Local

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The new fire services assessment fee and qualifying period for the Nov. 2 election were the two newest items considered at the June 24 City Commission meeting.

Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham proposed an increase in the new fire services assessment fee from the current amount of $155 per home or $0.42/day to $223 or $0.61/day for the coming fiscal year. The fire assessment is billed annually along with property taxes and is used exclusively to fund fire protection services in the city.

The increase will help fund a 24/7 professional Advanced Life Support (ALS) department, which many smaller cities do not have as part of their local fire department. “Adequately funding this department was a high priority at our strategic planning sessions,” said City Manager Ashley Stathatos.

The increase in fees will also fund replacement of three aging trucks. Engine 29, a commercial cab unit, was purchased in 2012 and is approaching the end of its life. “Commercial cabs, while cheaper to purchase, generally only have a 10-year life expectancy,” said Gillingham.

Squad 29, a 2006 commercial cab truck, was given to the High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) as part of a five-year automatic aid agreement with Columbia County. HSFD took delivery in 2012, replacing a 2003 truck that was due to be retired. The current truck is at its end of life and is far too small for the advanced technical rescue equipment it carries.

The third vehicle is a 1997 brush truck that HSFD has owned since it was new. “The truck has had several mechanical issues during the last few years and is now totally inoperable and has been out of service for a year,” Gillingham said.

Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2021-C, which will increase the fire assessment fee as requested.

In other City business, Resolution 2021-D, which sets the election date, lists seats that are available, and specifies the qualifying period also received unanimous approval. Seats #4, currently occupied by Commissioner Byran Williams, and #5, currently occupied by Commissioner Scott Jamison, are the two seats for which candidates may run. The election date was set for Nov. 2 and the qualifying period was set by this resolution to run July 19 – 22. City Clerk Jenny Parham will be available to handle qualifying paperwork from the beginning of the work day to closing on each day of the qualifying period.

In other business, resident Linda Tanner spoke about water runoff at 243^rd Street, which have impacted her home and those of other neighbors. Stathatos said she has asked the city’s engineers, Mittauer & Associates, to review several locations with similar problems and provide feedback about what can be done to remedy these situations.

Other items that were approved on second and final readings included Ordinance 2021-04, which addresses mobile food vendors and food trucks, Ordinance 2021-05, which addresses changes to the Land Development Code and Ordinance 2021-07, which changes Memorial Park from a Residential zoning designation to Public/Semi-Public designation, bringing that property into the proper designation for its current use.

Following several complaints by citizens about the waste removal service provided by WCA, City Attorney Scott Walker reported that his firm is in the process of compiling a letter for the city manager’s review. If approved, she will forward the letter to WCA to make them aware of the City’s concerns regarding their service.

Commissioner Byran Williams announced that Farm Share would be in High Springs on July 17 to distribute food. Volunteers are needed to help with dissemination of the food items into cars.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for July 8 at 6:30 p.m.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ The Humane Society of North Central Florida and Scenthound Gainesville, a recently opened dog care and grooming business, have announced a partnership to help dogs get clean and healthy. Beginning in July, Scenthound Gainesville will provide free bathing and grooming services to adoptable dogs from the Humane Society of North Central Florida.

“Giving back to the community is an integral part of our business model,” Scenthound Gainesville’s owner Joseph Pizzurro said. “We are thrilled to be partnered with the Humane Society to help dogs find a forever home as quickly as possible by providing these needed services.” In addition to basic grooming, Scenthound focuses on five core areas where all dogs need care: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails and Teeth.

“We are very excited to be working with Joseph and the team at Scenthound,” Humane Society Executive Director Heather Thomas said. “We pull animals from 18 local county shelters and many times they are in serious need of both a bath and grooming. This partnership will help us make these pets more comfortable and help them find a home even faster.”

Additionally, the partnership will launch Scenthound’s Clean Start Program; providing a free bath, ear cleaning, nail clipping and teeth brushing to all dogs adopted through the Humane Society of North Central Florida.

The humane society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping healthy and treatable dogs and cats in Alachua County, Florida. For over 40 years, the organization has worked to achieve its goal of becoming a community where no healthy or treatable animal is euthanized due to lack of space.

Scenthound is a membership-based dog grooming business focused on dog health and wellness. Visit Scenthound’s new location in Haile Publix Market Square at 2835 S.W. 91^st Street, #330, Gainesville, Florida.

For more information about the Humane Society of North Central Florida or Scenthound, visit https://www.humanesocietyncfl.org/ or https://www.scenthound.com/.

The Humane Society of North Central Florida was created in 2018 when the leadership of the Alachua County Humane Society, Gainesville Pet Rescue, and Helping Hands Pet Rescue decided to permanently join forces. By becoming the Humane Society of North Central Florida, these organizations were able to effectively streamline services for pets and pet owners, eliminate any duplication of services, maximize the community’s resources, and improve the life-saving abilities of the entire region.

The Humane Society of North Central Florida is a limited intake, no-kill animal rescue shelter. The animals are transferred from open-intake and/or managed admission municipal shelters across North Central Florida. The Humane Society of North Central Florida is an independent, local 501(c)(3) organization and does not receive funding from federal agencies, nor is it affiliated with any other state or national organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States or the ASPCA.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Beginning June 21, any child age 0-18 can receive a free breakfast and lunch at one of 93 locations in Alachua County through the Free Summer Meals program.

The ACPS Food and Nutrition Services Department is offering multiple pick-up options to meet families’ needs, including in-person service, bus stop locations and curbside grab-and-go meals. The department’s food truck will also visit three neighborhoods in southwest Gainesville, including Hidden Oaks, Majestic Oaks and the SWAG Family Resource Center this summer.

Starting June 24 and continuing through the summer, the district’s free grab-and-go meals curbside distribution will be available at 19 locations on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meals for all seven days of the week will be provided.

The Summer Meals Program, funded by the federal government, is open to any child regardless of family income. Children do not have to be enrolled at a particular school or program to receive meals. They also do not have to be eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year to take advantage of the program.

If children are not present at pick up, families will be asked to provide the child’s name and date of birth or a form of ID such as a report card or birth certificate. All information will be kept confidential.

“Families can take their children to the site that’s most convenient for them,” said Maria Eunice, Director of the district’s FNS department. “They just drive or walk up during the serving times and enjoy a nutritious meal.”

For more details on free meal sites, serving dates and times, families can visit the Food & Nutrition Services website at www.yourchoicefresh.com or call 352-955-7539.

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GAINESVILLE – Artists can share their works for the Alachua County Library District’s eighth Summer Art Show starting July 1 through July 29.

The summer show will feature pieces from adult artists on the Library District’s website in August. Participants can submit up to two works each by email with a completed entry form for each piece. Entry forms and rules are available at www.aclib.us/summerartshow or by emailing ccarpenter@aclib.us.

Submissions should be in the form of a jpeg, png, or pdf file and may include paintings, photography, drawings, mixed media, digital art, and 3D artwork. //www.flickr.com/photos/13863811@N06/albums/72157715282920633/with/50195652803/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.flickr.com/photos/13863811@N06/albums/72157715282920633/with/50195652803/&source=gmail&;ust=1625186183902000&usg=AFQjCNHXjt8QY5hPVN1L0sr0lG9RTLLapQ">The 2020 art show moved online for the first time and featured paintings, photos, sculptures, and even a cross-stitch entry.

“The art show has thrived online and we’re eager to see what inspired pieces our talented local artists submit this year,” said Adult Services Librarian Cheris Carpenter.

To schedule an interview, please contact Rachel Cook at rcook@aclib.us or 352-334-3909.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The local Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe sponsored a golf tournament in High Springs this week, but it wasn't a professional golf tournament, it was a miniature golf tournament for charity featuring teams consisting of local families and city employees to raise money for the Kiwanis programs for children.

The Kiwanis of Santa Fe is a local chapter of the Kiwanis International, which is a global community of clubs dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Founded in 1915, the organization's motto is "Serving the Children of the World."

Today the organization has more than 550,000 members in 80 countries, host nearly 150,000 service projects each year and raises nearly $100 million every year for communities, families and projects. Since each community has different needs, the Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance.

David Miller, general manager of the Pink Flamingo Diner, is also a lifelong Kiwanis member. “Several months ago, the club approached me about hosting a golf tournament on the Diner's miniature golf course,” Miller said. “We had heard about professional tournaments on miniature courses and decided that this would be a good opportunity to both benefit the Kiwanis cause and use the course for charity and plan for future tournaments.”

Local businesses were enthusiastic about sponsoring the competition and providing prizes for the winners. Campus USA, Waste Pro, High Springs City Parks and Recreation, Porta Serve, Attorney Thomas Weller and Edward Jones company supplied monetary funds or prizes. The Pink Flamingo lowered their usual charge to play from $8 to $6 for adults and $4 for children. Of that fee, $2 of each entry was donated to the Kiwanis to support their projects. The Kiwanis also increased participation with a potluck prize.

The first round was a family round with parents and children up to age 12 on four-person teams. The top three teams won prize baskets ranging from $45 to $120. Family team winners were first place Maggie Hewlett, second place the Santos family playing under the family plumbing business name of Plumb Ultimate, and third place went to the MacNeil family.

In addition to the prize baskets, any child that made Par 3 (three shots per hole) and any adult that made Bogey (two shots per hole) received a free ice cream cone courtesy of the Pink Flamingo.

Family play was followed by eight adult teams of four players each. Winners for the adult round were High Springs Park and Recreation Department in first place, followed by the Nate team in second place and Susan Ladd's team taking third place. While the event was meant to be a fun time for all involved, it also raised $1,400 for the Kiwanis projects.

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