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ALACHUA COUNTY — The Alachua County Foster Grandparent Program has received renewed funding, ensuring its work of supporting children and empowering senior volunteers will continue for another year.

The program, which operates under Alachua County Community Support Services, has been connecting older adults with local children for more than five decades. Established in 1973 by the Alachua County Commission, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is supported through federal funding by AmeriCorps Seniors with matching contributions from the county. Since its founding, hundreds of senior volunteers have mentored and encouraged thousands of children, creating lasting intergenerational bonds.

Mission and Impact

FGP is designed to serve two vital community needs: providing meaningful roles for low-income seniors while also enhancing the academic, social and emotional development of children. Volunteers typically serve in public schools, charter schools, childcare centers and after-school programs. There, they tutor students, provide encouragement and help children facing challenges that may interfere with their education or social development.

County officials say the program not only benefits children by giving them extra support but also helps senior participants remain active, engaged and connected to their community.

Call for Volunteers

With renewed funding secured, the Foster Grandparent Program is seeking new volunteers who are age 55 or older and meet income eligibility requirements. The program encourages individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children to apply, noting that the work provides both personal fulfillment and tangible benefits.

Volunteer Benefits

In addition to the satisfaction of helping children succeed, participants receive:

• A non-taxable stipend of $4 per hour for service hours.

• Supplemental medical and automobile insurance.

• Transportation or mileage reimbursement (up to 20 miles per day).

• A daily meal or meal reimbursement.

• Paid personal leave benefits.

• Recognition events honoring volunteers.

• Opportunities for socialization, skill development and community connection.

These benefits are designed to reduce financial barriers for seniors while promoting long-term involvement in the program.

Building on 50 Years of Service

Since 1973, the Foster Grandparent Program has served as a cornerstone of intergenerational support in Alachua County. Its continued success reflects strong community partnerships between local schools, childcare providers, families and county government. With new funding secured, the program will maintain its presence in classrooms and after-school settings, providing children with guidance and stability from older role models.

Organizers encourage interested residents to learn more by calling 352-264-6730 or visiting the Foster Grandparent Program’s website.

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Clear Waters Promise A Refreshing Retreat

HIGH SPRINGS – Families in search of a splash this Labor Day holiday need look no further than North Central Florida’s springs, where bubbling waters, sandy riverbanks, and the laughter of swimmers promise a cool retreat from the late-summer sun.

Poe Springs Park, Alachua County’s largest natural spring, is expected to be a top destination this weekend. Pumping about 45 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily into the Santa Fe River, the park offers a mix of swimming, shaded picnic areas, volleyball courts, and trails that make it a reliable holiday favorite.

On holiday weekends, Poe Springs comes alive with families grilling under oak-shaded pavilions, children splashing in the spring basin, and kayakers pushing off from the boat ramp to explore the river. Picnic shelters, sports fields, and a lodge available for event rentals round out the offerings, making the park popular for gatherings large and small.

While Poe Springs will draw plenty of visitors, it is only one of many spring-fed escapes in the region. Just down the road, Ginnie Springs is famous for tubing, scuba diving, and camping along the Santa Fe. Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Columbia County offers a gentler pace, where the six-mile spring run remains one of Florida’s most iconic tubing and kayaking destinations.

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, with its shaded hammocks and family-friendly swimming areas, is another local favorite. Further west, Fanning Springs and Manatee Springs State Park welcome campers and snorkelers with expansive boardwalks and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Together, these parks create a corridor of natural attractions that have long defined late-summer recreation in North Florida.

Poe Springs Park charges $6 per vehicle or $1 for walk-in and bicycle visitors, though admission is free from October through April and waived for individuals with disabilities. Other regional springs vary in price, with most state parks charging $6 per vehicle.

Located at 28800 N.W. 182^nd Avenue in High Springs, Poe Springs Park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to sunset. County officials encourage visitors to arrive early on holiday weekends, as parking lots at the most popular springs often fill quickly.

For many families, a dip in the region’s cool, aquifer-fed springs is as much a Labor Day tradition as cookouts and backyard games. This year promises no exception, with North Central Florida’s network of springs once again beckoning as a refreshing and affordable way to celebrate summer’s final holiday.

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ALACHUA ‒ Crews used a towering crane last week to hoist massive steel beams into place at Theatre Park, marking one of the most significant steps yet in the park’s ongoing transformation. The large steel structure, which now spans the entire width of the park, has been welded into position and will serve as the framework for the new stage area.

The installation signals that the long-awaited renovation of the downtown landmark is entering a visible new phase. For residents and visitors walking along Main Street, the structure is a striking sign of progress toward revitalizing one of Alachua’s most photographed gathering spaces.

Theatre Park, located at 14900 Main Street, has a storied history. Once the site of a drycleaner and later a movie house, the property was converted into an open-air park decades ago. Its historic brick walls and archways have long made it a popular backdrop for community events and casual photos.

But years of overgrowth, a failing arbor, and flooding concerns left the park in poor condition. In 2011, structural instability prompted the City of Alachua to close the park for several months while contractors reinforced the east wall, constructed new columns, and removed the upper portions of the front and side walls to reduce wind load. The emergency work, which cost more than $40,000, was paid for by the Downtown Redevelopment Trust Board, the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at the time.

In May 2024, the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board reviewed design proposals from Monarch Design Group. Concepts included new entryway façades, interior seating, brick pavers, lighting, and a stage. The board ultimately favored a black wrought-iron aesthetic, clay-fired brick accents, Florida-friendly landscaping, and a modest stage with handicap access.

By March 2025, momentum grew when the City secured a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant — one of just 25 awarded nationwide. CRA Coordinator Susan King had been applying for the grant for three years. The award provided a critical boost to the project, supplementing the CRA’s limited budget of $150,000.

Interim City Manager and Professional Engineer Rodolfo Valladares has emphasized from the outset that the project would have to address deep structural challenges first. Water intrusion, vine overgrowth, and failing infrastructure required “ground up” solutions, making a multiphase renovation unavoidable.

With the steel stage structure now in place, those solutions are taking tangible shape. The framework not only provides the backbone for live performances but also ensures the park can be used more safely and consistently for community events.

Future phases are expected to add lighting, seating, landscaping, and other amenities to make the park a more welcoming space for lunch breaks, study sessions, and cultural gatherings.

What once seemed a distant vision is steadily becoming reality. And for longtime Alachua residents, seeing the steel beams rise above the historic brick walls is proof that Theatre Park’s best days may still lie ahead. The addition of the stage will serve as a convenient and quaint location for a variety of events, including live bands.

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With just a hint of autumn in the Florida air, farms across the state are preparing to welcome visitors for a season filled with pumpkins, crop mazes, fall festivals and more.

The Florida Agritourism Association (FATA) is highlighting dozens of its member farms that will be opening their gates this fall for family-friendly activities. In addition to traditional fall favorites, many farms also offer hands-on demonstrations and tastings of locally grown products, blending fun with education.

“Supporting a family farm that hosts agritourism events helps ensure that the next generation of Floridians has access to the rural traditions that have been a vital part of the state’s economy for more than 175 years,” the association noted in its seasonal announcement.

Agritourism has grown steadily in Florida, giving visitors a chance to experience life on a working farm while offering farmers an opportunity to diversify and sustain their operations. Events range from corn mazes and pumpkin patches to livestock encounters, cooking workshops and even medieval fairs.

Among this year’s lineup are:

• Braze Ranch, Waldo (Alachua County) – crop maze and fall attractions

• The Bryer Patch, Newberry (Alachua County) – fall family fun

• Thrift Lumber and The Old Mill, Macclenny (Baker County)

• Harris Establishment Farms U-Pick, Palm Bay (Brevard County)

• The Platt’s Patch, Melbourne (Brevard County)

• Amazing Grace Crop Maze, Green Cove Springs (Clay County)

• Padgett Family Fest, Arcadia (Desoto County)

• Diamond D Ranch, Jacksonville (Duval County)

• Eat Your Yard Jax, Jacksonville (Duval County)

• Geiger Pioneer Farm, Jacksonville (Duval County)

• Cow Creek Farm Tours, Plant City (Hillsborough County)

• Painted Sky Farms, Vero Beach (Indian River County)

• Aunt Louise’s Farm, Monticello (Jefferson County)

• Acres of Grace Family Farms, Howey in the Hills (Lake County)

• Amber Brooke Farms, Eustis (Lake County)

• Southern Hill Farms, Clermont (Lake County)

• Santa’s Farm Fall Festival, Eustis (Lake County)

• The Hub at Feather Oaks, Tallahassee (Leon County)

• Ananda Farm Florida, Terra Ceia (Manatee County)

• Sarasota Medieval Fair, Myakka City (Manatee County)

• Cannon Farms, Dunnellon (Marion County)

• Hobe Sound Farmers Market Pumpkin Patch, Hobe Sound (Martin County)

• Conner’s A-maize-ing Acres, Hilliard (Nassau County)

• Hastings Ranch & Farm, St. Cloud (Osceola County)

• Raprager Family Farms, Odessa (Pasco County)

• Bristol Oaks Farm, East Palatka (Putnam County)

• Fruitville Grove, Sarasota (Sarasota County)

• Wesley Wells Farms, St. Augustine (St. Johns County)

• Brown & Brown Farms, Oxford (Sumter County)

• Harvest Fields Corn Maze, DeLand (Volusia County)

A complete listing of farms and events can also be found through the Florida Agritourism Association at VisitFloridaFarms.com. Visitors may also follow the association on Facebook or download its free mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

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