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FAYETTEVILLE, ARK - The Buchholz High School math team is celebrating its 15^th national championship after beating arch-rival American Heritage Broward and 30 other schools at the Mu Alpha Theta competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas this past weekend.

The win was a comeback of sorts. The BHS team beat American Heritage by 379 points, a very wide margin. Buchholz lost the state championship back in April to American Heritage by just 17 points.

“I was especially proud of some of our younger team members,” said team coach Will Frazer. “Several of them did not prepare properly for state and we paid a price. They learned their lesson and worked very hard in June to get ready.”

Buchholz brought home 282 trophies and medals over the four days of the competition. That included 28 first-place awards.

Two other significant prizes were awarded to the Buchholz team at the competition. The Khalin Award, which is the most prestigious individual award given to a student nationwide based on their contribution to their team over their school career, was presented to senior Tucker Shea.

Olanrewaju Fayiga, another of the BHS coaches, won the Sister Scholastica Award, which is presented to the sponsor of the year following a vote of student delegates. The award included a $2000 prize for Fayiga and $1000 for the school.

With this title, Buchholz has won 15 national Mu Alpha Theta championships in 16 years.

Frazer says the team won’t be resting on its laurels for very long.

“Our team will take a short break and start preparing for (next year’s) nationals in Las Vegas very soon,” he said.

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Alachua, Fla.—Beaker & Flask Fine Wines and Craft Cocktails, North Central Florida’s newest destination for wine enthusiasts, was just acknowledged by its industry’s leading magazine, Wine Spectator, with the publication’s Award of Excellence, published in its August issue, available July 11.

Based in Alachua’s San Felasco Tech City, Beaker & Flask earned the honor with only five months in business. “We’re thrilled,” says Operations Manager Melody Wilson. “Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence represents the pinnacle of recognition in our industry. It validates our exceptional wine program and the work of our team.”

Wine Spectator’s award recognizes establishments offering wine lists with “at least 90 selections [and featuring] a well-chosen assortment of quality producers.” According to Wine Spectator’s website, less than 1800 restaurants and wine bars nationwide earn the Award of Excellence.

Winners “…offer the human [element]…listening to their customers…offering a personalized experience,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator. “This annual issue celebrates the places where wine is at the top of that conversation.”

In addition to its extensive wine list, Beaker & Flask offers hand-crafted cocktails, drink-making and wine education classes, discounted happy hours and a monthly wine club, Wilson said. “Combined with our ‘cool vibes’ and warm hospitality, we’re striving to become a destination of choice,” she says.

"This recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team,” said Elliott Welker, founder of Beaker & Flask. “We’re immensely grateful for the support of our patrons who made this achievement possible."

Welker said as a token of gratitude, Beaker & Flask is celebrating the award with special events and promotions, including exclusive wine tastings, discounts on select bottles, and curated food and wine pairing experiences. Guests should visit www.BeakerandFlaskWineBar.com for more information.

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GAINESVILLE - The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) to Keep Alachua County Beautiful. This grant aims to tackle the issue of cigarette litter specifically within Alachua County and Gainesville.

The grant funds will be used to install new receptacles where needed, maintain the existing ones, and replace damaged receptacles. Our newest receptacles were installed on Main St. between SW 1st Ave. and NW 1st Ave. in June.

“We’re trying to encourage people to take a small step to make a big difference,” said Gina Hawkins, Executive Director of Keep Alachua County Beautiful.

Keep America Beautiful® offered merit-based grants totaling nearly $400,000 to various organizations across the nation, including Keep Alachua County Beautiful. These grants were specifically bestowed upon community-based KAB affiliates, local governments, business improvement districts, downtown associations, parks and recreation commissions, and other organizations committed to eliminating litter and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of their communities. 

The CLPP, established in 2002, has become the nation's largest program dedicated to eliminating cigarette butt and cigar tip litter. Over 1,850 communities across the country have successfully implemented the program, consistently achieving a 50 percent reduction in cigarette litter within just the first six months. This grant funding empowers communities to address the economic, environmental, and quality-of-life impact of cigarette litter, leading to cleaner and more vibrant neighborhoods.

One of the exciting additions to this year's grants is a requirement to collect and send cigarette butts to TerraCycle, a company dedicated to recycling them into practical items such as benches, picnic tables, and other useful products. By incorporating this innovative solution, participating communities will not only prevent cigarette litter but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

To effectively combat cigarette butt litter, Keep America Beautiful® CLPP advocates four proven approaches that participating communities are encouraged to implement:

1. Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including those related to cigarette litter.

2. Raise awareness about the issue through impactful public service messages.

3. nstall ash receptacles at crucial transition points such as entrances to public buildings.

4. Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers, promoting responsible disposal options.

On June 30, 2023, Keep Alachua County Beautiful installed seven new cigarette collection receptacles in downtown Gainesville near crosswalks along Main Street between North and South 1st Avenues. KACB continues to maintain the previously installed receptacles, too. This provides citizens with a place to properly dispose of butts and other tobacco-based litter, and KACB staff continues to work to find new ways to address the issue.

According to the Keep America Beautiful® 2020 National Litter Study, cigarette butts are the most littered item in America, representing 20 percent of all items.

“The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program raises awareness, changes behaviors and promotes responsible disposal practices,” said Becky Lyons, Chief Operating Officer of Keep America Beautiful®. “It is making a tangible difference in reducing cigarette litter and fostering a cleaner environment.”

Keep America Beautiful® has found that cigarette butt litter occurs most often at transition points—areas where a person must stop smoking before proceeding into another area. These include bus stops, entrances to stores and public buildings, and the sidewalk areas outside of bars and restaurants, among others.

The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program is supported by funding from Philip Morris USA, an Altria company; RAI Services Company; and the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.

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