Election Results

GAINESVILLE - The Buchholz High School Band, under the direction of conductor Noah Graben, has earned two prestigious invitations to perform this school year, including one performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Buchholz Wind Symphony was the high school band selected to perform at the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) President’s Concert January 14th, 2026 in the Tampa Bay Convention Center. The Buchholz Wind Symphony will also perform in New York City’s Carnegie Hall as part of the National Band and Orchestra Festival April 3rd, 2026.

The FMEA Professional Learning Conference is one of the largest music education professional learning events in the United States. In addition to approximately 250 clinical sessions, the FMEA hosts the Florida All-State Ensembles featuring the state’s top elementary, middle, and high school musicians. The annual conference is attended by more than 10,000 people, including K-12 music teachers, school district music supervisors, college students, college music teachers and professors, and school administrators. The FMEA President’s Concert features one choir, one orchestra, and one band from the state of Florida. These ensembles represent the finest music programs in Florida. The Buchholz Wind Symphony was selected based on a blind recorded audition to be FMEA’s chosen band for the 2025-26 annual convention.

Carnegie Hall, in Manhattan, New York City, is often considered one of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. The National Band and Orchestra Festival encourages high school bands and orchestras to submit recordings and apply for a spot in the annual spring festival. Selected ensembles earn the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and work with some of the top conductors in the nation.

“These are outstanding achievements for a community that goes above and beyond,” said Noah Graben, who has led the band program at Buchholz High School since 2020. “The Buchholz Band Program has a long-standing history of high achievement and national recognition. The students, staff, and community have continued to uphold a high standard of excellence. These students have earned the opportunity to perform on some of the biggest stages possible,”

The Buchholz Band is currently engaging in fundraising to assist with the cost of travel. Community members and supporters are encouraged to get involved. For more information about supporting the Buchholz Band, please visit buchholzband.com or contact grabennc@alachuaschools.net

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Athletes and volunteers celebrate at Legacy Park in Alachua during the Northeast Regional Special Olympics, where teams from across the region competed in softball, flag football, deadlifting, and pickleball. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – The spirit of inclusion and community came alive at Legacy Park this past weekend, as the City of Alachua hosted the Northeast Regional Special Olympics, drawing athletes, families, and supporters from across the region.

The event was a powerful display of teamwork, made possible through a partnership between the City of Alachua’s Recreation & Culture Department, the Alachua Police Department, High Springs Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department. Together, they delivered one of the most uplifting and well-attended Special Olympics gatherings in the area’s history.

Throughout the day, athletes competed in softball, flag football, deadlifting, and pickleball, each contest filled with determination, encouragement, and joy. Viewing areas were packed with cheering families and volunteers, creating an electric atmosphere that celebrated every participant’s courage and hard work. The event was not defined by medals or scores but by moments of perseverance and shared pride.

Behind the scenes, dozens of volunteers and city staff worked tirelessly to coordinate logistics, manage events, and ensure that athletes and families felt welcomed and supported. Their dedication underscored the city’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and community-building through recreation.

Legacy Park, a centerpiece of Alachua’s recreational life, provided an ideal backdrop for the games, with its accessible facilities and open layout giving participants the space and visibility they deserved. For many families, the day represented more than competition—it was a celebration of human spirit and connection.

Organizers noted that the success of this year’s Northeast Regional Special Olympics has set a new benchmark for future events in Alachua. Dates for the 2026 and 2027 competitions will be announced in the coming months, with the community already expressing enthusiasm for continuing the tradition.

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Snow White Theme Adds Fairy-Tale Flair to Annual Alachua Event

ALACHUA ‒ Downtown Alachua has once again come alive with a colorful cast of characters as Scarecrow Row returns to Main Street, marking two decades of fall fun, community spirit and small-town creativity.

For the past 20 years, the Alachua Chamber of Commerce has transformed the city’s historic Main Street into a festive corridor filled with handmade scarecrows that capture the whimsy and warmth of the season. From spooky to silly to storybook-themed, each creation reflects the imagination of local businesses, organizations and volunteers who decorate the light poles that line the heart of downtown.

This year’s theme — “Snow White” — brings a fairy-tale twist to the annual “Spooktacular Night.” Seven dwarfs, wicked queens, enchanted mirrors and apple-bearing scarecrows are among the sights greeting visitors and shoppers as they stroll through the downtown district. Each display is entered into a friendly competition, with three winners to be selected for creativity and presentation.

What began as a small local promotion has become one of Alachua’s most beloved seasonal traditions. Every October, community members gather along Main Street and in the Alachua Town Centre area to craft, decorate and admire the growing lineup of scarecrow displays. Early in the month, groups of families, employees and volunteers can often be seen assembling their creations, fastening hats, fluffing straw and fine-tuning costumes before the judging begins.

The event is part of a larger effort by the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate downtown businesses and strengthen community ties. Chamber officials say Scarecrow Row not only brings fun and foot traffic to the area, but also supports future events and programs through sponsorships.

Funds raised from Scarecrow Row help support community favorites such as Trick-or-Treat on Main Street and the annual Christmas Parade, both free public events that draw crowds from across the region. These efforts, Chamber representatives said, help promote local commerce while offering families accessible, hometown celebrations.

The scarecrows lining Main Street range from the eerie to the adorable, reflecting the diversity and humor of the Alachua community. Some display homespun charm with straw hats, denim overalls and flannel shirts, while others go all out with intricate costumes and haunting details. The only limit, organizers say, is the imagination of those who make them.

As Halloween approaches, the scarecrows remain on display throughout October, attracting visitors and photographers alike. Downtown businesses often use the occasion to decorate storefronts, host fall promotions and encourage visitors to linger and shop local.

Scarecrow Row also serves as a precursor to one of Alachua’s biggest family celebrations — the annual Trick-or-Treat on Main Street, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. The downtown streets will be closed to traffic as more than 1,000 costumed children fill the sidewalks, collecting candy from local businesses and community groups. The evening transforms Main Street into a lively, family-friendly festival of lights, laughter and Halloween spirit, bringing the community together for what has become one of the Chamber’s most anticipated events of the year.

For Alachua, Scarecrow Row has become more than a seasonal decoration contest. It’s a celebration of community, creativity and the welcoming spirit of a small town that loves its traditions and sets the stage for Trick-Or-Treat on Main Street. As the light poles of Main Street and Alachua Town Centre don their festive figures once again, the event continues to weave together local business, artistry and the magic of fall.

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Photo by Mark Ebey / Special to Alachua County Today

~ The following is a press release provided by the Alzheimer's Association. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~

GAINESVILLE, Fla., October 14, 2025  –  Nearly 1,000 Gainesville-area residents gathered Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising funds and awareness for a disease that affects more than 12% of Floridians age 65 and older.

Participants walked through the church grounds carrying colorful flowers that symbolized their personal connection to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Blue flowers represented those living with the disease, yellow honored caregivers, purple remembered loved ones lost, and orange showed support for a future without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Gainesville resident Allie Jaffe carried a yellow flower in honor of her mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s. The diagnosis, she said, came as a shock to the family.

“This was devastating to me as my mom has always been the pillar of strength in our family,” Jaffe said. “She is still my mom, but not the mom from years past. I can still make her laugh, and that’s a good day.”

More than 7 million Americans are currently estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Florida has the second-highest number of residents living with the disease, making local support and fundraising efforts vital.

Walk Chair Christina Ebey said she walks in honor of many loved ones impacted by Alzheimer’s, including her grandmother and aunt, and the recent advances in treatment.

“I walk because every step brings us closer to hope, awareness and a cure,” Ebey said.

Continued funding for research has led to new FDA-approved treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. For the first time, families have hope for more time with their loved ones. However, these treatments are available only in the early stages of the disease, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis.

"This Walk is so important because it brings our community together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on families every day,” said Ritchie Pickron, development manager for Walk to End Alzheimer's Gainesville. “By participating in this event, we’re not only funding critical research and treatments, but also helping people recognize the warning signs and understand where to turn for help. Awareness is the first step toward earlier diagnosis, better support, and ultimately, a cure.”

The event was nationally presented by Edward Jones. To date, participants have raised more than $113,000 to benefit care, support, research, advocacy and awareness initiatives through the Alzheimer’s Association Central and North Florida Chapter.

Donations are being accepted through Dec. 31 at alz.org/GainesvilleWalk. 

Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s. 

Alzheimer's Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.