ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Children 18 years old and younger can receive free breakfast and lunch during the summer months through the Alachua County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) department.

The Summer Meals Program, funded by the federal government, is open to any child regardless of family income. The meals are served at more than 70 sites, including local schools and other locations.

Children do not have to be enrolled at a particular school or program to receive meals. They also do not have to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the regular school year to take advantage of the program. Children do need to eat the meal on-site, and families going to schools for meals are asked to check in at the front office.

“Families can take their children to the site that’s most convenient for them,” said Jamie Lovett, Director of the district’s Food and Nutrition Services department. “They just show up during the serving times and enjoy a nutritious meal, with no registration required.”

The Summer Meals Program provides nutritionally balanced meals to all children during summer vacation when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. All children 18 years old and younger are eligible, and families can take advantage of the program at any of the local sites. Baby formula, cereal and food are also available, although families should call the FNS office at 352-955-7539 two days ahead of time to make those arrangements.

New this summer will be several mobile sites, one each in Alachua, Archer, East Gainesville and High Springs and four stops in Hawthorne. At those sites, families can pick up food twice a week to cover seven days’ worth of meals combined. Participants will receive a bag containing ingredients to prepare at-home meals for breakfast and lunch. The five sites are the only locations that allow for families to pick up meals to prepare at home.

Most sites will be up and running the week of June 3, 2024, with several running through July 26. The dates and times that meals will be served will vary from site to site. Details are available at www.yourchoicefresh.com Click on the banner labeled ‘Free Summer Meals’ or call 352-955-7539.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Local families and friends came out to play at the 4^th Annual Kiwanis Family and Friends Mini Golf Tournament, held on May 4, 2024, at the Pink Flamingo Diner. There were five specialty holes for a chance to win cash, ice cream, and free mini golf game certificates.

Seventeen teams showed up for fun and excitement and friendly competition in the Family, Adult and City divisions. Teams consisted of four player and their total scores were added together to determine their finale score.

The Adult competition ended with two teams, the Redeemers and Decades, tied for first place. The Redeemers redeemed themselves, after a loss to Decades in last year’s tournament, in an extra hole playoff. The Winners team took third place.

Another tie for first in the Family competition between the Patriots and Gators ended with Gators winning in the extra hole playoff. The Honey Bees took third place.

In the City competition, the High Springs Fire Department held on to the trophy they won last year by defeating the High Springs Police Department by 23 strokes.

This event was sponsored by: The Pink Flamingo Diner, Portaserve, Cutter Networks, Inc., Waste Pro, Alachua Today Newspaper, The Kronholm Family, The Barber Group, Hilife Projects, Johns Autobody, Campus USA Credit Union, Decades on Main, Thomas R. Weller Esq. and Drop Top Customs.

Tournament prizes for first second and third place were donated by local business: Watershed Restaurant, Florida Creamery, Unique Notions, New York Pizza Plus, Steak-Out, Hardees, Jewelry Works, High Springs Brewing Company, Winn Dixie, Publix Supermarkets and Mrs. Dorsey Travis.

Funds from this event are used immediately for support of needy children and families in Alachua and High Springs

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Photo by SUZETTE COOK/special to Alachua County Today

GAINESVILLE ‒ The University of Florida’s Fishing for Success (FFS) program hosted a special Fishing for Autism event on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The idea for hosting an event specifically for children with autism and their families was started three years ago by Fishing for Autism Founder Katy O’Connor, whose son Chase, 8, is autistic and non-verbal. O’Connor lives in Ontario, Canada, with her family and started taking Chase fishing at a small pond because of the calming effect of the experience.

“That was our bonding time and form of therapy for us, so I started Fishing for Autism in my hometown, and it expanded from there,” she said.

In 2019, O’Connor said professional nuisance alligator trapper Ron Sanderson of Gainesville reached out to her after he learned about her efforts from her Instagram account. “He saw my event photos and asked if he could branch it out to Gainesville.”

Coming from a small town, O’Connor said it was incredible that the University of Florida offered to host Fishing for Autism at the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ponds off Millhopper Road. “Biologists use these ponds for their studies, and I’m excited that my event has made it out there,” she said.

On the day of the event, there were stations for attendees to go pond fishing, dip netting for invertebrates, various games and activities, sensory bins and toys, arts and crafts, prizes, and food.

Prior to the event Sanderson said he would be there helping families with fishing equipment and to see the kids and families enjoying the activities. “It’s about seeing the joy in the kids’ eyes and watching them react when they catch a fish,” he said about why he likes to help out at the event.

Another headliner was Hall of Fame competitive bass fisherman Shaw Grisby. Grigsby is one of the most popular, well-liked anglers in the country,

FFS Program Coordinator Bethan Gillett said the event offers a peaceful and relaxing experience that attendees can enjoy as a family. “Fishing can be therapeutic, and the kids get so happy and excited when they catch a fish.”

“There were passports for kids to take from station to station to get stamped and then trade it in for a goodie bag. Fishing gear, t-shirts, and other prizes were raffled off. The May 18 event was open only to children with autism and their families unlike the monthly FFS events which are open to the public.

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~Food distributor Ben E. Keith, Co. warehouse to serve Florida, southeast, and eastern seaboard~

ALACHUA ‒ Commissioners in the City of Alachua unanimously approved an application for a $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Florida Commerce, formerly the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that would be used to serve a proposed $100 million food distribution warehouse.

The grant funds would be used to extend Northwest 115^th Avenue and install other public infrastructure improvements necessary to support the proposed 680,810 square-foot distribution center. The grant would be combined with another roughly $1 million from WACO Properties, Inc. for a total of approximately $2.537 million.

In addition to the extension of Northwest 115^th Avenue, the grant project proposes to include the placement of medians on Northwest 115^th Avenue. Finance and Administrative Services Director Robert Bonetti said, “This project will provide increased infrastructure facilities to an undeveloped area including expanded sewer and water service.” The infrastructure improvements are expected to open up properties other than the Ben E. Keith, Co. site for development.

Bonetti said he expects construction on the proposed infrastructure to begin within the next 10 months, “contingent upon the design schedule.” He expects the infrastructure will be completed within one year after it begins.

Ben E. Keith, Co. will bear the approximately $100 million for land, site development, building construction, and other development costs. The current projection is that the warehouse facility will be open by the third quarter of 2026, depending on grant funding and completion of the infrastructure. Bonetti said Ben E. Keith, Co. has committed to begin construction of its facility prior to, or shortly after construction of the grant-funded public infrastructure begins.

As part of the qualifying for the grant, Ben E. Keith, Co., as the owner and manager of this Distribution Center, will create and retain a minimum of 44 full-time equivalent permanent new jobs within the two-year CDBG grant period. Positions created are to include transportation personnel, warehouse associates and other personnel, sanitation associates, forklift operators, non-DOT drivers, and inventory control associates.

According to Bonetti, the 44 new job creation and retention estimates are based on a market analysis and other Ben E. Keith, Co. forecasts and projections. A minimum of 23 full-time equivalent new and retained jobs must be held by individuals from low-to-moderate income households. If more than 60 new full-time positions are created, at least 51 percent of the total new jobs created must be filled by members of low-to-moderate income families to meet the CDBG national objective of benefiting low-to-moderate income households.

All full-time jobs are to be provided with company-sponsored healthcare, Bonetti said. Where necessary, Ben E. Keith, Co. will provide training to persons from low to moderate-income households to ensure they have the necessary skills to obtain and perform the job for which they have been hired.

The breakdown of grant dollars per job created is less than $35,000 of grant funding per job created. “That is an incentive to the state and federal government to give [the City of Alachua] these funds. It is a lot of bang for the buck,” Bonetti said.

In February 2022, Ben E. Keith Company purchased all of the assets of Florida Food Service, which was headquartered in Gainesville and served customers in northern and central Florida and Georgia. Florida Food Service was founded in 1948. According to its website, Ben E. Keith Company was founded in Fort Worth, Texas in 1906 and is a “complete broad line distributor.” The acquisition of Florida Food Service created “the ninth division of Ben E. Keith Foods across 15 states.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ Following the May 28, 2024, Newberry City Commission meeting, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board convened briefly to hear an educational presentation by CRA Executive Director Bryan Thomas. The focus was on the collaboration with Downtown Strategies, a firm specializing in revitalizing small to mid-sized cities that function independently of larger metropolitan areas.

“Downtown Strategies is a group that collaborates with small towns to mid-sized cities up to 250,000 people that are generally independent of larger metropolitan areas,” said Thomas. He emphasized that these communities’ downtown areas serve as primary social and economic hubs.

Asset-Based Strategies for Growth

Thomas highlighted the group’s approach, which revolves around asset-based strategies. This method focuses on enhancing and combining existing community resources such as infrastructure, institutions, local businesses, and resident skills. The underlying principle is that most economic growth in these communities stems from within, through the expansion of existing businesses and the creation of new local ventures.

Communities leverage the influence of major local institutions, known as anchors, to drive economic growth and revitalize downtown areas. These strategies, typically employed in larger metropolitan settings, are adapted to fit the unique needs of smaller communities, capitalizing on the stability and growth provided by these key institutions.

Steps Toward a Strategic Plan

Downtown Strategies is collaborating with local staff to develop an actionable strategic plan for the CRA downtown district. The following steps outline the process:

Development of a “Core Team”

This team will consist of three to five representatives from City staff, downtown merchants, the Newberry Main Street Organization, and the Newberry Chamber of Commerce.

Site Visit by Downtown Strategies

On July 17, the Consultant will meet with core team members and conduct a walking tour of the downtown study area to identify assets and future opportunities.

Strategic Visioning Workshop

Following the walking tour, a workshop will be conducted to focus on downtown redevelopment. The workshop aims to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders, including elected officials, CRA Board members, property and business owners, downtown organizations, and interested citizens. The goal is to gather input and generate buy-in from downtown constituents and the broader community.

“This is not a group that believes in developing a 20-year plan that sits on the shelf,” said Thomas. They are into implementing a plan as soon as possible.

Partnership Timeline

The partnership timeline with Downtown Strategies is structured into three phases:

Discovery (Months 1-6): This phase includes market analysis research, a community input survey, onboarding packet review, and the strategic visioning workshop.

Strategic Action Plan (Months 7-9): In this phase, the market analysis is presented, and the strategic action plan is developed and reviewed by the client.

Implementation (Months 10-12): This final phase involves the formation of local action teams, a project mapping workshop, and continued technical support to the Core Team.

Although no action regarding moving forward with Downtown Strategies was discussed during this meeting, Thomas reminded Board members about the upcoming July 17 walking tour and mentioned that more information about the project would be forthcoming.

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HIGH SPRINGS – An emergency landing by a small, single-engine airplane on Memorial Day ended safely with no injuries reported. At 10:28 a.m. on Monday, May 27, the High Springs Fire Department responded to a distress call at Oak Tree Landing Airport, an unmanned, paved landing strip located on the Gilchrist/Alachua County line.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the aircraft at the end of the runway. The plane, carrying three individuals, had been forced to make an emergency landing due to unspecified mechanical issues. The pilot successfully navigated the plane to Oak Tree Landing.

“No injuries or other fire hazards were reported,” said Kevin Mangan, Public Information Officer for the City of High Springs.

Assisting on the call were several fire and law enforcement resources from Alachua County Fire Rescue, City of Newberry Fire Department, Alachua County Sheriff and Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office.

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