Local

The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program awarded Hawthorne the grant because of its innovative attempts to develop trails that will promote environmental education. Hawthorne will be showcased as a national model for its original efforts of developing greenways.

The Conservation Fund, which is a recognized leader in working with local communities to expand the nation’s network of linked open spaces, provides grants of up to $2,500 to nonprofit organizations and government agencies to help develop new greenway projects. Nearly $900,000 has been granted to over 700 organizations in all 50 states since the program’s inception in 1989.

Hawthorne is one of the 21 groups nationwide honored this year. Sam Wynkoop, the parks and recreation director for Hawthorne, said Little Orange Creek Nature Park was chosen because of the mix of recreation and environmental education.

“These funds will help develop the trail system that we have in the park. We want to have the park open so that everyone can enjoy it, whether they live in Hawthorne or are just visiting,” he said.

The park is not currently open to the public because facilities on the property are not ready, Wynkoop said. The city acquired the property in May, but there is a house on the land that is not up to public code.

Wynkoop said this house will eventually be converted to an environmental center to educate the public on the wildlife found in the park. There are plans to have informative kiosks throughout the trail, as well as guided tours to educate visitors about the landscape and wildlife in the park.

“It is important to preserve the natural environment not only for us, but also for future generations,” Wynkoop said.

The trail will be ADA-approved and accessible to handicapped visitors. Although this type of trail is more expensive, Wynkoop said the grant will help get the park open to the public within the end of the year.

Larry Selzer, the Conservation Fund’s president, said this year’s award winners represent some of the best grassroots conservation and greenway development efforts in the United States.

“The fund is proud to support these thoughtful, action-oriented local initiatives that will serve as models for other communities around the country.”

The Kodak American Greenway Awards Grants Review Committee consists of conservation experts from around the country. They selected grant recipients from a pool of nearly 200 qualified applicants.

The awards are made possible by generous support from the Eastman Kodak Company. Gilbert Grosvenor, the chairman emeritus of the National Geographic Society, said the greenways network has linked city streets to parklands and other open spaces with the help of companies like Kodak.

“Greenways not only improve the nation’s ecological health, but these natural corridors provide vital opportunities for all Americans to get out, exercise and improve their physical health,” he said.

Hay rides, face painting and archery are some of the activities offered with the purchase of a $15 ticket.

Tim Monday, Easton Foundations staff member, said the ticket will cost an extra $5 at the entrance gate. The gates open at 3 p.m. and the concert will start at 5 p.m. and last until 11. After 6 p.m., 6 year olds and under receive free admission.

Trenton country artist Bryce Carlisle will be performing along with Root Redemption, a blues band from Gainesville. Monday said attendees should bring their own chairs and blankets, since the concert will be outside the building.

The event took around two months to plan, Monday said, and the staff is looking forward to not only hosting the fall event, but also the opportunity for people to become familiar with the two-year-old Easton Sports Complex.

Along with trick or treating and a haunted trail for kids, the center, which is known for its archery and sports, will offer these activities during the event.  “We want to see a bow in every kid’s hand,” Monday said.

High Springs Firefighter Chad Hood, 35, was killed on Aug. 2 while riding his motorcycle when the driver of a minivan reportedly pulled in front of him.  The accident happened around 6:37 a.m. near a Sunoco gas station in the area of the Turkey Creek neighborhood.

Hood was driving a Suzuki motorcycle northbound on U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua when he collided with a Volkswagen minivan being driven by Jason Davis.  The minivan reportedly pulled out of the Sunoco gas station and crossed in front of Hood’s line of travel, presumably to turn southbound on U.S. 441, Alachua Police Department spokesman Jessie Sandusky said.

Hood reportedly struck the side of the van.  He was transported to Shands Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Hood was believed to be wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Toxicology results received by APD last week indicate that neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the accident.

Blood tests conducted on both Hood and Davis showed no signs of alcohol or drugs in either of their systems, Sandusky said.

Davis was cited with a violation of right of way, a civil infraction as a result of the accident.

Hood was on his way to work at the High Springs fire station when the accident occurred.  He was a Gainesville resident and graduate of Buchholz High School.  He had been with the High Springs Fire Department since 2007.

Hood left behind a wife, Susan, and a young son, Wyatt.  High Springs residents Linda Gestrin and Robyn Rush have established a memorial fund to benefit Hood’s wife and son.  Contributions may be made to the “Chad Hood Memorial Fund” at Capital City Bank.

In a second and final public hearing Monday, commissioners okayed the rezoning of a 16.81-acre parcel located south of U.S. Highway 441 but north of the Turkey Creek Development. Formerly designated as Alachua County Rural Employment Center, that property now reflects City of Alachua Community Commercial on half of the land and Residential Moderate Density on the half of the land closest to the Turkey Creek neighborhood.  Residential Moderate Density zoning would allow a maximum of four dwelling units per acre.

The 16.81-acre parcel is surrounded by both residential and commercial land and it contains a tributary of Turkey Creek along the southernmost portion.

State review of the action resulted in a concern raised by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, regarding a potential historic structure from the 1940s on the property. City Planner Brandon Stubbs said that the house was actually built in 1959 according to the county property appraiser's database.

A second rezoning of a 1.74-acre parcel of land near the intersection of Turkey Creek Boulevard and NW 105th Avenue, just south of the Turkey Creek neighborhood, was also given the initial okay.

The rezoning calls for the development of three underdeveloped lots, bringing a required minimum lot area of five acres down to 10,000 square feet. Maximum density on the land would be three dwellings units per acre.

A neighborhood meeting was held in June announcing intentions of the rezoning. Three individuals reportedly attended the meeting.

The High Springs City Commission debated which amendments would be included on the ballot for an up or down vote by the electorate. Several amendments were approved unanimously, while two were rejected, and will not be on the ballot.

Currently, city commissioners cannot be employed by the city until a year after their term expires. An amendment will be on the ballot disqualifying commissioners from working as contractual employees for the same time period.

The city manager’s duties could be further clarified by an amendment to be put to vote, including giving the individual the power to sign contracts for the city.

If one of the proposed amendments passes, the city commission will be required to review the charter every eight years. This means the charter would have to be reviewed in March 2016.

Mayor Larry Travis said this does not mean the city must wait eight years before reviewing the charter. He explained that under the proposed amendment, the city is still permitted to review the charter at any time.

“The commission is trying to be proactive,” he said, “to do some things with our charter that are more in line with where we are today.”

The commission is also putting to vote an ordinance requiring commission candidates to run for specific seats. Commissioner Eric May pointed out that every other city in Alachua County uses a designated seat system.

High Springs commission candidates run for a general seat. If two seats are open, the top two vote getters win the seats, with the individual receiving the most votes claiming the seat with the longest term.

The final unanimous decision approved the consideration of an amendment allowing citizens to initiate petitions to propose city ordinances. Under the amendment, citizens gathering 50 electors of the city can bring a petition to the city commission for consideration.

Also approved was an amendment adding a preamble to the city charter, expressing the purpose of the municipal government to serve the governed, and not the governing.  Mayor Travis voted against the amendment.

The vote was split on an amendment requiring the commission to approve the appointments of certain public safety officials. Currently, these officials are hired by the city manager without commission approval.

Travis and Commissioner Sue Weller voted against the amendment, speaking in support of the city manager form of government High Springs has. The amendment will not be on the ballot.

An amendment asking for the limitation of municipal borrowing to 7 percent of the city’s property value also did not meet commission approval. May urged his fellow commissioners to approve the amendment.

“I want some sort of a debt ceiling in place,” he said. “I think it sends a good message to the voters that we’re trying to be responsible fiscally.”

He further explained that the ordinance would still allow the commission to ask to borrow more money if it became necessary.

However, Travis expressed concern that the amendment would be limiting in case of an emergency, and Weller said she did not feel comfortable putting the amendment to vote without more detail.

Travis and Weller voted against the proposition.

Passing of the amendment would have allowed the government to borrow $780,000 in the upcoming year without special approval.

Vice Mayor Byran Williams was not present at the meeting.

The approved amendments will be on the ballot for the general Nov. 8 election.

Pumpkin Patch welcomes buyers and lookers

L-R: Nineteen month old Troy Webster and his 3 ½ year old sister, Aubrey, discover that navigating the 5,000 pumpkins in the First United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch requires balance and determination as they make their way between the bright orange harbingers of fall.

With the fall season in full swing and Halloween just around the corner, there’s no better time to get in the spirit than now.  And nothing says ‘fall’ better than pumpkins.

Whether for carving into jack-o-lanterns, baking in a pie or simmering in a stew, pumpkins of every kind are available.

The youth at First United Methodist Church of Alachua are conducting the month-long fundraiser that began Sept. 29 and runs through Oct. 31.

The 11th annual Pumpkin Patch, located on U.S. Highway 441 just north of Hitchcock’s Market, is open for business Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 9 p.m.  Pumpkins of every size and shape are available, along with gourds.  Prices range from 50 cents for the smallest variety to $60 for a glowing orange pumpkin of which any doorstep would be proud.  Also for purchase are pumpkin cookbooks, pumpkin bread and hay bales, all just $5 each.  Or, show your “pumpkin patch” pride with a tee-shirt for $10.  Skip carving altogether with terracotta jack-o-lanterns for $10.

Pumpkins aren’t all the First United Methodist Church of Alachua’s patch has to offer.  Patch organizer Anne Gay said she is scheduled to host more than 650 children from area schools throughout the month.  Groups participating in scheduled events include Sidney Lanier, P.K. Yonge, Lee’s Preschool, Oak Hall, a local Girl Scout troop and numerous others.

Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until noon, the patch hosts the school children and others who stop by on a morning adventure that includes hayrides, storytelling, face painting, sack races and bean bag tossing.  The hayrides and activities are also available each Sunday afternoon until dusk and most Saturday afternoons until dusk.

“Every child that comes through this patch leaves with four things,” Gay said. “A pumpkin prayer bookmark, a pumpkin patch sticker, a lollipop and a smile.”

The public is also welcome to attend a fall festival this Sunday from 2-6 p.m. The event is free to everyone and will include free food, a bounce house, hayrides and numerous other activities.

“The festival is our gift to the community,” said Gay.

The pumpkin patch is a fundraiser for the youth ministry of the church to reach their financial goals, enabling them to go on mission trips.

“This pumpkin patch helps our youth go on mission trips so they can help other people…That’s what this is really all about, helping others who are less fortunate than we are,” said Gay.

The youth ministry participates in the Appalachian Service Project and went on a mission trip to Kentucky last year, where they joined with other groups from across the southeast in helping to repair homes from that area.

The pumpkins are grown and picked in New Mexico by Navaho Native Americans.  According to church officials, prices are set through Pumpkin Patch headquarters and are non-negotiable.

Although the patch is open through the end of the month, Gay said there isn’t a guarantee of a second shipment of pumpkins and she encourages folks to stop by sooner rather than later to have their pick.