The High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) responded Sunday morning to a structure fire near NW 242nd Street and NW 190th Avenue finding a 600-square-foot pole barn fully engulfed in flames several vehicles were inside the barn after firefighters arrived shortly after 5 a.m.  “Crews launched an aggressive fire attack and successfully prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby homes,” a HSFD press release said but pavement-pounding journalism is not free Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible and the cause of the fire remains under investigation The fire required all High Springs units to respond and Alachua County Fire Rescue Engine 21 also arrived on scene The following units responded to the fire: HSFD Engine 29 ACFR Engine 21 and HSFD Chief of Department (2901) Join your neighbors who make this work possible The annual Pioneer Days event returns to High Springs this Saturday and Sunday continuing the decades-long tradition with vendors shootouts and Sarsaparilla.    The Farmers’ Market Pavillion will be ground zero for the event president of the High Springs Chamber of Commerce said the new location has been a positive change The pavilion allows easy access to stores and a unified location She said the weekend is shaping up to include 80 vendors and a slate of bands a Gunsmoke-styled saloon will be set up with homemade Sarsaparilla and other drinks from the era like Border Collies playing soccer.   Pioneer Days also falls on Mother’s Day weekend providing an opportunity for gifts and spending time.  “I think it’s a great place to bring a family and bring your mothers with you and enjoy it because now there’s places where they can sit and listen to music and visit,” Decker said.   Michael Loveday with Ameris Bank lined up the musical selection He said people will be pleased with this year’s selection ranging from fiddles and banjos to local country singer Cliff Dorsey.  He said it’s a really good mix with some Irish and Scottish themes that would have been common The lineup will include mostly new artists for the event  PLACE YOUR LEGAL NOTICES HERE HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Fourteen community members recently completed a combined CPR and "Stop the Bleed" emergency response training hosted by the High Springs Fire Department in partnership with UF Health attended the hands-on session aimed at equipping residents with skills essential in emergency situations before professional responders arrive Certified instructors from the High Springs Fire Department and UF Health demonstrated critical techniques including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and effective methods to control severe bleeding through tourniquets and wound-packing “'Stop the Bleed' empowers people to take action in a bleeding emergency—because in a crisis every second matters,” said Jordyn Zyngier “This kind of community training builds confidence and saves lives.” High Springs Fire Chief Joe Peters echoed the importance of such classes for community safety having someone nearby who knows what to do can save a life,” Peters said Officials emphasized the training is part of the fire department's broader commitment to public safety education and emergency preparedness More classes are scheduled for the upcoming months For information on future training opportunities residents can follow the High Springs Fire Department on social media or visit their official website at highsprings.gov/fire #     #     # the High Springs City Commission approved hiring a special magistrate raised concerns about the planned Tomoka Hills Golf Course in Alachua and covered several topics during a Budget Workshop The meeting began with a member of the public discussing the exterior lighting at the recently-opened 24-hour Anytime Fitness gym Jenkins showed pictures of the light from the business “pouring into (his) backyard” at night and similar pictures provided by his neighbor “I’m happy to report that this condition has changed slightly and this is a direct consequence of the work of your staff She went out there and took a look at this and basically told the owner You’re in violation.’ And I’m happy to report that last night I noticed those side lights aren’t really coming into my property anymore they put covers on those three lights on the west side of that building it finally took the Code Compliance Officer to come out there and tell them it’s a $500 a day fine.’ So I’m happy to report that the owner of that business has done the right thing.”  We are extremely lucky with the staff that we have The City Manager and everybody else has done a great job of putting the right pieces in place Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth asked Jenkins to provide pictures of “how it looks today,” since McDonald’s will be opening soon and there could be similar issues Grunder introduced the only item of business – discuss and act on hiring a new special magistrate “This was our third time that we went out to bid and I think that staff has given you a report in the packet on their recommendation.” He just kind of went away.” Stone said she didn’t know exactly why he left Bloodsworth asked if the City Attorney could act as special magistrate and City Attorney Danielle Adams explained that a special magistrate acts impartially while a City Attorney is always acting on behalf of the City’s interests Grunder noted that both candidates are qualified (The other candidate was the Gilchrist Law Firm Grunder asked if both firms had sent representatives A representative of the Gilchrist Law Firm came to the podium He was a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer So that’s why we think that he would be the best fit for the job.” She added that they also have two other attorneys available to act as magistrate Grunder asked staff why they preferred one candidate over the other “Miss Dotson did a lot of research on the options But our singular issue was that we would have one attorney [with Gapske] as opposed to Gilchrist where there could be multiple attorneys for different occasions.”  Grunder pointed out that they need a special magistrate to hear RedSpeed (school zone) ticket cases Chief Sheppard said they currently only have four RedSpeed tickets being contested “Part of the delay in this whole process was the original bids that we put out When we got those two applicants and you all selected who you wanted in the process of negotiating that contract I couldn’t get the contractor to agree to have insurance…  I wasn’t comfortable recommending executing a contract… when someone was refusing to provide malpractice insurance.” “I’m honestly very torn because I see the other applicant is currently a special magistrate for three other cities or counties “Would there be any issues to having somebody here in person Adams added that her recommendation was to conduct the proceedings in person instead of remotely Weitz asked about travel expenses for traveling back and forth from Coral Gables (in Miami-Dade County) Commissioner Andrew Miller made a motion to go with the Gapske Law Firm since it is closer and there was still a question about travel expenses for the Gilchrist Law Firm Bloodsworth suggested getting a definite answer about Gilchrist’s travel expenses before proceeding The Gilchrist representative made a phone call to get an answer he will not be requesting travel [expenses].”  Miller said that they didn’t know whether the firm in Middleburg would be charging for travel since they hadn’t sent a representative Weitz said she wanted to withdraw her second so Miller’s motion died for lack of a second Bloodsworth made a motion to accept Gilchrist Law Firm as the new magistrate and to authorize Adams to negotiate a contract Commissioner Chad Howell seconded the motion Adams said she is working to move some public notices to the City website instead of paying to publish them in a newspaper which should save a substantial amount of money Speaking on behalf of City Manager Jeremy Marshall Finance Director Diane Wilson said they are working on a solution for the financing of the Canoe Outpost to avoid having to pay the County a large sum of money Weitz said the planned Tomoka Hills Golf Course in Alachua will be using up to 250,000 gallons of water per day for the 18-hole course since that is as much water as the entire City of Archer uses and fertilizer is used every time they water Weitz suggested that they should not be permitted to water during the rainy season as it will wash the fertilizer down into the groundwater.  Miller asked whether the Canoe Outpost can be sold but the conservation easement specifies that the property can never be subdivided which might limit its potential value to a prospective buyer An hour-long Budget Workshop was held prior to the Commission meeting and Finance Director Diane Wilson presented several slides showing the planned budgets for each of the departments Wilson said they are finishing the 2023 budget audit which has required special attention due to the problems during that time period and they will complete the 2024 audit shortly thereafter Wilson added that the State will begin to withhold funding if the budget audits are not completed soon “I would love for us to look into our new business permit process I think that is the phone call I get almost every time a new business opens up here in town is that they struggle to open up here in High Springs for some odd reason…  I can name 10 businesses off the top of my head that have called me about that… Everybody feels like they have to go through a lot of hurdles and do a lot to open up a business here and I feel like it’s not attracting new businesses because all the ones that’s here complain and say they will never open up another business here in town because of all the stuff they have to go through.” Weitz suggested putting something on the City’s website to try to make the process more straightforward.  Will the county monitor them for fertilizing and watering from July to Feb… As a former Alachua City commissioner once famously said “Watering your law recharges the aquifer.” This golf course is next to the Mill Creek sink That 250,000 gallons a day will really recharge the aquifer Thank you Tower Hill Insurance for your kind stewardship of the environment <#= ThriveComments.util.render_label('login_submit_comment') #> <#= ThriveComments.util.render_label('commenting_as',ThriveComments.current_user.display_name || ( ThriveComments.social_user && ThriveComments.social_user.name ) ) #> <#= ThriveComments.util.render_label('guest_comment') #>  ALACHUA ‒ Three local elementary schools in Alachua and High Springs received a major boost to their literacy efforts during National Library Week thanks to a surprise visit from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) who marked 20 years of partnership with a generous donation of grants and books Irby Elementary School and Alachua Elementary School along with High Springs Community School in High Springs each received a $20,000 literacy grant from DGLF the schools received $60,000 in funding and nearly 4,500 new books from RIF to support reading engagement in and out of the classroom More than 30 Dollar General employees from area stores and the company’s Alachua distribution center joined RIF representatives on-site to help students select books to take home and encourage their love of reading outside the classroom “The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is thrilled to celebrate more than two decades of partnership with Reading Is Fundamental and our collective commitment to enhancing literacy and education in our hometown communities,” said Denine Torr by helping enhance local literacy programs that open doorways to new opportunities and brighter futures for Alachua-area students.” The donation event highlighted the long-standing involvement of the three schools in RIF’s flagship Books for Ownership program All three have participated since the national literacy partnership began in 2004 The program annually supports more than 60 elementary schools offering students the opportunity to select high-quality books based on their interests The visit also reflected Dollar General’s continued investment in the area with its Alachua distribution center serving as a key employer and community partner in North Central Florida the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $254 million in grants and supported more than 21.8 million individuals through adult The partnership with RIF has helped distribute more than 2.2 million books to approximately 680,000 students nationwide in communities served by Dollar General Press release from High Springs Fire Department – Safe Kids North Central Florida is joining High Springs Community School and various other coalition members to celebrate Bike to School Day in High Springs on Tuesday and educators to raise awareness about bike safety first responders will position their vehicles near both exits of the community school campus Students who are wearing proper safety gear will receive special rewards including community donations from Harvest Thyme and Prohibition Pizza and will also be entered into a raffle to win a brand-new bicycle donated by the High Springs Police Department Helmet fitters will be on-site offering free bicycle helmets to students in need various safety partners will be handing out fun educational giveaways like stickers Safe Kids coalitions will celebrate Bike to School Day in hundreds of communities across the United States as part of National Bike Month Events will promote biking to school as a safe and fun way to travel while highlighting important bike safety information “Kids and adults alike need to wear properly-fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride bikes or participate in other wheeled sports,” said Jordyn Zyngier “A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash So many children still do not wear them in High Springs Wear a helmet.’ We will be providing free bicycle helmets to children in need of one during this event More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport “Bike to School Day is a wonderful opportunity to engage with our community and highlight the importance of wearing proper safety gear when biking Public Information Officer for the High Springs Fire Department we’re thrilled to bring even more energy to the event with a brand-new bike giveaway and other fantastic prizes thanks to the support of Harvest Thyme Cafe and Prohibition Pizza.” Safe Kids North Central Florida reminds families to follow these tips when biking: A 67-year-old High Springs man riding his bicycle on U.S Highway 441 Sunday night was hit and killed in Alachua County according to a report from the Highway Florida Patrol Local news: FHP: Earleton man, 33, dies in crash with tractor-trailer in Alachua County Highway 441 in High Springs near Northwest 203rd Avenue a sedan being driven by a 33-year-old Lake City woman was traveling south on U.S Highway 441 in High Springs on Sunday night The sedan collided with a 67-year-old High Springs man on a bicycle who was attempting to cross the highway The bicyclist was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead The Lake City woman and her three minor passengers were not injured McDonald’s Golden Arches could soon light up along US 441 in High Springs after the city’s Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-1 to approve the company’s site plan on Monday Planned for construction just south of Tractor Supply Mcdonald’s still needs site plan approval from the High Springs City Commission but the property is already zoned commercial to allow the fast-food business McDonald’s will generate an estimated 1,730 total daily trips The City Commission could vote on the item as early as March 27 Just what this community needs…more bad and unhealthy foods more discarded fast food litter on the roads Force them to use compostable packaging only – otherwise there will be even more litter along the roadways Food service establishments shouldn’t have to be “forced” to use compostable packaging – they should be “good citizens” of the community and stewards of the environment and voluntarily do so “forcing” them requires responsible elected officials with “backbones” to pass ordinances that mandate compostable packaging – followed by enforcement most municipalities don’t have the appetite to do so They’d rather just “kick the can down the road.” You either let commercial businesses come in your community and help pay local taxes so homeowners don’t have to sell their homes because of raising taxes Too many people are moving out of area because of 2nd highest property taxes in Florida If you keep reelecting the same politicians Good honest people are not able to afford to live in the area because of rising taxes and increasing insurance rates was arrested yesterday after allegedly pulling a gun in the drive-thru of the High Springs Hardee’s and threatening to shoot two people a High Springs Police Department officer responded to Hardee’s (19143 NW U.S where the victims said Rogers was in a vehicle at the drive-thru window when someone walked up to the window to cancel an order Rogers and his passenger got out of their vehicle and started to yell at the person who walked up to the window the two victims reportedly got out of their vehicle and confronted Rogers about the argument and Rogers allegedly spat on the face of the first victim “Try me” and then said if they did he would kill them; he allegedly reached into his vehicle pulled a firearm from under one of the seats Rogers and his passenger then got into their vehicle and drove away northbound on CR 236 A traffic stop was conducted on Rogers’s vehicle near the southbound exit of I-75 at mile marker 399 and a search of the vehicle reportedly produced a 9mm handgun under the passenger seat with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine The stories of the two victims and the witness were reportedly consistent Rogers reportedly said no gun was ever involved and the victims started the argument Rogers has been charged with battery and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon He has no local criminal history; he has a DUI conviction and two convictions for driving without a valid license in Duval County Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law That guy needs my motto: IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE SITUATION YOU’RE IN….CONTROL HOW YOU REACT TO IT why do I got a feeling your motto is actually “it’s ok she’s not my first cousin” it needs to be walled off from the rest of the state ‘If you can’t go through a drive-thru restaurant and not get triggered by someone wanting to cancel an order & spit on them If he were brown they throw the book at him bet dude is back in town pointing guns at people in 2 weeks you must not read all the reports of low bail in Ala Co pulling a gun on someone for waking up to the speaker at a fast food joint?? The seasonal Art Walk in downtown High Springs will return on Saturday with 15-20 local artists on the sidewalks from noon to 5 p.m.  The monthly event allows these artists and makers to show their talents and special sales allow visitors buying options.   The featured artist of the month is Mike DelRosal of 7 Oaks Studio He creates functional and decorative wood works and will set up shop in front of Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies.   First Friday Downtown High Springs will bring an evening of shopping dining and community fun to historic downtown High Springs on April 4 and will feature 20 local restaurants and retail businesses offering specials Shoppers will receive a door prize ticket for every $5 spent at retail stores and every $10 spent at restaurants. Tickets can be placed in designated bowls at High Springs Brewing Co., located at 18562 NW 237 St., for a chance to win one of several exciting gift baskets. Photos of the giveaways are available on the Downtown High Springs Facebook page Contact Courtney Bays at Horizon Realty (352-562-5602) or Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies (352-474-1049) for more information the High Springs City Commission approved a special exemption allowing alcohol consumption at the upcoming Hot Rodding For Heroes Car Show and decided to replace City Attorney Scott Walker with Danielle Adams at one meeting each month Honoring SFHS Winter Guard and Honor Band participants The meeting began with a video of a performance by the 18-member Santa Fe High School Winter Guard which recently won a bronze medal at a state-level competition Mayor Tristan Grunder presented the team with a certificate of recognition and thanked the students and their parents the Alachua County High School Honor Band participants were recognized Commissioner Katherine Weitz explained that the band consists of approximately 100 students from different schools ages 14 to 18.  Weitz introduced several band members sitting in the audience and a video was shown of a recent performance Grunder also presented the Honor Band with a certificate of recognition David Linch said small children are riding electric scooters at high speeds in High Springs Someone is going to get hurt or get killed and the City Commissioners and the City Manager is responsible for the safety and well-being of each person that lives in High Springs and I urge you to think about this.” Linch also mentioned High Springs’s unique historical concrete streets and he urged Commissioners not to pave over them Antoine Sheppard what can be done about children on scooters and Sheppard said education is the only real option unless the State Legislature passes some new law and they are moving at a good pace down that sidewalk and if they clipped a little kindergartener or something Suspending the alcohol consumption ordinance for an upcoming car show City Manager Jeremy Marshall introduced the next item discussing whether the alcohol consumption ordinance should temporarily be suspended for the upcoming Hot Rodding For Heroes Car Show because… they can’t take the alcohol past that sign [where the brewery property ends] but you won’t be able to go look at the cars and walk around so we suspend the ordinance for them to be able to go look at the cars and walk around Weitz asked Grunder what Chief Sheppard thought about lifting the alcohol restrictions for the event We ask that it be covered cups and that it be limited to that locality.”  Grunder said the group and the event are great for High Springs and for soldiers Weitz made a motion to approve lifting the alcohol ordinance for the event and Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth seconded the motion Designating Danielle Adams to replace Scott Walker as City Attorney at one meeting a month The next item of business was discussing whether to move to a different City Attorney within the same law firm as the current City Attorney which is who I would like to consider – I would love Danielle [Adams] and I’m concerned that you’re very busy – and I would just like to discuss a possibility of how that would happen with his experience with Congressman Yoho in D.C. but she is in Florida every month and would definitely be up to the job “I have the ability to designate (a replacement) and I think she can be here at least one meeting per month and we’ll see how that works… – maybe address that in six months again.”  That’s kind of why I’m drawn to Mr and she has that really good balance.”  let’s try [Danielle Adams at one meeting every month] for a little bit and see how that works then we’ll look at making a further change.” Responding to a concern from Bloodsworth about High Springs not getting the level of attention it deserves from Walker Walker said High Springs does have a number of problems to contend with and he wouldn’t feel comfortable placing just any member of his staff there “I feel like the question that we just keep dancing around is “I’m good with Danielle coming in for a meeting There’s nothing wrong with trying something new.”  Walker agreed to move forward with the idea and evaluate it after six months “Seven years of unresponsiveness that you mentioned is documented going with this law firm I was disappointed to see on our agenda tonight that there wasn’t an option of going with a totally different law firm I think that we have been paying for good service and we have not been receiving it… We have seen continued conflicts of interest with this law firm and my suggestion is that we consider looking at a totally different firm.” The last item was a discussion of the Priest Theatre City Manager Marshall said they received a grant deadline extension from the State because there have been some delays with the project and the Commission needed to approve extending the grant from June to December 31 Marshall clarified that all of the work paid for under the grant will be completed by the end of the year Commissioner Miller made a motion to approve the grant extension Marshall said he has been working with the County and the City likely won’t have to repay all of the $260,000 in Wild Spaces Public Places funds that were received for the Canoe Outpost as he originally feared they would be required to do Marshall said the Commission needs to develop a list of topics for the upcoming joint City-County Commission meeting Weitz made a motion to send a letter to the City of Alachua requesting affected party status for the Tomoka Hills development Is Adam’s licensed to practice in the State of Florida https://www.floridabar.org/about/section/profile/?num=1039320 yes Something seems ‘off’ on this attorney thing Why are so many little towns reluctant to change attorneys what blackmail material or backroom arrangement do these attorneys have that makes then ‘fining proof’ even when they are not doing a good job unless you’re an actual concerned citizen of High Springs We learned at the March 13th Commission meeting that Mr Walker had yet AGAIN failed our city when he erroneously signed off on documents that pertained to Bridlewood The developer had taken documents straight to Mr Walker’s door and was given the green light on items that had not actually been completed might we have someone else from his firm represent High Springs as he seems to be such a good fit for High Springs 2025 Commission Meeting we learned that Mr but he agreed that we might try Daniel Adams (who is inexperienced and doesn’t live in Florida) Walker has been called out NUMEROUS times by the Dias for being unresponsive He has also given lip service to being open to “constructive criticism.” Here again Walker is truly interested in being responsive to High Springs’s needs and requests Contracts signed that didn’t protect our interest Remember how High Springs was supposed to get all this revenue from Duke Bridlewood decisions made at its inception and still giving the developer direct access to his office even now Then there were numerous conversations where the Dias openly talked about the conflict of interests being had months went by after Commissioners asked that clear ordinances for murals be drawn up Our own Building Planning Team was the first to come up with a plan for mural ordinances a mural was painted on a building within the historic district over one weekend The painting continued even AFTER a member of the Building Planning Team directed them to stop Despite being in clear violation of the rules set by the Building Planning Team Walker interjected himself and dismissed the complaint saying that it wasn’t painted on a historic building… because the building was made from cinder blocks and steel without the input of the commissioners and board gave the mural approval despite it being located across the road from the Priest Theatre This occurred during the time span when Byron Williams and Gloria James took turns being the mayor and vice mayor for 6 out of 8 years and Ross Ambrose was also a sitting commissioner securing the 3 commissioner votes needed to keep his job Just days before the Wall Dogs Mural decision was to be voted on Walker’s firm billed our city an additional $18,000 for phone calls with Ross Ambrose This situation exemplifies a conflict of interest He provided free legal services to the Heart of High Springs at taxpayers’ expense all without public awareness or open discussion This blatant disregard for public trust remains unexplained and highlights his inability to represent the city fairly as it appears driven by his agenda and biases I firmly believe this is the one example that best represents his inability to refrain from interjecting his own agenda into the City’s functions we know he earned his Salary plus an additional 18k out of public sight Who knows what additional charges he rang up It’s of small wonder why he refuses to let go of this piggy bank Marshall first brought to light some very serious budget concerns for High Springs it was suggested that the city look at cost saving measures by looking into an RFP where the city could explore hiring a different law firm thereby saving a significant amount of money while attaining better legal representation that we should wait to make that decision until more information comes out about our budget It is my sincere hope that opening an RFP to search for a new attorney to represent our city moves forward I can tell you that the single question that was always asked when renewing any contract was The seasonal Art Walk returns to historic downtown High Springs on Saturday and will feature 15-20 local artists and makers displaying and selling their work along the sidewalks of downtown Visitors can explore the town’s eclectic restaurants and shops which will offer specials and sales throughout the event This month’s featured artist is Debra Ridgdill of Potz Pottery who will be located in front of Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies Her work is available at Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies and Unique Notions Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies will also host two featured artists inside the gallery: For more information about the event, visit Lanza Gallery & Art Supplies or follow updates from downtown High Springs merchants The High Springs City Commission spent the majority of a meeting on Thursday discussing a controversial proposal to add a community development district Around 30 area residents were in attendance as were High Springs officials but the discussion on the proposed ordinance to allow developers to create a community development district for the 688-acre development took up nearly two hours of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting A community development district functions as a small local government focused on maintaining infrastructure and community services It functions like a homeowners association (HOA) district costs are added to annual property taxes and the amount is set by community development district officials Residents of community development districts are still responsible for smaller HOA payments a High Springs resident and former community development district board member for 21 years raised concerns about the financial burden a development district would place on future homeowners “All the profit goes to the developer and all the expense to the consumer,” Buescher said vice president of LGA Engineering and the person who led the community development district proposal admitting that developers benefit from community development districts But he said the Bridlewood developer wouldn’t misuse these benefits Potts said Bridlewood wanted to give back and be involved in the community This remark drew a few groans and chuckles from the crowd Potts also vouched for community development districts citing their success in Gainesville and their potential to improve city infrastructure He said that roads in High Springs would benefit from community development district implementation through more frequent maintenance Potts emphasized how a community development district would increase property values He also said community development districts would cater to different economic classes by focusing on selling in volume rather than creating a luxury market comparing it to a mid-level car dealership “We want to show that we can achieve in this market,” Potts said Attendees repeatedly expressed disapproval of the proposal after Potts addressed the cost concerns behind a community development district by comparing it to a family buying a Mercedes rather than a Toyota a local real estate broker and business owner raised her arms in discontentment She said her past experiences with community development districts in St adding that buyers may not be aware of them and that some realtors don’t disclose them on home listings Commissioner Katherine Weitz led the opposition on the city commission questioning Potts and his lawyer extensively She also voiced concerns that a community development district could price out middle- and lower-income residents in High Springs She said she has seen people like her older brother struggle to buy homes with community development districts Weitz introduced a motion to dismiss the ordinance blocking the implementation of the CDD ordinance Vice Mayor Andrew Miller and Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth Jr Mayor Tristan Gruder and Commissioner Chad Howell were the two to vote no on the dismissal “It would cause a lot of restriction on who could move to High Springs,” Weitz said “It’s a business model that just does not fit with who we are here.” Brad and John Millett planned to set up an antique shop they’re deep into a historic remodel of a downtown High Springs building and anticipate opening a soda and sweets store “Everything has led us to this point,” Brad said “We really feel like opening an old-fashioned soda fountain wasn’t something in our plans The serendipitous journey to being soda shop entrepreneurs also led to the name: Serendipity Vintage Soda & Sweets The store will have more than just soda; it’ll be a conglomerate of sweets to create into any kind of concoction Brad and John have spoken with locals to stock the store with specialties like chocolate John said the work has expanded beyond what they first thought But the permits required for a sweet shop are identical to those of a restaurant with a commercial kitchen The commercial kitchen will allow the sweets vendors to come into the store and prepare the goods on site they’ve got seven High Springs locals lined up along with one from Gainesville and one in St and we don’t want to suit just one person’s taste,” Brad said “We want everybody that comes in here to find something from their childhood.”    Customers can grab a donut and some fudge and get ice cream for a custom sundae or pick a soda flavor to make a float.  the building started as a pharmacy located right off State Road 45 It ended as Pot of Gold before most of the building sat vacant except for an attorney’s office The building is divided into three segments and the plan is to have an antique space fill one of them and a private event venue as the third Whether birthdays or anniversaries or any event the space would be available with delicious food not far away The space will include a special entryway reminiscent of Harry Potter where a book needs to be pulled to open the hidden doorway.  John said he anticipated being able to open after a year of work They’re tackling the majority of the projects themselves and with family members John and Brad moved to High Springs in 2021 and remodeled a 1920s home in about six months They rummaged through antique stores to find furniture that fit the space and that’s where the idea of an antique store started They sold the home to buy the soda shop after convincing the owner to sell Renovations have included getting rid of ceilings added on top of the ceilings and multiple subfloors The building didn’t have electricity or plumbing when constructed and these amenities were added hodgepodge later The wiring and ductwork and pipes were all pulled out and put back in and John said they had the HVAC workers hide ductwork in the attic to stay authentic Their Facebook page shows the restoration as it progressed redoing the facade and installing the soda fountain “There’s not one part of the space that’s not going to get touched and redone in some way even where we’re standing right now,” Brad said from the back of what used to be the attorney’s office This will be arches all the way down.”  Brad and John recently held their first meeting with local vendors and still need to research glass soda bottles and other inventory the research can ramp up and opening will come around the corner Press release from the Rights of Water – ROW – Many years of good springs science have given us a lot of the information we need to restore Florida’s sick freshwater springs to health Natural science alone is not solving our springs problems so It’s time to look deeper into the human dimension of this situation—into the social science aspect of the human-water relationship–for clues about how to make needed changes What is needed now is a deep paradigm shift a transformative change to a culture that commodifies and objectifies these priceless natural treasures The American novelist Charles Frazier wrote “Whatever you believe and whatever God you pray to a place where clean water rises from the earth is in some way sacred.” This idea of “sacred springs” gives us one lens through which we can examine the relationship between people and water At this evening of “Sacred Springs Stories,” we will place Florida’s springs into a global context by exploring how people connect to sacred springs in different cultures Through personal stories of visits to sacred springs and researchers from the water defender community will open a discussion about cross-cultural relationships that raises important questions: What makes a spring “sacred” What is it like—what kinds of experiences do people have–when they visit sacred springs Are sacred springs more likely to be protected than other springs How can we deepen our own relationships with Florida’s freshwater springs A question-and-answer/discussion session will follow the presentations Tolbert and Earl will have their books for sale Representatives of the Florida’s Right to Clean & Healthy Waters effort will have petitions you may sign to help place that proposed state constitutional amendment on Florida’s 2026 ballot “Sacred Springs Stories” is co-sponsored by the Howard T Odum Florida Springs Institute/Springs Welcome Center and Rights of Water – ROW High Springs residents expressed their support to amend the city’s alcohol ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol at breweries on Sundays Residents shared their views on the subject during a hearing regarding amendments to the Unified Land Development Code and small-scale alcoholic beverage production facilities at the Alachua County Commission meeting Wednesday The code’s amendments, which will soon be heard by the Alachua County Land Development Committee to ensure consistency with the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan, are related to alcohol production and related merchandise in unincorporated Alachua County The amendments will come before the Board of County Commissioners for approval The code does not affect individual municipalities' ordinances regarding alcohol sales and production Residents of High Springs spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting to share how alcohol ordinances on Sundays affect their businesses Current alcohol laws in High Springs allow businesses receiving at least 51% of revenue from food and non-alcoholic beverage sales to serve alcohol Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m and alcoholic beverage service ends at 11 p.m Businesses receiving less than 51% of revenue from food and non-alcoholic beverage sales are allowed to serve alcohol Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m alcoholic beverages cannot be served until 6 p.m Businesses only selling alcohol are not allowed to open on Sundays Julie Smith, the owner of the Facebook group What’s Happening High Springs urged commissioners to consider the impact High Springs’ alcohol ordinance has on businesses She said the High Springs Brewing Company and the city’s local economy is missing out due to a “one-day weekend.” It also looks bad for the brewery, Smith said, when Visit Gainesville advertises High Springs Brewing Company as a tourist destination High Springs is home to many freshwater springs along the Santa Fe River Poe Springs and the popular tourist attraction tourists often visit the High Springs Brewing Company which Smith refers to as a lack of separation between religion and politics in the High Springs City Commission You can go paddle boarding on Sunday morning but you can’t stay and have a beer,” she said have seven shots of tequila and order food.” The alcohol ordinances affect more than just local businesses profits It affects efforts to sell High Springs as a visitor destination and stimulate the local economy She said she wants High Springs alcohol laws to mirror that of other municipalities in Alachua County that are allowed to open on Sundays without serving food said her business is affected by the city’s alcohol ordinance Located across from High Springs Brewing Company the pizza joint attracts many of the same customers it offers an item called “The Blind Pig,” which is a specialty pizza that is served with a token for a free beer at High Springs Brewing Company “I cannot sell High Springs Brewery beer in my restaurant,” she said She asked commissioners whether breweries would be allowed to distribute And she wondered whether the amendment to the county Unified Land Development Code supersedes city codes the municipality rules,” said Commissioner Ken Cornell In Florida, counties with a Home Rule charter, like Alachua County “Unfortunately we are not the city commission but we can certainly put whatever pressure this commission wants us to put on them I’m for economic development and ecotourism.” The issue of alcohol ordinances is on the commission’s agenda for the joint meeting with High Springs on June 5 principal planner for county development services reiterated that the amendments only affect unincorporated areas of Alachua County The Alachua Police Department (APD) detained a shooting suspect Tuesday after responding to the 13800 block of NW 148th Place and finding a man with a gunshot wound to the leg APD requested assistance from the High Springs Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office the officers got a description of the suspect and vehicle High Springs and sheriffs’ units spotted the suspect’s vehicle along US 441 in High Springs APD said in a release that the unit conducted a “high-risk” traffic stop and the suspect complied with officers while being taken into custody The traffic stop happened near the intersection of US 441 and NW 218th Terrace The suspect was taken to APD for questioning The department said a verbal dispute led to the shooting APD has released the suspect with no arrests at this time High Springs residents will vote for two commissioners on Nov currently held by Mayor Katherine Weitz and Commissioner Byran Williams.  Williams decided not to run for the seat again Weitz will face Sue Weller for seat five while Julie Tapia-Ruano and Chad Howell campaign for seat four Former Analytical Chemist and current HR Manager for a local electrician.  What elected or public service positions have you held?  I have the privilege of serving as the current Mayor of High Springs and have held Seat #5 as a City Commissioner for almost 3 years I have previously served on Band Booster boards for both middle and high school band programs.  Where can voters go to learn more about you?    They can visit my Facebook page: Katherine Weitz – High Springs City Commissioner Seat 5.  What prompted you to run for reelection?    great progress was made in increasing transparency in the budgeting process Current administration is working hard to cut costs together with identifying opportunities for increased revenue ongoing large infrastructure projects are very important to me continuing to serve the people of our beautiful community is my first priority and greatest honor.  What are the two most important issues facing the city?  Financial stability that leads to a better budget position is critical A small community that has both its own Police and Fire Departments poses unique challenges financially a focus on long term planning that mirrors the desires of the community is critical to be able to determine our own destiny.     How can the city make progress on them?   The city has already made progress in terms of financial transparency and stability A quarterly review of the budget throughout the year together with monthly reports on spending would help keep the overall financial health of the city in the foreground the commission is in the infancy stages of potential updates to our comprehensive plan and land development code to identify goals that align more closely to the wishes of the citizens of High Springs.  What principles should guide the commission in its role?  and the current governing body is very mindful of that A unity of purpose in serving the community rather than personal goals or agendas is of the utmost importance With the knowledge that each of the 5 commissioners is committed to the community we are guided in a mutually respectful manner Maintaining an open mind and heart to the needs of others is essential.     What votes from the current City Commission have you disagreed with I have been largely opposed to taking on debt on the backs of the taxpayers “There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation the other is by debt.” – John Adams I am also additionally opposed to any development that poses a threat to our Karst geology and Floridan Aquifer Visiting the springs is the #1 reason tourists come to High Springs I have had the honor of meeting so many High Springs residents the more I fall in love with our community I believe that I possess a unique skill set to serve the needs of High Springs and would be humbled and honored with the opportunity to continue with the progress that has been made since I took office in November of 2021 As a “September 12th community” High Springs deserves commissioners who will listen to their concerns and serve with an open heart.  Retired from the City of Miami after 24 years.  Currently I am a FEMA Reservist – Individual Assistance Specialist.   Most of my career has been spent in public service working for the City of Miami in Labor Relations reporting directly to the City Manager and regularly attending city commission meetings I have been very active in our local Kiwanis club for 20 years I served on several city committees prior to being elected as a High Springs City Commissioner in 2010 and 2013 During those six years I also served as Mayor for two years.  Where can voters go to learn more about you?   Voters can go to my Facebook page at Sue Weller for High Springs City Commission Seat #5.  What prompted you to run for office?  We have decisions that are being made outside of the Commission as a whole Of particular concern the Commission is not speaking with one voice Public statements outside of official commission meetings have been perceived as reflecting the entire commission’s stance when in fact they are one commissioner’s opinion.  There is a lack of transparency within our government There have been actions and data not openly shared leading to misguided decisions citizens have become increasingly distrustful of the actions of the city.  We have had a number of employees leave the city resulting in the loss of institutional knowledge which causes operational problems Without a clear understanding of past practices employees struggle to execute tasks The retention of institutional knowledge is essential for maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.  How can the city make progress on them?  In order for our commission to work as a team they need to understand that our Charter is our Constitution Our Charter needs to be strengthened to clearly define the roles of the commission Our commissioners should be required to take the Florida League of Cities training and refresher courses.  By increasing transparency our electorate will better understand why decisions are made by our commissioners and the city manager The city should provide easily understandable real-time updates on our expenses Information on grants received and the conditions of the grant should be online With this increased knowledge our citizens will be better able to hold our leaders accountable for their decisions.  To reduce the loss of institutional knowledge the city needs to create detailed manuals policies and procedures and regularly update them Cross training of employees needs to occur We need to ensure outgoing staff transfers critical knowledge to their replacements Regular training and professional development is essential to ensure our employees are up to date on best practices and technologies relevant to their roles.  A commission must be transparent in its decisions and actions Making sure their decisions are clearly explained and in the best interest of the city and its citizens.  Decisions on issues should be made on facts and reason The commission is the policy maker and needs to leave the day-to-day operations to the City Manager In making decisions the commission shouldn’t just look at the short-term impact but also consider the long-term impacts as well The commission must understand our charter our laws and regulations and operate within those laws and regulations.  the vote to limit the ability of The High Springs Brewery from being able to open on Sundays without first requesting a special permit We currently have restaurants that are allowed to serve alcohol on Sunday as long as their sale of food equals 51% The Brewery does not have a license to sell liquor.  Their license allows them to distill and sell only wine and beer The City should be able to revise the alcohol ordinance thereby allowing The Brewery to do business and yet address citizen concerns about bars being established in town that only sell alcohol with no food.  In my opinion there have been instances where one or more commissioners have voted against an issue solely for political reasons and not for the good of the city I have worked for the betterment of our city and our government for twenty years the entire time I have lived in High Springs The knowledge and experience I gained in 24 years working for the City of Miami; the multiple city committees and task forces I have served on; as well as my prior six years as a commissioner with two years as Mayor; make me uniquely qualified I believe that my broad range of experience in municipal business and my consistent respect for citizen opinions will serve the city well as I have in the past: do my homework; consider each person’s opinion; encourage our commission to work as a team; strive to reach consensus; and make decisions best for the city and our citizens without politics getting involved.  I currently work for the Alachua Police Department as a Detective Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division I have worked for APD since 2013 and have served Alachua as a patrol officer I have been a law enforcement officer for more than 15 years.  I have served on the board of the Santa Fe Babe Ruth softball league also served as a parent representative for the Santa Fe High School advisory board for two years I was appointed to and served the High Springs Parks and Recreational board I acted as the union representative for the Alachua Police Department for seven years.  Where can voters go to learn more about you?  I have an active Facebook account—Chad Howell For High Springs City Commission.  As well as an Instagram account—Commissioner Chad Howell.   I have lived in High Springs for six years and have absolutely made this my family’s home I am running because I think that High Springs has so much more potential in becoming a destination spot for visitors I have not seen an extraordinary amount of effort to embrace any of that potential Growth is coming and High Springs needs to start being proactive in making that growth responsible We need to make decisions now for tomorrow’s concerns For me one of the most important decisions facing High Springs is that of the financial concerns the city overspent in the past and now we need to make choices to right the ship I believe that there needs to be a balance between protecting the nature around us and working with our small business to help them succeed I have not understood why the city continues to make it so hard for business startup and business expansions.  I do believe the city has worked very hard recently in the effort to cut the budget and plan better I think we need to incentivize property owners entrepreneurs and investors alike to help revitalize or to assist the HEART of our city to flourish We want visitors to come into our beautiful city to experience all of the outdoor adventures that our area has to offer and then we want them to walk along main street and spend their money.  with being transparent our small town can build a closer knit community And a commissioner needs to continue to learn and work for the residents of the city.  I will finish with not causing more separation between groups of the city but trying to provide a more positive approach There have been decisions made that I have not agreed with and there have been decisions that I have agreed with What I want for this commission is when a decision has been made for the commissioners to be more forthcoming about the factors that led them to that decision Helping our citizens understand more of what is happening in High Springs Commissioners are very much allowed to disagree that is the beauty of this all—just explain better the why or why not  Many leadership roles in civic/service groups.   tapiacampaign2024@gmail.com    Tapia-Ruano 4 High Springs 2024 on Facebook  Assistant Clerk Supervisor of Elections Precinct 60 Several leadership positions at local and state level of a 130-year-old Women’s Service Organization Church volunteer in Video/Camera and Children’s Ministries  What prompted me to run for office?    The more time I spent in my service organization the more I became interested in the founding principles of our Nation I began to look at local issues and decided to join the election workers at the Precincts to learn the process and to help ensure integrity in it.  I began paying attention to oversize developments in our area and their impacts on traffic and water quality.  This led to my increased attendance at City Commission meetings where I began to voice my concerns and eventually received my appointment to the Charter Review Board It was the direct challenge of a former Commissioner who asked me “when are you going to run We need people like you.”  I passed over the opportunity at the Special Election and chose instead to pursue my current path to Commission Seat #4.  What are the two most important issues facing High Springs?  First is the impending overdevelopment of cookie-cutter neighborhoods not only in our town but in adjacent communities of Alachua and Newberry that will have undesirable effects on our critical Floridan Aquifer and downstream water supply Growth must be intentionally managed.  we must continue to promote safety at all levels and a sense of well-being are necessary for a thriving community.  How can we address these issues?      How can the city make progress on them?    the City of High Springs is in a fix and rebuild process economically Over the years there has been a build up of effects from previous decisions that some perceive to have been excess or waste There is new leadership in many areas now under the direction of a new city manager all departments are beginning to trim where they can and planning for growth with new impact fees and assessments The city will continue this path.  The city is actively pursuing clear communication with neighboring communities regarding their growth and impact The city will monitor closely all effects on its water quality and traffic concerns Letters of impact are periodically drafted by the legal team and Commissioners will attend other municipal meetings as needed Cooperation is key.  All citizens should be involved in the promotion of safety Laws and first responders must be supported Business models must be family and neighborhood friendly Hazards must be identified and fixed where possible Neighbors need to build better relationships These will build a vibrant hometown community.  What principles should guide the commission in its role?    “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union one and inseparable; established on those principles of freedom and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it and to defend it against all enemies.” William Tyler Page 1917  and federally- elected officials should represent their constituents in ways that are community-minded They should lead in ways that demonstrate vision Constituents should expect freedom to speak and to be heard on any issue by an attentive and knowledgeable panel.  The constraints of the Constitution of these United States are not to be trifled with The citizens of freedom expect their leaders to be just and upright faithfully protecting those precious liberties.  The two most recent controversial votes with all the emotionally charged input from the people and the leaders would be everything “Bridlewood” and “the Brewery.”    I am still concerned about how my tree-lined street will be decimated if they put in 2 or 3 entrances on 222nd St.  The city fought against an outdated plat map giving the owner rights to many more units While I oppose the entire mass development the city was able to get some concessions in larger lots architectural diversity and landscaping.   For the “Brewery” I was opposed to them receiving same status for every Sunday per different kinds of alcohol licenses I believe that they run a great local gathering place for a good percentage of our residents and that the special use ordinance language was a good compromise between parties.  Various commentary from citizens state that this job requires great skill experience and commitment; that if we keep electing people new to the processes of governance that we would be harming the city I perceived I was seen as just a homemaker without any substantive qualifications for the job.   The following is a partial response to that Facebook post: “No shortage of commitment here I left a wonderful position in construction (plumbing) to devote myself full time to the business of our city I have worked for the Supervisor of Elections I have served in community leadership roles since my days at the UF College of Journalism I have navigated the public school system for 5 successful children I have been appointed to the City Charter Review Board and it is something I hope to build on in the very near future.”  High Springs selected incumbent Katherine Weitz and newcomer Chad Howell for terms on the City Commission.  Wietz won with 57.8% of the vote compared to challenger and former city commissioner Sue Weller Weitz had 2,196 votes compared with Weller’s 1,388 votes “Thank you High Springs for your trust and support,” Weitz said on Facebook “I am humbled and honored and look very much forward to continuing to serve this beautiful community.”  this spring in a special election for a vacated commission seat The second time was the charm as Howell garnered 63.6% of the vote against Julie Tapia-Ruano Howell had 2,430 ballots in his favor compared with 1,388 votes for Tapia-Ruano.  High Springs recorded 64.6% voter turnout.  A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle when he rode into oncoming traffic along US 441 in High Springs on Wednesday morning According to High Springs spokesperson Kevin Mangan a vehicle driving southbound on US 441 hit the bicyclist when the rider rode into oncoming traffic The male bicycle rider was transported to UF Health Shands as a trauma alert and the High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) and police were on scene Traffic was diverted onto NW 207th Terrace but the roadway was cleared by 9:10 a.m the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center received multiple 911 calls regarding a reported house fire located near NW 183rd Road and NW 238th Street in High Springs responding police officers arrived at the scene and observed substantial black smoke coming from the residence crews received reports indicating that a person and a dog were trapped within the structure firefighters aggressively attempted to contain the fire to the right side of the home firefighters discovered a deceased female victim near the origin of the fire High Springs officials would like to thank Alachua County Fire Rescue and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their support during this tragic fire.   in collaboration with the High Springs Police Department The circumstances surrounding the death are also under investigation The deceased has not yet been positively identified.  God bless the firefighters for their hard work I hope they find a safe home for the pup High Springs will lose 20 years of experience as Commissioner Byran Williams steps away from the dais after deciding not to run for reelection the new slate of five commissioners fails to reach his number of years on the dais as Mayor Katherine Weitz will become the “old hand” heading into her second three-year term Voters first picked Williams in 2004.  and he’s been very passionate for a long time,” Weitz said of Williams “We’re going to feel that loss big time.”  She said High Springs is better for the decades that Williams has given the city in service.  Weitz won reelection on Tuesday against Sue Weller Weitz earned 2,196 votes compared with Weller’s 1,388 votes.  Chad Howell won the bid to claim Williams’ vacated seat High Springs residents overwhelmingly passed a series of three changes to the city’s charter The items mostly dealt with a routine updating of the language All three passed with just over 70% of the vote.  Howell ran in a March 2023 special election for a vacated commission seat losing by 64 votes to now-seated Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth That spring campaign was the first time Howell had tried to gain support from people in a political way To find that support eight months later was encouraging trust me to make a difference and get in there and try to fix what’s been wrong in the past “I’m excited and encouraged to work for the city.”  Along with Howell just starting his first term and Weitz entering year four Bloodsworth has been on the commission for eight months Commissioner Andrew Miller for a year and Vice Mayor Tristan Grunder has served two years High Springs also hired a new city manager this year. City Manager Jeremy Marshall was selected in March and stepped into the office shortly after Weitz said he’s had to make tough decisions from the start to get the city’s budget on track The city has also added a new fire chief and head of public works this year Weitz said city staff and the commission are ready to move forward and she said the cohesiveness of the group is heartening The city’s approach has also changed from the past “We’re doing business a little bit differently and we’re going to talk about them and we’re going to make sure we don’t do it again.”    Weitz commented on how engaged voters were during the campaign and said she hopes that continues as the city leaves election season and starts into normal business She said the voters couldn’t have really gone wrong with the candidate options in both races Weitz said she hopes Weller and Topia-Ruana stay engaged and active in city issues to help High Springs having a plugged-in voter base is an amazing gift,” Weitz said She said local issues surrounding urban sprawl and protecting the Floridian Aquifer likely influenced the turnout High Springs has started dealing with increasing development and high-density development—namely the Bridlewood proposal to build more than 2,000 units on 686 acres south of downtown Weitz said High Springs has to be careful about how it develops The city’s wastewater expansion project has seen large sinkholes opening on the property High density development increases sinkhole possibilities upping the potential of harm to the aquifer and springs “That’s something that’s really showing up on people’s radar,” Weitz said very careful in terms of how we develop to protect the springs Because if we don’t have springs in High Springs She said new developments are also a change in lifestyle from what High Springs has been historically She said the developer’s idea of luxury differs from most residents who live on acre-sized lots or more—with lots smaller than a quarter of an acre being rare.  Howell also said responsible growth is an issue that needs to be addressed He noted that Bridlewood has the potential to double the city’s population in the coming decade or two “This large population thing over the next 10 or 15 years is going to be rough for the city and what I’m hoping is we can make some big adjustments for the future before all of it happens Concerning development and protecting springs Howell said the commission needs to increase its education on how similar cities are dealing or have dealt with the issues Both commissioners said the city will likely need to update its land development code balance citizens’ right to develop their property with what’s good for the community she said those two sides aren’t in balance.  Howell also touched on growing tourism and business He said the city needs to invest in the downtown area making it a place people want to visit and spend their money for a few days.  He said that desire dovetails with adding businesses to the city New businesses that hire 20 to 30 people and keep jobs local instead of driving into Gainesville he said new businesses will spur better businesses “There’s going to be some competition and it encourages those people to continue to have ideas and grow more,” Howell said.  Howell and Weitz will be sworn into office next week at the Nov was arrested yesterday and charged with rape and three counts each of digital voyeurism and dissemination of voyeuristic videos after allegedly raping a woman he had previously dated and sharing videos of the victim The victim reported the February 1 incident to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on February 4 and a deputy interviewed her on February 6; she also went to the hospital to perform a sexual assault examination on February 2 She said she and Dixon were not romantically involved at the time of the incident and he went back to her apartment with her Dixon reportedly asked the victim if he could come over to watch television; she asked him if he was sober Dixon and the victim reportedly watched TV and smoked marijuana and the victim said she started to fall asleep and did not remember much of what happened after that but said she never consented to having sex or having a video made Dixon allegedly sent the victim three videos via Snapchat that showed him having sexual intercourse with her The deputy reported that the victim showed him text messages in which Dixon apologized and said “I just wanted to see you” and that he “couldn’t think straight.” the deputy interviewed Dixon at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Dixon reportedly declined to answer questions he signed a form waiving his Miranda rights and spoke to the deputy Dixon reportedly said he did not remember much about what happened on the night of the incident and initially said the victim had asked him to come back over after he left the first time but he later said he had been the one who had offered to come over “if she wanted him to.” He reportedly admitted that he had lied to her about being sober and admitted that he had initiated sexual intercourse with her and then he asked to speak with an attorney Dixon has been charged with sexual battery of a victim over the age of 18 three counts of digital voyeurism by a person 19 years or older and three counts of disseminating videos that were created in a voyeuristic manner and Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion by the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial The texting and videos have only helped to convict him and earn him placement on the sex offender registry It is incredible how many disgusting criminals also are in our country Not you victim blaming – thats as disgusting as this article Staff report from Florida Highway Patrol release – A 67-year-old High Springs man was killed last night while crossing U.S a sedan driven by a 33-year-old Lake City woman was traveling southbound on U.S Hwy 441 near NW 203rd Avenue when it hit a bicycle that was crossing the highway The 67-year-old bicyclist was transported to a hospital According to the release from the Florida Highway Patrol the High Springs City Commission heard from a resident concerned about the County interfering in High Springs’ local governance accepted a bid to replace the HVAC at the fire station and approved site plans for expanding Whitfield Window & Door and construction of a new McDonald’s and Vice Mayor Andrew Miller acted as Mayor Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth gave the invocation Since there were no presentations or unfinished business items on the agenda Former High Springs City Commissioner Linda Jones said “I’m here tonight to talk about an article that I saw in the Alachua Chronicle a couple weeks ago regarding the Board of County Commissioners meeting… There was an ordinance that was being considered for… unincorporated…  residents… My comments to this meeting were: ‘Thank you for your support of the home rule.’ [County] Commissioner Cornell said he heard their concerns [the County Commission is] not… the City Commission but they can certainly put whatever pressure the [County] Commission wants to put on He suggested putting (it) on the agenda for the upcoming County/City joint meeting ‘What kind of pressure?’ – that was my question.”  “[County Commissioner Marihelen] Wheeler… suggested that these are the new leaders of High Springs and encouraged them to speak We elected the current Commission that unanimously agreed for a three-year contract for our City Manager The new leaders are familiar to our Commission and City Manager Some of the speakers do not even live in High Springs What she was referring to were the speakers there – they are the ‘new leaders of High Springs’ -which blows my mind which lacks any verification of credibility and it is within our government’s jurisdiction to manage it Claims about tourism-related revenue lack substantive merit Perhaps it would have been wiser to exclude our local brewery from the conversation Promoting a drink-and-drive tour feels misaligned at best This is a highly controversial issue for the City of High Springs and should be only addressed by the residents The last motion made by now-Mayor Grunder to put (it) on the ballot died due to the lack of a second The brewery understood when it was built that it would not be open on Sundays There are no businesses open on Sundays except for restaurants if they included High Springs before the brewery there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue I don’t think that’s going to be an issue Religion is not the only reason for opposition to Sunday opening It was stated during the BOCC meeting that the brewery has been put on the June 5 I hope that everyone can attend who has issues with this problem Highway 441 being dangerous near Winn-Dixie “We all feel that that stretch of 441 has become increasingly problematic I almost got t-boned a couple weeks ago just traveling down the road and the City Manager and I have spoken about trying to maybe get a workshop together with DOT And why we don’t have a school zone out there is an answer I’d like.” The first item of new business was accepting a bid to replace the HVAC system at the fire station High Springs Fire Department Chief Joseph Peters said and we’d like to award this project to Crystal Air… They were very thorough when they came in and did their pre-construction or pre-bid walkthrough were very thorough with what they did as far as making sure that everything was proper and in place to a point where we actually had to stop the initial bid have the mechanical engineer redo the plans because there were some issues that would have caused us to have some kind of change orders or anything like that during the initial project if we would have went through with the first set of plans that were given and really did their homework when it came to placing the bid we would like to go with Crystal Air for this project.”   “They are offering a lot more (than the other bidder).” Weitz asked if the two bids were for the same-sized units Peters said the project includes replacing all the ductwork and other accessories and they are adding additional vents for inflow and outflow Weitz asked if the money is coming from ARPA funds and City Manager Jeremy Marshall confirmed that it is Weitz made a motion to accept the bid and award the job to Crystal Air and Commissioner Chad Howell seconded the motion Approval of Whitfield Window & Door expansion Planning Technician Kristy Adkins discussed a proposed site plan to expand Whitfield Window & Door She said it has already been approved by the site plan review committee and the plan board voted unanimously to approve it Adkins said staff also recommended approval Miller said the expansion should bring more jobs to High Springs Bloodsworth made a motion to approve the site plan Adkins introduced the next item – a proposed site plan for a new McDonald’s restaurant to be located at 20410 N Weitz apologized and said she had to leave in order to see her daughter perform in a band concert “We’re here tonight to request approval for a 3,859-square-foot McDonald’s with a side by-side drive-thru and 38 seats The property is zoned C3 Commercial with a Future Land Use designation of Commercial.”  McDonald said the location is just south of Tractor Supply and they are in the process of relocating some gopher tortoises found there He said they plan to build a connector road to Tractor Supply and they will be spending about $350,000 to add a left turn lane and other safety features to 441 McDonald said the restaurant will provide approximately 60 full-time and part-time jobs for the community and it will be another option for local diners residents expressed concerns including possible sound and light pollution; tractor-trailers having difficulty entering and exiting the property; and the potential to attract more homeless people since that is already a problem at Tractor Supply and the nearby fitness center Responding to a question from the audience McDonald said that if the site plan is approved construction will start around June or July and the lot will be fenced during construction He said the road construction will occur concurrently “It is a child-friendly American company that everybody knows I don’t think it’s going to take away from any other restaurant in town It’s just going to add variety.”  Howell made a motion to approve the McDonald’s site plan City may need to refund Wild Spaces funds used to purchase Canoe Outpost City Manager Marshall said $260,000 of Wild Spaces money was used to purchase the Canoe Outpost and now the County is saying they may need that money back because it wasn’t a proper use of Wild Spaces funds Marshall said they are just beginning to discuss it and may yet be able to work out a solution He noted that having to repay the $260,000 in a lump sum would hurt some of the City’s other plans STOP DESTROYING WILDLIFE HABITAT & NATURE Relocating Gopher Tortoises and Destroying Nature for a McDonalds is Pathetic McDonalds is also destroying the Amazon Rainforest for Cattle HS is going to look like Alachua soon and Alachua is going to look like Gville soon I was not aware that high springs was having a homeless vagrant crisis… why aren’t the vagrants at Grace Marketplace @ Mr Pink- more will come the bigger HS grows 🙁 Is the HP police telling the homeless vagrants to move on Pulling out of WinnDixie is already a dangerous endeavor at times Alachua is not too far to drive if people want MacDs It should be on 441 south of High Springs so twice as many people can pick up supper on the way home in the evening This will sell minimal coffee and eggamuffins in the morning to Lake City folks going to work in Alachua warehouses and Gainesville was arrested yesterday and charged with 2,023 counts of fraudulent use of a first responder’s identity and 40 other felony charges after allegedly fraudulently creating a credit card account in the name of a first responder resulting in over $347,000 in fraudulent charges The victim told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that he left his job at SEI & Company in 2019; the company was dissolved in 2023 At the time the victim worked for SEI & Company he was a sworn law enforcement officer and thus a first responder The deputy reported that an American Express Card account was opened in June 2020 with four credit cards The victim said he learned about the cards in 2023 when he started receiving numerous phone calls from American Express and then a debt collector Because the business name was on the cards the victim told the deputy he believed Wilson was involved because he’d had previous issues with Wilson using his personal information According to the Florida Division of Corporations Wilson is listed as the President and Treasurer of SEI & Company and the deputy learned that the victim’s personal identifying information was used to open the account; however the phone number and email address were reportedly associated with Wilson Documents from American Express showed that four cards were issued under the account; one to the victim and two to other individuals associated with SEI & Company Statements showed 2,023 fraudulent purchases made with the cards including 78 purchases on the card in the victim’s name The deputy reported that $347,256.12 in goods and services were purchased with the cards One of the other individuals associated with SEI & Co reportedly said Wilson gave her the card and encouraged her to use it as her primary payment method for both business and personal purchases She said she believed the card was obtained legitimately and had no idea the victim’s name was used to open the account This second victim has also filed charges against Wilson alleging that he fraudulently used her personal identifying information and forged her signature to open a business account with Sherwin Williams leading to an unpaid debt of almost $187,000 Wilson has been charged with fraudulent use of the personal identification information of another individual and fraud to obtain property valued at over $50,000 in that case The other individual associated with SEI & Co reportedly said he could not remember who gave him the card but he used it for business expenses and did not question how it was obtained The deputy reported that Wilson has a pattern of similar behavior a deferred prosecution agreement on a 2018 charge of uttering a false instrument and six lawsuits filed against him and SEI & Company for unpaid debt The deputy spoke with Wilson by phone and reported that Wilson said the American Express issue had been resolved and that the victim had agreed with the entire thing; he said he had a contract that would corroborate this he reportedly refused to answer any questions and the contract has reportedly not been produced Wilson is being charged with organized fraud and racketeering on top of 38 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and 2,023 counts of criminal use of the personal identifying information of a first responder along with charges of fraudulent use of the personal identification information of another individual and fraud to obtain property valued at over $50,000 against the second victim – a total of 2,065 felony charges Wilson has no criminal history because he successfully completed a deferred prosecution agreement in the 2018 case Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $100,000: $50,000 on the organized fraud and racketeering charges and $50,000 on the charges associated with the second victim Judge Rawls ordered that he be released on his own recognizance on the other 2,061 felony charges Too bad Rawls name isn’t on the ballot To buy enough supplies to repaint the Golden Gate Bridge around 1/2 million $ fraud gets $100,000 bond I don’t think Judge Rawls gives a s**t about the community or society in general The other option is that he is mentally challenged and ignorant Just one more good reason why I don’t live in Alachua County I don’t know how you can run up such a high American Express bill if you don’t make the monthly payment This guy has been bad news for years in the remodeling industry He was even on the executive board of the Builders Assoc Not that I’m condoning anything that’s alleged to have happened and I’m not taking this guy’s side but there are a lot more details and context in the actual publicly available police reports I believe those reports help paint a little better picture of the situation We shouldn’t rush to judgement on this because there’s clearly way more to the story than what’s being presented Seems like some questionable police work and a warrant for arrest that was hastily issued The reports don’t say that a contract didn’t exist between the parties but rather that it had not yet been produced That’s something that could change the entire course of this situation This guy would be advised by counsel to not provide the contract absent a court order to do so this should have been a case that started as a civil matter before being elevated to criminal and there’s no evidence that this course was taken Be mindful that the outstanding amount of debt on the credit card is unknown to us The reported dollar amount is just what was charged The unpaid amount could be very small as far as we know The Sherwin Williams situation is probably just bad business debt but it seems like someone is trying to take advantage of both cases and make it out to be more than it is a single case of a bad check written in 2018 doesn’t show a pattern of anything Nor does the fact that he’s been sued 6 times mean anything absent the disposition of those cases but there’s clearly more to the story and I would have liked to have seen more work done in the background before his public shaming took place Updated on February 17 to correct the spelling of a name – At their February 13 Regular Meeting the High Springs City Commission denied a request to grant a CDD for the Bridlewood development finalized the ballot language for five charter amendment questions to be on the November municipal ballot and gave staff direction to work on raising rental fees for City-owned recreational spaces and fields The meeting began with a proclamation for Black History Month.  Commissioners approved an amended budget for the current fiscal year that reflected changes such as accounting for the use of ARPA funds and the acquisition of other trucks.  Mayor Tristan Grunder introduced an ordinance that would grant a Community Development District (CDD) for the 688-acre Bridlewood planned development. This item was previously tabled at the request of the developer at the May 23 said the development will have 60 acres of open space and a maximum of 2,000 single-family and multi-family residential units there will be up to 200 senior living facility units The development will use municipal utilities “The development is planning to still move forward whether [the CDD] gets approved or does not.”  Potts discussed the pros and cons of CDDs vs Potts said using a CDD can result in a 10% to 15% savings on home construction costs because the developer is able to use tax-exempt bond financing and that lower cost will be passed on to the buyer Commissioner Katherine Weitz asked at what point in the sales process the CDD annual expense is disclosed to the prospective buyer “There has to be very large bold paragraph language in the closing documents as to the existence of the CDD that there may be assessments associated with this property so that appears on the face of every closing occurring within the community.” “Is it not required to disclose it’s a CDD from the very beginning Is it not until closing that that comes to the floor?” Potts said the builders are all aware that it is a CDD development and they inform all of their buyers.  “Do you tell them how much the fee of the CDD is in the beginning?” Potts answered it’s similar to when you’re in a neighborhood and you notice that there’s an HOA and you ask a realtor what is the HOA fee?’ That is the same process with this.” “That presumes that they understand the difference I didn’t until I really researched it let’s say my 24-year-old is looking to buy a house is my 24-year-old going to be told upfront you’ve got a mortgage payment and…  you’re going to have your property taxes you’re going to have a CDD Bond payment Would that be disclosed in the beginning?” Potts answered Weitz said her brother has been looking to buy a house in Tampa and “he cannot find a place that he can afford in Tampa because everything he’s being shown is CDDs… My concern with this kind of business model is ‘How does this business model fit in into who High Springs is now?’ not how the developer or who owns a property sees us but who we are now…  I’m afraid my kids aren’t going to be able to live in High Springs They’re not going to be able to afford to When you first came here to the first plan board meeting you were pitching that this was going to be affordable housing we want to bring you a luxury community.’ We have luxury communities here [Realtor] Miss Crews said that she was just flabbergasted that there was any pushback at all because she was trying to bring a luxury community here If you walk around Tillman Acres or High Springs Estates or Edgemore we have that here already… You’re trying to put your vision of what High Springs is going to be on the people who live here now…  It’s going to be profoundly expensive for people to buy Who’s going to be able to afford to buy People from South Florida where it’s being marketed now People from New York could afford to come down I suppose my older brother couldn’t afford it.” Weitz: “My interpretation of this is that we’re either forming a plutocracy or an oligarchy After Potts said Bridlewood will have homes for all income levels Weitz asked about language in the petition: “On page six of your petition,… the result of adopting the ordinance is the establishment of an independent local special purpose government… that’s where I reach a full stop… My interpretation of this is that we’re either forming a plutocracy or an oligarchy I understand that by Florida State Statute Chapter 190 it is legal but in my mind it’s just profoundly unconstitutional because it’s a whole ‘nother form of government… We’re forming another form of government it is an independent special purpose unit of local government… There are thousands of special purpose units of local government within the state they are not exercising general purpose government powers.”  “This development will have both a CDD and HOA “Yes,” and again explained that there will be a CDD maintenance fee The maintenance fee is variable and is adjusted annually by the CDD governing board Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth asked if the CDD will cover the whole development Bloodsworth asked if local builders will be used Potts said the plan to use to local builders but the builders can hire any subcontractors they want Addressing Weitz’s concerns about all of the fees making the homes unaffordable for many people “It’s just like if the homeowner decides to buy a Mercedes instead of a Toyota Can’t control… what they want to do with their money.” Rebecca Burns said she is a real estate broker and she sits on a few realtor boards Augustine will frequently leave CDD information out of property listings because buyers don’t want CDDs My buyers that are coming in from all over let alone a CDD… People don’t want to live like that.” Referring to the savings that will be passed on to the home buyer as Potts promised Commissioner Chad Howell said he looked at property in Tioga but didn’t want to pay the $400 monthly HOA fee but he likes the extra protection a CDD would provide for the City “I lived in a community for a very brief amount of time that had an HOA But there’s other people who absolutely love that… I do think that it’s extremely expensive for people.” Grunder said he agreed with Howell about a CDD protecting the City like an insurance policy.  Weitz asked about claims that property values are intrinsically higher in CDD neighborhoods that is one of the top five items that come up is that property values within a CDD are typically higher than subdivisions that are not.” Weitz thanked Potts and Willson for all their time “This is a great business model for the property owner I think it would cause a lot of restriction on who could afford to move to High Springs it’s a business model that just does not fit with who we are here So I would make a motion that we deny the CDD application.” Miller seconded Weitz’s motion The motion to deny the Bridlewood CDD petition passed 3-2 Commissioners unanimously approved a mutual aid agreement between the High Springs Police Department and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office they voted unanimously to rename “Pop-Up Shade Park” to “Ms Tammy’s Shade Park,” in honor of Tammy Webster Fleming who worked as a teacher at the former High Springs Child Care Center for 42 years and taught the children manners and respect in addition to academics Charter amendment questions for November municipal election City Attorney Scott Walker introduced an ordinance placing five proposed charter amendment questions on the November 4 ballot Walker’s office drafted the questions into ballot-ready form: Updating Commission Seat Information: Shall the Charter be amended to remove the names of former commissioners that previously held the seats and designate when the current term ends for each Commission seat Updating Commission Salaries: Shall the City’s Charter be updated to allow for the salary of commissioners to continue at the same rate for the subsequent fiscal year in the event the commission does not act to change or continue their salaries Updating Term Limits for the Mayor: Shall the City’s Charter be updated to limit the Mayor’s term to one year or until such time that a successor is elected and that no commissioner shall hold the position of Mayor for consecutive terms unless by a supermajority vote of the then-sitting commission Updating Notice for Special Called Meetings and Definition of Special and Emergency Meetings: Shall the City’s Charter be updated to require not less than three days’ notice for special meetings and define special meetings and emergency meetings Disallowing Single Individual from Holding the Position of City Manager and City Clerk: Shall the City’s Charter be amended to delete the provision that allows a single individual from serving as both the City Manager and the City Clerk Weitz made a motion to approve the ordinance with one modification: changing “supermajority” to “majority” in Question 3 It passed unanimously during a roll call vote.  Increasing rental fees for recreation and park facilities Ashley Mauldin of Parks & Recreation gave a presentation on the need to increase rental fees for recreation and park facilities She noted that rates haven’t been raised since 2018 and she showed the following slide which lists the current and proposed fees for the recreation rooms and buildings City Manager Jeremy Marshall said the two room spaces will be renovated before their fees are increased.  Mauldin said the total annual expense of the spaces is $25,493 current annual revenue from renting out the spaces is $14,616 and projected revenue with the increased rates is $21,924 She showed slides and discussed the fees for the outdoor fields but no real changes were proposed other than adding some additional charges such as tournament fees Mauldin showed the following slide which lists the seven City-owned buildings and spaces that are rented out to various organizations for a nominal $10/year Weitz said space rental is an unsustainable business model Marshall said the goal of the fee increases is to “close the gap,” even though money will still be lost Marshall said they can only raise the rates so much at one time Marshall explained that the organizations with the $10 leases must give up their spaces for the day or night if someone else wishes to rent the space He added that this doesn’t apply to the Poe Springs Room which is used only by the Robotics Team and is never rented out.  Bloodsworth asked about using some of the spaces for City offices Marshall said there are many possibilities but the City needs to hire a Planner because it is growing so fast Marshall: Renting spaces for $10 per year is “what’s draining us” Marshall said the real problem is the seven buildings that are rented out for $10 a year “This is what’s draining us.” Marshall said some of the buildings are deteriorating and need work.  and it’s our duty to be fiscally responsible with the way we dole out City resources… We did for a while and it looked good that’s awesome.’ I’m glad we were able to do that for so long but now we’re just not… in that position anymore… And we’re going to have to up these rates with the Civic Center and the Douglass Center.” Bloodsworth made a motion to raise the rates at the Civic Center and Douglass Center Mauldin said they would need to pass a resolution to change the rates but she only needed guidance that night on which direction they wanted to go Grunder said staff should move forward with planning to raise the rates at the four indoor spaces and the minor changes at the fields and they could have more discussions at a future meeting Marshall said he would bring back a resolution to formalize the changes “Miss Cruz said that she was just flabbergasted that there was any pushback at all because she was trying to bring a luxury community here.” She should have said “I have a chance to make a killing here with my commissions.” Kudos to the Commission for denying the CDS CDD and HOA communities are the biggest SCAM You have to be a fool to buy a home in one of those communities Thank you to the three Commissioners who said no to this shell game We do not need an alternate city within our existing one Why the other two voted for this is simply bewildering to me The residents who voted them in must pay attention to how they vote on issues If you review how this massive subdivision was first presented and how it is now being finalized THE LOCAL LIBERAL LIZARDS ON OUR TOWN COMMISSION BODY THAT NEED TO GO The last CDD the County Commission approved was -drum roll please- Celebration Pointe Over $100 MILLION of CDD and tax subsidies plus a $31 MILLION scam called a Sport Center Celebration Pointe went bankrupt 8 years after they opened owing $300 MILLION to private lenders Now I am not saying that EVERY CDD is issued by a crappy quick buck developer Look at the local track record before approving any more the poster child for “everyone in city hall being pro sprawl unchecked development.” HS stupidly put an Alachua horror on their commission Commissioners Grunder and Howell both gave the CDD a thumbs up stating that they liked the extra protection it would provide the city but neither expanded on what that protection was and Bloodsworth for thoroughly explaining why they felt the CDD was not appropriate for High Springs City residents appreciate the dedication shown to prioritizing what is best for who we are in High Springs 2000 homes impact a lot more then what people think The influx of new students to all ready packed High Springs Community School who will have to provide maintenance to our current existing roadways Look at NW 190th Ave that is falling apart from the increase in traffic from Bailey Estates Fire Service and Police Service will have to increase All these increases will have to be taxed on the entire city population I’d like to know how a CDD provides extra protection for the city Better come up with some answers Mr Grunder and Mr Howell because your comments will demand a response when you run for re-election I also find it strange that grunder didn’t like his HOA but has no reason why it’s ok for Bridlewood All the extra fees might not seem so bad while real estate values are up those fees could become a lot more significant to potential buyers I can see why current residents wouldn’t want to turn High Springs too “upscale.” It’s nice having affordable family restaurants and other local businesses Think he cares about the longtime residents of High Springs “The development is planning to still move forward whether [the CDD] gets approved or does not.” There’s your answer wondered what point Commissioner Howell was making regarding not wanting to pay $400 a month HOA fees moved from HOA development to High Springs to avoid HOA fees but voted no to deny CDD for Bridlewood Need to remember this if Mayor Grunder decides to run for re-election this November I attended that preliminary presentation of Bridlewood two years ago I was one of many residents who spoke after the presentation EVERYONE who spoke was very upset upon hearing about this development The developers plan 50’ frontages with sidewalks This was addressed in many ways including one of my questions The woman making the presentation’s response was “I have young children and they never play outside They’re always in their rooms with video games Residents spoke of the effect on the schools as they were already at capacity The response was “They will be bussed out to other schools in the county Availability of water and power was a huge concern but we were fed a word salad on those issues After listening to one person after another go to the podium and express vey legitimate concerns and questions for over an hour the 4 members of the commission who had no interest in what the voters thought voted to approve the development The only commissioner who voted against it was MsWeitz This builder and everyone who goes with her are a greedy self serving bunch and will do anything to get their way at your expense was arrested last night in High Springs after a high-speed chase that started near the Maa & Paa Liquor Store in southwest Gainesville An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that a black 2018 Mercedes pulled out of the parking lot of Maa & Paa Liquor Store (6450 SW 8th Avenue) without coming to a complete stop and the car initially stopped in the 600 block of SW 67th Terrace but then allegedly drove away westbound at a high rate of speed on SW 6th Place Another deputy in a patrol vehicle came down SW 6th Place from the other end with lights and sirens active and the Mercedes allegedly swerved into the patrol vehicle’s lane causing the deputy to fear that the Mercedes intended to hit his patrol vehicle The Mercedes allegedly fled from deputies at speeds that sometimes exceeded 125 miles per hour running several red lights and improperly passing several vehicles before crashing near the High Springs Civic Center where Armstrong was ordered to get out of the car and was arrested Click here for video of the chase and arrest. Armstrong’s license has been suspended since January 6 because he failed to pay a citation for not having proof of insurance A search of the vehicle reportedly produced about 10 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for MDMA Armstrong reportedly said he saw the deputies behind him but decided to “run” because he was “having a bad day”; he added that he swerved toward the patrol vehicle to scare the deputy and prevent him from blocking the whole roadway He said he didn’t know anything about the drugs in the vehicle Armstrong has been charged with fleeing at high speed possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell The arresting deputy noted that he also issued citations for running two red lights but a sworn complaint was filed in January for domestic battery and hindering communication with law enforcement; the charges were later dropped Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $160,000 It seems more and more people are leading cops on these high speed chases of late No regard for the cops’ lives or for the other citizens lives around them We probably need more cops to respond in the way that Rodney King was treated after his high speed chase Maybe that’s the only way people will learn That or all law enforcement needs to be able to use pit stop techniques to stop the runner The state attorney and judicial system need to take prosecuting and sentencing more serious Ahhh yes….Maa & Paas liquor store Right in the heart of one of Gainesvilles section 8 enclaves Might want to take a pass though after the sun goes down And some people want this area to be in the heart of the new conservtive utopia called Springs County Serious question to future county manage Lil Timmy How will you Republicans stop all this crime Don’t give me your standard “build a bigger jail and pay for it with our no taxes.” Answer or prove you have no clue and show the world the idea of a “Springs County” is a foolish B.S Please note that convenience store is practically across the street from the SWAG community tax-funded voter resource center totally willing to risk innocent people’s lives to run from the police Press release from America’s Best Restaurants HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – Local restaurant The Steakout At High Springs will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in mid-February 2025 a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on February 14 along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Terri Gianos about the restaurant’s special place in the community The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date Gianos’ first job was at a pizza place in her hometown of Philadelphia and although she later had a career as a hairstylist she still knew what authentic Philly food should be She decided to move to High Springs after her sister moved to the area and she found she loved the slower pace of life “I didn’t know you couldn’t get a cheesesteak down here,” Gianos says “I didn’t know people didn’t know what a real cheesesteak was.”Gianos’ sister brought Gianos’ attention to a little corner pizza shop that had been closed for a while did renovation for the better part of a year and just a few days later Gianos recalls she sold sixty cheesesteaks in two hours Steakout’s menu features an array of authentic Philly cheesesteaks Popular menu items that may be featured on the episode – besides the cheesesteaks –  include the Meat Lovers’ pizza spinach and tomatoes on an olive oil-garlic base.Gianos is looking forward to showcasing her popular and highly-rated eatery on an episode of the Roadshow “I just like bringing good food to people,” Gianos says America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Friday, February 14, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/florida/the-steakout America’s Best Restaurants was last in the High Springs area in November 2023 Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are selected based on their customer reviews, menu items, social media presence, and level of involvement with their community. They are found through customer nominations, internal vetting, or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com The Steakout At High Springs is open Tuesday through Saturday and is located at 18617 High Springs Main St Traumatic injuries can happen anytime—one second of distraction by a driver one degree of difference in the swing of an axe and one inch of miscalculation when carrying something heavy downstairs.   High Springs residents learned to step up when accidents cause traumatic bleeding at Wednesday’s STOP THE BLEED training session held by the High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) and UF Health.   uncontrolled bleeding is the highest cause of preventable death by injury The training aims to increase the possibility of survival by teaching bystanders to stem the flow until emergency services arrive.  UF Health’s pediatric trauma injury prevention and outreach coordinator said an uncontrolled bleed can cause death within three to five minutes HSFD averages five minutes to respond to a call with a response time below 8 minutes for 83% of calls this information is pushed to our laypersons because you guys are more likely to be present in these life-threatening situations than we are,” Zyngier said UF Health has held STOP THE BLEED training for several years Zyngier said the organization held 52 training sessions in 2024 She said UF Health was able to educate a large percentage of Alachua County teachers during professional development days last year.   The STOP THE BLEED training actually originated from a school tragedy, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School A group formed after the shooting to help improve victim survival The training later gained White House approval and national implementation.  participants gathered at the civic center and learned the ABC’s needed to respond to traumatic bleeding the participants took the knowledge and used it on dummy wounds.   UF Health and HSFD staff guided the work and gave advice for applying pressure to wounds packing wounds and even tourniquets if necessary Just applying pressure with absorbent material addresses 60% of uncontrolled bleeding wounds said the partnership allows the city to access UF Health’s resources while helping UF Health fulfill its mission and spread word of the events.   “They offer so many resources that we as a small agency wouldn’t necessarily be able to acquire and our relationship with them has been great,” Mangan said as a growing department and a growing city to really get out there and do these community programs.”  Besides hands-only CPR training, which HSFD will provide in early February Mangan said these trainings are new opportunities that the department has not offered before but plans to continue through the partnership Zyngier said UF Health also provides education on car seat installation pedestrian safety (including distributing bike helmets and teaching kids the rules of the road) safe sleeping habits and ATV safety.   “We kind of take our top mechanisms of injury here at UF and develop and implement free education and resources to prevent those traumatic injuries throughout our community,” Zyngier said.  UF Health has multiple STOP THE BLEED training sessions per month 6 at Gainesville Fire Rescue Administration (606 SE Depot Ave.).  You can find the full schedule here.  A 67-year-old High Springs man died Sunday night when he was struck by a sedan while crossing US Highway 441 on his bicycle According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) release a 33-year-old Lake City woman was driving her sedan south on US 441 near NW 203rd Avenue in High Springs at 8:45 p.m when she collided with the High Springs cyclist crossing US 441 Emergency responders transported the High Springs man to the hospital The Lake City woman and two passengers in the sedan — an 11-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy — were reportedly not injured I saw all of the commotion that night when I turned onto 441 from Main ST High Springs Fire Department reports one dead in Sunday morning blazeStaff reportA woman died in a fire at a home in High Springs on Sunday morning according to a news release from the High Springs Fire Department which was posted on the department's Facebook page officials received multiple 911 calls regarding a reported house fire located near Northwest 183rd Road and Northwest 238th Street in High Springs High Springs Police Department officers arrived at the scene three minutes later and "observed substantial black smoke coming from the residence." Crews also received reports that a person and a dog were inside the home Local news: 3 dead in crash involving car, motorcycle on Newberry Road west of Gainesville "which was frightened but alive." Minutes later a "deceased female victim" was found near the origin of the fire the city of High Springs thanked Alachua County Fire Rescue the Newberry and Alachua fire departments and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office for their assistance The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Alachua County Fire Marshal High Springs spokesperson Kevin Mangan said Monday The High Springs Police Department and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death A 39-year-old High Springs man died Thursday evening in a single-vehicle crash on I-75 according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol Local news: Gainesville man and his dog hit and killed while walking on Northeast Seventh Street deputies located a sedan off the roadway at Mile Marker 399 on northbound I-75 Officials believe the vehicle traveled off the roadway through the grass shoulder and then collided with an information sign and a tree has been sentenced to two years in state prison after entering a plea of nolo contendere to shooting at a man who was repossessing his daughter’s car an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call reporting that shots had been fired in the 14700 block of NW 270th Avenue The victim’s employer said that an unknown man had shot at her employee while he was attempting to repossess a car The victim told the deputy that he had spoken to Durr at the door of his residence and Durr had asked what it would take to avoid the repossession; he said Durr then went back inside to get “paperwork,” and while the victim was backing up to leave he heard a “pop.” He said he saw Durr near the front door of the residence Durr reportedly admitted knowing that his daughter was behind in payments on her car and he admitted taking his gun from his office when he realized the recovery agent was leaving with his daughter’s car Durr reportedly admitted firing a “warning shot,” then said he shot three more rounds at the tires to prevent the victim from leaving was released on bail after spending two days in jail he entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of shooting into a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; Judge David Kreider accepted the open plea on November 25 the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison Judge Kreider sentenced Durr to two concurrent sentences of two years in state prison Durr was appointed to the Alachua County Historical Commission at the February 28 but after a member of the public told the board that Durr had been arrested Commissioner Ken Cornell asked to change his vote later in the meeting and the board selected a different applicant Durr said he served in the Army and worked for the Smithsonian Institution in Human Resources don’t be mad that now YT privilege is only available to the rich and powerful and your parents never amounted to anything that would gain them access You probably wish you were born in the 40-50’s then the privilege was for all YT’s and not just the rich and powerful ones Maybe if your mother had married one of those boys from East Gilchrist county you would have gotten to enjoy YT privilege in modern day times You could have said what you had to say without all the needless and rather inane attempts to insult – At their January 9 Regular Meeting the High Springs City Commission amended the term dates for the Mayor’s Youth Council two members of the public raised concerns about the planned Bridlewood development Term dates for the Mayor’s Youth Council The meeting began with the second reading of an ordinance amending the term dates for the Mayor’s Youth Council making the dates coincide with students’ annual academic calendar “It makes more sense to adjust it for their school year instead of the City’s year and… it’s been requested by the Youth Council.” Commissioner Andrew Miller made a motion to approve the ordinance with Commissioners Katherine Weitz and Chad Howell absent throughout the meeting High Springs resident Becky Burns spoke about the planned Bridlewood development real estate broker… I believe the developer missed a crucial first step in your codes and ordinances of the City of High Springs and that would be ‘Section 1115-05 Notice.’ I believe he is out of compliance and that they have skipped that they have left names off of the mailing addresses pertinent to that notice which was supposed to occur before any of this got to this point So it needs to be remedied… I’ve gone through my neighborhood and asked my neighbors ‘Did you get a notice?’… and they have not gotten their notices “So this developer is coming up here from Naples I don’t know if you vetted him to find out what his background really is what’s going to happen to Bridlewood and just them kind of going in under the wire Katherine [Weitz] was the only one that said ‘No’ on this with the last Commission and I’m really worried about y’all voting in this CDD (Community Development District) But I don’t want to get into the definition I’m sure I could gather up and round up plenty of realtors that could give you a free seminar without having the developer and his CDD business partner up here trying to pitch you a sale The marketing on it – I believe that the real estate agent I know her mother – she is out of compliance with FREC (Florida Real Estate Commission) rules She is advertising things like she is an inspector for the infrastructure of the development So I think she’s breaking some FREC laws She has mentioned that they’re putting all native plants in the subdivision Crepe myrtle was first on her list – not native they’re just kind of throwing a lot of stuff at you nothing is really objective about what they’re doing in my opinion and he was very happy to hear from me because the developer has not gotten ahold of them about many items that this development is going to bring to our area It’s going to impact us negatively… I’m making it aware they’re just doing a sales pitch on you The CDD – please don’t vote on it unless you fully understand what you’re voting on.” Burns said the land needs to be checked for arrowheads and other artifacts and she believes it is home to many species of wildlife She also mentioned that the developer wants to put a school underneath a powerline Burns said she has even more information to share at the next Bridlewood meeting Bryan Buescher also addressed the Bridlewood CDD: “I’ve had some experience being on something that’s analogous to a CDD as a board member for 20 years… I found out [the City of High Springs is] not obligated to maintain the roads and stormwater treatment basins within that development which means there’s really no benefit to the City to approve the CDD because the roads would remain private [in a gated community] and would be maintained by HOA or similar entities… Given the lack of benefit to the City and additional financial burden on future homeowners I believe approving a CDD would be detrimental It primarily benefits the developers while increasing housing costs and reducing desirability.” “We will look into the ordinance stuff… I don’t know there’s much we can do against Bridlewood but the one thing we sure can do is make sure that they follow the rules and regulations that are put before them moving forward.”  David Linch raised concerns about not preserving the decorative historic concrete streets found in High Springs Scott Jamison urged the Commission to reconsider their decision to turn down a $1.8 million grant to install sewer services for a small number of homes Jamison cited the overriding importance of clean water and possible future consequences resulting from their refusal to accept such a large grant Because of constitutional property rights AND due to governments craving new tax revenues Stop asking for “free stuff” and it’ll stop Can you imagine going through High Springs on Friday nights and Saturday mornings All kinds of accidents on 27/41 where the development dumps in Publix in Alachua will have to build a parking garage I remember from the prior discussions that Sonny had the land pre platted years ago when he started Tillman Acres The developer the land was sold to could build WAY more homes on it than what they are if they used the original platting but there’s not a lot that can be done to stop this one HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission met Thursday including awarding a contract for a fire station HVAC replacement and discussing a potential $260,000 repayment related to the purchase of Canoe Outpost Vice Mayor Andrew Miller presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Tristan Grunder Commissioners unanimously awarded a contract for the replacement of the fire station’s HVAC system to Crystal Air and Water also submitted a proposal in response to the city’s request The commission also unanimously approved a site plan for Whitfield Window & Door which will construct a 9,500-square-foot office and warehouse facility in the High Springs Industrial Park The proposal was presented by city planning technician Kristyn Adkins Adkins also presented a site plan for a new McDonald’s restaurant to be located at 20410 N Craig McDonald appeared before the commission to summarize the project and answer questions The proposed 3,859-square-foot fast food restaurant will include a drive-thru and is expected to employ approximately 60 people McDonald outlined planned road modifications to accommodate increased traffic Residents voiced concerns over potential noise—particularly from truck traffic—and lighting McDonald responded that a substantial tree and plant buffer will be installed and that lighting will be focused inward Commissioner Katherine Weitz left the meeting before the McDonald’s presentation; the site plan was approved by a 4–0 vote City Manager Jeremy Marshall informed the commission of a possible repayment of $260,000 in Wild Spaces & Public Places funds used toward the purchase of Canoe Outpost Marshall said Alachua County had notified the city earlier in the day about the issue Marshall noted the matter was still in early negotiations and expressed hope that the city would not have to return the full amount immediately He added that he and the city’s finance director were reviewing options with the county and would provide updates as discussions continue When asked if selling the Canoe Outpost property could resolve the situation Marshall said he did not believe that was an option the city attorney stated they would review the purchase agreement and closing documents to determine what legal options may exist #     #     # was arrested yesterday and charged with driving under the influence and aggravated stalking after allegedly ramming a woman’s vehicle on East University Avenue and then following her and ramming her again at high speed when she stopped at a stop light The victim told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that she was driving home from work at about 7:37 p.m when she saw a white Kia Optima following her As she was turning east from SE 11th Street onto E the Kia drove up on her left and intentionally rammed her University Avenue and turned south onto SE 20th Street but the Kia hit her from the rear at high speed pushing her car into oncoming traffic; her car hit a light pole several 911 calls were received about a white vehicle aggressively chasing a black vehicle (the victim’s vehicle) A witness told an officer that she saw the victim’s car slowing down as she approached the red light and saw the white car hit the victim’s vehicle so hard that it pushed the car into oncoming traffic and into a light pole A second witness said he saw a man sleeping behind the wheel of the Kia in the bike lane just west of the intersection of SE 9th Street and SE 7th Avenue he saw the Kia start driving at a high rate of speed on SE 7th Avenue before crashing into the curb at the roundabout He said the Kia drove away and crashed into a black vehicle but then he lost sight of the Kia because it was traveling at a high rate of speed and reported that he was visibly intoxicated He reportedly refused to speak with officers and said he wanted his attorney Officers learned that Ramirez’s license is suspended and he is a habitual traffic offender He has previous DUI convictions from 2020 and 2022 where he allegedly refused to provide consent for a blood draw Hospital staff reportedly told an officer that Ramirez’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.358 Ramirez has been charged with aggravated battery and driving with a suspended license as a habitual traffic offender He has one felony conviction (non-violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (all traffic offenses) Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies This idiot needs to be locked up for a long time before he ends up killing someone He already has two previous convictions for DUI Maybe for someone to die first and then they might do something with this DIRTB@G Take his Kia to the junkyard and compact it so he can’t drive it anymore I wouldn’t mind if Rodriguz goes along for the ‘ride’ too A 59-year-old High Springs man died Wednesday night after colliding with a deer and then a utility pole in Alachua County Courts: Gainesville woman whose 3-year-old son shot, killed self in 2022 sentenced for manslaughter the High Springs man was driving his sedan south on State Road 45 when it collided with a deer the car went off the road and onto the grass shoulder The car continued traveling on the grass until it overturned and collided with a utility pole The driver was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene High Springs firefighters spent Monday rescuing a puppy trapped in a sinkhole and extinguishing a brush fire near the Springstead neighborhood According to a High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) release HSFD responded to a reported brush fire at 1:37 p.m in the Springstead neighborhood near NW 142nd Avenue south of High Springs along with Alachua County Fire Rescue and Newberry Fire Department and found a prescribed burn that had spread beyond control due to gusty winds The crews brought the fire under control before any homes were threatened an HSFD crew was diverted to a second call involving a puppy that had descended into a 40-foot sinkhole firefighters were able to rescue the unharmed puppy using HSFD’s new light rescue truck High Springs police apprehended a Gainesville man on Wednesday after he allegedly extended a recording device into a changing room being used by a female shopper According to a High Springs Police Department (HSPD) release with additional charges forthcoming as the investigation continues The investigation started when an adult female shopper reported at 11:40 a.m on Wednesday that she was using a changing room at Bealls Outlet (20201 N US Highway 441) when an individual in the neighboring stall extended a recording device above the partition and started filming as she undressed yelled at the offender and attempted to confront him Mills then fled the store on foot and was seen leaving the area HSPD officers initiated an investigation and were able to locate the suspect within a few hours Mills was taken into custody without incident and is in Alachua County Jail Mills is a registered sex offender with a history of similar offenses in another state “This arrest highlights the swift action and dedication of our officers in protecting the community and holding offenders accountable,” said High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard in the release “We commend the victim for their quick thinking and bravery in reporting the incident Anyone with additional information regarding this incident or similar offenses is asked to contact HSPD Detective Tracy Taylor at 386-454-1415 – At their December 12 Regular Meeting the High Springs City Commission discussed changing regulations to allow for the expansion of A Kid’s Life Academy passed an amended budget and a public camping ordinance on second readings decided not to accept a $1.8 million wastewater grant that might have put undue burdens on some residents voted to hear the Bridlewood CDD application in February and agreed on how to spend their remaining $737,294 in ARPA funds During the special presentations portion of the agenda Craig Brashier of CHW Professional Consultants gave a presentation about a request from A Kid’s Life Academy preschool to expand their facility by adding a 24’ x 36’ portable building on land that is within 300 feet of a City well that supplies municipal drinking water and the business has been in operation since 2022 The 0.68-acre property is located across U.S Brashier explained that the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code would need to be amended to allow for a special exception and then the special exception could be granted by the Commission He suggested some language for the text amendments that would “tailor” them to this specific application (such as requiring the property to be less than one acre in size) said the existing building is at capacity with 35 students and the proposed expansion would increase capacity by 22 students City Manager Jeremy Marshall said it’s the distance to the well that is a problem he does not support allowing the portable building but as a citizen and person he is not against it because the actual risk to the groundwater is probably very minimal “This is a well that serves the entire population I have a hard time making an exception for one person for something that… opens up a door to [more] people asking.” “I don’t think this is going to impact that well at all I think this becomes more of a benefit to the community instead of less of one.” He later said he received about 20 phone calls “telling me we need to go ahead and do this because people don’t want to take their kids somewhere else because of how well they’re treated.” Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth said he didn’t think it would make any difference since there is already an existing building.  he would like to see more information about the existing septic tank and what the environmental impact of that expansion would be Budget amendment and public camping ordinance Commissioners unanimously approved the amended FY 2024 budget and adopted a State-required ordinance prohibiting public camping or sleeping on any public property $1.8 million grant for sewer service expansion City Manager Jeremy Marshall introduced an agenda item that would add sewer service to 22 existing homes near CR 236 by accepting a $1.8 million grant from FDEP Marshall said the City was previously unable to accept a similar grant that would have required High Springs to match the grant dollar-for-dollar but the State has since changed its mind and is now willing to fund 100% of the project Impact fees of $2,100 each would be required for the homes to connect to the new sewer line and their monthly utility bills would increase because they would start paying for monthly wastewater service residents would have been allowed to continue using their septic tanks if they didn’t want to pay for sewer wastewater service but current regulations require that any home within 200 feet of an available sewer line must be connected He said the impact fee could be spread over three years at a cost of about $60/month Marshall said he favors the project because the wastewater should be captured and treated instead of going into septic tanks “We’re not going to get this kind of opportunity again They’re waving the $415,000 match… As a City it’s a good move.” He added that he hates “forcing it” because some people probably have new septic tanks or other reasons they don’t want to connect “We need to make a decision on this or we’re going to lose the funding.” Marshall said the State will eventually stop allowing the use of septic tanks Weitz said it’s not likely that the State would require abandoning septic tanks and not provide funding to do so “It’d be pretty hard for them to force us to do it without helping to pay for it.” Motion to accept the grant dies for lack of a second “I’ll make a motion to move forward with accepting the grant.” The motion died for lack of a second Bridlewood CDD application scheduled to be heard in February Kristyn Adkins of the Planning Department said “You guys saw the Bridlewood CDD [Community Development District application] Previously you tabled it until we had a workshop so we want to kind of iron out the details on when it’s going to come back to you Howell made a motion to “move it to February.” Commissioner Andrew Miller seconded the motion City Manager Marshall introduced the next item: “We have the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds and we are required to obligate where these funds are going to go This is how do we intend to spend the rest of these funds and we need to have this approved by the end of the month.” Marshall said Finance Director Diane Wilson spoke with all of the department heads and determined their needs based on priority Marshall showed a slide with all of the ARPA expenditures to date (see slide below) Marshall said the City has spent $1,956,980 of the original $3,094,274 that was awarded He said $250,000 has been committed for mold remediation at the fire station and another $150,000 for the City Manager Contingency Fund Marshall showed the following three slides showing the prioritized expenditures including alternate projects with lower priorities Marshall said he supports the Excavator Vacuum Trailer the most Wilson spoke at the podium and listed the changes they agreed to make to the priority list: Howell made a motion to accept the revised ARPA priority list as presented by Wilson “It’s nice to have people laughing again in here And even though we don’t always agree Could you ever imagine the corrupt bunch of Gainesville city commissioners or the Alachua county commissioners doing that Scene Calendar: 'Sing Into Spring,' art in High Springs and Grammy winner Time for ThreeStaff reportTHIS WEEK Sasser Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College Downtown High Springs ArtwalkThe seasonal Art Walk events return to historic downtown High Springs from noon to 5 p.m March 15 featuring 15 to 20 local artists and makers situated on the sidewalks of downtown Downtown High Springs also offers restaurants and shops This seasonal event is an opportunity for local artisans and artists to demonstrate and display their talents and offer their works for sale in front of storefronts throughout the downtown area Participating merchants will offer specials and sales during the event The featured artist of the month is Debra Ridgdill of Potz Pottery She will be located in front of Lanza Gallery Her work can be found at Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies and Unique Notions Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies will feature two artists inside the gallery: an artist talk with folk artist Mike Segal from 11a.m and a green lizard pottery clay demo by potter Diane Hornby from 1 to 3 p.m call Unique Notions at 318-5719 or Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies at 474-1049 Charles HoganThe Music Concert Series at Holy Trinity will present organist Dr Hogan will play an exciting program including works of Bach please join us in the Parish Hall to meet Dr Hogan and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and beverages The concert and reception are both presented free of charge and are open to the public Local news: East Gainesville native continues to grow her business selling seasoning blends The Santa Fe College Gallery is set to present “The South is not Simple — Prints by Molly Kempson” through March 21 at the Northwest Campus Kempson is an artist and educator making relief prints in and about the American South preservation and conservation to highlight the complicated history of the region through artist books letterpress posters and limited edition reduction linocut prints She has been awarded several funded residencies including the Coffey Residency in Book Arts at the University of Florida in 2016 the letterpress residency at Ashantilly Press in 2018 and the In Cahoots Residency in 2024 in Petaluma In this solo show of works from 2018 to 2025 Kempson explores the intersection of traditional block printing and typesetting techniques with the current landscape of wildlife conservation Her works also address the importance of public support for the arts as a catalyst for addressing the issues that face Floridians as we face our past The Santa Fe College Gallery is open 10 a.m Sylvia Zerbini’s 'Liberte'Equestrian trainer and performing artist Sylvia Zerbiniis bringing her production “Liberte,” back to her Liberte ́ Equestrian Theater in Williston now through April The former star and lead trainer of “Cavalia” has performed across the globe for millions of fans Zerbini’s multidimensional equestrian voyage features more than a dozen horses and world-class equestrian theatrical performers Blending awe-inspiring horsemanship with imaginative stagecraft this horse lover’s extravaganza expands the definition of equestrian performance into a theatrical experience Weekly performances will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 p.m and VIP upgraded options that include food Located at the Grande Liberté Farms at 18550 NE 81st St the Liberte ́ Equestrian Theater offers an indoor theatrical experience Tickets start at $35 and are available through SylviaZerbini.com or ordered directly on EventBrite.com Gainesville Modern Weekend 2025: MOD Talks Lecture SeriesA lecture titled “The Accidental Archivist: Preserving America’s Legacy of Modernist Houses” with George Smart is set for 6 p.m the world’s largest nonprofit educational archive dedicated to the documentation preservation and promotion of modernist residential design Smart has been one of the nation’s leaders in raising awareness to preserve the architectural movement and is one of the few people to be bestowed an Honorary AIA by the national American Institute of Architects As host of the long-running USModernist Radio Smart has led 400 episodes and interviewed more than 680 guests in architecture and design from around the world USModernist’s team of nonprofit staff and volunteers has documented more than 140 major 20th Century architects researched more than 23,000 modernist houses and scanned more than 4.3 million pages of architecture magazines going back 130 years Smart and USModernist have won 20 honors for leadership in preservation including national AIA Institute Honors for Collaborative and Professional Achievement The free presentation requires registration at ticketleap.events/tickets/gainesville-modern/mod-talks-lecture-series-2025 This year’s program will feature selections that highlight both technical skill and emotional depth Pieces include “Fanfare and Flourishes” by American composer James Curnow; “Nimrod” from “Enigma Variations” by English composer Edward Elgar; “His Honor March” by American composer Henry Fillmore These pieces not only showcase the musicians’ talent but also demonstrate the emotional impact that music can have on an audience A High Springs woman died Sunday morning in a house fire located near NW 183rd Road and NW 238th Street firefighters responded to a call that came into the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center at 9:53 a.m Police officers arrived at the scene at 9:56 a.m and found a house with black smoke emerging from the house Firefighters received reports that a person and a dog were trapped inside the structure and firefighters discovered the deceased woman near the origin of the fire the deceased woman was not positively identified With assistance from Alachua County Fire Rescue and Newberry Fire Department HSFD also received help during the incident from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Alachua Police Department the Alachua County Fire Marshall and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement