FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
For UNF grad, a solo flight to South America with supplies for children, memory of father [The Florida Times-Union]
In August, Lee Giat drove to South Florida to see the plane he’s calling the “Spirit of Science” for the first time.
Giat, a 22-year-old graduate of the University of North Florida, went with a documentary crew to film a crowdfunding video for his latest project an ambitious adventure that involves flying a single-engine plane from Jacksonville to South America, landing at numerous spots during a 30-day journey, delivering educational supplies and inspiration to children.
While back in South Florida, where he grew up, Giat stayed with his dad.
The Gator Nation received good news recently when Keyontae Johnsonâs parents reported that the University of Florida menâs basketball player had been upgraded to stable condition.
Johnson, 21, collapsed during UFâs game recently against Florida State University. He was unresponsive before being taken to a hospital in Tallahassee, and was later brought by helicopter to UF Health Shands hospital in Gainesville.
There were conflicting reports about his subsequent condition, with Johnsonâs grandfather telling USA TODAY Sports that he had been placed in a medically induced coma at one point. Whatever the case, Johnsonâs parents reported recently that he was speaking with family members and doctors, and was even able to FaceTime his teammates.
The North Florida Land Trust has made a deal to buy a chain of Intracoastal Waterway islands north of Jacksonville’s Butler Boulevard that had been marketed for luxury housing sites.
The nonprofit said this week that it has a year to raise $350,000 and finalize its purchase of 245 acres of inaccessible land from The Small Group LLC.
“The reality is that development of the property would be extremely challenging, and the owner ultimately felt that the property should be protected for its wildlife and recreational values,” Land Trust President Jim McCarthy said in an announcement about the deal.
No roads reach the nine islands and adjacent marshes, but they had been offered for sale for $3.9 million as luxury getaway sites with breathtaking beauty. The Small Group bought the land for $67,500 last year.
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Tammy Razmic joined Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville as chief operating officer. With more than 30 years of health care experience, Razmic most recently was COO of Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens. Before that, she was COO and CFO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
• Former Jacksonville Mayor and University of North Florida President
John Delaney rejoined the Timucuan Parks Foundation board of directors. In 1999, Delaney created the Preservation Project Jacksonville, known now as the Timucuan Parks Foundation. It supports, protects and promotes the network of preserves and the partnership between the city of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks and the National Park Service. Delaney is a shareholder in the Rogers Towers law firm’s Governmental and Regulatory Law Department and a principal in The Fiorentino Group. Delaney was on the PPJ board from 1999-2003 and served a year on the board in 2005 when it was Preservation North Florida.
2020 was a year unlike any other, especially for Alachua County Public Schools.
A global pandemic upended schools, parents became teachers and living rooms and dining rooms became the new classroom, along with many other changes.
Here’s a look back at some of the school system s noteworthy events in 2020:
Schools grapple with COVID-19
Students, teachers and school officials alike have been adjusting to new norms since the coronavirus pandemic took over the U.S. earlier this year. In March, teachers and staff found themselves suddenly transitioning from brick-and-mortar classrooms to remote teaching, a shift that proved to be difficult for not only educators and students, but parents as well.