A sea of pumpkins awaits at the Alachua Methodist Church’s 24th Annual Pumpkin Patch, offering a colorful selection of gourds and family-friendly activities throughout October. Visitors can explore unique varieties and enjoy photo ops, all while supporting the church’s mission work.

ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua Methodist Church’s beloved Pumpkin Patch is back for its 24^th year, marking the arrival of fall with a colorful array of pumpkins, gourds, and family-friendly activities. Located along U.S. Highway 441 on the west side of Alachua, the event has become a local tradition, drawing families who come to pick out the perfect pumpkin, capture memorable photos, and support the church’s mission work.

The church’s pumpkin patch is more than just a place to buy pumpkins; it’s a community gathering spot that delights visitors of all ages. This year’s harvest includes a variety of pumpkins and gourds in all shapes, sizes, and colors, offering something for everyone. In past years, the lineup has included not only the classic orange pumpkins but also unique varieties such as Swan Gourds, Gizmo Gourds, Winged Gourds, and Elf Houses. For those seeking a more unconventional look, be sure to check out pumpkins in shades of white, green, black, yellow, and even peach.

Each pumpkin is artfully arranged in displays that invite visitors to snap a photo or two, and the church has set up three dedicated photo spots, including one featuring a vintage tractor that has become a favorite backdrop for fall family portraits. Many families return year after year, using the photo area to document their growth and create cherished memories.

For younger visitors, the Pumpkin Patch offers open-air activity areas that cater to children’s enjoyment, making it a perfect weekend outing for families. Tractor rides and story times are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. New this year is the Clatter Corral, an assortment of hanging cooking and baking pots and pans, which has already been reported as one of children’s favorites where they are encouraged to make noise. Youngsters won’t want to miss the Kids Corral where they can play Frisbee golf, corn hole and pumpkin bowling.

Beyond the fun and festivity, the Pumpkin Patch serves a greater purpose. All proceeds from pumpkin sales go toward funding the Alachua Methodist Church’s mission work, supporting outreach efforts both locally and beyond. The event is a true community effort, with church members coming together to unload thousands of pumpkins, create eye-catching displays, and work shifts throughout October.

The scale of the event is impressive, with around 20,000 pumpkins sold each year, along with homemade pumpkin bread that has become a sought-after treat for visitors. Organizing the patch is a team effort, involving church volunteers of all ages who pitch in to ensure the patch runs smoothly.

Located at 15710 N.W. U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua, the Pumpkin Patch runs throughout the month of October. Pumpkin Patch Hours are Monday – Friday: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

With its festive displays and family-centered atmosphere, it’s a perfect destination to embrace the season and support a worthy cause. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect pumpkin or just looking to enjoy a bit of fall fun, the Alachua Methodist Church’s Pumpkin Patch is ready to welcome you.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When Albina Guri evacuated from St. Petersburg with her husband ahead of Hurricane Milton, her neighborhood back home was filled with discarded,  curbside debris including furniture, carpets and artwork that had been pulled from homes damaged in last month’s Hurricane Helene.

Guri, a pulmonary physician from Largo, Florida, headed with her husband to Jacksonville as the latest hurricane lumbered toward the state’s Gulf Coast. She had remained in Pinellas County for the last storm, losing two cars to flooding from its storm surge. She wasn’t taking any chances with this one.

“I think that Milton is a whole different beast, and I hope that people are taking it seriously and getting out,” Guri said in a phone interview.

Her evacuation to Jacksonville – a drive that normally would take less than four hours – took eight hours due to heavy traffic during one of Florida’s largest evacuations in a generation.

Hurricane Milton was expected to come ashore with winds up to 125 miles per hour and a huge storm surge, enough to pick up even heavy pieces of furniture and send them flying into buildings or vehicles or washing junk down roads and possibly interfering with drainage.

“We know that wind speeds do increase when wind is funneled between buildings,” said Corene Matyas, a University of Florida researcher specializing in climatology and meteorology. “The water can also pick up the debris and spread it and now it might be in piles on the curb, but the water is going to take it and just spread it everywhere.”

All along Florida’s Gulf Coast, governments were rushing to remove the debris from the last storm before Hurricane Milton’s strong winds could blow it away or its storm surges could wash it away. The pace of the cleanup was agonizingly slow, and time was running out.

“Most times after a storm, you don’t have another storm on the back end,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news briefing Tuesday. “These things tend to take months and months to do.”

DeSantis sent more than 300 state dump trucks and other vehicles into areas over the weekend to augment local government cleanup efforts in Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties ahead of Milton’s landfall .Over 48 hours, those trucks removed 1,200 loads of debris, he said. But it wasn’t enough.

“We’ve made a huge dent in this,” DeSantis said. “The more debris we can get picked up, the less damage is going to happen, whether that’s floating into the Gulf of Mexico, whether it’s projectiles into other buildings.” 

The governor ordered landfills to remain open full time ahead of Hurricane Milton, and said trucks would continue to haul away debris in the hours before the next hurricane hits, “until it’s no longer safe to do so.” He said contractors working for local governments after Hurricane Helene were taking too long to haul away debris.

“There was not necessarily a great job all around,” DeSantis said.

Matyas, the UF researcher, said that the debris left over from Helene and the new debris that Milton could clog drains, leading to more flooding. 

Leftover debris like scrap metal, couches and picture frames can become projectiles once winds get a hold of them, Jennifer Collins, a University of South Florida professor specializing in climatology, said.
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This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at landerson2l@freshtakeflorida.com. You can donate to support our students here.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ For two decades, the Florida Bat Festival has been a much-anticipated family friendly fall event and is a beacon of education, conservation, and excitement. Join Lubee Bat Conservancy for the 20^th Anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. for a day filled with fun activities, captivating exhibits, and unforgettable experiences for the whole family. And of course, come see the world's largest bats with six-foot wingspans.

Lubee is home to over 200 bats from 10 species, including the world’s largest bat, the Malayan Flying Fox, with a wingspan of six feet. Meet seven adorable baby bats born earlier this year and watch them play and explore their habitats, while not straying too far from mom. Guests will also have an opportunity to say hello to the nearly 60 bats that found their forever homes at Lubee this year. Some look like rabbits with their big ears, others like a cross between a teddy bear and Pomeranian.

From the tiny pipistrelles to majestic flying foxes, visitors can immerse themselves in the diversity of bat species through engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and educational presentations. Learn about their vital contributions to the environment and the importance of conservation efforts to protect these remarkable creatures.

From face painting to bat-themed crafts to visiting 140-plus vendors, there's something for everyone. Get creative, unleash your imagination, and take home unique souvenirs to commemorate your day.

Refuel and recharge with an array of mouthwatering food options available throughout the festival grounds. The festival Beer Garden is the perfect shaded place to embrace the great outdoors on Lubee property. Sit under 250-plus year-old Live Oaks while enjoying brews from over 15 Florida breweries, live music, or marveling and admiring the beauty of oak trees that have been around since the 1700s. Ticket required to enjoy the beers, not the shade, food, or music.

Attendance at the Florida Bat Festival directly impacts and contributes to the bats at Lubee and vital global conservation initiatives aimed at preserving bats and their habitats.

This is an incredible opportunity to celebrate 20 years of bat conservation and education at the Florida Bat Festival. Mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, for the 20th Annual Bat Festival.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit lubee.org/flbatfestival or follow on social media.

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ALACHUA ‒ As Florida braces for the potential impact of Hurricane Helene, state and local officials are ramping up preparations. The storm, currently intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall by Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 61 counties, expanding the initial declaration as the storm's threat increases. Evacuations are underway in several coastal areas, especially in regions vulnerable to storm surge like the Big Bend.

Hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida, including the Florida Panhandle and portions of Florida’s west coast. The National Hurricane Center forecasts this system will strengthen while moving northward over the Gulf of Mexico.

Residents are being urged to finalize preparations, including gathering emergency supplies. Sandbags are being distributed in flood-prone areas, and local authorities are preparing for potential heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and strong winds. Storm surge is expected to reach up to 9 feet in some areas, and rainfall could total 8 inches in parts of North Florida.  

On Tuesday Alachua County issued a local State of Emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Helene, which was upgraded from a potential tropical cyclone. The order was passed at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. Alachua County has also activated the 311 Emergency Information Line (352-264-6557 if 311 is unavailable in your area). This is for questions and rumor control. If there is an actual emergency, call 911. Alachua County officials are urging residents not to underestimate the potential impact of this storm. Residents are urged to make sure they have hurricane kits and emergency plans are ready.

Sandbag Locations

Alachua County staff will distribute 10 sandbags per vehicle at designated locations. Sandbags are available at Alachua County’s Wayside Park, 11855 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, Alachua. Distribution began on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was scheduled to continue until Wednesday at 9 a.m., weather permitting, until 3 p.m. The County says that after staffed hours, sand, bags and shovels will be available for self-service.

In the City of High Springs, an unmanned sandbag site has been opened at Memorial Park, 17380 N.W. U.S. Highway 441. Bags and sand are limited although additional truckloads of sand are being delivered. Anyone wishing to obtain sand from this site must bring their own shovel and be prepared to load their own bags.

For residents of the City of Gainesville, pre-made sandbags were being provided at the Public Works Center, 405 N.W. 39^th Ave., Gainesville. Distribution began Tuesday, Sept. 24 and was scheduled to continue Wednesday at 8 a.m. A limit of 10 filled sandbags per vehicle can be picked up at this location. To ease traffic flow, arrive at this location via northbound Northwest 6^th Street and then turn east (right) onto Northwest 39^th Ave.

Self-Serve sandbags were available on the same schedule at Citizens Field, 1000 N.E. Waldo Rd., Gainesville. Persons wishing to obtain sandbags from Citizens Field should be prepared to bring a shovel or trowel to fill sandbags. Assistance is available for those in need. To ease traffic flow, access the site from Northeast 12^th Ave. via Waldo Road, or travel south on Northeast 15^th Street via Northeast 16^th Ave.

The City of Hawthorne has sand and bags available at the City of Hawthorne Wastewater Treatment Plant, 23016 S.E. 65^th Lane. Residents are informed to be prepared to fill their own bags.

The City of Newberry has sand and bags available at the public works compound at 120 N.W. 260^th Street and residents are advised to bring their own shovels.

Early Prescription Refills

Additionally, the Florida Department of Health is working with emergency managers statewide to prepare for any impacts to communities and reminds Floridians to have enough of their prescriptions on hand in the event pharmacies are temporarily unavailable. Under a state of emergency, Floridians are permitted to receive early prescription refills. An early refill may include controlled substances as long as the medical drug is not listed in Schedule II appearing in Chapter 893, Florida Statutes, of the Florida Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.

State Emergency Response

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) activated the State Emergency Operations Center to a Level 1 on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and is leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team. FDEM is hosting twice-daily calls with all 67 counties to identify needs and to ensure the state is prepared to respond quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, FDEM is coordinating with state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners to facilitate ongoing resource requests for counties, including requests for water, generators and support personnel.

Nearly 500 missions are being facilitated by the State Emergency Response Team to assist counties in their preparation efforts. These missions accomplish vital tasks like prestaging response resources, protecting critical infrastructure facilities like hospitals and utility stations, and coordinating personnel statewide.

The Florida State Guard (FSG) has prepared the following:

• 250+ Soldiers ready to deploy.
• 10 shallow water vessel boat teams
• 7 flat-bottom-flood rescue skiffs
• 2 amphibious rescue vehicles
• 12 UTV’s
• 15 Cut and toss crews
• 7 search and rescue teams
• 1 UH-60 Blackhawk for daytime aerial assessment and logistics missions

Important actions to take include:

• Secure loose items around your home that could be carried by strong winds.
• Protect properties in flood-prone areas.
• Trim tree limbs around windows and clear debris.
• Move vehicles away from trees.
• Ensure all family members are familiar with your emergency plan.
• Prepare for possible extended power outages.
• Refill essential prescription medications.
• Create a plan for pets.
• Check-in on neighbors, particularly those with special needs.
• For the latest storm track and updates, Alachua County recommends visiting www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf

Local residents may sign up for text alerts by texting the word ALACHUA to 888-777 to stay fully informed of any disaster-related information related specifically to Alachua County

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