Local

NEWBERRY ‒ While creating the City of Newberry Community Development Agency (CRA) took years to get off the ground, the Newberry City Commission wasted no time in setting up the organizational framework of the body.  At the CRA meeting immediately following the Sept. 27 Newberry City Commission meeting, City Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas suggested that the City Commission sit also as the CRA Board.  He also proposed that the Board mirror the City Commission. 

Mayor Jordan Marlowe was elected as the CRA Board Chair, Tim Marden was elected as Chair Pro Tem and Mark Clark was elected as Vice Chair Pro Tem.  Thomas was appointed Executive Director of the CRA Board. 

In that role, Thomas will carry out directives by the new board within the framework of the CRA Plan.  During the initial years of the CRA, prior to annual collection of revenues sufficient to fund an Executive Director position, the Board may utilize city staff to carry out the mission of the CRA. Noting that the budget was fairly small for CRA projects at this time, Thomas said he believed he would be able to implement his CRA duties along with his regular duties. 

The last item on the CRA agenda was adoption of the Fiscal Year 2022 CRA budget.  Newberry Director of Finance and Administration Dallas Lee presented the proposed CRA budget of $16,798 to the City Commission on Sept. 13.  The CRA Board unanimously adopted the budget during this meeting.

The current expenses listed are for overhead at $1,000, façade grants at $7,500, contract/other services at $6,700 and training at $1,500.  Total expenses are estimated to be $16,700, leaving a $98 estimated fund balance at the end of the year.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Dig into a hands-on prehistoric activity with a free Take & Make Fossil Box from the Alachua County Library District. Families can register for a Fossil Box between Sept. 21-Oct. 5 at www.aclib.us/takeandmake.

Each box includes a fossil block and tool to unearth real fossils, plus a guide to identifying these ancient organisms. Fossil Boxes also include passes to the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. This take-home activity is designed for families and elementary school-aged children. Participants can select which library branch to collect their boxes from when they register, and Fossil Boxes will be available for pick up from Oct. 9-16.

After excavating fossils, uncover the mysteries of Florida's prehistoric past and learn how fossils are made at two special Live Virtual Programs in October on Zoom or Facebook with the museums. Registration is not required for these programs.

Florida Museum 360°: Giants of Florida’s Prehistoric Past, Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m.

Take a virtual tour and meet the spectacular giants in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land” exhibit hall. Discover the stories of the Megalodon Shark, Terror Bird, and Giant Ground Sloth, including how they got so big and why they went extinct. Presented by Florida Museum Youth Outreach Coordinator Alberto Lopez Torres.

Cade Fossil Fun, Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m.

Step into the Cade’s Lab to learn about Florida limestone, how rocks and fossils are formed, and what they tell us. Presented by Cade Museum Director of Experiential Education Patty Lipka.

“Children can play paleontologist with this free at-home activity and discover what kinds of creatures inhabited the Earth millions of years ago,” said Youth Services Librarian Sarah Grainger. “Continue your fossil explorations with our special programs in October and with books and movies from the Alachua County Library District.”

The Take & Make program is supported by a donation in celebration of Suzanne Stockdale's 75th birthday.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The COVID pandemic closed down the historic Grady House Bed and Breakfast in High Springs in summer 2020. The local landmark had long enjoyed a varied history as a residence, business and finally a historic bed and breakfast, but for over a year, it sat empty and still.

Prior to 1900, the location where the Grady House now stands was a bakery owed by German immigrant Charles Nisi and his family. Eventually, the property was owed by H. L. Grady who lived there with his family for many years. In 1917 a second floor was added, and the home was later used as a boarding house. One of the Grady House owners purchased the 122-year-old Easterlin House next door and transformed it into Skeet’s Cottage, a beautiful two-story Victorian home.

Over the years, a number of owners called the Grady House home, and in 1990, it was transformed it into a bed and breakfast. But by June 2020, the doors were shuttered as COVID claimed yet another business.

But a year later in summer 2021, Scott Towne and Sara Miller reopened the Grady House. Towne, originally from Mississippi, and Miller, originally from Missouri, learned that the Grady House was for sale and visited High Springs to see the property and get a feel for the community. “We absolutely loved the Grady House, along with the companion Easterlin House (Skeeters Cottage) as well as the gardens and event site behind the house,” said Miller. “We decided to purchase it and bring it back to its glory.”

Miller said that the feel of High Springs was just what they were looking for. “We also loved the community of High Springs and felt very welcomed by the people,” said Miller. “We want to be part of the community and contribute to it. We plan to be more than just a B&B, providing special events including music concerts in the back garden and host other special events for the community.” The sale was finalized Aug. 3 and Towne and Miller immediately began restoring the property. Within two months they were ready to open and had a ribbon cutting on Oct. 2.

The Grady House Bed & Breakfast consists of two separate houses and a large private garden on two-thirds of an acre, all within four easy walking blocks of downtown High Springs and restaurants and shopping. The two-story Grady House itself is large with five guest rooms, each named for a color — the Yellow Room, the Green Room, the Red Room, the Navy Room, and the Peach Room. Prices for the rooms range between $175 to $190 per night depending on which room.

The Easterlin House, also known as Skeet’s Cottage, is immediately next door, across a small patio and garden. It is a full-size Victorian house built in 1896, with a kitchen, living room, television room, two bedrooms and one full bath. The Easterlin House is rented as a full house for a single group or individual and is priced at $225 a night.

The Grady House is located at 410 and 420 N.W. 1^st Avenue, High Springs. Additional information and reservations can be made by phone at 386-454-2206 or by visiting https://www.gradyhousebnb.com/

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua City Commission met Sept. 13 to discuss city finances. Interim City Manager Mike DaRoza presented the City’s proposed 2021-22 fiscal year budget totaling $41,302,014 — a $5,009,067 reduction from the prior fiscal year’s amended budget of $46,311,081. The General Fund tentative budget is based on a tax rate of 5.3900 mills which is 5.37 percent more than the rolled-back rate of 5.1155 mills.

In other City business, the Commission adopted the TK Basin Annual Maintenance Service Assessment Resolution. On Sept. 13, 2010 the City Commission adopted Resolution 10-25, which provided for funding of the TK Basin Maintenance Assessment Area. Each fiscal year the City must adopt the assessment resolution to be paid by each property owner within the maintenance assessment area. In 2010 The City Commission also approved an automatically renewing agreement with the Alachua County Tax Collector to reimburse the Tax Collector for administrative and actual costs incurred to collect the assessment on the ad valorem tax bill. The reimbursement cost is 2 percent of the total assessment and is included in the total assessments to be collected. The annual rate for the 2021 budget is $25,000.

On July 20, 2021, the City received formal proposals from qualified vendors to provide Grant Administration Services for the 2019 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The City received one proposal in response, which was received from Summit Professionals, Inc. The Commission approved entering the contract with Summit Professionals in the amount of $52,500, which will be paid by the grant funds.

On July 19, 2021, the City solicited formal requests from qualified vendors to provide professional architectural, engineering, landscape architecture, or surveying and mapping covering 13 different services. The City received 10 qualification packets of which nine of the 10 qualified. One firm was disqualified as it was located outside the qualifying geographic area. The Commission directed city staff to enter into negotiations with the qualified firms for services they were most qualified for. Cost for these projects will be determined once negotiations are finalized.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Police Department is investigating an early morning homicide that occurred on Northwest 126^th Terrace near Research Drive. At approximately 4:30 a.m., officers were on-scene in the area due to a large number of people attending an unauthorized block party near the entrance to Copeland Park.

While attempting to manage and disperse the large crowd, officers heard multiple rounds of gunfire. Officers made their way through the crowd to the area where shots were heard and observed a male victim sitting in a white Honda who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso.

Officers immediately began treating the victim using their trauma kits until Alachua County Fire Rescue responded. The victim, Kionne Atkins, DOB 2/14/02 of Gainesville, was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office as well as officers from the Gainesville Police Department and the High Springs Police Department assisted in dispersing the large crowd.

No information about the suspect or motive is known at this time; however, detectives with the Alachua Police Department continue to sift through evidence and follow up on leads. This is an on-going investigation and no further information can be released at this time. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.

If anyone has any information related to this homicide, they are asked to call the Alachua Police Department at 386-462-1396 or remain anonymous by calling Alachua County Crime Stoppers at 352- 372-STOP.

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NEWBERRY ‒ For the third school day in a row Newberry High School was evacuated on Monday, Sept. 27, due to a bomb threat. Monday’s threat was called in at 8:30 a.m. In each case, Alachua County Sheriff Office (ACSO) deputies have swept the school to determine if the threats have been credible and have cleared the buildings.

More than 700 students, teachers and school personnel were evacuated to Jimmy Durden Park (West Park), 26333 S.W. 4^th Avenue, as ACSO deputies took tactical positions at the school following receipt of the threat. Air 1, an ACSO helicopter, circled overhead as the school was searched.

After a screen shot with a threat to get out of the park began circulating at the park, the group was moved to the gymnasium.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., ACSO deputies gave the all clear and everyone was returned to their classes.

During the Sept. 27 Newberry City Commission meeting, Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was working with ASO to investigate the source of the threats.

ACSO has a “deputy that is assigned to the FBI that is assisting us,” explained ACSO Public Information Officer Art Forgey, “but we remain the lead investigative agency on the threats.”

Marlowe commended the City for bringing in water, as well as chairs for the older teachers while the group was in the hot sun in the park. “City staff also thoughtfully opened the park restrooms,” Marlowe said.

The mayor said anyone who knows the source of the threats can leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers, which will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. The number is 352-372-STOP.

“Detectives continue to investigate this one [Monday’s bomb threat] and the two prior,” said Forgey.

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