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GAINESVILLE, Fla. ‒ The Rotary Club has announced that its 38th Annual Wild Game Feast will be held Thursday, March 2 at The Conservation Area at Hatch Creek, 4841 NE 118th Drive. The site is approximately 5.5 miles east of the Gainesville Regional Airport entrance and 2 miles east of the intersection of State Road 222/Northeast 39th Avenue and State Road 26.

The Rotary says that over the past 37 years the Wild Game Feast has become not only the largest annual fundraising event for the Gainesville area Rotary Clubs, but is also a highly anticipated and well attended event for the entire Gainesville area community.  Nearly 1,500 people attended the 2022 Rotary Wild Game Feast. During that time the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation has raised over $2.25 million for worthy local charitable organizations.  This year’s fundraiser will benefit Pace Center for Girls, Alachua; Child Advocacy Center, Inc.; and Grace Healthcare.

Tickets to the Wild Game Feast are available at https://www.rotarygainesville.org/shop/

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GAINESVILLE, FLA – As police departments across the nation struggle to fill officer vacancies, Gainesville’s Police Department continues to attract some of the best recruits from across the nation.

On Feb. 17, 2023, in front of a capacity filled Hall of Heroes, Chief Lonnie Scott administered the Oath of Office to 12 new officers. “We just don’t want to be in the game, we want to be the best” explained Chief Scott, “That’s why we hire the best. Once you take that Oath of Office, you have officially joined the Gainesville Police Department, and you’re officially a Gainesville hero.”

In addition to friends and family, the officers were welcomed by GPD’s command staff as well as their new colleagues. Also joining the ceremony were Mayor Harvey Ward, City Manager Cynthia Curry, and City Commissioner Reina Saco. The ceremony concluded with the family members pinning the new officers with their Gainesville Police Department badges.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) – From building homes on City-owned lots to preventing more than 40 rental evictions, the City of Gainesville’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) shared its most recent report with Gainesville City Commissioners at today’s meeting.
 
The quarterly report is a way for HCD staff to show Commissioners and neighbors the work happening citywide to improve the quality and availability of affordable housing in Gainesville. The department is responsible for administering grants, implementing programs, planning workshops and reaching out to neighbors.
 
During the past few months, HCD has come up with creative new ways to get families into places they can afford. One of these initiatives will help build five new single-family homes alongside up to ten new accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on City-owned property. The ADUs, also known as in-law or mother-in-law units, are separate, smaller structures close by or attached to the main house. They provide more options for housing older family members or younger people just entering the workforce, and contribute to housing diversity in the City.
 
The City is also partnering with Bright Community Land Trust and Habitat for Humanity to build ten additional homes that will be placed into the Trust and remain permanently affordable. The $1 million in funding comes from The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
 
An additional $320,000 from ARPA is helping eligible homeowners make safety and energy improvements to their properties, while another $320,000 goes toward providing low-income buyers with down payment assistance. The $7.2 million ARPA funding for the development of new affordable rental units and single-family or multi-family homes remains the biggest single item to report.
 
City Manager Cynthia W. Curry says today’s presentation demonstrates the City’s commitment to helping neighbors with lower incomes get the support they need to buy a home, improve the one they have, or find a safe and stable rental arrangement for short or long-term housing.
 
“Our Housing and Community Development staff first put together a framework in March of 2022. The commission adopted the work plan to implement that framework last July. Today, I can say the housing footprint is tangible. Things are happening for families in need of affordable housing in Gainesville,” she said.
 
Staff also reported on the City’s Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These have gone to support the Juvenile Justice and Community Support Programs at Reichert House, a Gainesville Fire Rescue initiative to provide outreach to those in need of mental health assessments or vocational training, and the new Public Safety Academy to prepare young people for careers in law enforcement, fire rescue, or utilities.
 
For additional information, please contact City of Gainesville Public Information Officer Rossana Passaniti at 352-393-7842 or PassanitiR1@GainesvilleFL.gov.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Commission will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to discuss the proposed Newberry Meat Processing Facility. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Jack Durrance Auditorium on the second floor of the County Administration Building (12 S.E. 1st Street, Gainesville).
 
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Federal government provided Alachua County funding through the American Rescue Plan. Alachua County has budgeted $2.5 million to construct a USDA-certified meat processing facility/workforce training center.
 
The County Commission approved the preliminary work plan at their Dec. 6, 2022, Special Meeting.
 
 
View the backup items from this meeting:
 
 
For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or msexton@alachuacounty.us.

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ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. - Alachua County, the St John’s Water Management District, and the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA) are offering Florida Water Star Accredited Professional (FWS AP) training for the irrigation industry.
 
The free FWS AP training will be held at the UF/IFAS Alachua County Extension office (22712 W. Newberry Rd., Newberry) on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (lunch is provided by Site One Landscape Supply). Continuing education credits are available for Landscape Architects, FNGLA Certified Professionals, and Florida Water Star Professionals. While this training is free, participants must register online. 
 
“Landscape irrigation is one of largest water uses in Alachua County,” said Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Water Resources Program Manager Stacie Greco. “We all need to do our part to use less water every day. One of the best ways to make sure we have enough groundwater to replenish our springs and for future generations to use is to reduce landscape irrigation and to ensure that irrigation systems are designed as efficiently as possible.”
 
All new irrigation systems installed in Alachua County have to go through a County approval process, including an application fee for plan review ($100 for residential and $150 for non-residential) and an inspection fee ($150 for residential and $200 for non-residential). Irrigation professionals who are an FWS AP (this training) or hold a State voluntary Irrigation License are eligible to self-inspect irrigation projects and have the inspection fee waived. 
 
Alachua County recommends that anyone who installs or maintains irrigation systems in the county attend the training and become an FWS AP, not only to save money on the inspection fee but also to be eligible to participate in upcoming grant-funded cost-share programs for irrigation retrofits, which often require professionals to be FWS AP.
 
 
 
For more information, contact Merry Mott, FNGLA, 407-295-7994 or mmott@fngla.org.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) – When four-year-old Dylan Roberts was hit and killed by a car while crossing East University Avenue in Oct. 2021, it tore at the very heart of the community. The accident highlighted the need to expedite improvements to make the stretch of road safer. This was particularly true in the area around the City of Gainesville’s Fred Cone Park where Dylan’s family lived, and where so many traverse the corridor on foot to access the park amenities and services.
 
During the past several years, an increase in serious bicycle and pedestrian accidents like Dylan’s have spurred urgent conversations about the traffic crisis in Gainesville. Progress came today when Gainesville City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a crucial safety upgrade for East University Avenue.
 
Following today’s approval, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) can move ahead with plans to install a pedestrian-activated signal across East University Avenue between Northeast 26th Terrace and Southeast 26th Terrace. When someone pushes the button to cross the street, traffic lights will start to flash. There also will be illuminated signs with the words, “No left turn” on the side streets to prevent drivers from veering into the road while people are crossing.
 
This is a collaborative effort between FDOT and the City of Gainesville. The City will continue to own the land where the signals are installed, with maintenance provided by FDOT. Design improvements of this sort typically take up to five years to complete, but Dylan’s story made clear the need for timely safety measures at this location. The work should begin in mid-March and finish by the end of July.
 
“The decision by the City of Gainesville to provide a permanent easement to the FDOT highlights the commitment and seriousness safe roadways are to the community,” said FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans. “Working in partnership with the City, the University of Florida and engaged community leaders, FDOT is striving for safety and reliable transportation systems for all roadway users,” he said.
 
Gainesville City Commissioners will continue to focus on citywide traffic safety. Meanwhile, Gainesville Police Department Patrol Support Captain Anthony M. Ferrara says the newly designed, high-visibility crosswalk, replete with amber caution lights, still relies on driver awareness to make it work. 
 
“Florida traffic laws say drivers have to yield to users at these crosswalks. We expect them to do so. But if you’re the one crossing, GPD wants you to always watch for inattentive, uneducated or distracted drivers who could potentially violate a pedestrian’s or cyclist’s right-of-way. Our goal is to combine awareness and caution so no further tragedies befall our neighbors,” Ferrara said.
 
Gainesville City Commission meetings begin at 10 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month. They are broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 12, livestreamed on the City’s website and archived online.
 
For additional information, please contact City of Gainesville Public Information Officer Rossana Passaniti at 352-393-7842 or PassanitiR1@GainesvilleFL.gov.

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ARCHER - On Feb. 4, 2023, a State of Florida Historic Marker was unveiled at Archer’s Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery (BMEC). The historical African American cemetery, located at 14309 S.W. 175th Terrace in Archer, dates back to the early 1800s and is the final resting place of 125 people.

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  3. Alachua County to Receive $10M in Broadband Grants, Awards to Archer, Micanopy, Newberry and Gainesville
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  5. Frozen Foot Race Lives Up to Name as Runners Face Cold Temps
  6. Dance Alive National Ballet Brings Swan Lake to The Stage
  7. Newberry and Gainesville Men Arrested for Mail Theft
  8. Barbecue And Bacon Festival Draws Large Crowds
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  10. Teen Brings Loaded Gun to School
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