The Park series and all non-essential meetings. Several businesses have also shut their doors including Rum 138, which provides river trips and rental kayaks. The owners felt that because they have customers from all over the world interacting it would be best to minimize the risk to customers by closing. The Chamber of Commerce has also postponed their annual Murder Mystery charity play. Deeper Community Church in High Springs is organizing a free meal program for students. The Alachua County School Board is also offering free meals at a number of campuses including Santa Fe High School.

Alachua

In the City of Alachua, City parks remain open for public use, although that may change. However, no organized gatherings are permitted. All youth sports have been suspended until at least March 30, 2020. All special events have been suspended until at least March 30, 2020. Two large annual events, the Cattleman's Ball sponsored by the Alachua Lions Club and the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life have been canceled or postponed as well. City services are available under normal operating conditions including online pay options and all facilities are operating with increased sanitizing and disinfecting protocol. Several restaurants including Mi Apa have switched to take-out or delivery only to avoid crowds.

The restrictions and business closings will affect both the local and national economy, possibly for a much longer time and may even bring about an economic recession. The virus's exponential infection rate, data and developments are constantly changing, often within hours. While the disease is serious and unprecedented, it must be remembered that it can be mild in younger patients but deadly in others.

Containment depends on all people working together and being aware of others around them. Alachua Today will continue to provide updated information. For up-to-the-minute information, readers can go to Florida Health Department website https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ or the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA – The world and our lifestyles are facing serious changes due to the Corona virus (COVID-19). In multiple countries, social interaction, events and businesses are shutting down to avoid spreading the virus. Other countries have locked down their borders, allowing no travel.

In Italy, by March 17, 2020, there have been over 31,506 cases and 2,500 dead for a mortality rate approaching 9 percent. Hospitals are so overwhelmed they are triaging patients, focusing on ones that can be saved. Although COVID-19 originated in China, it has had an extended infection time, and there are 88,081 cases and a slightly lower mortality rate with 3,226. Unlike the rest of the world, China claims the infection rate is slowing and they are gaining control of the situation. While there have been more fatal epidemics such as SARS at 10 percent, MERS at 34 percent and Ebola at 50 percent, they were limited both in geographic scope and transmission rates.

In the U.S., the situation has evolved into a full-blown effort to limit the spread. But with the rate of infection doubling every two to four days, hospitals face being overwhelmed, without the equipment or bed space to handle the numbers of seriously ill patients. The economy is fragile, and for many people, there is the prospect of being unable to work or pay bills.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended canceling or postponing all groups over 10 people including restaurants, stores and bars. Sports and entertainment events have all been canceled, as well as St. Patrick’s Day parades. While some people may panic by overstocking up on supplies and going into seclusion, the pace of infection makes it a reality that groups spread it faster.

The federal government is constantly revising its appraisal of the situation, trying to keep up with the spreading pandemic. The rapid spread has led to numerous revisions in government and CDC recommendations. Initially there were very few tests available and it took a week to produce one million for a population of 331 million. Production has now increased and the U.S. has begun accepting testing kits from other countries.

Initial guidance was to avoid groups over 250 and practice “social distancing” by keeping six feet away from others. Within days that was revised to groups of 50, and then on March 16, it was further reduced to groups of 10. This has impacts on many aspects of daily lives other than just health. It brings much of the economy to a standstill, and puts a lot of people, especially in food and drink services, entertainment and small businesses unable to work due to closures. This invisible virus is reshaping lives and affecting everyone, not just the sick.

A 55-year-old man from Hubei province in China may have been the first person to have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus spreading across the globe. That case dates back to Nov. 17, 2019. That's a month earlier than doctors noted cases in Wuhan, China, which is in Hubei province, at the middle of December 2019. By January it had spread to other countries across the globe, with some countries like South Korea, Iran and Italy being hit especially hard. As of March 17, 2020, there were 146 countries with verified cases for a worldwide total of 197,313 and 7,950 deaths. But the disease is growing exponentially, and the totals rise every hour.

The first known U.S. coronavirus case was announced on Jan. 21, 2020 in Washington state, but the pace of diagnosis has quickened significantly in recent weeks, and accelerated most dramatically in just the past few days. At the start of this month, 70 cases had been reported in the United States, most of them tied to overseas travel. As of March 17, there were 5,981 cases, surging up from 4,252 cases just the day before, and 99 have been fatal. Florida has not yet been hit as hard as some other states like Washington, California and New York. As of March 17, there were 173 confirmed cases and six deaths in Florida.

The symptoms of infection with COVID-19 are usually a respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. The disease can be fatal, especially for those over 65 or people with other medical issues. COVID-19 can be spread from spray from coughing and sneezing and through close personal contact, such as shaking hands, according to the CDC. Coronaviruses can also be spread by touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching eyes, mouth or nose. The virus can exist on metal surfaces for several days.

While there is no vaccine currently available for COVID-19, health experts have made several recommendations to lessen the chance of catching the virus. The easiest is washing hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterward. Stay home when you are sick so you do not infect others.

Currently, not everyone can get a test as there are several requirements for getting a test since as kits are limited. According to Roger Dolz of the Alachua County Health Department, the individual has to meet the criteria of having been overseas recently or show symptoms such as a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. Dolz also stressed that they take samples not the actual determination of infection.

The time between exposure to the COVID-19 virus and onset of symptoms is called the “incubation period.” The incubation period for COVID-19 is typically 2 - 14 days, although in some cases it may be longer. Anyone who feels they have the virus should call their local health care provider to verify and arrange a sample testing either at their office or through an independent diagnostic lab. If they do not have a doctor or health care provider, they can contact the Alachua County Health Department for directions on where to go.

Once the sample is taken it is sent to one of three state labs or to an independent commercial test lab. Results usually come back in 24 -48 hours. If it shows positive, then it is sent to the CDC for confirmation.

Anyone who feels they have it should avoid contact with others and notify the health provider prior to going in, so the medical staff can take precautions with the patient. The Alachua County Health Department has set up a phone number specifically to answer questions on the COVID-19 pandemic and available testing. They can be reached at 352-225-4181.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS – Much of north Florida's beauty is based around its rivers and springs. The Silver River is a short, spring fed river east of Ocala with crystal clear water, abundant wildlife and seven miles of pristine undeveloped land. There have been settlements at nearby Silver Springs since before the first Europeans. The history of the Silver River is haunting and familiar. The film, “Out of the Mist: A Silver River Story,” explores its natural beauty and the lives of people who lived there and depended upon the river for their livelihood.

After Florida became a United States territory, settlers established a town at Silver Springs in 1852. Since the mid-19th century, the natural environment of Silver Springs attracted visitors from throughout the United States and became a popular tourist spot for visitors who poled their way along the narrow stream through overhanging cypress and Spanish moss. With the invention of the paddle wheel boat, Silver River also became a distribution center for Central Florida. Plantations growing produce used the river as a transportation route from nearby Ocala to settlements to the east.

Silver River’s Glass Bottom Boats

In the late 1870s, Phillip Morrell fixed a piece of glass in the bottom of a rowboat and a new enterprise began. Silver River's glass bottom boat tours have been world famous for more than 100 years.

In the early 1900s, Ed Carmichael purchased much of the land around the river and by the late 1920s he had developed a park that eventually became known as Silver Springs Nature Theme Park. The attraction featured native animal exhibits, amusement rides, and 30 or 90-minute glass-bottom boat tours. Upon Carmichael”s death, the land was donated to the University of Florida to ensure that the land would stay undeveloped so its pristine beauty could be maintained.

The tourist attraction continued after his death under lease to several corporations. The undeveloped tropical nature of the land also made it a popular spot for Hollywood films and was a frequent location for the series of Tarzan films in the 1930s to 1950s. Other films shot on the Silver River include the James Bond movie “Moonraker,” a “Smokey and the Bandit” sequel and the series “Sea Hunt” with Lloyd Bridges.

State of Florida Buys the Land

Beginning in 1993, the first thorough scientific studies of the springs were conducted and wildlife rehabilitation was started. That year, the State of Florida bought the underlying land, while private businesses continued to operate the attractions and concessions. The park went through a number of changes and revenue dropped off and the company running the park ended their lease. In January 2013, the state of Florida announced it would begin managing the park. Palace Entertainment agreed to pay a $4 million buyout to end their lease. The private park closed as of Sept. 21, 2013 and it became part of the Florida State Park system. The state also continued the glass bottom boat tours that were a long tradition at the park.

Cinematographer Mark Emery Grew up on the River

Double-Emmy-Award-winning wildlife cinematographer, naturalist and longtime Ocala resident Mark Emery moved to Ocala at age four and graduated from Vanguard High School in 1972. He grew up on the river, and as a young adult he worked at Silver Springs as a glass-bottom boat captain and wrestled alligators and milked rattlesnakes at reptile expert Ross Allen’s institute at Silver Springs. Emery also spent six months employed as a guard against poachers on the then 23,000-acre Drake Ranch in western Marion County and lived in very primitive conditions.

His love of the area and experiences as a boat captain eventually led him to become a photographer and cinematographer. He worked with and learned his craft from Academy Award winning underwater cinematographer Jordan Klein, Sr. Over the years, Emery has received two Emmys for National Geography nature films. He also has been involved in producing, filming and directing shows on channels including the Discovery Channel, PBS Nature and BBC, and has made a film with the Navy SEALS.

Boat Captains Inspired Film

His relationship to the river and the older boat captains eventually led him to his newest film, “Out of the Mist: A Silver River Story” featuring four of the old-time boat captains and their cumulative experience of over 200 years. Intersected with beautiful footage of the nature and wildlife on the river, the film interviews the four captains, three of whom are now retired.

Emery produced the film with his own resources and sponsored “go fund me” finances, working on it for five years in between other jobs. Three of the four captains featured in the film are African Americans who worked at the park during the time of segregation. While they drove the boats and gave tours, the visitors were all white and the boat captains only worked at the park and were unable to bring family or friends for the tours. A now defunct park along the river was called Paradise Park was for “coloreds” only.

In the film, the four boat captains, Virginia Ferguson, Roosevelt Faison, Oscar Collins and Leon Cheatam, tell of their work on the river and the information they shared with some 12 million visitors over the years. They also reflect on their experiences in a segregated society and the changing times.

But the captains spent much of the interviews on what they loved about their job, the beauty and passion they felt for the river. How they enjoyed watching the wonderment of the tourists at seeing the unique beauty of the river and its wildlife. To the captains, it was the perfect job, with each day bringing something different. The film also tells of the ebb and flow of certain species of wildlife and the increase in algae in the river.

Contamination and Restoration

In the 1970s to 1990s human growth in the surrounding area, including increasing numbers of septic tanks, fertilizer and livestock operations, caused nitrate-nitrogen contamination along the river, increasing algae growth which also affected the park’s tourism. Since that time the State of Florida has been leading a restoration effort that has brought the river back to its former beauty.

Due to the environmental impact on the river, the Florida Springs Institute has sponsored showings of Emery's film and on March 5 the movie was shown at the historic Priest Theater in High Springs. Starting with a BBQ dinner at the High Springs Brewery, the attendees were able to meet and talk with Emery and then hear his discussion on what the film was about and his passion for the area.

Emery also talked about the unique qualities of the river for underwater photography, stating that the Silver River environment provides an atmosphere where filmmakers don’t have to deal with salt water in their equipment and the light conditions in the water are very positive.

Emery hopes that the film will make people aware of the uniqueness of Florida's environment and help raise awareness on the need to preserve it for future generations.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com