HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the community’s 25^th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Farmers Market Pavilion last Friday evening. The event has been held continuously for many years, even though the COVID-19 Pandemic, although on a reduced level. On Dec. 3 this year, the event was back to its former size both in volunteers and audience size.

While the event is hosted and staffed by the High Springs Chamber of Commerce members, the participation of various organizations and volunteers make it a community sponsored event. The Chamber along with local churches and organizations provided booths distributing candy, popcorn, cookies and other treats to the children.

Under the roof of the Farmers Market on Railroad Avenue, The Florida Creamery provided free ice cream to the crowd, while Witness of Christ Church offered free cookies. Another group provided hot chocolate and candy cane treats. The New Century Women's Club and the Girls Scouts combined efforts at another table to help children make Christmas ornaments.

John Decker and the High Springs Historical Society set up two running model train displays while the High Springs Lions Club offered actual train rides in their “Polar Express” train, pulled by a riding tractor.

“All these people help make this event a success,” said Chamber President Sharon Decker. “We also want to acknowledge the efforts of the City by providing the tree decorations, power, PA set up and traffic control.

“Due to some illnesses, we were short staffed from the Chamber but High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard and his staff volunteered to fill in as well as traffic control and that was a great help,” said Decker. “Pastor Sammy Nelson of the Witness of Christ Church volunteered to be the emcee for the event, which was also a great help.”

People dressed as Christmas characters roamed the crowd interacting with the children and posing for photos while the crowd waited for the arrival of Santa Claus and the tree lighting ceremony. As the clock ticked closer to 6:15, the crowd gradually converged around the Christmas tree. Nelson introduced High Springs Mayor Gloria James who was joined by Commissioners Byran Williams and Katherine Weitz. Musical entertainment was provided by Dani MacKinzie and her brother, Bandon Luke, who sang Christmas songs.

At the appointed time of 6:30, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a fire truck with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Santa and Mrs. Claus were immediately surrounded by excited children, wanting a chance to touch, hug or speak to Santa.

After a few minutes with the crowd, the Claus's were brought closer to the tree by Nelson and initiated the countdown as the tree lit up to the cheers of the crowd.

After the tree was lit, Santa and Mrs. Claus went to the Gazebo by the Farmers Market to listen to the long line of excited children and their wishes for Christmas.

“We were really glad how it all worked out,” said Decker. “I think we were able to make it a great event and bring back the traditional community celebration that was limited in the past due to COVID.

Decker added, “There were a lot of people who helped and made it work. We are looking forward to making it bigger each year and keep the tradition going.”

#     #    #

email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ It was a weekend for celebrations as the A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association held its annual homecoming reunion starting on Friday and continuing into Sunday. Each year on the weekend after Thanksgiving former students and family members from A.L. Mebane High School hold a multi-day homecoming celebration and parade for a school that no longer exists.

Sponsored by the A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association, the event has become a community tradition to keep the school's history alive and to remember the struggle for equal education and the achievements of African American students over the past 150 years.

While the Civil War may have ended slavery, it did little to resolve the divisions between the races in the South or bring equality. Prior to 1924, there were no organized institutions of learning for the black community. In that year, the Alachua County Training School (ACT) was opened by the state to provide education for African American children.

For the next 32 years, ACT was the main educational institution for the African American community in Alachua. In 1956 the school was replaced by the Mebane School, named after Albert Leonidas Mebane who had been principle at the ACT school. The school covered all grades including high school. Due to segregation policies, the school remained an all-black school with its first class graduating in 1960.

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also prohibited racial segregation in schools, but it would be 1970 before Alachua County schools were integrated by Federal law. Public schools in the county were reorganized and Mebane became an integrated middle school. Mebane high school students were transferred to Santa Fe High School. There would be no more graduating seniors after the class of 1970.

But the unity and spirit of those 14 graduating classes remained strong and the Alumni Association was created. In 1996 the Association held their first Homecoming event. For the Alumni Association, keeping their history alive is a matter of community pride and an eye to the future. Each year since 1996, the community gathers to remember the old Mebane High School. Activities begin on the Friday after Thanksgiving as the Alumni and families from the 14 classes attend activities leading up to the longstanding parade through downtown Alachua.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, the crowd began to gather on the sidewalks along Main Street as overcast skies and mild temperatures made a pleasant day for a parade. Each alumni class designed a float or decorated a car, along with some community organizations and churches that also participated. Led by a police escort, the parade kicked off with sirens wailing and lights flashing.

Sidewalks were lined with spectators as cars and trucks carrying homecoming queens and dignitaries were interspersed with floats sponsored by the various alumni classes, many tossing candy for the excited children attending the parade. A variety of other vehicles, including a large group of motorcycle riders, added to the cacophony of celebratory sounds.

Entertainment was interspersed between the vehicles with the 352 Marching Band performing along the way. The Heart and Soul Line Dancers entertained with style and energy along the parade route.

While the parade started with the deafening howl of police sirens, it ended softly with a nod to the past as a group of horse mounted cowboys and farmers closed out this year’s procession.

Each year the Alumni classes get smaller as the students of 50 years ago get older. But what started as a small group of former students wanting to keep a connection with their classmates, has become a community event spanning multiple generations celebrating their history, culture and achievements.

#     #    #

email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ Monthlong seasonal festivities are in full swing in Alachua. Merrymaking kicked off last Friday evening at 6 p.m. with crowds gathering around the towering Christmas tree across from Alachua’s Skinner Field. The annual tree lighting tradition began in 2006 when the City of Alachua began holding a number of events to celebrate the Christmas season with the community. Every year, on the first Friday of December, the tree lighting ceremony is held followed by a visit from Santa Claus. This year Alachua will enjoy multiple events to make the whole month a celebration of the holiday season.

Friday’s official tree lighting ceremony was the center of attention as all eyes were on the larger-than-life Christmas tree as crowds gathered under strings of colorful Christmas lights as excited children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus in his horse drawn carriage. Helping to keep the experience alive long after the event ended, a cheerful background display with chairs for Santa and Mrs. Claus was available to offer free photos by Magnolia Lane Photography. Children also enjoyed boxes of treat-filled boxes after having their photo taken with the jolly couple from the North Poole.

A popular activity for the children was the ornament making stations for youngsters to create their own paper Christmas ornaments. Refreshments were abundant as Capital City Bank provided popcorn and costumed characters wandering in the park for children to greet and take photos with. Alachua’s Boy Scout Troop 88 provided steaming hot chocolate with marshmallows for the crowd. Dollar General provided free candies and cookies and Walmart provided juice boxes for the children.

Another highlight of the event was the snow blowing machine that created imaginary snow flurries for the children to play in. While all these activities provided the crowd with the Christmas feel, the big event was the tree lighting and arrival of Santa.

After short speeches by Mayor Gib Coerper and City Manager Mike DaRoza, all attention turned toward Main Street as police cars with lights flashing escorted a shiny white carriage with Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves. Children excitedly lined the street for a glimpse of the carriage and its occupants.

DaRoza joined Santa in the street to lead a countdown for the tree to light up filling the park with shimmering multicolored illuminations. Families gathered around the tree to photograph their children as excited children waited in anticipation to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their Christmas wishes.

Alachua’s holiday celebrations will continue with a parade down Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 10 starting at 2 p.m. And for the next two Saturdays, “Holiday Nights” sponsored by the City of Alachua are also on tap on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 17 with a variety of activities in the historic downtown area. Free showings of The Santa Claus film series will be happening downtown as well as free carriage rides up and down Main Street. Free Christmas gift wrapping will be provided and Santa will again be set up near Magnolia Lane Photography for additional photos. Two stages will feature acoustic musicians playing Christmas music as well as a performance by the Gainesville Youth Choir.

Wrapping up the season’s activities is a performance of The Nutcracker by Dance Alive. This special event hosted by the City of Alachua takes place Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at Legacy Park, 15400 Peggy Road. This free event is not to be missed, and the public is encouraged to bring a bag chair and a blanket to enjoy this family tradition under a canopy of stars. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be available while supplies last, and a meet and greet the dancers will follow the performance.

#     #    #

email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ Two public presentations highlighted the Nov. 28 Alachua City Commission meeting.  A large crowd was on hand to witness the presentation of a remembrance quilt and to recognize elementary students for their art work.

The Alachua County Community Remembrance Quilt Project Committee (ACCRPQC) presented a remembrance quilt to the commission honoring those who lost their lives to lynchings in Newnansville in the years after the Civil War. 

The ACCRPQC collaborated with the City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council to create and sew the quilt in remembrance of the lives lost in Newnansville, a once thriving town situated along Bellamy Road that has now faded into history.  Alachua County Commissioner and former State Representative Charles Chestnut spoke about the work of the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project.

The goal of the Committee is to keep the history of segregation and the lynchings alive for future generations to understand the past. The effort began in January 2020 in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative from Montgomery, Ala.

Lynching of black Americans in the time of segregation was sadly a common method of intimidating the black population.  Between 1867 and 1926, there were 45 documented lynchings in Alachua County, but the actual figure is probably higher. Of these victims, 15 lynchings occurred in Newbery, but Newnansville was not far behind with 10 known cases.

ACCRPQC Chair Dawn Beachy presented the quilt to the City Commission as members of the quilt committee and Youth Advisory Board held up the quilt, displaying it for the audience to view. It contained 12 squares featuring the names of victims in the Newnansville area.

Across the top of the quilt was a quote, “The right way to right a wrong is to shine the light of truth upon them.” The back of the quilt contained pockets for viewers to put notes in about the victims.

In other business, students from W.W. Irby Elementary who had their artwork featured on display in City Hall as part of the Art in City Hall program were recognized.  Mayor Gib Coerper and Rose Magarino read the names of each student for them to come forward and receive a certificate and show their art work.  After the certificates were presented, the entire City Commission gathered with the students for a group photograph.

The Commission closed the books on the City’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget which ended Sept. 30, by amending the General Fund budget to account for unanticipated revenues.  The City’s Finance and Administrative Services Department performs an end of year review of actual receipts and expenditures as part of its end-of-year procedures. The amendment increased the City’s FY 2021-22 budget from $48,738,643 to $48,743,643.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com