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HAWTHORNE – A 29-year-old Hawthorne man is facing a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after Alachua County deputies say he stabbed his stepfather with a butcher knife.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies say the victim was giving his stepson a ride home from his job at approximately 10 p.m. on Oct. 7. According to the ACSO arrest report, Tyris Devante Hawkins “entered the passenger side of the vehicle and without any warning immediately began to stab his stepfather with a large butcher knife while the victim was still seated in the driver’s seat.”

The victim defended himself and was able to leave the scene after Hawkins stopped swinging the knife and left the vehicle. The victim had several lacerations described as “defensive.”

ACSO deputies located Hawkins and arrested him. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 11:39 p.m. and is being held on $80,000 bond.

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• Online: The online voter registration portal — found at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov — it is a safe and secure option for voter registration.

• In person: The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections’ office, located in Gainesville at 515 N. Main St., Suite 300, will be open on Monday, Oct. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registrations can also be completed and turned in at any Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office or Alachua County Library District branch by the Oct. 18 deadline. 

• By mail: Forms are available online at VoteAlachua.com. Mailed forms must be completed and postmarked by the Oct. 18 deadline.

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs will hold a two-day celebration of its 125^th anniversary Nov. 6 through Nov. 7 that is open to the community. The church has roots that extend throughout the community and has been holding regular Sunday services for 125 years in its present location, making it the oldest continuous church in High Springs. According to Reverend Canon Lance Horne, the services actually go back further, with the congregation holding services in private homes.

The current location became a reality when a parishioner deeded the land for the church that would be built in the Carpenter’s Gothic style with a steep central gable, wheel windows and pointed-arched windows. At the time, railroads were booming, and in 1883, the railroad had extended from Live Oak to Gainesville, passing through the small community of Santa Fe, named for the nearby Santa Fe River. A post office and railroad station were established, and in 1888, the name was changed to High Springs. When phosphate was discovered in the area that same year, three branches of the Atlantic Coast Line converged in the town which became known as "The Railroad Center."

But in 1896, a tornado devastated High Springs, including the church. The “Great Storm” as it became known, caused 202 deaths and was one of the costliest hurricanes on record at the time. With winds at 125 mph, the storm surge destroyed almost every building on the coast and spawned tornadoes, including the one that devastated High Springs. It was a tragic chapter in the church’s history, but St. Bartholomew's was an important part of the community with its influence extending well beyond its walls, and railroad workers and townspeople worked tirelessly to rebuild the damaged church, cutting down pine trees and even using railroad ties to bring the church back to life. St. Bartholomew's Church became a landmark and an integral part of the town.

Since its reconstruction, the congregation has held two services every Sunday for the past 125 years. This year, the church and community will celebrate the anniversary with a BBQ, music, tours of the sanctuary and original memorabilia along with other activities for children. Speakers include High Springs CRA Coordinator David Sutton who will discuss the early history of High Springs, retired CBS radio host Ben Hill who will be the MC and also speak about the history of St. Bartholomew's, and High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos who will talk about High Springs today.

BBQ luncheons will be provided on site by Mr. P's BBQ and the High Springs Lions Club. There will also be a UF Clinical Research Vehicle (CRV) for free health screenings and vaccinations. Julie's Pin's & Needles will be displaying quilts on the back of the pews. To promote the historical aspect of the anniversary, some parishioners will be dressed in period costume. Music will be provided by four acts starting at 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., starting with gospel singers Band Together, followed by Canopy Road, Disney's Alpine Rose Band and ending with a performance by High Springs recording artist Cliff Dorsey.

On Sunday there will be a special service with Bishop Samuel Howard, Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, officiating the 10 a.m. service with baptisms, and confirmations along with the church's Reverend Canon Lance Horne. Horne, a career Naval officer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters of Divinity, has been the reverend at the church for over a decade. Although he and his wife live in the Mayport area of Jacksonville, they make the trip for Wednesday Bible Study and Youth Services as well as the two services on Sunday.

“Travel time is over two hours, but there are absolutely wonderful people in this congregation,” Horne said. “It’s a family I am proud to be part of it.”

St. Bartholomew's church is located at18615 N.W. 238^th Street, High Springs. For more information about the anniversary celebration, call 386-454-9812.

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NEWBERRY ‒ A Newberry teacher received a coveted award and a $500 grant recently for her exemplary work in educating her students using Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Newberry High School Spanish teacher Grisell Santiago was awarded the My Virtual Learning Success Story grant by the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), Atlanta. 

This grant recognizes high school teachers who, when presented with a tough situation and through the trials and tribulations of virtual learning, came out successful.  Santiago was one of five educators, and the only one in Florida, who was selected to be awarded this grant and recognition.

Santiago was faced with trying to make sure that all students were able to complete the various tasks online for her class such as speaking, presenting, listening, reading and writing in Spanish.  In Zoom break rooms, students were able to work in groups and talk to each other in Spanish, helping them with not feeling alone or feeling that they were not able to make friends during the shutdown.  

Santiago also worked with her students from the Hispanic Honor Society to assist her with tutorial sessions after school to help students via Zoom who needed extra practice or were having internet issues during class time.  This was successful and doing tutorials gave the students the opportunity to also earn community service hours for their graduation requirement.

With the students in advanced level courses, Santiago created an online bilingual newspaper, celebrating different activities each month and things they learned in the classroom.  This also helped students in the lower levels express themselves by publishing poems, essays and art.  They had originally started the newspaper only for the Spanish classes, but when they decided to share it with the whole school, it was a success.  

Topics covered culture and education, including Hispanic food, dances, festivals, music and literature.  They also used the newspaper to celebrate the graduating class of 2021 by having student-conducted interviews with seniors talking about their experiences during the year.

Making the changes to virtual learning gave Santiago the opportunity to seek other outlets to celebrate students and help them have a way to express themselves.

“The switch to virtual learning has been a challenge for students and educators, but it has also opened up new possibilities for creativity and innovation in teaching and learning,” said NSHSS Director of Scholarships and Communications Karen Kane.  “NSHSS wanted to celebrate those success stories of educators pushing past the difficulties to create rich, new, and engaging experiences.”

Kane said that Santiago was able to quickly use the virtual learning environment to help her Spanish language students share how they were feeling while practicing the required skills, and from that simple exercise grew a bilingual newspaper that eventually involved the whole school.  

“Submissions of art, poems and articles on Hispanic food, music, and literature from all grades provided a forum for self-expression at a time when social connections were scarce,” said Kane.  “The popular project is continuing even though in-person classes have resumed and the grant from NSHSS will hopefully help it grow.”

Co-founded by Claes Nobel and James Lewis, NSHSS is the premier international honors and scholarship program.  It offers a lifetime of benefits, pairing the highest performing students worldwide with high school and college scholarships, events, connections, internships and career opportunities that begin in high school and carry on through college and careers.  

For more information about NSHSS and their program, visit NSHSS.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Dozens of community volunteers gathered on Saturday, Oct. 9, to plant new trees throughout downtown High Springs. 

Thirty-three beautiful new Live Oak and Cypress trees now beautify downtown High Springs from the Farmers' Market Pavilion to High Springs Brewing Company.

The program, funded by Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection and Keep Alachua County Beautiful, was led by Alachua County Arborist Lacy Holzworth. Holzworth and her team will continue to oversee the care and watering of all 36 trees until they are established.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH-Alachua) is offering influenza vaccine starting immediately. “Receiving an influenza vaccine is a primary preventive measure against influenza infection,” said Paul Myers, Administrator of the Alachua County Health Department. “In addition to getting a flu immunization, staying home when ill, practicing proper cough etiquette, and washing your hands are effective personal means to protect yourself and the community from a variety of illnesses.”

Parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of the convenience of school-based flu clinics for their children. “Popular, painless, safe and effective FluMist® is once again available at school clinics, while FluMist® and shots are available at all health department sites,” Myers said.

Flu immunizations are being offered at the Health Department’s main clinic in Gainesville (224 S.E. 24^th Street, 352-334-7910), the City of Alachua satellite clinic located in the Hitchcock’s shopping plaza (15530 N.W. U.S. Hwy 441, 386-462-2542), and the southwest Gainesville satellite clinic (816 S.W. 64^th Terrace, 352-225-4320). Appointments are required for flu shots at all three health department sites and these can be made by calling the clinics.

This year’s flu vaccine is effective against the major circulating strains of flu, and Fluzone® High-Dose shots are available for those 65 and older. The cost for the vaccine is $25. If citizens have Medicare part B, there is no charge if they bring their Medicare B card and any other supplemental insurance cards with them. Citizens who normally receive their vaccines from providers other than the Health Department should contact them for vaccine availability. Those between the ages of 6 months and 18 years who are uninsured, have Medicaid or an insurance that does not cover the immunization may receive the vaccine at the Alachua County Health Department at no cost to them.

Parents of public and private school students are encouraged to review and complete FluMist® consent forms provided by their child’s school, or download the consent form online at http://alachua.floridahealth.gov/.

FluMist® clinics will be held in the schools this fall and a completed consent form is required for participation. FluMist® is effective, painless, and offered at no cost.

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