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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has become aware of a need among their fellow students. In cooperation with Santa Fe High School, the YAC has learned there are students coming to school in need of basic hygienic supplies. The YAC is deeply concerned about these students and is asking for your help in restoring their dignity. The YAC is collecting the following items:

• Deodorant
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Bar soap
• Underwear (all sizes, men and women, new)
• Socks (all sizes, men and women, new)

Once collected, all items will be packaged by the YAC and distributed at Santa Fe High School. Businesses have partnered with the YAC to host drop-off points. Supplies can be dropped off at the following locations through the months of December and January.

• Alachua City Hall
• Alachua Family Eye Care
• Douglas M. Adel, DDS, P.A. (Alachua)
• Decades on Main (High Springs)
• China Express (Alachua)
• Great Clips (Alachua)
• HCA Florida Hospital (Gainesville)
• Hitchcock’s Markets Pharmacy Desk (Alachua)
• Infinite Wellness Gym (Alachua)
• New York Pizza Plus (Rolling Oaks Plaza)
• O2B Kids (Alachua)
• Publix (Alachua)
• Santa Fe High School Guidance Office (Alachua)
• Tony & Al’s Deli (Alachua)
• Walgreens (Alachua)

The YAC serves as advocates for issues and initiatives to positively impact the lives of youth, discusses issues and offers suggestions for improvement to benefit youth in the community.

YAC members must be enrolled in a public school, private school or a home education program within the City of Alachua in grades nine through 12 or must be a City of Alachua resident enrolled in a public school, private school or a home education program in grades nine through 12 that is not within the City of Alachua's corporate limits.

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GAINESVILLE, FLA. - The Builders Association of North Central Florida, a 500+ company member professional and trade association representing the building industry recently installed its 2024 leaders during its 68th Annual Installation Banquet held on Dec. 1, 2023.

Outgoing 2023 BANCF President, John Jones, presented the following awards:

Individual “President” Awards – Fred Lesperance, Gator Solutions LLC; Brad Stumpff, 2 College Brothers, Inc.; John Roscow, Holden, Roscow & Caedington, PL; Luis Diaz, Dibros Design & Construction

Big Spike of the Year – Justin MacDougall, Santa Fe College

New Spike of the Year – Beth Phillips, CHW; Michelle Vickers, Scherer Construction of North Florida LLC

Retention Spike of the Year – Barry Rutenberg, Barry Rutenberg & Associates

Ambassador of the Year – Beth Phillips, CHW

Distinguished Spikes – Barry Rutenberg, Barry Rutenberg & Associates; Justin MacDougall, Santa Fe College

2023 Chairs of the Year – Debby Knopf, Millhopper Family Dentistry, PA; Dianne Gates, The Best Restoration, LLC

George Barnes Spirit Award – Beth Phillips, CHW

2023 Associate of the Year – Debby Knopf, Millhopper Family Dentistry, PA

2023 Builder of the Year – Matt Marino, Oelrich Construction, Inc.

The following 2024 Officers and Directors were installed: President: Don Kellogg, Scorpio.

Associate Vice President:                       Jason Cason, First Federal Bank

President Elect:                                       Fred Lesperance, Gator Solutions, LLC

Associate Vice President Elect:              Sue Fisher, BHGRE Thomas Group

Treasurer:                                                David Hilman, Custom Design Renovations, LLC

Secretary:                                                Kevin Brown, Renasant Bank

2024 Board of Directors

Amber Beckham

Andreana Graham

Arlene Stewart

Barry Rutenberg

Brad Stumpff

Bryce Hartley

Carly Waters

Chancey Padgett

Chris Trowell

Christopher Decker

Craig Brashier

Debby Knopf

DJ Samples

Erik Anderson

Ian Brown

Jake Plein

Jason Robinson

Jay Brown

Joe Burns

John Jones

John Roscow IV

Juddy Carter

Kara Bolton

Keith Perry

Kim Wolfmeyer

Larry Hartfield

Lisa Rutenberg

Luis Diaz

Madi Joyner

Margarita Purvis

Mark Hurm

Matt Marino

Michelle Vickers

Rob Edmunds

Rob Lash

Ryan McGriff

Stephanie Sutton

Steve Burroughs

Toney Sullivan

Wesley Emmanuel

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BELL, FL and LAKE CITY, Fla. - The Spirit of the Horse is a magical, heartwarming theater story on horseback that the whole family will enjoy! It is a showcase of World Class riders and horses brought together in an entertaining fashion as the original live production unfolds. This delightful one-and-a-half-hour event features a story rich with characters and diversity. You will see everything from orphans to villains and from dressage to liberty work (where the horse works in a free environment, unrestrained, without any riding equipment). The show includes Paula Frasz and the fabulous Pas de Cheval dancers, and a holiday atmosphere with theater sound and lighting. The costuming is amazing, the horses are beautiful, and the story is one that all can embrace.

Spirit of the Horse is a story of hope, love, and the greatest treasure of all…family. The show features two orphans, whose only wish is a family to love them. In the story, they have been selected to carry the magic of the horse on to the next generation of horse lovers and are brought to the Snow Palace.

Highlights of the evening include bronze, silver and gold medalist Lars Biedenbender, four USDF Grand Prix gold medalist riders: Kiersten Main (the Toy Soldier); Kassie Kuz (Royal Couple and Fairy); Kayla Barteau (the Guardian Angel); and Yvonne Barteau as the beautiful Snow Queen.

Yvonne Barteau, of KYB Dressage, has entertained audiences across the United States with this family-friendly live holiday tale! A USDF Gold medal rider and trainer, for years Yvonne has spent her life performing in equine entertainment from the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Orlando, Florida to The TODAY Show and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The annual Spirit of the Horse event is the biggest fundraiser for the organization in terms of the number of people involved and money raised for a single event, said Barteau who founded Horses Without Humans. She said “the proceeds from Spirit will allow us to care for more horses who have been neglected, abused or in some other way let down by the humans entrusted with their care”.

Horses Without Humans, located in Bell, Florida, is a nonprofit equine adoption organization devoted to rehabilitating and retraining unwanted and at-risk equines with the goal of finding them suitable life-long adoptive homes.

Directed by Jessica Lawton, this holiday show is not to be missed. There is limited seating for three nights only – Dec. 15 at 7p.m., Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. All performances will be held in the outdoor covered arena at The Oaks Equestrian Center, 211 S.W. Theodore O’Connor Circle, Lake City, Florida.

Arrive an hour early to tour the beautifully decorated barn, pet the horses, view the silent auction items, and visit the food vendors and then enjoy the show and the wonderful memories! Tickets start at $15 and are now available at https://www.hwhrescue.org/spirit-of-the-horse

For additional information, to volunteer at the Spirit event, to volunteer with Horses Without Humans, or to request a speaker, contact Janet Herzberg, Office Manager 386-935-3902, e-mail HWH.adm.assist@gmail.com

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OCALA, Fla.- Last week, three vehicles were involved in a hit-and-run crash with serious bodily injury in Marion County. In the early morning of Saturday, November 18, 2023, a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet Corvette were traveling west on State Road 200, operating their vehicles at a high rate of speed, making multiple lane changes, and driving recklessly for the purpose of racing.

In the area of Southwest 80th Street, the Corvette struck a Toyota Prius that was also traveling west. The Corvette then traveled off the roadway before hitting a utility pole and a tree; the Prius remained in the median.

The driver of the Ford Mustang briefly parked, concealing his car in a local business parking lot. At the same time, he checked the injury status of the driver of the Corvette, who had been ejected, before fleeing the scene. The driver of the Corvette, a 38-year-old male from Ocala, was seriously injured.

At the time of the crash, Florida Highway Patrol (F.H.P.) investigators released images of the Ford Mustang driver to the public in hopes of identifying him. The male driver appeared to be a heavy-set white male with tattooed arms, wearing a baseball hat and a beard. The Mustang was also described as a silver-in-color 2020-2023 model with tinted windows. Anyone with information was asked to contact F.H.P. or their local Crimestoppers to provide tips.

Through investigative efforts and help from the public who volunteered tips following the crash, the suspect driver of the Mustang was identified as white male Jacob Steven Michael Carmack, 23, of Ocala.

Carmack was arrested on Tuesday, November 27, 2023, and booked into Marion County Jail on the following charges:

• Reckless Driving which resulted in serious bodily injury to another- 1 count (Felony) F.S.S. 316.192.3a2
• Crash Involving Death or Personal Injuries for the failure to remain on scene of a crash which resulted in the serious bodily injury to another- 1 count (Felony) F.S.S. 316.027.2b
• Racing on Highways-1 count (Misdemeanor) F.S.S. 316.191.2a

This investigation remains active and ongoing. To learn more about the dangers of street racing and how you can report information on upcoming events or identify participants, visit Street Racing/Takeovers, Stunt Driving - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov).

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GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Santa Fe College (SF) will celebrate Fall 2023 graduates with in-person commencement ceremonies that will be held in the SF Gymnasium on the Northwest Campus, 3000 N.W. 83rd Street, Gainesville.

The pinning/graduation ceremony for Nursing program graduates is Thursday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. No tickets are required to attend this ceremony.

Students earning a bachelor’s, A.A., A.S., A.A.S. or certificate degree will be recognized at the ceremony on Friday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Students who are walking in the Friday ceremony will receive four tickets each. Only people with tickets will be admitted.

Doors to the gym will close once the procession begins. On Friday, guests arriving late and/or without tickets can view the ceremonies on the big screen inside the Fine Arts Hall. Seating in both the gym and the Fine Arts Hall is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Everyone should plan their travel routes accordingly. North Road at the gym intersection will be closed at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8.

Visit the graduation website for parking information and more.

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ALACHUA ‒ Alachua Boy Scout Troop 88 and the Alachua Lions Club broke ground on a new scout hut Nov. 10, 2023 at the site of the existing scout hut, located on N orthwest142^nd Terrace across from the Alachua Post Office. Chartered in 1912, and one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the United States, Troop 88 has a long history in Alachua and with the Alachua Lions Club.

After the Alachua Lions Club was chartered in 1931, it began sponsoring Troop 88. According to Alachua Lions Club records, the first scout hut in Alachua was built in the 1930s with the assistance of the Alachua Lions Club but was burned down in 1983 as result of arson.

Continuing its dedication to Boy Scout Troop 88, Alachua Lions Club members, headed by Lion Gil Whitman, spearheaded the construction of a new scout hut to replace the one that burned down. Funds were raised by the Lions and many “man-hours” were donated to construct the new building, Lions Club records state.

In February 1984, the concrete slab for the current scout hut was poured and the building began to take shape. The building was enlarged from the original size, giving the troop a chance to grow and include more scouts into the scouting program. Upon the completion of the building, Boy Scout Troop 88 decided to dedicate the new scout hut in memory of Lion Gilbert Whitman who was killed in a car accident on Feb. 14, 1984 after spending the day pouring the concrete for the hut.

In 2017, Alachua Lions Club member Gib Coerper began heading up an effort to raise money for a major expansion and renovation of the scout hut. The expansion comes with a price tag of about $185,000. All of the construction and design costs and efforts have been donated either in cash or in-kind.

The project will be a complete renovation of the existing building, plus a major expansion increasing the scout hut by two-thirds. The existing restroom will be renovated, and an additional wheelchair accessible restroom will be constructed. The expansion also includes an entirely new HVAC system and a covered front porch.

Coerper said he expects construction on the project to move at a fast face, with completion as early as mid-December. While the scout hut undergoes the renovations, scouts will utilize the Alachua Lions Club building next door.

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