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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ During the Oct. 8 High Springs City Commission meeting, the Commission adopted an ordinance on first reading authorizing the use of public funds for litigating and advertising to educate and inform the public about Alachua County Charter Amendment 2 that is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

High Springs joins Newberry, Archer and Alachua in opposing the amendment based, in part, on the County’s infringement on municipalities’ right to Home Rule. Many of the other Alachua County municipalities have also passed resolutions noting that the amendment is harmful to their communities and their ability to govern as state statutes authorize.

The specific Charter Amendment of concern is referred to on the ballot as the “County Charter Amendment Establishing County Growth Management Area.” The issue centers on the concern that the amendment, if approved by the voters, will restrict the ability of municipalities to determine the appropriate uses for property within their jurisdiction after annexing property from the County into their cities.

The Florida Constitution provides for Home Rule. The governing article reads “Municipalities shall have governmental, corporate and proprietary powers to enable them to conduct municipal government, perform municipal functions and render municipal services, and may exercise power for municipal purposes except as otherwise provided by law.”

The ordinance, if approved on second reading, which is scheduled for Oct. 22, will allow the City of High Springs to expend public funds for an electioneering communication that is limited to factual information and does not expressly advocate for an issue.

However, the City opposes the passage of the proposed amendment and opposes its application within their city as they stated in a resolution previously passed by the City Commission.

In addition, the City opposes the passage of the proposed amendment for the reasons spelled out in a suit filed by the City of Alachua, v. Alachua County, Florida, et al. in which that City is seeking injunctive relief from the Circuit Court.

While the City of Alachua has filed suit against the County on this issue, at least two additional Alachua County municipalities are preparing to do so as well.

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WALDO ‒ On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Erika Smith received an Eagle commemorating her 20 years as Waldo’s Recreation Director, Babe Ruth Softball District 3 Commissioner, Babe Ruth Softball Florida State Assistant Commissioner and softball/baseball tournament expert. Smith is also the longest standing Alachua County Task Force of Recreation (A.C.T.F.O.R.) representative.

Smith received accolades honoring her years of dedication to the youth of Waldo and Alachua County during the City of Waldo’s Council meeting at Waldo City Square Auditorium, 14450 N.E. 148^th Avenue, Waldo.

In addition to High Springs Parks and Recreation Director Damon Messina, others honoring Smith included retired physical education coach of 40 years, Babe Ruth Official and umpire for more than 30 years, and A.C.T.F.O.R. member Coach Ray Crone, and past Micanopy Parks and Recreation Director and current City of Gainesville Recreation Coordinator Jimmy Goachee.

“Erika Smith is by far one of the best tournament directors in the state,” said Babe Ruth Softball Florida State Commissioner Doug Robinson.

"When the City of Waldo was going through some tough times (losing the school) she was the strength that kept them moving forward. She always finds hope in a brutal situation," said former City of Alachua Recreation Director Hal Brady.

Brady also said, “Erika, for over 20 years put her blood, sweat and tears into Parks and Recreation. She continues to produce the biggest and best district tournament in the country. Erika put her own city of Waldo on the map nationally.”

Vice President/Commissioner of Babe Ruth League, Inc. Robert A. Connor, sent a letter commending Smith. In it he wrote, “She never fails to go above and beyond, even when personal and other commitments prevail. Her sincere devotion to youth and the game of softball has been witnessed repeatedly during her involvement at the Babe Ruth Softball local league and World Series levels.”

In addition, Connor went on to comment, “I cannot say enough about Erika’s untiring efforts as a top-notch youth enthusiast and community leader. We applaud her for being an exceptional human being and for helping give all kids the hope for a better future.”

“Erika and I have hosted tournaments together for more than 20 years. Jimmy Goachee said. “Erika always championed for Waldo to be a part of all the recreation activities in Alachua County.”

Messina called Smith, “The Godmother of Recreation in North Central Florida.” He described her as a natural leader. Listing some of Smith’s accomplishments as Waldo’s Recreation Director and Babe Ruth League Softball District Commissioner in this area, Messina remarked about the numbers of teams, which increased year after year under her direction.

“Each year she broke the record for Babe Ruth National throughout the country for both baseball and softball. She even crushed our competitor (Little League) for the number of teams participating in District Play.”

Remarking on the economic impact Smith has had, Messina said, “She’s developed a method on hosting softball in communities where money will be put directly back into their own local economy. It’s a formula now used throughout the country.”

Crone added, “Erika, first and foremost, does what is right for the kids, even if it’s not the popular decision.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ During the Sept. 28 meeting, the Newberry City Commission voted unanimously to terminate the existing contract with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) for provision of law enforcement services to the City.

Commissioners originally approved a contract agreement for law enforcement services with Sheriff Sadie Darnell and ACSO in 2017, for a three-year period, expiring Sept. 30, 2020.

The contract was extended another two years in Aug. 2019. Under the agreement the Sheriff’s Office would provide one full-time deputy within the City on a full-time basis, three school resource deputies for each of Newberry’s schools, four crossing guards for public schools, increased patrols within the City limits when the call load allowed, extra deputies for the Homecoming and Christmas Parades, the Watermelon Festival and to provide county dispatch services.

City Manager Mike New was asked to put this contract on the agenda by Commissioners. Noting that the contract amount in Oct. 2017 was $777,000 per year and now is more than $1 million per year, plus the added cost of health insurance and retirement increases, Commissioners expressed concern. New confirmed that the contract stipulates that the City pay the County monthly. “For this year, the monthly payment is nearly $84,000,” said New.

Commissioners asked if New had spoken with Sheriff-elect Clovis Watson, Jr., about the issue. He said he had. “The Sheriff-elect said he didn’t believe it was appropriate for him to enter into negotiations when he hadn’t yet taken office, which I understand,” said New.

“Although our current deal isn’t favorable to Newberry, I am hopeful that we can come to some kind of agreement once Sheriff-elect Watson has been sworn in, has had an opportunity to look at his budget and has time to assess the needs of his department,” New said. “We can enter into negotiations to put some sort of contract back in place whenever he [Watson] feels it is appropriate.”

Commissioners decided to avail themselves of the option in the agreement to terminate the contract without cause by providing 270 days’ notice of their intent to do so.

Following discussion, Commissioner Rick Coleman moved and Commissioner Marty Farnsworth seconded a motion to send a letter to the County to notify them that the City intends to terminate the agreement.

The measure passed unanimously.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The COVID- 19 Pandemic has had a huge impact on the performing arts, as it has throughout all of the arts and entertainment industry. Due to physical distancing requirements, limited occupancy and closure of physical venues, which has halted not only public performances but rehearsals as well, there are few live performances to enjoy.

Live musical performances in indoor spaces have all been canceled. Millions of musicians are affected by club, wedding, birthday, and numerous corporate events that have been canceled or postponed until 2021. All Broadway theatres in New York have been closed until January 2021. Many movie theaters, including the Priest Theater in High Springs and Regal Cinemas in Gainesville have shut down since there are few new movies being produced, and limited seating capacity has made it unprofitable to stay open.

For the Priest Theater, the closure is permanent. One of the oldest movie houses in Florida, the Priest Theater was built around 1910 by W.J. Priest, who owned the Ford dealership in High Springs. It was originally used for Vaudeville shows, but transitioned to silent films before becoming a movie theater. Regal Cinemas movie theaters across the nation, including Gainesville’s three theaters, located at Butler Town Center, Regal Royal Park and Regal Celebration Pointe, have temporally shut down less than seven weeks after they reopened for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the only theaters to offer first-run movies in Gainesville.

For live theater in the area, the situation is just as grim. Gainesville Community Playhouse is postponing upcoming productions and the Hippodrome Theater in Gainesville plans to stream its next event online. The Performing Arts Center at the University of Florida has canceled all shows until this month, and those are still subject to cancellation, and are limiting new shows to two a month. Live performance of music and theater gives people a chance to enjoy the arts, be entertained and forget about their problems for a few hours.

There is only one theater in the area that is performing live shows, and that is the High Springs Playhouse.

The High Springs Playhouse (HSP) was founded as a community theater 27 years ago, using local actors and directors. They have been at its current location, an old church, for 20 years. For those 27 years, the community theater has produced an average of six shows a year. “We have a board comprised of staff, directors and actors that help us pick the shows and always welcomes suggestions from our audience,” said Julie Macklin, President of the HSP board. “Demographically our audience tends to be older or families, so we gear our shows to that and try to stay family friendly. We have found the audience really likes comedies, so that is what many of our shows are.”

The theater was shut down by the pandemic for about two months. That time was used to renovate, clean and repair the theater. They also put in a new air conditioning system to help distribute the air better. “We clean everything between shows,” Macklin added.

“As much as the director and actors want to put on a show, the audience wants it, too. People are excited to get out of the house and do something,” Macklin said.

HSP opened during phase 1in July with “Ann of Green Gables” at 25 percent capacity. “We are now in Phase 3 of the Governor's plan, which allows for total capacity and no mask requirement, but we want to be responsible and protect our audience,” said Macklin. They remain at 75 percent capacity and ask everyone to wear masks.

Dracula is currently showing with an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic thriller set in the French Quarter of New Orleans at the beginning of the jazz age. It begins with a European count moving into a dilapidated mansion behind Dr. Seward’s family home. The entire Seward family and spouses live at the house and soon become entangled with Dracula as one after another becomes a victim or unwilling helper to the count.

Maid Pipi Laveaux, played by Renna Tenbroeck, steals several scenes with her Cajun accent and voodoo rituals, while Mina Harker, played by Mollie Lassiter, Lucy Weston played by Angelica Miller, and Aunt Quincy played by Taegan Reiter, fall under the dashing Count Alucard's spell. Mrs. Renfield, played by Skyeler Montgomery, is harder for the Count to tame and knows his secrets but is too terrified to tell. Count Alucard, played by Griffin Green in his debut performance on the stage, plays his role well, regally entering, sometimes seemingly from nowhere, dressed in black, complete with a cape.

Dr. Seward calls on one of his respected medical colleagues, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, played by Miguel Miranda for help. The baffled men of the house, Jonathon Harker, played by Andy Jean, Arthur Holmwood, played by Alexander Ray, and Dr. Jack Seward, played by Ryan Ray, join forces with Helsing to take charge, as a race to save Mina Harker from the Count heats up.

The performance runs with three shows a weekend until Oct. 25, with evening shows starting at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a matinee show on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the playhouse website at https://highspringsplayhouse.com/

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua County Public Schools Board (ACPS) attended the Oct. 12 City of Alachua Commission meeting to inform and advocate for renewal of the One Mill for Schools initiative, which gives $1 per $1,000 of a property's taxable value to Alachua County Public Schools. The initiative is not a new tax and won’t mean an additional tax for property owners. The tax was initially passed in 2008 and is up for renewal every four years.

A school board spokesperson said state funding cuts due to COVID-19 have created a potential loss of $16 million this year in the county school budget. Unbudgeted COVID-19 expenses such as PPE, training, outfitting classes for in-person lessons and technology purchases for online learning have diverted funds to expenses that were not needed previously.

Unfunded and underfunded state mandates such as busing and safety/security have to be covered by the schools by law. While costs have increased and COVID-19 has added numerous unexpected expenses, there has been little change in state and national funding. Also there has been no discretionary lottery funding this year. Combined with state funding, especially after the Great Recession, there has only been a $33 increase per student since 2007-08, leaving county school boards scrambling for funds.

The One Mill tax initiative costs the average Alachua County homeowner less than $7 a month. Property owners will pay less in school property taxes this year than last year, even with the renewal of the One Mill.

The total One Mill spending in Alachua area schools in 2019-20 was $971,924. The funds are allocated to each school as needed. Much of the fund is used to fund teachers and technology. At Irby Elementary, the One Mill helps fund the salaries of five teachers and the purchase of 101 laptops and hotspots distributed for online learning.

At Alachua Elementary it funded the salaries of four teachers and the purchase of 82 laptops. Mebane Middle School covered the salaries of three teachers and the purchase of 114 laptops. At Santa Fe High School it helped fund the salaries of nine teachers and 115 laptops distributed to Santa Fe High School families this year.

In other business, Mayor Gib Coerper read a proclamation naming October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Alachua Goes Pink! Each year, October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness month to honor those who have lost lives to breast cancer, and recognize the survivors who still engage in the battle. Each year, the City of Alachua launches its annual "Alachua Goes Pink!" campaign, putting pink ribbons on fleet vehicles, the Alachua Police Department (APD) decaling one of its traffic units, and staff members wearing commemorative bracelets and pins to honor all those who have suffered from the disease.

The commission also proclaimed October as National Community Planning Month. While many people may not realize it, planning has a significant impact on their day-to-day life. From where they live, to how they commute, to the type of home they live in, planning plays a vital role in a person’s life and well-being. Through planning, strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure can boost economic growth and strengthen communities. Planning helps leverage public and private funds that lead to economically stable communities. This year, the theme is “Planning Is Essential to Recovery” and highlights how planning can lead communities to equitable, resilient, and long-lasting recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October is also White Cane Month. Since 1964, by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, Oct. 15 of each year has been designated White Cane Safety Day. The month of October each year is also designated as White Cane Safety Month to bring more awareness to the dangers faced by the blind or visually impaired in dealing with navigating public streets and traffic.

The Commission proclaimed October as White Cane Safety Month and Oct. 15 as White Cane Safety Day to show the City's commitment to making the public aware of the "White Cane Law" and to the safety of the blind and visually impaired on Alachua's public streets.

The City also dedicated Oct. 19-25 as Florida City Government Week to help residents understand how their city operates, the services it provides, and the importance of their active involvement in city affairs. In the past, the City has sponsored activities and events for people to interact with City government. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and keeping the health and safety of residents in mind, they have canceled all in-person activities.

In other city business, the Commission approved three new members to the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The purpose of the Council is to stimulate and foster the active participation of youth in addressing issues impacting the youth of the community. Members of the Council are required to be enrolled in a public school, private school or a home education program within the city of Alachua in grades nine through 12e or be a resident of the City of Alachua enrolled in such a school/program. The newly appointed members are Aidan Grosz and Jamie Morris, both 11^th graders, and Laura Kleckner, a senior.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Lions Club held their annual White Cane Walk on Saturday, Oct. 10. The walk started at the Alachua Branch Library, just off U.S. Highway 441 and participants walked to the Lions Club at 15115 N.W. 142^nd Terrace, across from Alachua City Hall. The walk is intended to educate the community about Florida’s White Cane Law and the difficulties of being visually impaired. Over the years, the Lions club has partnered with the Alachua Police Department, the local Police Explorers Club and Boy Scout troop 88, Santa Fe High School, Alachua County Council for the Blind and others to provide walkers, escorts, cooking and demonstrations for the walk, which began as an Alachua Troop 88 Eagle Scout project by Adam Boukari.

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