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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2023) – The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department invites all neighbors to attend a community workshop to help shape the vision of a cultural arts center in East Gainesville.

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wed., Aug. 9

Where: Martin Luther King, Jr. Multipurpose Center, 1028 NE 14th Street

Similar to the initial community workshop in May, the upcoming workshop is designed to hear from neighbors about their needs, interests and expectations regarding a cultural arts center in East Gainesville.

A survey also is open to gather input from neighbors. The survey is accessible online through this link. Copies of the survey also will be available at the workshop.

The input will provide vital information in a study by AMS Planning & Research Corp., a national arts management consulting firm hired by the City. The AMS study will help determine the feasibility of either creating a new cultural arts center or renovate an existing structure in Gainesville.

For more information, contact Parks Operations Manager John Weber at WeberJF@GainesvilleFL.gov or 352-393-8532.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Gauging by sizzling temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a heat index well over the century mark, the dog days of summer are officially here.

Summer camps are quickly becoming only fond memories, as are the thoughts of a seemingly endless summer. With the first days of August around the corner, back-to-school time is looming just over the horizon as school in Alachua County is scheduled to begin Aug. 10.

In the meantime, hot, humid and sticky is an appropriate explanation for the lethargy that seems to have not only affected people, but our four-legged friends as well.  Mother Nature has indeed blessed Florida with sunshine — and heat.  It’s just too hot to think about doing much of anything – unless Ichetucknee Springs comes to mind.

As many locals know, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a refreshing experience. Its unspoiled beauty, together with surrounding wilds, has become and remains a Florida treasure.   Each of us discovers this treasure only once, but is likely drawn back again and again to experience firsthand what Native Americans called “Ichetucknee,” meaning “pond of the beaver.”

North Central Floridians often, and mistakenly, take for granted this virtual paradise consisting of 2,669 acres. Inside the boundaries of the park, a series of springs creates the clear Ichetucknee River, which flows toward the southwest for approximately six miles.  It is often the visitor who reminds us of the magical bounty we have in our own back yard.

To the uninitiated, floating down a crystal-clear meandering river in an inner tube for one to three hours is exhilarating.  Add to that, the Florida sun casting shadows through the cedar and maple trees as first-time tubers leisurely float down the cooling waters.  Not much can surpass the serenity of leaning back against a gently rocking tube and drinking in nature’s beauty while dangling one’s feet in the refreshing water.

But the real thrill experienced by visitors is their amazement about the springs that were declared a “National Natural Landmark” by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1972.

Millions of gallons of pristine water gush out of the earth, forming crystal pools of water reflecting colors of pale blues and mysterious blacks in Florida’s sun.  The constant average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit year round refreshes the hot and weary.

Now is the time to “take the remedy.”  Visit Ichetucknee State Park, if only for a few hours.  Visitors don’t have to take all day, but why not?  What better place to spend time communing with Mother Nature than in this land of raw beauty and sparkling waters? And Memorial Day through Labor Day, fun seekers will find a full-service concession that offers food, refreshments, and outdoor items.

The park is open 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. till sundown for the bargain rate of $6 per vehicle. But according to the park’s Web site, if you are planning on a Saturday or Sunday float down the river, arrive early as the park is quite popular on weekends and when the parking lot fills up, you may not be able to enter. Effective June 19, 2023: Ichetucknee Springs State Park frequently closes due to capacity limits. During this time, gates will be closed and visitors will not be able to enter. Gates reopen when space is available. Also, effective June 19, the South Takeout is closed to vehicles through Oct. 1. Unless capacity has been met, visitors can access the South Takeout via tram or trails located at the south main entrance.

The south entrance to the park is located west of Ft. White, off U.S. 27. Total distance from Ft. White to the park’s north entrance is 5.9 miles. Ticket windows in the front of the general store sell transportation wrist bands for the park tram shuttle servicing primarily those tubing the Ichetucknee as well as van/bus transportation for paddlers to the river’s headwaters at the north entrance.

Rather than spending another day wiping your brow, kick back, cool off and relax.  Mother Nature gives us “dog days” so we will appreciate her other gifts all the more.

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PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 2, 2023 — Now entering the eighth year of its Blue School Grant program, the St. Johns River Water Management District, with full support of its Governing Board, is offering up to $60,000 in grants for education projects that enrich student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning. The application period runs Aug. 1–Sept. 15 and is available to K–12 teachers within the District’s 18-county area.

“This is such a meaningful program, and I’m honored to play a small role in teaching kids how to be good stewards of the environment,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Education and Outreach Coordinator Laura La Beur. “We've made some exciting changes to the Blue School Grant program this year, including increasing the funding by $40,000. Last year we were able to help over a dozen teachers educate students on the importance of water conservation, and with this increased funding, we will be able to reach even more students across our 18-county service area.”

To date, the District has funded 89 water resource education projects with a total of over $125,000 awarded to local schools.

Through the District’s Blue School Grant program, up to $3,000 per school may be awarded to educators working with grades K–12 to enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources. The application is intentionally created to be quick and easy, keeping in mind the challenging workload we know all teachers face. The District aims to support teachers by enhancing current lesson plans to create a bigger impact for students studying water resources in any subject area. Public and charter teachers within the District’s boundaries are eligible to apply.

Examples of previous successful grant applications include:

• Service-learning projects where middle and high school students partnered to study water quality
• Water quality comparison of stormwater ponds on campus
• Conversion of traditional irrigation to micro-irrigation in school landscape
• Water conservation awareness posters and videos

Teachers receiving grants will be notified in late October.

Information about criteria and deadlines, and the online application can be found at www.sjrwmd.com/education/blue-school or contact Laura La Beur at LLaBeur@sjrwmd.com or 321-473-1339.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard received a certificate of completion from FBI Director Christopher Wray as a graduate of Session 5 of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Command Course (NCC) at Quantico, Virginia.

Sheppard accomplished the prestigious achievement on July 14, with FBI Director Wray present to award participants their certificates of completion.

Sheppard was among 50 chief executives of domestic law enforcement agencies from around the country who participated.

The NCC, first developed in 2020, was specifically designed to address the need for strategic leadership training programs for policing executives within the FBI.

NCC, the newest addition to the FBI’s executive development repertoire, focuses on agency heads with fewer than 50 sworn law enforcement officers who have not previously attended the FBI National Academy.

This comprehensive program provides numerous benefits including fostering improved relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, enhancing liaisons between departments for more effective policing and ultimately advancing public safety nationwide.

“The opportunity to collaborate with diverse leaders from across the country was extraordinary,” said Sheppard. “In many instances, we faced identical challenges in law enforcement.”

“As Police Executives, we consulted with each other on viable solutions and we studied the likes of great leaders who persevered through adversity,” Sheppard said.

The training covers a wide range of critical topics, such as strategic leadership, image management, officer wellness, and the prevention of targeted violence.

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BY JENNIFER CABRERA/Alachua Chronicle

ALACHUA COUNTY – Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., has announced his resignation. In a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dated July 31, Watson announced his “retirement” effective Oct. 1, “due to my personal health.” The letter said that he had intended to serve out his term, which would run through 2024, “but I have accepted that my health is such that I fear that I may not be able to meet my own expectations for performing my sworn duties.”

Watson announced on June 20 that he would not be running for re-election and that he was making the “tough decision to step aside and prepare the organization for new leadership that will continue to advance our agency toward the future.”

Watson recently reversed disciplinary actions against three deputies after Judge Donna Keim found that his office had violated their rights under Florida law. A large number of subpoenas were also issued to agency members in April, and State Attorney Brian Kramer’s office told Alachua Chronicle they could not comment on an active investigation.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission on July 24 considered a number of financial matters including impact fees, the annual millage rate and the annual fire assessment fee.

The Commission is revamping impact fees it charges for new development within the city limits and approved an impact fee ordinance at its July 24 meeting. Municipalities use impact fees to maintain current levels of service if new development is to be accommodated without decreasing current levels of service, and impact fees are assessed when new homes and new businesses are built, or when existing businesses are expanded.

The Commission had previously considered and approved changes to existing impact fees, but additional changes were approved Monday night. Earlier, the Commission directed that the impact fees be staggered over a period of five years with implementation at 60 percent the first year and 10 percent the following four years.

If the impact fee ordinance is approved on second reading by the Commission at the Aug. 14 City Commission meeting, impact fees will be implemented 90 days after second reading.

Millage Rate

In other business, the Commission unanimously approved Resolution 2023 – 04, which sets the Preliminary Millage rate at 5.9999. Currently, the first public hearing is scheduled for Swept. 11 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

The Commission set the preliminary millage rate at 5.9999, the highest rate they expect to adopt in September, although the Commission has authority to set the rate to a lower level.

Fire Assessment

The commission also approved a proposed Fire Assessment rate that includes an increase of $5 per dwelling unit to offset the increased fire department costs in Fiscal Year 2024. Proposed rates for Fiscal Year 2024 are $200 per residential dwelling unit, $0.17 per square foot for Commercial properties, $0.03 per square foot for Industrial/Warehouse properties and $0.23 per square foot for Institutional properties.

At the meeting, City of Newberry Assistant City Manager/CFO Dallas Lee said the special assessment for fire services can only be used to fund personnel costs, capital improvements, equipment and other costs related to responding to fire/non-medical emergencies and maintaining readiness to respond to fire/non-medical emergencies through staffing, training, procuring and maintaining facilities and equipment.

The Commission can consider lowering the amount when they approve the final Fire Assessment amount in August.

Proclamation

Parks and Recreation Director Travis Parker reviewed the status of the City’s recreation programs, number of participants and ongoing program development. Following his presentation Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record declaring the month of July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month.

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