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ALACHUA CUNTY ‒ Alachua County is seeking applicants to fill three current vacancies on the Land Conservation Board (LCB) for the positions of Natural Resource Professional. They generally meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The application deadline is Jan. 20, 2023.

The LCB provides an opportunity for citizen involvement in selecting Alachua County Forever Conservation Lands. The Board reviews and recommends properties for acquisition through the Alachua County Forever Program to the County Commission and provides recommendations on stewardship issues.

Alachua County Environmental Program Manager Andi Christman said, “Members of the Land Conservation Board are helping to shape the future of our County and become part of the legacy of conservation we create for future generations.”

Interested applicants may apply online. Click on “Vacancies” and scroll down to the Land Conservation Board. Indicate in the appropriate section of the online application the category position and relevant qualifications as applicable.

For more information, contact Alachua County Office of Land Conservation and Management Senior Planner Emily Uhlmann at 352-275-2050 or euhlmann@alachuacounty.us

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GAINESVILLE – The UF Innovation Academy (IA) is welcoming the incoming class of 2026 IA students, as well as family, friends, and guests, to the UF campus and to the IA program at IA’s convocation event, Launch Into IA. This event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Reitz Student Union.

The Launch Into IA 2023 ceremony will be followed by a reception for family, friends and guests and breakout rooms for the over 350 incoming IA students to receive important information about the upcoming spring semester.

The Innovation Academy (UF IA) is one of the nation’s most forward-looking undergraduate programs – at one of its most dynamic research universities. UF IA gives motivated students a small-college experience focused on innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, ethics, and leadership on a unique spring-summer schedule. UF IA enrolls and supports academically talented students focused on developing knowledge to grow new business opportunities, services, and products through curricular and co-curricular experiences.

The UF Innovation Academy is also honored to welcome Dr. Farouk Dey as the Launch Into IA 2023 Keynote Speaker. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Education, Dr. Dey is a higher education and workforce development executive who has led and transformed university organizations for two decades. Dr. Dey has held positions at UF, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University and is now the Vice Provost for Integrative Learning and Life Design at Johns Hopkins.

Second-year business administration major, Jaden Nosse, will be this year’s IA Sophomore Student Speaker. “It gives me great joy to welcome our incoming class of 2026 of over 350+ students to the start of their academic careers at the University of Florida,” said IA Director Dr. Jeff Citty. “This year we will continue to ensure our students success through expanded community partnerships, engaging our alumni and growing our student resources.”

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) strives to keep Florida clean for its residents and visitors. It takes the cooperation of everyone traveling across our roadways to keep them clean.

In conjunction with the FDOT’s “Drive It Home, Keep Our Paradise Litter-Free” campaign, the FDOT in Northeast Florida is launching an anti-litter campaign next week focused on the reduction of traditional litter, dumping and keeping loads secure. This targeted campaign will take place throughout January and February.

FDOT District 2 Secretary Greg Evans said, “When you litter, you’re creating unsafe conditions for your fellow motorists and you’re making it unsafe for maintenance crews that work to keep our roadways clean. We’re asking everyone to partner with us to keep our roadways safe, free from debris and beautiful for years to come.”

This campaign will stress the importance of the public’s responsibility to properly discard trash and secure vehicle loads.

In 2021, in Duval County alone, an average of over 55 tons of garbage per month was collected from interstate highway system. By reducing litter through education, enforcement and partnership with the community through the Adopt-A-Highway program, the community and Florida’s visitors can help keep the Sunshine State beautiful.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ - Below are the updated City of Gainesville traffic impacts scheduled for January 6-13, 2023. 

NW Fifth Ave.: Northwest Fifth Avenue will be closed from Northwest 13th Terrace to Northwest 15th Street for road reconstruction from Monday, Jan. 9-Thursday, Jan. 12 (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.). 

Continuing Notices 

SW Ninth Terrace: Southwest Ninth Terrace will be closed between Southwest First Avenue and University Avenue due to the construction of a new development. Construction is expected to last through August 2023.

Note: All lane and road closures are subject to change due to unforeseen conditions, such as inclement weather.

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GAINESVILLE – For two local families, the big day is almost here. On Thursday, January 12th, at 9:30 AM, Alachua Habitat for Humanity will welcome the new homeowners to their newly constructed homes that they helped to build with their very own hands.

Like all Alachua Habitat homes, these were fueled by volunteers, donors, and future homeowners. Because volunteers gave the gift of their time and their talents, and our generous donors gave monetary contributions, these new homeowners will start to pay an affordable mortgage and will achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build a better future.

Alachua Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life. Alachua Habitat builds homes for families who have a need for housing, have demonstrated the ability to pay a modest mortgage, and are willing to partner through sweat equity volunteering. These homes are not given away, rather homeowners take on the responsibility of paying a mortgage they can afford. Their sweat equity requirement consists of 250 hours working on their own home, working on the homes of others, and attending homeownership and financial literacy workshops.

Thanks to the generosity of the house sponsors, Eye of the Eagle Wildlife Foundation, Bank of America, and Clay Electric Co-Op, two more Alachua County residents will receive the keys to their new homes. “My two greatest accomplishments are my wonderful children and getting approved for the Alachua Habitat Homeownership Program,” says Curnika, one of the two future Alachua Habitat homeowners. “I would like to tell all supporters, donors, and volunteers of Alachua Habitat how thankful I am for this opportunity to give my children a safe and stable place to call home.”

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ALACHUA COUTY ‒ The principal and assistant principal of Williams Elementary School have been selected as Alachua County Public Schools’ Principal and Assistant Principal of the year, and will now go on to represent the district in the statewide recognition programs.

Principal Anyana Stokes and Assistant Principal Jennifer Roberson were selected by their peers districtwide based on their resumes and their responses to questions developed by the state on such topics as supporting teachers and student performance.

Stokes has been an educator for more than twenty years, having worked as a teacher, adjunct professor, dean and assistant principal at schools in Orlando and Gainesville. Since 2018 she’s been the principal at Williams, the school she attended as a child. Under her leadership, the school has seen significant improvement in student performance, including strong learning gains in English language arts (ELA) for all students and for the lowest-performing students. Stokes established the ‘Wildcat Pillars,’ underlying principals that anchor the work that the school’s administrators, teachers and staff are doing to boost student achievement.

Stokes says she’s honored by the recognition from her peers, but also gives credit to the entire school community.

“This is also recognition of the hard work and effort put in by the Williams teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners,” she said. “It’s so special for me to be serving at the same elementary school I attended as a child.”

Roberson also has years of experience as a teacher and school administrator, having previously served as assistant principal at both Shell Elementary School and High Springs Community School. She also supported Williams as a district instructional coach before becoming the school’s assistant principal in 2021. In that role, Roberson supports teachers through data-driven planning and professional development and serves as the school’s coordinator for testing and for the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. She also implemented the United States of Readers Scholastic Program at Williams, which provides free books throughout the school year to students and teachers to promote excitement about reading.

Roberson says she feels its important to balance hard work with making learning fun for students.

“The work we do is difficult, but I’ve found that maintaining a positive outlook during any situation can help make it easier,” she said. “A little positivity can go a long way!”

The Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year finalists are expected to be selected this month, with the statewide winners in both recognition programs announced in February or March.

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