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ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua is losing one commissioner and a compassionate defender for those less fortunate. Robert Wilford has resigned from the Commission to move from his longtime home in Alachua to Saint Augustine to enjoy retirement with his grandchildren.

But even in retirement, Wilford is planning to work with various charity programs and as an advocate for those in need. He has spent much of his life helping others and serving in some community capacity. “My heart is still in Alachua and it was a tough decision to move, but it is time to spend more time with my family and grandchildren,” said Wilford.

A recent health scare after a severe bout with Covid helped Wilford realize that time is fleeting and the future can be uncertain. “My wife, Diane, and I thought long and hard about the decision and decided that being close to my son Scott, and our two granddaughters, Natalie and Caroline, was more important at this stage of our lives. I will continue to serve and help others, just closer to family.”

Wilford is a native Floridian, who was born in Jacksonville, and has been married to Diane for 50 years. He is a U.S. Navy Vietnam-era Veteran who completed a distinguished 20-year career in 1983. He spent spent 16 years in the Navy as a Cryptologist with top secret clearance and then spent more four years as a Religious Programs Specialist where he authored two training publications and received numerous awards and commendations.

His Navy career also marked the beginning of his lifelong desire helping others by working with several substance abuse programs. Even after his Navy career he stayed involved multiple veterans organizations. He is currently a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (Gainesville Chapter), Marine Corps League (Gator Chapter), Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association, and U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve Association.

After retiring from the Navy, Wilford worked in health care administration in Florida and Georgia. In 1987, he began a 10-year career as an executive director, working in substance abuse programs, addiction recovery and prison ministry to help people in recovery. As the Executive Director for the Tri County Community Council in Bonifay, Florida, he combined his goal of helping others by working in local government, coordinating transportation services, housing assistance, food distribution services, child development programs and Head Start programs. He also worked a four-year stint as executive director of similar programs in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Wilford returned to his home state where he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Florida Community Action Agency (CFCAA), Inc., between 2006 and 2013. During his 27-year career in various roles as a CEO, including his tenure at CFCAA, he focused on various economic development and sustainability activities.

Over his career he has received numerous awards including “Advocate of the Year” by the East Gainesville Development Corporation and “Outstanding Community Leader” award by St. Luke AME Church.

Wilford is a member of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, board member of the CDS Family and Behavioral Health Services, and a former member of numerous boards of directors including the Florida Association for Community Action, Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, and Community Action Association of Region VI.

In 2010, he joined the City of Alachua Commission and served three terms as Vice Mayor. Wilford’s involvement with numerous organizations includes the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, board member of the CDS Family and Behavioral Health Services, and a former member of numerous boards of directors including the Florida Association for Community Action, Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association,

Wilford also authored a book about the crime of childhood sexual abuse, which was published in May 2015. Due to his philanthropic and volunteer efforts, he also holds the distinction as a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International and participates in a prison ministry with Kairos Prison Ministry International (KPMI) in Lake Butler, and with an incarcerated veterans program at Florida State Prison. He is also a former President of the Turkey Creek Lions Club and is a Charter Member of the Alachua Optimist Club.

Although Wilford is retiring from the Alachua City Commission, he has no plans to stop working in programs for others once he moves to Saint Augustine and has already reached out to service and charity organizations to offer his services. When asked about what he would like his legacy to be in Alachua, he simply said he wished to be remembered “As having made a difference in others’ lives.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ The qualifying period for the 2022 City of Newberry Municipal Election ended at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. Two incumbents are unopposed while a third incumbent faces two challengers.

Ricky Coleman will run unopposed in the Commission Group I seat. Also running unopposed is Mark Clark, Commission Group II incumbent. In the Commission Group III race, incumbent Monty Farnsworth will face off against challengers Mark Allen and Walt Boyer.

The election for the Commission Group III seat will be held on Tuesday, April 12, at the Newberry Municipal Building, Precinct 6, which is located at 25420 West Newberry Road, Newberry. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on that date.

Citizens planning on voting in the April 12 election must be registered by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022. Registration records can be updated at any time, but the deadline to update or register to vote for the 2022 City of Newberry Municipal election remains 5 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Voters will be contacted if their new application is incomplete, denied or a duplicate of an existing registration. A Voter Information Card will be mailed to all newly-registered voters.

Citizens registering to vote or updating their registration may go to votealachua.com/Voters/Register-to-Vote-or-Update-Registration.

Anyone who does not have either their last four digits of their Social Security number or their Florida Driver's License / Florida ID number on file with the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office will not be able to make a vote-by-mail request over the phone or online. Most of these voters would have registered 15 to 20 years ago, before this information was recorded in their databases.

Voters can solve this problem by updating their voter registration. Visit votealachua.com/Voters/Register-to-Vote-or-Update-Registration to do it online or fill out a Voter Registration Application and mail it in.

The postal service recommends that voters mail ballots one week before the due date to account for any unforeseen events or weather issues and to allow for timely receipt and processing by election officials. It is important for voters to let the Supervisor of Elections office know of any address changes. Mail ballots cannot be forwarded.

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HIGH SPRINGS – A Special Event Permit Application submitted to the City of High Springs on Jan. 11 triggered an outpouring of concern from citizens at the Jan. 27 High Springs City Commission meeting. The permit request at that time was two-fold.

The Heart of High Springs, Inc., a non-profit citizens group, requested to hold a special event to encourage citizen input regarding the City’s history and to discuss the possibility of celebrating its history with art on the sides of privately-owned buildings.

The same group also sought permission from the City to have a mural painted on the side of the Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, which is located behind City Hall. The mural suggested by the group was of former school Principal Diedeman.

Typically, a Special Event Permit Application is approved or disapproved by the City Manager. However, due to concern about this application by the public, City Manager Ashley Stathatos placed this application before the City Commission. Seeing the confusion and misinformation expressed by citizens, Commissioners decided to hold a special workshop on the application, which was scheduled for Feb. 15.

Due to the pandemic and the isolation that followed during the past year, members of the citizen’s group realized that residents felt excluded. However, the purpose of the special event that the Heart of High Springs group was asking permission to hold was to include the public and to also seek public input.

At the Feb. 15 workshop, the Heart of High Springs organization trimmed their original request to just the special event and put the Diedeman mural on the back burner.

Commissioners decided by consensus to allow the City Manager to make the final decision to allow the Special Event to take place, which she did ultimately approve. All of the events are open to the public and the public is encouraged to participate and express themselves during the events.

The Heart of High Springs organization has prepared a series of events to take place beginning on Saturday, March 12. The first will take place from 1 – 4 p.m. at City Hall, 23718 W. U.S. Highway 27, and is called “Celebrating High Springs History.” This event will feature an exhibit of collected historic stories, free picture scanning, a presentation on the history of High Springs, art activities for all ages and the launch of the new walking tour of existing High Springs murals.

“Railroad Bob” Watson will offer a presentation on the history of High Springs 1800-1900 from 2 – 3 p.m. Good News Arts will host a large-scale team painting for all ages (materials provided). There will be a self-guided walking tour of existing High Springs murals, co-sponsored by the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. The tour will also be ongoing via Guidebycell with maps available at the Old School, online at heartofhighsprings.org and from area merchants.

From Sunday, March 13 – Friday, March 18 there will be a variety of activities and on Saturday, March 19, as part of the seasonal monthly Art Walk, the organization will host two events at the High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, 23674 W. US Hwy 27.

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ALACHUA ‒ Alachua Police Chief Jesse Sandusky was officially sworn in to his new position in a standing room only Commission Chamber at the Alachua City Commission meeting on Feb. 28. Members of the Alachua Police Department were present to show their support of the new chief. Also in attendance were current and former chiefs of the Alachua Sheriff’s Office (ASO), City of Alachua Police Department (APD) and the High Springs Police Department (HSPD).

Sandusky was promoted to the Chief of Police position on Tuesday, Feb. 1 after then Chief Chad Scott accepted a position with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Sandusky began his career with the Alachua Police Department (APD) in 2003. He worked his way up through the ranks as a patrol officer, then to special teams traffic unit, then detective, sergeant, and lieutenant where he was the public information officer for the department.

At the request of Sandusky, his mother pinned the Chief's badge on him and Judge Susanne Wilson-Bullard officiated his swearing-in and administered the oath of office. Former APD Chief Chad Scott held the Bible Sandusky swore on.

In other business, the City Commission recognized the Santa Fe High School Lady Raider Volleyball program, which won the State Championship in Class 4A on Nov. 17. They finished the season 29-3, and at the end of the season were ranked second in the nation and first in Florida. This is not only the first Volleyball State Championship for Santa Fe High School, also the first-ever State Championship in any women’s sport at Santa Fe High School. Head Coach Eric Marshall, Assistant Coach Nicole Stout, Assistant Coach Kayla Hess, and most members of the team were in attendance for the presentation and to take a photograph with the Commission.

The Commission appointed four new members to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The Board serves in an advisory role to the City Commission concerning recreation services and potential long-range capital improvements. They also evaluate existing programs, recommend changes and enhancements and promote and review citizen participation in utilizing city services and facilities. Carol Richardson was re-appointed to a three-year term and Travis White was appointed to a three-year term. Malcolm Dixon and Jovante Hayes were appointed to the one-year terms.

In other business, the City of Alachua will be waiting a while longer for its latest purchase of transformers. City staff solicited pricing and availability on 12 types of transformers from four different vendors for a total of 39 transformers at a cost of $617,234. Due to continuing supply chain issues, delivery of these transformers is anticipated to be between 12 and 39 weeks.

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ALACHUA ‒ Santa Fe High School (SFHS) has played a big part in Julie Rye’s life. Now she is playing a big part in the lives of students and staff at the school.

Rye has been a clerical assistant at SFHS for the last seven years, but her ties to the school go back much further. Both her parents graduated from the school, as did she. Her son is also a SFHS alumnus, and her daughter is a current student.

The school’s principal and coworkers consider her the ‘face and voice’ of Santa Fe High. Stationed just behind the school’s front desk, Rye is the person who greets students, families and staff first thing in the morning and responds to questions—and problems—throughout the day.

“Serving in such a role can be demanding and stressful,” said Principal Dr. Tim Wright. “But Julie makes parents and students feel welcomed and valued. She listens intently to their questions and reassures them that she’ll help them with their situation.”

Rye says her long-standing connection to the school and community are a big help in her work.

“I know a majority of the kids here, and I went to school with a lot of their parents,” she said. “They know they can call me personally if they need something, which is really nice.”

Rye’s contributions to the school are not limited to her work in the front office. She also sponsors a number of student groups and teams, including Student Government and the Junior and Senior classes. Evenings and weekends, she can often be found at games, concerts, fundraisers and other activities in which students are participating, both on and off campus.

“I love being a part of their lives,” said Rye. “I hope it inspires them to see that I care about them whether they’re at school or out in the community.”

For her dedication to the school and its students, Rye has been named Alachua County Public Schools’ (ACPS) School-Related Employee of the Year. She is one of 44 district employees nominated for the honor this year and will now go on to represent ACPS in the Florida School Related Employee of the Year program.

“I’m very honored,” said Rye of her selection. “I feel really appreciated.”

The Alachua County School District plans to recognize all of this year’s 44 honorees at a special celebration in May, the district’s first in-person event for the School Related Employee of the Year program since the pandemic began. The Commissioner of Education will be identifying the overall winning employee out of more than 70 schools in Florida sometime in April or May of this year.

Since the program was established in 1993, honorees have received a check for $110 to represent the 110 percent they give to their work. Community fundraising makes those awards possible.

Anyone interested in contributing to the School Related Employee of the Year program can do so online through The Education Foundation at edfoundationac.org. They can click on the red DONATE button near the top right-hand side of the page and select the ‘School Related Employee of the Year Program’ when asked to designate their donation.

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PALATKA ― The St. Johns River Water Management District has long been dedicated to protecting Florida’s springs. Demonstrating that commitment, the District’s Governing Board approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month for the ninth consecutive year. The annual designation, which was adopted at Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting, helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

“The support provided by Gov. DeSantis and our partners at Florida Department of Environmental Protection and funding provided by the Legislature for springs restoration is vital to the success of our work at the District,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “Over the past eight years, the District has co-funded 154 projects, which has saved more than 100 million of gallons of water a day to help protect Outstanding Florida Springs—springs we hope offer places our children, grandchildren and future generations can continue to enjoy.”

Steps to reduce pollution and groundwater usage and minimize other impacts on the springs are at the heart of many projects and initiatives now underway. The District continues to build on partnerships with many entities, pursuing protection and restoration of springs through scientific research, restoration projects, water use regulation, water supply planning and stakeholder outreach.

Rep. Charles “Chuck” Clemons of Newberry recently introduced resolution (HR 8029) recognizing April 2022 as Springs Protection Awareness Month in Florida. Since 2013, water management districts across the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have joined the Legislature in recognizing the importance of springs and encouraging behaviors that will enhance springs protection.

Visit www.sjrwmd.com/springs for more information about the District’s work to protect springs.

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