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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission on Jan. 8, 2024, received an in-depth briefing about a controversial Florida Commission on Ethics form that has caused some elected officials to resign.

City attorney Danielle Adams of Folds Walker law firm reviewed the Florida Commission on Ethics Form 6 Financial Disclosure that is required for mayors and elected members of governing bodies of municipalities. The disclosure form has led to a number of resignations by elected officials in Florida, including some individuals in Alachua County.

Adams said that those officials serving as of Dec. 31, 2023 must file Form 6 in 2024. Controversy among public officials stems from the public nature of the document and some individuals find the disclosure of private information to be over reaching.

Adams said financial disclosure forms will be filed electronically in 2024 via the Commission on Ethics Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System (EFDMS) and that all disclosures filed in EFDMS will be published on the Commission on Ethics website.

Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe questioned why the City Attorney and City Clerk were specifically not able to help filers with questions, to which Adams said she did not know. However, filers may use their own attorney or accountant to aid them in completion of the form.

In other City business, the Commission unanimously approved on first reading a Comprehensive Plan Amendment changing the future land use classification on 161 +/- acres voluntarily annexed to the City from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture.

The property owned by Whitehurst Cattle Company is located east of County Road 337/Southwest 282^nd Street and south of 67^th Avenue. This is a like-for-like change that allows less than or equal to one dwelling unit per five acres.

Following approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the Commission approved on first reading a request to rezone Alachua County’s “Agriculture” classification to City of Newberry “Agriculture” zoning on the same 161 +/- acres.

The Commission also unanimously approved on first reading a Comprehensive Plan Amendment submitted by Herbert A. Marlowe, Jr., owner of 29 +/- acres of land located along County Road 337/Southwest 282^nd Street.

The amendment changes the future land use classification from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture on 29 +/- acres voluntarily annexed to the City. This is a like-for-like change that allows less than or equal to one dwelling unit per five acres.

Following approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the Commission approved on first reading a request to rezone Alachua County’s “Agriculture” classification to City of Newberry “Agriculture” zoning on the same 29 +/- acres.

In other City business, Mellina Parker was appointed by the Commission to both the Planning and Zoning and Historic Architectural Review Boards to fill out the remainder of the term. This action comes following the resignation of board member Jordan Fairfield, who is moving to another city.

Seats on both boards come up for appointment in 2025. At that time, the City will advertise for applicants for those board seats.

Looking ahead, City Hall will be closed on Jan. 15 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and waste pickup will be adjusted accordingly. Participants walking in the Martin Luther King, Jr. march are to meet at the Martin Luther King Community Center on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. and will walk to the city’s Municipal Building for a presentation.

This week the Florida Public Utilities Corporation is beginning construction on natural gas facilities in the city. They will start working on Northwest 3^rd going over to their office on State Road 45. Connections are planned in subsequent phases for Newberry Oaks and New Town 1895.

On Feb. 15 the City will hold a State of the City event with a Taste of Newberry event to be held first. With four new restaurants in town, it is expected that they will want to participate in this event.

City Manager Mike New distributed handouts to the Commission on items as part of the 2024 State Legislative Session. New recommended that Commissioners monitor several matters that involve agri-tourism and municipal water and sewer rates.

On May 13 at 7 p.m., a joint City/County Commission meeting has been scheduled.

The next Newberry City Commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Tuesday, Jan. 16 and Wednesday, Jan. 17. The anticipated temperatures will lead to the activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace at the Empowerment Center will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY ‒ What has been touted as Alachua County’s largest Publix grocery store officially broke ground in Newberry on Thursday morning, Jan. 4. A crowd of citizens, local officials, a county commissioner and a state representative were in attendance to witness the event.  In addition to Newberry City Commissioners and Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia, Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey and U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack were in attendance.

The chain store bought the nine-acre plot on the corner of West Newberry Road and County Road 235 in August and is working with Carolina Holdings to develop a 55,000-square-foot grocery store and 7,700 square feet of retail space on the site.

Although Publix has not yet announced an official timeline, it estimates the store will be open about nine months after the groundbreaking. The Florida-based grocery chain has a spate of new store openings scheduled in Florida this month. New locations include Fort Myers, Sanford, Wesley Chapel, and Panama City.

Publix itself is not only expected to be a source of jobs, but it will also attract other businesses to the retail areas within the shopping center to provide additional income sources for the community.

In an earlier interview, Marlowe said a Publix in Newberry is more than a grocery store. Publix does extensive vetting of an area’s growth rates and demographics before establishing a location there, so this move signals a shift in growth patterns.

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GAINESVILLE, FL - The window for local families of students in PreKindergarten through 10^th grade to apply for their children to attend one of the district’s academic or career-technical (CTE) magnet programs opened today, January 16. It will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13.

This year 50% of the new students in each magnet program will be chosen through a districtwide lottery. The other 50% will be selected by the school. Students must meet certain academic, attendance and disciplinary criteria to be eligible for each magnet and must also meet program standards to remain enrolled.

The district uses an online process that allows families to apply for more than one program with a single application. Information about the magnet programs, the application timeline and more is available on the district’s website at https://www.sbac.edu/magnet. The online application is also posted on that website in both English and Spanish.

Open houses are being held at all magnet programs to allow students and families to learn more about what each has to offer. A schedule is also available on the magnet website at https://www.sbac.edu/magnet.

For specific questions about a particular magnet program, families can contact the school directly. For all other questions, they can email alachuamagnets@gm.sbac.edu or call (352) 955-7629.

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HIGH SPRINGS, FLA. -- The City of High Springs is seeking community volunteers to serve on two city advisory boards.   

The Charter Review Board seeks five board members. Members will review the City Charter and make recommendations to the City Commission for any alterations, revisions, and amendments to the Charter. 

The High Springs Plan Board, which also serves as the Historical Preservation Board, needs one member. Members of the board review amendments to the land use and zoning maps; review and recommend developments; and hear and consider code variances. 

Interested parties must live within the corporate limits of High Springs to qualify. To apply, please visit highsprings.gov/boards.

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FLORIDA, FL – Grace Huguley from Hawthorne High School always knew she wanted to go to college. She just didn't know how or where.

Or if she could afford it.

Coming from a low-income background and with no one in her family having gone to college, Grace simply didn't know the ins and outs of college and the application process. It was this need that prompted Grace to join Talent Search in 9th grade. Through the program, Grace received advice on what classes to take in high school, help to prepare for the ACT, college and career exploration sessions, and hands-on assistance applying for college, financial aid and scholarships. Talent Search helped Grace with her “how.” She is now attending Notre Dame University on a full 4-year scholarship.

Stories like Grace's are not uncommon. Schools are filled with students who have the desire to attend college but lack the "how." North Central Florida TRIO Talent Search (NCFETS) has been meeting this need since 1994, providing guidance to 9th-12th grade students to navigate high school and enroll in the college or university of their choice. Like Grace, the majority of these students are low-income and will be the first in their families to graduate college.

“Talent Search is aimed at those low-income, first-generation households where you don't know what you are doing and they're guiding you,” said Jesus Dominguez, ETS graduate. “So having that guide, having the resources, having people that are there to support you and guide you with everything, that's the biggest thing that they do and it builds a person, it builds them up for success.”

Talent Search is a federal grant, consortium project of the College of Central Florida, Florida Gateway College and Santa Fe College. Over the past 30 years, Talent Search has helped over 4,000 seniors plan for life after high school with 64% of students enrolling in college. These are students who will be the first in their family to graduate college.

The success of the program is a testament to the support of community partners, the dedication of the students and the commitment of its coaches. The program is fortunate to have the expertise of coaches Theresa Cothren (Baker County, Dixie County, Fort White and Union High Schools), Jacki Garcia (Dunnellon, Lake Weir, North Marion and West Port High Schools) and Lindsey Ragsdale (Bradford County and Hawthorne High Schools).

“Our coaches are the heart of Talent Search,” said Jodi Doher, Talent Search Director. “Our coaches have the benefit of working with students for four years and really getting to know the students and develop a relationship. Not everyone's path is the same so individualized guidance is key. There are so many decisions facing our teens and questions about what to do with their future. Having a trustworthy professional, someone to help make high school decisions, plan for the future after graduation, identify pathways to get there, and provide support and resources to achieve those goals, is imperative. Our coaches change lives and this program, Talent Search, is changing our community.”

North Central Florida TRIO Talent Search is a federal grant, consortium project of the College of Central Florida, Florida Gateway College and Santa Fe College. If you have a student at one of our target schools that could benefit from the project, apply online at https://sfcollege-ts-pub.studentaccess.com/appform/default.aspx?guid=9f956522-4de3-4e27-b933-e6bde4647f38

For more information, email talent.search@sfcollege.edu or call 352-395-5960.