HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Gauging by sizzling temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a heat index well over the century mark, the dog days of summer are officially here.

Summer camps are quickly becoming only fond memories, as are the thoughts of a seemingly endless summer. With the first days of August around the corner, back-to-school time is looming just over the horizon as school in Alachua County is scheduled to begin Aug. 10.

In the meantime, hot, humid and sticky is an appropriate explanation for the lethargy that seems to have not only affected people, but our four-legged friends as well.  Mother Nature has indeed blessed Florida with sunshine — and heat.  It’s just too hot to think about doing much of anything – unless Ichetucknee Springs comes to mind.

As many locals know, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a refreshing experience. Its unspoiled beauty, together with surrounding wilds, has become and remains a Florida treasure.   Each of us discovers this treasure only once, but is likely drawn back again and again to experience firsthand what Native Americans called “Ichetucknee,” meaning “pond of the beaver.”

North Central Floridians often, and mistakenly, take for granted this virtual paradise consisting of 2,669 acres. Inside the boundaries of the park, a series of springs creates the clear Ichetucknee River, which flows toward the southwest for approximately six miles.  It is often the visitor who reminds us of the magical bounty we have in our own back yard.

To the uninitiated, floating down a crystal-clear meandering river in an inner tube for one to three hours is exhilarating.  Add to that, the Florida sun casting shadows through the cedar and maple trees as first-time tubers leisurely float down the cooling waters.  Not much can surpass the serenity of leaning back against a gently rocking tube and drinking in nature’s beauty while dangling one’s feet in the refreshing water.

But the real thrill experienced by visitors is their amazement about the springs that were declared a “National Natural Landmark” by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1972.

Millions of gallons of pristine water gush out of the earth, forming crystal pools of water reflecting colors of pale blues and mysterious blacks in Florida’s sun.  The constant average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit year round refreshes the hot and weary.

Now is the time to “take the remedy.”  Visit Ichetucknee State Park, if only for a few hours.  Visitors don’t have to take all day, but why not?  What better place to spend time communing with Mother Nature than in this land of raw beauty and sparkling waters? And Memorial Day through Labor Day, fun seekers will find a full-service concession that offers food, refreshments, and outdoor items.

The park is open 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. till sundown for the bargain rate of $6 per vehicle. But according to the park’s Web site, if you are planning on a Saturday or Sunday float down the river, arrive early as the park is quite popular on weekends and when the parking lot fills up, you may not be able to enter. Effective June 19, 2023: Ichetucknee Springs State Park frequently closes due to capacity limits. During this time, gates will be closed and visitors will not be able to enter. Gates reopen when space is available. Also, effective June 19, the South Takeout is closed to vehicles through Oct. 1. Unless capacity has been met, visitors can access the South Takeout via tram or trails located at the south main entrance.

The south entrance to the park is located west of Ft. White, off U.S. 27. Total distance from Ft. White to the park’s north entrance is 5.9 miles. Ticket windows in the front of the general store sell transportation wrist bands for the park tram shuttle servicing primarily those tubing the Ichetucknee as well as van/bus transportation for paddlers to the river’s headwaters at the north entrance.

Rather than spending another day wiping your brow, kick back, cool off and relax.  Mother Nature gives us “dog days” so we will appreciate her other gifts all the more.

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ALACHUA ‒ From a chic traditional bed and breakfast to a contemporary upscale wine bar, two area businesses have risen to the top. Both businesses have received industry awards and national recognition for exceptional service.

Beaker and Flask, recognized by Wine Spectator magazine with the publication’s Award of Excellence, is a wine bar located in Alachua’s San Felasco Tech City right off U.S. Highway 441 next to Daft Cow Brewery. Although Beaker and Flask opened their doors less than six months ago, they have already built a reputation as a premiere wine bar with over 135 varieties of wine from around the world. They offer high-end wines by the glass or bottle, and they also hold wine tastings and offer classes taught by wine experts.

Wine Spectator magazine has been publishing since 1976 and is the world's leading authority on wine that recognizes restaurants with wine lists offering interesting selections, that are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

To qualify for an award, a wine list must present complete, accurate information, including vintages and appellations for all selections. Lists that meet these requirements are judged for one of our three awards. The Wine Spectator award acknowledges only venues with over 90 selections of wine.

To qualify for the award, Beaker and Flask paired with food truck Cheffreys Food. “We always have food trucks outside our location next door to the Daft Cow Brewery, which we both share to offer our patrons food with their beverages,” said Beaker and Flask owner Elliot Welker. “Cheffreys is one of our favorite food trucks and they designed a menu to match various wines for the awards application.”

Welker said that only four restaurants in the county have received the Award of Excellence and the award represents the pinnacle of recognition in the industry. “Receiving it gives recognition of our exceptional wine program and the work of our team,” said Welker.

Welker is no newcomer to the wine and food industry. “My father is the wine distributor for Wards Grocery and has been in the industry for 50 years.” Once Welker turned 18, he accompanied his father on trips to wineries throughout the world to learn the craft. “Last year I decided it was time to open a high-quality wine bar of my own,” Welker said. “It’s been a great success, with our patronage increasing every month.”

Beaker and Flask is located13800 Tech City Circle, Suite 311. Additional information about wines and classes can be found at https://www.beakerandflaskwinebar.com/

Just down the road a few miles in High Springs, The Grady House Bed and Breakfast has won the Favorite Hotel for the Gainesville metropolitan area from “Our Town Magazine” for the second year in a row.

It is one of several awards the bed and breakfast has garnered in its short time under new owners Sara Miller and Scott Towne. The Grady House has also been awarded Best of High Springs in the Business Hall of Fame for both 2022 and 2023, the Best Hotel and Restaurant in Florida by the Guide to Florida in 2022, and Miller was also in the top three for best chef in Alachua County as well.

The location where the Grady house now stands has a rich history in the town’s development. Prior to 1900, the location was the site of the town’s bakery. In 1917, H.L. Grady built a house on the property and his family lived there for many years. One of the Grady House owners purchased the 122-year-old Easterlin House next door and transformed it into Skeet’s Cottage, a beautiful two-story Victorian home.

In 1990, Ed and Diane Shupe bought the house and turned it into a bed and breakfast. They eventually sold to Lucie and Paul Regensdorf who ran it for over a decade. It was sold in 2019 to Bobbie Sabo and her husband, who spent time and money updating the house only to close its doors due to COVID in 2020, leaving the Victorian mansion sitting abandoned for over a year.

Miller and Towne purchased the Grady House and Easterlin House in August 2021. “We absolutely loved the Grady house, along with the companion Easterlin House (Skeeters Cottage) as well as the gardens and event site behind the house,” said Miller.

Miller says the couple loved the community of High Springs and felt welcomed by its people, with some of them stopping by the house before it opened to introduce themselves and offer information about the area and its history. “We want to be part of that community and contribute to it,” said Miller. “We plan to be more than just a B&B, providing special events including music concerts in the back garden and host other special events for the community.”

Despite the early awards and accolades, Miller and Townes expanded the appeal of the Grady House by offering weekend breakfast service open to the community by reservation at 11 a.m. The brunch became so popular, there was a six-week waiting period for a coveted seat in the dining area that was capped by a 16-person limit.

Looking to expand on the brunch popularity, plans are underway to accommodate the growing demand. “We have decided to turn the Easterlin House into strictly a restaurant for weekend brunch, which will be able to seat about 40 patrons,” said Miller. “We are so grateful for the support we have received from the community that has led to the success we have had with this beautiful old house.” Miller anticipates that the Easterlin House brunch should be open by the end of August.

The Grady House is located at 410 and 420 N.W. 1^st Avenue in High Springs. Reservations can be made by calling 386-454-2206 or visiting https://www.gradyhousebnb.com/

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ALACHUA ‒ From a chic traditional bed and breakfast to a contemporary upscale wine bar, two area businesses have risen to the top. Both businesses have received industry awards and national recognition for exceptional service.

Beaker and Flask, recognized by Wine Spectator magazine with the publication’s Award of Excellence, is a wine bar located in Alachua’s San Felasco Tech City right off U.S. Highway 441 next to Daft Cow Brewery. Although Beaker and Flask opened their doors less than six months ago, they have already built a reputation as a premiere wine bar with over 135 varieties of wine from around the world. They offer high-end wines by the glass or bottle, and they also hold wine tastings and offer classes taught by wine experts.

Wine Spectator magazine has been publishing since 1976 and is the world's leading authority on wine that recognizes restaurants with wine lists offering interesting selections, that are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

To qualify for an award, a wine list must present complete, accurate information, including vintages and appellations for all selections. Lists that meet these requirements are judged for one of our three awards. The Wine Spectator award acknowledges only venues with over 90 selections of wine.

To qualify for the award, Beaker and Flask paired with food truck Cheffreys Food. “We always have food trucks outside our location next door to the Daft Cow Brewery, which we both share to offer our patrons food with their beverages,” said Beaker and Flask owner Elliot Welker. “Cheffreys is one of our favorite food trucks and they designed a menu to match various wines for the awards application.”

Welker said that only four restaurants in the county have received the Award of Excellence and the award represents the pinnacle of recognition in the industry. “Receiving it gives recognition of our exceptional wine program and the work of our team,” said Welker.

Welker is no newcomer to the wine and food industry. “My father is the wine distributor for Wards Grocery and has been in the industry for 50 years.” Once Welker turned 18, he accompanied his father on trips to wineries throughout the world to learn the craft. “Last year I decided it was time to open a high-quality wine bar of my own,” Welker said. “It’s been a great success, with our patronage increasing every month.”

Beaker and Flask is located13800 Tech City Circle, Suite 311. Additional information about wines and classes can be found at https://www.beakerandflaskwinebar.com/

Just down the road a few miles in High Springs, The Grady House Bed and Breakfast has won the Favorite Hotel for the Gainesville metropolitan area from “Our Town Magazine” for the second year in a row.

It is one of several awards the bed and breakfast has garnered in its short time under new owners Sara Miller and Scott Towne. The Grady House has also been awarded Best of High Springs in the Business Hall of Fame for both 2022 and 2023, the Best Hotel and Restaurant in Florida by the Guide to Florida in 2022, and Miller was also in the top three for best chef in Alachua County as well.

The location where the Grady house now stands has a rich history in the town’s development. Prior to 1900, the location was the site of the town’s bakery. In 1917, H.L. Grady built a house on the property and his family lived there for many years. One of the Grady House owners purchased the 122-year-old Easterlin House next door and transformed it into Skeet’s Cottage, a beautiful two-story Victorian home.

In 1990, Ed and Diane Shupe bought the house and turned it into a bed and breakfast. They eventually sold to Lucie and Paul Regensdorf who ran it for over a decade. It was sold in 2019 to Bobbie Sabo and her husband, who spent time and money updating the house only to close its doors due to COVID in 2020, leaving the Victorian mansion sitting abandoned for over a year.

Miller and Towne purchased the Grady House and Easterlin House in August 2021. “We absolutely loved the Grady house, along with the companion Easterlin House (Skeeters Cottage) as well as the gardens and event site behind the house,” said Miller.

Miller says the couple loved the community of High Springs and felt welcomed by its people, with some of them stopping by the house before it opened to introduce themselves and offer information about the area and its history. “We want to be part of that community and contribute to it,” said Miller. “We plan to be more than just a B&B, providing special events including music concerts in the back garden and host other special events for the community.”

Despite the early awards and accolades, Miller and Townes expanded the appeal of the Grady House by offering weekend breakfast service open to the community by reservation at 11 a.m. The brunch became so popular, there was a six-week waiting period for a coveted seat in the dining area that was capped by a 16-person limit.

Looking to expand on the brunch popularity, plans are underway to accommodate the growing demand. “We have decided to turn the Easterlin House into strictly a restaurant for weekend brunch, which will be able to seat about 40 patrons,” said Miller. “We are so grateful for the support we have received from the community that has led to the success we have had with this beautiful old house.” Miller anticipates that the Easterlin House brunch should be open by the end of August.

The Grady House is located at 410 and 420 N.W. 1^st Avenue in High Springs. Reservations can be made by calling 386-454-2206 or visiting https://www.gradyhousebnb.com/

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission meeting room was filled to capacity on July 13 with citizens recounting how meaningful the historic Priest Theatre has been to their lives. The many testaments consumed much of the meeting as citizens and Commissioners alike shared recollections of the theatre and what it had meant to them.

The Priest Theatre, a 1910-era landmark in the heart of downtown High Springs located along Northwest 237^th Street, is currently in a severely blighted condition and has been so for some time. The Florida Legislature approved a $1,040,450 legislative appropriation to the City of High Springs to purchase, renovate and restore the building for public use. The first steps in this process for Commission consideration include an appraisal of the building and that an earlier assessment report by architect Paul Stressing be updated. The Commission unanimously authorized City staff to move forward with these two matters.

The appropriation from the state requires $250,000 in matching funds, and both CRA and Wild Spaces funds have been identified as appropriate to meet the matching requirement.

In other business, the Commission gave final approval for a zoning change from Planned Development (PD) to Residential (R-1) on one acre +/- located next to Bridlewood along Northwest 222^nd Street. The zoning change was requested by Joe Tillman and was approved on first reading on June 22. This property was originally zoned R-1, then became a part of the Tillman Planned Development (PD). Tillman requested that the parcel revert back to R-1. Staff recommended approval of the zoning change.

Tillman plans to place a mobile home on the property while his home is being built, a process which he expects to take three to four years to complete. Although the zoning change is not related to the mobile home, Tillman can request that a mobile home now be allowed on the site.

When this item was heard by the City’s Plan Board on June 19, several citizens expressed concern that a mobile home should not be allowed to be placed on the property as it would be inconsistent with surrounding residential properties. Although only one citizen, Sue Weller, addressed the issue at this Commission meeting, she asked that her objection be put on the record. Ultimately, the High Springs City Manager will resolve the matter whether to allow the mobile home on this property if Tillman makes that request.

In other City business, the Commission unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading that regulates the use of larger vehicles on Northwest 186^th Avenue, formerly known as U.S. Highway 27 Alternate. The change is intended to help maintain normal and safe movement of traffic. Staff met with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and requested that all motor vehicles having three or more axles use the preferred truck route of State Road 20/State Road 25 U.S. Highway 441 to State Road 45/High Springs Main Street. FDOT had requested that the City provide an ordinance restricting vehicles having three or more axles. This item was heard and approved on first reading on June 8. Signage will be prepared to advise trucks of the change.

Fire Services Assessment rates for Fiscal Year 2023-24 will remain at the current rate with no increases. Commissioners voted unanimously to maintain the initial preliminary rate resolution. Those rates are $223 for residential dwellings, $0.09 per square foot for commercial properties, $0.02 per square foot for industrial/warehouse properties and $0.16 per square foot for institutional properties. The resolution establishing the final assessment will be considered at the Aug. 10 meeting.

The Commission unanimously approved a minor site plan for a pole barn to be located at Sweet Meats Butcher Shop, 18172 U.S. Highway 441. The property, which is currently under construction, consists of 1.8 +/- acres and is owned by Robert Gay, President, BCE Supply Chain Enterprises, Inc.

Gay was at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on June 19 and explained that the pole barn would be located behind the building and would be used for barbecue classes, competition, special events and a wild game dinner later this year.

Commissioners also approved a preliminary plat for Hidden Springs Villas, a 44-unit townhome project located off of Railroad Avenue. It meets the standards outlined in the Planned Development/Developer’s Agreement previously approved by Commission. Concern was expressed about dumpster locations on the site, but the Commissioners were assured that trash containers would be kept inside garages until trash pickup days as part of the homeowners’ association requirements.

Commissioners approved a project from low bidder FLA Homes, Inc. for $375,745 to perform several construction-related projects for the Catherine Taylor Park Community Center Project. The project consists of furnishing plans, securing permits, providing labor and materials to renovate the former school/day care and turn it into a community center. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to asbestos, lead abatement, framing, new roof, windows and doors, cabinets and flooring, kitchen and bathroom finish out and painting.

Due to a recent resignation from a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member and two alternates, the Commission appointed Jeffrey Dobbertien to fill out the remainder of the Board member’s term, which will expire in November. Valerie Bronstone will serve as an alternate member, with her term expiring in 2024 and James Amato will serve as an alternate member, with his term expiring in 2023. All three may request consideration to serve another term when their current term expires.

A Plan Board and Historic Preservation Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., July 17 and a Strategic Planning Workshop is planned to take place at the Civic Center, 19107 N.W. 240^th Street at 5:30 p.m. on July 20. The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 27.

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