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ALACHUA – Students from the Bhaktivedanta Academy recently had an opportunity to show off original artwork they created as part of a two-month long project. At the Feb. 10, 2020 Alachua City Commission meeting, Mayor Gib Coerper presented certificates to 15 students at Bhaktivedanta Academy for their photographic project entitled "My Family, Friends and Me – Creative Portraits,” which is currently on display in City Hall.

Bhaktivedanta Academy is a Montessori school, which also emphasizes spiritual traditions and culture of ancient India among the Hare Krishna community. The seventh through tenth graders at Bhaktivedanta Academy study in the International Baccalaureate (IB) system, which is a worldwide program with the goal providing students with the opportunity to receive an education fit for a globalizing world.

The art project was an exploration of students finding creative ways to express themselves through photography. The students took hundreds of pictures in different genres, including landscape, still and "forced perspective" photos, and created photo essays about topics they felt strongly about. They then focused on unique ways to photograph their family, friends or self.

The creative project was a perfect match for IB schools that specifically educate students to be risk-takers and good communicators, as well as creative thinkers.

As part of the school’s visual arts program, instructor Kristina Danka developed the idea of creating unusual portrait concepts for the students to explore. The assignment was to show new ways of viewing people they knew, themselves or to create portraits of the student’s idols, mirroring other photography or art over the centuries. Other than these basic guidelines, it was up to the individual student to decide how to accomplish this.

If the student was to show a portrait of family, friends or self, they were to create a triptych of three photos showing head, hand and feet in ways that reflect the person’s personality. If it was recreating an image of an artwork or famous person, they could emulate it or create a portrait that reflected their view of the subject.

“I have found that this ‘freedom within boundaries’ methodology works very well for this age group, they get just enough guidance so that they know what they are doing and don't feel lost, but to execute the tasks they need to take their own initiative, explore new territories, and dive into creative challenges,” Danka said. “We have found that these photography exercises gave our students a great opportunity to tap into their own, often unexplored well of creative energy.

“This project was a way to get them to focus on composition, self-expression, and exploring the power of observation that enables us to find uniqueness in ordinary objects, or people we see every day instead of simply taking pictures,” said Danka.

Danka began teaching at the Bhaktivedanta Academy four years ago. She is a European-born filmmaker and academic who moved from New York to Alachua with her husband who was a screenwriting professor at NYU, and also works in Hollywood as a story analysis. She has produced over 30 award winning documentaries and videos and is the author of three books.

Most of her documentaries have been about socially conscious issues, humanitarian causes and the environment. “The first time we visited Alachua County was in 2015, when we were working on a documentary job. We immediately fell in love with the people and the climate here, and were especially impressed by the wonderful atmosphere of the Bhaktivedanta Academy in Alachua,” said Danka. She went on to explain that the next year when their daughter turned six, they decided to move to the area and enroll her in the school.

“This was supposed to be a one-year experiment for us due to concerns about being distant from family, the Florida environment and weather and moving to a rural area after years in the big city,” said Danka. “It has been four years now, and although we still do a lot of back and forth traveling between New York and Florida, we feel settled and happy here.”

Danka had taught adults at college level for over 10 years, and said she was concerned about entering a classroom full of teenagers. “But I must say, these kids are truly amazing, we get along very well,” Danka said. “Day by day, I am inspired by them and feel very privileged to be able to facilitate them opening new doors of self-discovery and witness their creativity.”

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ALACHUA COUNTY - The Alachua County Clerk's Office can help those needing information on their fines and fees and whether the fines need to be paid to restore their voting rights.

Those needing this information can find out more information and fill out a request online.

Requests are processed in the order that they are received, with most completed within three to five business days. This information is only available for Alachua County cases. Information about cases in other counties is available at that county's Clerk's Office.

For more information, contact the Alachua County Clerk of the Court's Office at 352-374-3636.

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L-R: School Resource Officer Jason Taylor displays his Commendation standing next to High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard.

HIGH SPRINGS — High Springs School Resource Officer Jason Taylor received a standing ovation during the Jan. 23 High Springs City Commission meeting. Taylor was presented with a High Springs Police Department Life Saving Award for saving a student’s life in an emergency.

On Nov. 19, a third grade student had food lodged in his mouth during lunchtime at the High Springs Community School. Complete blockage of the student’s airway endangered the student’s life.

Taylor was present when the student began choking and was able to successfully perform the Heimlich maneuver and dislodge the blockage. He then helped the student to the nurse’s station where the student received further treatment and evaluation.

Because of Taylor’s quick action at such a critical time, Police Chief Antoine Sheppard awarded him the Life Saving Award and read the plaque to the audience.

“We are not only proud of what Officer Taylor did that day but for the many other ways in which he serves the students as well as the ways all our officers serve our community,” said Sheppard.

“He should be further recognized for his humility in saying, ‘I was just doing my job,’” said High Springs Police Department Sgt. D. Shenk, the officer who nominated Taylor for this recognition.

Although Taylor is a man of few words, he thanked his family, who he said was filling up the whole front row, and thanked the City for believing in him, “in my agency, in my chief and letting us do what we do and love every day.”

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Cont:      Taylor perform the Heimlich maneuver

GAINESVILLE – Literary heir Rick Smith will bring his father’s novel “A Land Remembered” to life with a multimedia expedition through Florida’s past at three Alachua County Library District branches on Wednesday, Feb. 26 and Thursday, Feb. 27.

In this program, Rick Smith will introduce you to his father and the life experiences that prepared him to chronicle the world of Florida pioneers. His show incorporates photos, videos, paintings, and music to enliven Florida history while telling Patrick Smith’s story. Rick Smith’s program titled “Florida is A Land Remembered” will be held as follows:

• 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Millhopper Branch, 3145 NW 43^rd, Gainesville
• 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Hawthorne Branch, 6640 SE 221st St, Hawthorne
• 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Newberry Branch, 10 South Seaboard Drive, Newberry

Patrick Smith’s best-selling novel spans the modern state’s formative years from 1858 through 1968. The acclaimed book follows the MacIvey family’s struggle from poverty to wealth over three generations as the family grapples with Florida’s untamed landscape. Often called “Florida’s favorite book,” the novel remains Patrick Smith’s crowning work. He passed away in 2014.

This program for teens and adults is free and open to the public. Rick Smith will take questions following the presentation and sign books.

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NEWBERRY – Voters in the city of Newberry will have an opportunity to weigh in on election-related ordinances that passed unanimously at the Jan. 13 Newberry City Commission meeting.

The first was Ordinance No. 2019-29, which pertained to election qualifying fees. Florida Statutes permit a municipality to enact provisions governing municipal elections by several means, including by ordinance. A person seeking to qualify for nomination for election shall pay a qualifying fee consisting of a filing fee of three percent of the annual salary of the office sought and an election assessment fee of one percent of the annual salary of the office sought.

Although the one percent fee is specifically required of candidates, there is no specific Florida Statute that requires municipal candidates to pay the three percent fee. In the absence of an ordinance governing filing fees, both fees are to be paid. However, the Commission has authority to enact an ordinance to address the filing fee and modify or eliminate the statutory three percent fee. Approval of this ordinance allows the City to be able to do so, if they choose.

The Commission waived the three percent fee for this year. The fee will be reviewed on a yearly basis by the Commission as part of their review of all City fees and an amount may be set or waived at that time.

The second approved election-related item was Ordinance 2019-30. This ordinance allows the City to place recommendations for changes to the City Charter on the April 14, 2020 ballot for citizens to consider.

Following a year of review of the existing City Charter by a Charter Review Committee and workshops with Commissioners, proposed changes have been recommended to modify and simplify the Charter.

The first issue voters will consider on the April ballot is whether to replace the existing Charter with the newly-proposed 2019 Charter.

The second issue for voter consideration is whether election term lengths should be expanded to three years commencing in 2021.

A copy of the proposed changes can be viewed at Newberry City Hall.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Sometimes what seems like a logical and responsible decision can go horribly wrong and have a profound effect on a person’s life. 

The evening of Jan. 25 began on a festive note as Jessica and Rickey Haslam went to a party at a friend’s house. They had some drinks and to get a ride home with someone else and pick up their car the next day. They hitched a ride with a friend of a friend who they did not know but was heading their direction.
They climbed into the backseat of her truck and headed out. The Haslams describe themselves as headed down CR 138 at up to 80 miles per hour, and they both repeatedly asked the driver to slow down. As the driver came into an S curve on the road, both the Haslams knew that this curve had been the site of multiple accidents.
The driver did not negotiate the curve and lost control, slamming head on to trees and flipping the vehicle on its side. Amazingly, despite the massive damage to the car, both front seat passengers escaped major injury due to the air bags. The Haslams were not so lucky. Without seat belts or airbags, they were slammed around the back seat.
Jessica was the worst. Her liver was bleeding; she had head injuries and at least four broken vertebrae in her neck and back. Rickey broke his right wrist and hand. Both were taken to intensive care where Jessica remained for several days with Rickey sleeping by her bedside.
Jessica had to be put in a full body brace unable to sit up and is expected to wear the brace for at least two months. Her husband will need major surgery on his right hand and will be unable to work as a mechanic. The Haslams are in their 30s with three children. Both parents will be unable to work for several months to support the family, and they face major medical bills. Jessica's parents, Andy and Terry Phelan, are helping as much as they can with the kids and meals, but monetary resources are limited with no prospects for either of the Haslams to work, and the immediate future looks grim.
High Springs is a small community with many people who are willing to help when their neighbors need support. As word spread of the accident and the dire situation, the community pitched in.
“Not only did people we knew help out, but strangers also stepped up to offer support,” Andy Phelan said. “I was amazed at the huge outpouring of support that materialized in the community.” Within a week, a bank account was set up at Ameris Bank in the Haslam’s name to raise funds. Mike Loveday, who works at the bank and runs the High Springs Music in the Park series, provided funding from both sources and other people came by to add donations.
A Go Fund Me Account was set up by Sharon Yeago, which has raised $1410 so far. Other people organized a meal train for volunteers to take hot meals to the family since neither parent is able to cook. Volunteers have offered to do house cleaning and yard upkeep while they recover. Currently enough people have offered meals that the family is covered for several weeks.
Both the Santa Fe Bar and Rum 138 also offered support and will be holding fund raising concerts with the musicians at both locations donating their performances for free to benefit the family.
For anyone who would like to offer support, monetary donations can be made at Ameris Bank in High Springs in the Haslam's name or on the Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/jessica-phelan-and-rickey-haslam. Those interested in volunteering to cook for the family can go to Mealtrain.com and sign up under the Haslam's name. On Feb. 16, the Santa Fe Bar will host a fundraising event with a raffle, live auction, food, and music provided by In The Moment. The event will start at 2 p.m. A week later on Feb. 22, Rum 138 Canoe Outpost and Gallery will hold a second benefit concert starting at 7 p.m. featuring music by In The Moment and Quartermoon. This event will have a $10 entry fee with all proceeds going to the family.
The accident was a heavy blow to the Haslam family, but the community has shown its compassion by coming together to help a young family in need. “There have been so many people who have come forward and offered to help and it's great to see that no one has to face trying times like these alone,” said Andy Phelan. “We are so grateful to everyone for helping this young couple.”

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