1. Editor's Notes, and Master Plan information
2. Sawgrass Fiddle Contest
3. Scheduling Software
4. Waldo Sports Complex
5. More Lit Fields!
6. Safe And Drug-Free Set Aside Grant
7. Youth Recognition Awards
8. New Art Studio, classes in Alachua
9. Comments
CALENDAR
Feb. 12 Gainesville City Hall 5:30 p.m. Request for Anti-Paving
Clarification
Feb. 12 Master Plan Public Comments 6:00 p.m. Hawthorne High School
Feb. 13 Master Plan Public Comments 6:00 p.m. Santa Fe High School
Feb. 17 Master Plan Public Comments 10:00 a.m. Eastside High School
Feb. 17 Master Plan Public Comments 2:00 p.m. Wiles Kimball Elem.
School
March 10 Sawgrass Fiddle Contest, Paines Prairie 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
(Kids and Teens)
March 17 Hawthorne Area Baseball season starts--need volunteers
481-2834
WEBSITES (send in yours! Others are at http://alachua-recreation.gru.net
)
Disc Golf Website: http://www.gdgc.net/
Neighborhood Nutrition Network (NNN) http://www.foginfo.com
Gainesville Area Creative Arts workshops start this week! http://www.afn.org/~gaca
GRASSROOTS EFFORTS: (Do you know of others?)
Cone Park (Gainesville): Tom Hawkins <thawkins@atlantic.net>
Greentree Park (Gainesville): ACTION, Dave Hill <dnbhill@digital.net>
Hawthorne: HARA, Werner P. Schuman <schuman@bellsouth.net>
Jonesville: Debbie Kennedy, and also ACGARPA, Tom , 462-4902
Waldo: Henry Drake <SagoDr@aol.com> (352)468-2298
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EDITOR'S NOTES
Welcome to the 2001 Rec Connection. The intent of the RecConnection E-letter is to unite recreation efforts and information in Alachua County. Your comments, articles, and information are vital to our success.
Several recreation-oriented grass-roots groups formed throughout the county to push for programming, facilities, or specific projects. Some groups have funding, some have people-power, but all have vision and determination, and the best interests of the community in mind.
Public hearings on the county-wide recreation master plan are as follows. Come voice your concerns, interests, etc. The process is expected to be complete in May.
6:00 p.m., Mon, Feb. 12, at Hawthorne High School - 602 W.
Lake Avenue Hawthorne
6:00 p.m., Tues, Feb. 13, at Santa Fe High School - 16331 NW
US Hwy 441, Alachua
10:00 a.m., Sat., Feb. 17, 2001 at Eastside High School - 1201
SE 45 Terrace, Gainesville
2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb. 17, 2001 at Wiles Kimball Elem. School
- 4601 SW 75th Street Gainesville
If you have not made your thoughts known and cannot attend, contact Buffington and Associates <lbuffington@buffingtonpa.com> with your thoughts.
We will request a clear determination from the Gainesville Commission on the Hogtown Trail referendum: Does it indeed prevent community center foundations, handicap or stroller access to tables and play equipment, and tennis courts along with paved nature trails? Was that the intent of the voters? Join us Monday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to voice your comments.
Thank you,
Alison Law alilaw@gru.net
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SAWGRASS FIDDLE CONTEST for Children and Teens
March 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Paynes Prairie.
This is a wonderful one day event that my wife and I and a few
other dedicated individuals have organized for the last three
years. It has already garnered attention in national magazines
on music events. We need sponsors!
--Jonathan Coron <Jcoron@aol.com>
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WALDO SPORTS COMPLEX
With only 1 field now to host 7 teams we are getting creative!
I'm starting efforts towards what will be a sports complex. I
feel as though I have been inspired, and so far has been my pleasure.
Since September, we have obtained all the requirements that now
place us ready for application for grants. We are the last small
city in Alachua county to have done this, and we need help!
--Henry Drake 468-2298
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TEAM SCHEDULING SOFTWARE
http://users.erols.com/slebo/baberuth6/software.htm I downloaded
scheduling software and league organizer software (all free as
long as you email him something about how and why your using it)
. So I'm going to try it out.
--Werner
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LIT FIELDS
Hawthorne received the grant and are in the process of lighting
the two front fields at the park. we will solicit another grant
for 2001 for the other two fields. I am hoping the fields will
be ready by the 2001 season. It would help our scheduling for
the lake area league of which we are a part of for baseball.
Contact Vikki Walker, Hawthorne city hall, for more. <cityofhawthorne@usa.net>
--Werner Schuman, President Hawthorne Area Recreation Association
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SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SET ASIDE GRANT
The federal Safe and Drug-Free Set Aside Grant is a two-year entitlement
grant for schools serving middle school students. The funds are
to be used to reduce student violence, reduce usage of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs, and to improve the academic skills of
the participants. The funds are distributed to middle school
sites based upon student enrollment. Allocations ranged from $4500
to $19,000 for this school year.
The middle school sites must submit a program plan and budget narrative to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools office to be approved before funds can be spent. They must establish objectives based upon their school's needs assessment.
The grant currently serves twelve middle schools and three charter schools in Alachua County. There are approximately 6700 middle school students in Alachua County of which approximately 850 are being served by this grant.
Up to twenty percent of the funds, however, may be spent on school safety equipment such as walkie-talkies and metal detectors. The majority of the middle schools use their funds for after school programs. These programs provide such activities as study skills, academic tutoring, recreational activities, character education, arts and crafts, and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug curriculum. Two middle school sites use funds for Saturday School as an alternative to out of school suspension.
More middle school students need to be served with this grant.
Lack of transportation home after school and recruiting of teachers
to work beyond the school day at a low stipend of $10.00 per hour
are the major roadblocks to serving more students.
--Sharon Spreen, Safe and Drug-Free Curriculum Coordinator for
the School Board of Alachua County
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GRANTS
Check out OJJDP(Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Adminstration)
www.samhsa.gov They fund prevention for children, often as a
way of preventing delinquency.
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SIXTH ANNUAL YOUTH RECOGNITION AWARDS
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE -ALACHUA COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE
COUNCIL
CATEGORIES FOR CONSIDERATION
Service to school: This category is designed to reward exemplary
service to schools by students.
Service to community: This category is designed to reward exemplary
service to the community by youth.
Life-saving service: This category is designed to reward life-saving
activities by youth.
Life "turn-around": This category is designed to reward
delinquent or at risk youth, who have effectively changed their
behavior and activities to the positive.
FOR MORE INFORMATION or application, PLEASE CONTACT Mary Ann
Maguire, Department of Juvenile Justice (352) 334-1582; Fax: (352)
334-6062; or Jason E. Holthus, 367-4121; Fax (352) 374-1809
The local Juvenile Justice Council will plan a recognition
event for the nominees and winners in your County in March or
April. DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2001 at 5:00 P.M.
(Alison Law has a copy of the application, too <alilaw@gru.net>
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HERON ART STUDIO
Classes are held on Tues.-Sat. during the day and on Wed. &
Thurs. evenings.
14065 148th PL. , Alachua.. (904) 462-7500
--Elayne Dubin
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COMMENTS
Remember the Library in your Recreation Planning. People often
list reading as one
of their favorite recreations, also the story hours, games, etc.
in libraries.
-- Jeanne Weismantel
How much is the city/county paying these "experts"?
The people directly involved and familiar would be better qualified
to assess and determine the recreational needs of the city/county.
People who care about the programs will bring a dimension to
the proceedings that outside "experts" can't begin to
fathom. For recreation programs to succeed it needs a heart.
And that only comes from people who have an investment in what
happens. I think the money could be better spent on recreation!!!
140K would finish our park and give us money to operate for 2
or 3 years debt free!!
-- Werner Schuman, President Hawthorne Area Recreation Association
I do not see any mention (In the Master Planning Process) of natural water-based recreation, such as canoeing, sailing, fishing, scuba diving, snorkling, tubing, jet skis, or water skiing. While these activities may be covered in part by private suppliers of equipment, they use public facilities, such as boat ramps and rest rooms, to access public waters.
In addition, unregulated use of certain public waters by power
boats and jet skis create safety hazards, pollution, and habitat
destruction and crowd out passive, non-motorized activities on
our lakes, ponds, sinkholes, rivers and springs. The County should
consider plans that would protect multiple uses, the environment,
and enhance both the recreational opportunities and the business
opportunities for local small businesses who support these activities.
--Dave Bruderly
Recreation meetings I have attended in the past lead me to
believe that there will be an aggressive campaign for the County
to fund and build a multi-million dollar centrally-located multiple
use facility. I am concerned that over-emphasis on expensive
facilities will preclude adequate consideration plans to make
more sustainable recreational uses of our natural resources while
protecting habitats.
--(I erased the name, and can't find the original--I don't know
who sent this in!)
+++
Thank you,
Alison
Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very high.
Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which
lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
+++
The intent of the RecConnection e-letter is to unite recreation efforts and information in Alachua County. Your comments, articles, and information are vital to our success. I'll gladly remove you if you request.
Websites: http://alachua-recreation.gru.net (Everything I
know about stuff in Alachua County) http://www.afn.org/~alilaw/
(Past Rec Connection E-Letters)
http://user.gru.net/alilaw (Justice? Or Recreation?)
E-letter correspondence: alilaw@gru.net