GAINESVILLE - Alachua County children and their families are invited to attend the annual Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally on Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon. Doors will open at 9 a.m.

The event will be held in the gym of Santa Fe College’s northwest campus at 3000 NW 83^rd Street. The event is once again being organized by People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE) and is supported by a wide variety of local sponsors.

This year will mark the 25^th year the Rally has been held.

The rally’s keynote speaker will be Patrick Earl Houston, a rapper known as Project Pat who was previously affiliated with Three 6 Mafia, a ‘gangsta’ rap group. After spending time in prison for robbery and other charges, Project Pat founded Go Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on prison ministry. He has spent years touring the country to speak to people in and out of prison, particularly young people, about overcoming adversity and making good decisions.

The Stop the Violence event will feature entertainment and other speakers, as well as information provided by community organizations about safety, counseling and other topics. Free vaccinations will also be available from the Alachua County Health Department. Representatives from Alachua County Public Schools will also be at the event to provide back to school information on topics including free school meals, free mental health services and parent coaching, calendars, enrollment and more.

The first 5000 school-aged children in attendance will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies, provided by Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. Children must be present to receive the backpacks. There are no limits to how many children may attend.

More information about the rally is available at 352-505-6839 or at www.pavingpeace.org

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~Youth Council highlights July 4 with patriotic flag displays~

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ In anticipation of the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations, the High Springs Mayor’s Youth Council has taken the initiative to adorn the city with a patriotic display of flags. Spearheaded by Mayor Katherine Weitz and Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth, along with the enthusiastic participation of local Boy Scout Troop 69, the youth council embarked on a collaborative effort to line the streets with American flags.

The project was made possible through the generous donation of flags by ACE Hardware, a gesture that was crucial in bringing this community initiative to life. Elva Bryant played a pivotal role in coordinating the logistics, ensuring that every detail was meticulously planned and executed.

“This is more than just a display of flags; it's a symbol of our community coming together to celebrate our nation’s independence,” remarked Mayor Weitz, emphasizing the significance of civic engagement among the youth.

The flag display not only adds a festive touch to the city streets but also serves as a reminder of the values and freedoms cherished by the residents of High Springs. As the Fourth of July approaches, residents can look forward to a vibrant display of patriotism, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Mayor's Youth Council, local officials, community volunteers, and supportive businesses.

The Mayor's Youth Council is composed of students in grades 8-12 who live within the city limits of High Springs. Students interested in applying for a future opening on the Mayor's Youth Council, can complete the form at https://www.highsprings.gov/city-commission/page/mayors-youth-council and return it to the City Commission office, Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. located on the second floor of City Hall, 23718 W U.S. Highway 27.

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ALACHUA ‒ The skies around Alachua were once again bursting with flashes of dazzling lights and displays of patriotism as the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration returned Thursday evening. From spectacular fireworks to food, live music and fun for the entire family, Alachua had it covered. It was a star-spangled extravaganza as live music, food trucks, and kids’ activities set the stage for the dazzling fireworks show that wrapped up the day’s events.

For over 20 years the City of Alachua has hosted an annual July 4^th celebration billed as the “Largest Small Town Fireworks Display in America.” The event is so popular that it attracts thousands of spectators each year from surrounding cities, and oftentimes doubles the size of the town’s nearly 12,000 population.

In a welcome message to the patriotic revelers, Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper stated, “Thank you for celebrating the Fourth of July with Alachua, and we hope the event becomes an annual tradition for your family.”

The annual extravaganza is made possible by support of community businesses and organizations as well as volunteers from the City of Alachua. This year’s Diamond Sponsors were Alachua County Today Newspaper and Dollar General. Gold Sponsors were Alachua Chamber of Commerce, Alachua Lion’s Club, Douglas Adel, DDS, P.A., Rush and Frisco Law and Sunstop Stores. Platinum Sponsors were Hitchcock’s Markets and Waste Pro. Silver Sponsors were the Alachua Business League and Campus USA Credit Union. City volunteers included City Manager Mike DaRoza, Damon Messina, Stephanie McDonald, Jack Hansen, Wes Barrett, Kyler Burk, Lynn Hayes, Steven Holton, Tony Love, Tara Malone, Sgt. Carl Newsome, Pam Philman, Police Chief Jesse Sandusky, Donna Smith, Ofc. Thomas Stanfield, Linnelle Stewart, Rodolfo Valladares and David Wisener.

The fun filled event took place at the Legacy Park Amphitheater. Gates opened at 5 p.m. with events starting at 6 p.m. The evening’s entertainment featured “Whiskey Jones,” a local band that performs an assortment of well-known classic rock, blues and country rock songs. The band has been entertaining audiences in North Florida since 2018. Caitlyn Phillips delivered a patriotic tribute song to America and the National Anthem

As the musical entertainment died down, the skies exploded in a display of multi-colored fireworks and the show began.

For the next half hour, a continuous display of fireworks lit the night sky over Legacy Park as thousands celebrated the Fourth of July.

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Veterans attending an Adaptive Sports Program event at the north shore of Lake Wauburg in Micanopy, where Veterans were able to take part in paddle boarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and canoeing, June 12, 2024, pose for a group photo at the end of the day’s activities / Photo special to Alachua County Today

GAINESVILLE ‒ Veterans recently gathered at Lake Wauburg's north shore in Micanopy for a day of aquatic sports designed to boost their independence, well-being, and quality of life. Organized by the Adaptive Sports Program (ASP) of the Veterans Health System (NF/SG-VHS), the event offered paddle boarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and canoeing. These activities aim to enhance cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength, underscoring the program’s commitment to improving physical and mental health among Veterans with a disability or a senior Veteran age 55 or older.

The North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SG-VHS) offers countless programs to Veterans throughout North Florida and South Georgia, including ASP. The ASP hosted the sports day where Veterans were able to take part in paddle boarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and canoeing, June 12, 2024. These activities were designed to increase cardiovascular endurance as well as strengthen lower and upper body muscles.

The ASP partners with the NF/SG-VHS Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), which helps fund multi-day clinics for Veterans 55 and older to introduce them to various sports for a week at various locations. As more and more Veterans have learned about the ASP, as many as 25 Veterans have gone on to compete in the Golden Age Games while participating and training in the weekly events that NF/SG-VHS hosts in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Lake City and Gainesville.

“We have found that our Veterans that are receiving this benefit of adaptive sports, recreation and leisure vastly improved their quality of life,” said Katie Blunk, the Adaptive Sports Coordinator for NF/SG-VHS. “And to really demonstrate to the Veteran that they don’t ever have to say that ‘they can’t do something’ when it comes to their physical well-being, we will show them exactly how they can.”

The encouragement of competing and realizing they can participate in these activities is a true testament that Veterans of all ages are able to defy any of their limitations. Through ASP activities, Veterans have improved their individual health, physical wellness, teamwork, empowered leadership, improved self-confidence, and camaraderie.

One such Veteran, Erich Brockmoeller, a former U.S. Marine Corps non-commissioned officer, expressed that he was turned onto the ASP after experiencing a self-isolation phase in life. Participating in the program has helped Erich realize he was not alone. There are many Veterans just like Brockmoeller, and he encourages all disabled Veterans to take part and experience the rewards of the program.

“The connections I made have been monumental, not to mention the physical and mental health of being involved in the adaptive sports program,” said Brockmoeller. “Go one time! Give it a try. One time has turned into more times and now I go multiple times a week.”

An additional benefit of the ASP has been creating or inventing adaptive sports equipment for Veterans to utilize in order to return to their favorite sport. Specialized rehabilitation events have been created with an aim to optimize Veterans’ independence, community engagement, well-being, and quality of life. The programs are built on clinical expertise within the VA, with essential support from Veteran Service Organizations, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and community partners.

Grant programs for ASP are essential for the program. Through these grant programs, various organizations have come together to increase and expand the quantity and quality of sustainable adaptive sports activities that Veterans can participate in to treat mental health, physical injuries, and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

“Adaptive sports in general strives to remove barriers to allow Veterans to engage in activities that bring well-being on physical, mental, and spiritual levels,” said Dr. Carmen Fernandez, the Associate Director for the GRECC at NF/SG-VHS. “The GRECC promotes advances in geriatric care, and we are fortunate to be here to assist the ASP in this endeavor.”

The Veterans participating in the activities all had a great experience enhancing their physical fitness and connecting with their fellow Veterans. The NF/SG-VHS ASP and GRECC staff ensured their day was filled with world-class health care, physical and mental motivation, safety, and camaraderie that these Veterans value and hold dear.

The next multi-day Adaptive Sports Clinic with the GRECC is scheduled for Sept. 17-20, 2024. Veterans with a disability or who are 55 and older should request their primary care provider to place a consult for adaptive sports to receive an application for participation. The deadline for applying is Aug. 16, 2024.

For more information on the Adaptive Sports Program, visit Adaptive Sports | VA North Florida/South Georgia Health Care | Veterans Affairs or VA National Veterans Sports Programs.

For more information on the NF/SG-VHS, visit VA North Florida/South Georgia Health Care | Veterans Affairs.

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