Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry’s advanced meeting project has fallen behind. Newberry Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee provided an update on the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems in the city. Pointing to shipping and supply delays, Lee said the earlier projected deadlines would not be met.

He said that the City would first put their meters online to test the system and make sure it is running smoothly prior to hooking up utility customers.

In other City business, the Newberry City Commission is recommending that an arena be named in honor of a former Alachua County Commissioner. Newberry commissioners voted to send a letter to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) stating that the Newberry Commission voted unanimously to request that the BoCC name the arena at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center in honor of former County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson.

In another unanimous action, Commissioners finalized the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board, Chair, Chair Pro Tempore and Vice Pro Tempore. At a previous meeting the Commission, sitting as the CRA Board, approved the appointments to mirror the City Commission. However, the action was not finalized until the City Commissioners voted to approve the recommendations from the CRA Board.

In other business, the Commission approved a special permit for one-time fireworks display to be conducted as part of a wedding ceremony at Granville Plantation on Oct. 23. Robert Miles, the person planning the fireworks display, said the property consists of some 40 acres and has an agriculture designation. Miles said the fireworks display would take place between 9:30 – 10 p.m. and produced a map showing the open area from which the fireworks would be shot.

Planning Director Bryan Thomas reported that over the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, voluntary annexations of 19 parcels have brought in approximately 902 total acres into the city limits. Thomas added that during the year were approvals for Newberry Town Center, Phase 5 with 73 single-family units, Avalon Woods, Phase 1A with 104 single-family units and Country Way South, Phase 1 with 41 single-family units. Other matters implemented included City ordinances for tiny homes, food trucks, block parties and reduced setback requirements for sheds. Thomas said his department’s annual budget is $280,428.

The Commission approved two proclamations—one related to city governments and the other for drug awareness. Oct. 18 – 24 was recognized as Florida City Government Week in Newberry. City Clerk Judy Rice said the City is planning a parade to take place at the Newberry Elementary School in front of the kindergarten and first grade students as a way to help celebrate City Government Week. The date has not yet been set.

The second proclamation was in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, October 23 – 31. Wearing of a red ribbon is a symbol of commitment to raise awareness of the devastation caused by drugs. Lisa Darling from Concerned Citizens of Newberry talked briefly about the MyTime Program taking place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center in Newberry.

The Commission will be conducting charter officer annual evaluations. Recommendations are expected to be submitted by Oct. 18 and will include City Manager Mike New and City Clerk Judy Rice. New said both he and Rice would be eligible for salary increases up to the same four percent amount as other City employees. The results of the evaluations will be on the Oct. 25 Commission agenda.

Commissioners will hold an Impact Fee Education Workshop at 6 p.m., Oct. 25, just prior to the regular City Commission meeting at 7 p.m.

On Nov. 16 the public is invited to a Public Power Town Hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Newberry Municipal Building, 25420 W. Newberry Road. The General Manager and CEO of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) Jacob Williams will be in attendance.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The Gentle Carousel Mini Therapy Horses are well known area celebrities. Local children and parents who have met these loving animals in person may not be surprised to learn that the little horses with big hearts are the subject of a new book written about their therapy program. “Mini Horse, Mighty Hope: How a Heard of Miniature Horses Provides Comfort and Healing,” was published by Revell Publishing and released nationally on Amazon and all major booksellers on Oct. 19.

Debbie Garcia-Bengochea and Peggy Frezon co-authored the 200-plus page book about one of the largest equine therapy programs in the world. The book, which already has five-star reviews on Amazon, begins with a first-person account of how the program came about by one of the charity’s founders, Garcia-Bengochea.

The book also includes stories about individual horses and events during the 20-plus years of doing this charity work, including a chapter about the guardian dogs that live with the horses. “Each chapter includes what we learned and individual people we’ve met along the way,” said Garcia-Bengochea.

When the charity went to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after the school shootings they experienced so many kind and thoughtful things that people did to make their trip as comfortable as possible. “It was cold, but we had a heated horse ambulance for our horses to help keep them warm. One man made hot chocolate and went looking for us. We were just getting ready to go into the police station when he appeared with the hot drinks,” she said. The book includes simple stories and real-life miracles that happened on that trip as well as others over the years.

“Some of the places we go, we see some pretty tough times that people are going through,” she said. “But in the worst of times you see the best in people. Whenever there is a disaster, people who may be divided in other ways are risking their lives to rescue others.”

Garcia-Bengochea and Frezon had met earlier when Frezon included a chapter on therapy horse, Magic, in her book. “She was fascinated with the horses,” said Garcia-Bengochea. “She came down and visited them. We wound up talking on Mondays and then we began to work together.”

The book includes a story about Terry Lee, a woman who was in her last hours of life at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Elizabeth Mann, Lee’s doctor, asked what she could do for the dying woman. She responded that she wanted to lie in a pasture filled with horses.

As it turned out Gentle Carousel happened to be in New York City teaching a class at Columbia Medical School. The couple brought therapy horse Magic to the hospital into Lee’s ICU room to the patient’s delight. Because the charity was coming to the hospital, television crews were on hand to film Magic’s patient visit. The “Today Show” crew was in Lee’s room. Shortly after their visit Terry Lee passed away, having had her wish granted.

Gentle Carousel had a photograph of Magic in Lee’s room along with her doctor and the Today Show film crew. The charity had obtained photo releases from everyone in the room as always. However, as part of the publisher’s requirements, they required photo releases signed again on their company’s release forms.

“The amount of work that it took to get permission for many new photo releases during the pandemic was monumental,” said Garcia-Bengochea. Lee’s physician, Elizabeth Mann, M.D., had left Mount Sinai Hospital and was working on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma. We had to find her during the pandemic and get a photo release.

The charity had also worked with families at Ronald McDonald House. “We had to locate parents across the country and get updated written permission to use their photographs as well,” she said.

Meanwhile, the authors were working with people from the publishing house. “There was someone from public relations, a cover designer, the editors, a legal team – at least 20 people in all. They have been super supportive,” Garcia-Bengochea said. “It actually took a couple of years between the time they started writing and the Oct. 19 release date.”

The last chapter in the book was when COVID-19 was starting. “We had just returned from New York right before COVID hit there. We were doing an event at the Javits Center for Universal NBC,” she said. “They paid for the trip so we could do our hospital visits on the east coast. Due to the pandemic the Javits Center was transformed into a hospital in the weeks after we left,” said Garcia-Bengochea.

Asked how the book is doing on Amazon Garcia-Bengochea said, “This book is the number one new release in a number of categories and on Amazon Bestseller lists. For Inspirational Books it has been ranked number four on Amazon. We are really pleased with the reviews. They have been very encouraging. Barnes and Noble released the book a few days early, so we began hearing from people before the official release date.”

Usually, when a book comes out the authors schedule a book-signing tour. Due to COVID, that has had to be modified. Many bookstores are not doing in-person book signings. “We are doing creative book signings at outdoor venues,” said Garcia-Bengochea. “We also have had ‘Hoof-o-graphed’ books signed by the horses at book signings.”

Proceeds from Garcia-Bengochea’s share of book sales will help support the horses and the Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse charity. Garcia-Bengochea said they have had to make temporary changes to the program in light of the pandemic. The couple filmed videos for kids, and they also started doing outdoor reading programs at parks and on library lawns. “We’re constantly trying to find new ways to do things.” The couple set up a studio in their living room in order to conduct “face-time” communication with young patients in hospitals. Children also receive calls from their favorite horse to check on how they are doing at home. “The children are told their horse is calling them to check on them,” she said. “They are delighted.”

The charity has visited assisted living programs for many years. During the pandemic the horses visited with residents through the windows and sent stuffed toy horses inside for each person. “The last picture in the book is of a visit to an assisted living program that was taken at the window,” she said. “We’ve just had to be more creative through the pandemic, but we don’t want people not to see the horses if there is some way we can make it happen safely,” she said. This week the horses will be visiting that same program with residents in an outdoor patio area.

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This interview was conducted with local author Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. Co-author of this book, Peggy Frezon, is contributing editor of All Creatures magazine and author of books about the human-animal bond. She's a regular contributor to Guideposts magazine and Angels on Earth. Her stories also appear in books such as "The Ultimate Dog Lover," "Miracles and Animals," and more than twenty Chicken Soup for the Soul™ books. She also blogs at The Writer's Dog. She lives in New York, where she and her husband rescue senior golden retrievers and do therapy dog work. They share their home with two golden retrievers, Ernest and Pete.

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NEWBERRY – The City of Newberry is partnering again this year with the Alachua County Extension Offices in their Annual Peanut Butter Challenge. From Oct. 1 – Nov. 24 these two organizations are asking for donations of unopened jars of peanut butter for distribution to local food pantries to help feed families in need.

As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, jars of peanut butter can help stretch a family’s budget to help them be able to afford the food needed to help them participate in the holiday.

Last year, with the help of citizen donations, UF/IFAS collected more than 1,000 pounds of peanut butter.

Unopened jars of peanut butter can be dropped off at Newberry City Hall, 25440 W. Newberry Road, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 25515 N.W. 6^th Avenue or at Easton Newberry Sports Complex, 24880 N.W. 16^th Avenue.

For questions, contact Amy at 352-472-5447.

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GAINESVILLE – Beginning Monday, Nov. 1, the City of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) will temporarily reduce the frequency of bus service until further notice, due to decreased ridership demand and to staffing shortages. 

The affected bus routes are Route 1, 5, 12, 13, 20, 21, 28, 35, 36, 38, 118 and 121. Please visit www.go-rts.com or the new GNVRideRTS app for updated schedules and bus tracking.

RTS frequently hosts hiring events where applicants can apply on site and receive conditional job offers. Individuals interested in a career at RTS are asked to visit City of Gainesville Careers.

For additional information or assistance, please call RTS Customer Service at 352-334-2600, ext. 1. 

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ALACHUA ‒ Octoberfest usually conjures up images of beer gardens with quantities of bratwurst and German beers. But the City of Alachua-sponsored first-ever Octoberfest at the Cleather Hathcock Community Center wasn't the typical celebration centered around beer and German food. Instead, it was a chance for seniors and teens to celebrate fall, decorate pumpkins, cupcakes and pumpkin bread while bridging the generation gap.

The pandemic has been especially hard on seniors as they are at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Over the duration of the pandemic, seniors have stayed indoors more than usual, depending on family and circles of friends for support. Octoberfest at the Cleather Hathcock Community Center offered an opportunity to visit with other seniors and teenagers from the City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council (YAC). For the youth, it was a chance to glean historic insights and experiences from a different generation.

Alachua City Deputy Clerk LeAnne Williams works with the YAC and the Senior Resource Board (SRB), both organizations having goals of giving support and addressing issues affecting their respective age groups.

In January 2021, the YAC began a project to help foster care children and Williams suggested meeting with SRB members to find out if they would like to get involved. The seniors were thrilled to join in the project, not only to work with the foster kids but also as a chance to get out in the community with a purpose.

“We're lonely and feel isolated,” seniors told them. “We want to get back out and interact with our community.”

“It benefited both groups in unique ways. For the seniors, it gave them people to enjoy experiences and conversation with,” said Williams. “It also provided them a way to pass on a lifetime of experience and stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

“For the teens, it gave them an opportunity to get to know and learn from a generation that is history to them. At least one generation separates the two from their view of the world. Except interactions within their own family with grandparents and great grandparents or what they learn in school, they have limited perceptions of what life was like before,” Williams said.

Alachua is sponsoring a number of cross-generational events. The first was a bingo night in June, which Williams says was a great success. Octoberfest is the second, then a Christmas Caroling event and Bingo in December and a High Tea in the spring.

At the Octoberfest event, each teen was paired with a senior to encourage interaction. “The painting and decorating takes time so they had plenty of time to talk,” said Williams. “We also provided the teens with five questions to ask the seniors, both to learn from them and give the seniors an opportunity to reflect back on their lives and experiences.”

Williams says the questions were meant to provoke conversation—not short answers. Seniors were asked questions such as “What was your greatest accomplishment?” “What was the hardest thing you went through?” “What event affected you most?” and “How has Alachua (or the world) changed in your lifetime?”

The questions allowed the seniors to share their own stories and gave the young people an opportunity to learn about the past from the perspective of people who lived it.

Williams said, “If the stories aren't shared, they are lost forever.”

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission has rejected a bid of no confidence for Alachua County School Superintendent Carlee Simon. On Oct. 14, High Springs Vice Mayor Linda Jones introduced the item saying, “Teachers and staff cannot voice their opinion for fear of losing their jobs. This was shown at the end of the school year when nine of 11 principals, teachers and staff were released.”

Commenting that Simon is defying the governor, the Florida Department of Education and Florida Department of Health, Jones noted, “She seems to revel in her actions by appearing on 17 TV shows, one social media video with Secretary Cardona, U.S. Department of Education, accepting $147,000 that the Florida Department of Education withheld and wrote an op-ed in the ‘Washington Post.’ All of this within a two-month timeframe.”

Jones continued by saying, “The Petition of No Confidence of Superintendent Simone has been signed by over 1,500 people, including 158 residents of High Springs and growing.”

“It is my opinion that we need to send a message from our City and perhaps other cities will follow,” said Jones.

Commissioner-elect Katherine Weitz described the environment within the school system as “toxic.” She said teachers are “terrified to speak.” She said she has emailed Simon and never received a response. She also said she has called in during School Board meetings, but has never been able to get her calls through. She described Simon as “drunk with power.”

David Lynch also addressed the Commission saying this was a strange situation for the Commission to take a position against the School Board.

Melissa Scott, self-described as a Gainesville resident who grew up in High Springs, said she has sent numerous emails to Simon and received not one response. She also remarked at how “shocked” she was to see parents escorted out of School Board meetings after expressing opposition to Simon.

While her emails go unanswered, Scott said, “She has lots of time for media coverage…she also likes to hunt down doctors who sign medical exemptions for parents.” Scott said Simon has worked with abused children and believes that parents do not have the best interest of their children at heart. Scott added that Simons seems to feel that “we as parents don’t care about our kids because we don’t want to mask.”

“I get you [Commissioners] probably don’t want to go this route, but there’s a lot of parents being ignored right now,” said Scott.

City Clerk Jenny Parham read a message from Commissioner Scott Jamison who was not in attendance at the meeting. “I apologize for not being able to attend tonight’s meeting, but my duties as Risk Manager for Alachua County Public Schools required that I be out of town Oct. 12 – 15.”

“That said I would like to make a comment on Agenda Item 4. Consider, discuss and act on the school superintendent, Carlee Simon submitted by Vice Mayor Linda Jones.

“I do not believe this is the course of action the commission should engage in. It is not our job as City Commissioners to evaluate other governmental officials.”

City Commissioner Ross Ambrose agreed. He said it would not be appropriate for a governmental board to criticize decisions of other boards.

Mayor Gloria James nodded her head in agreement. Commissioner Byran Williams had no comment on the issue when asked.

Hearing the comments from audience members, Jones made a motion to approve a petition of no confidence by the City Commission. The motion died for lack of a second.

Ambrose suggested that the City extend an invitation to the Alachua County School Board to hold a joint meeting in High Springs to help citizens get answers to their questions that they expressed as not being addressed. City Manager Ashley Stathatos said they would follow up on that suggestion.

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