May 1, 2023

Click to watch a recent video showing the Alachua County Commission and the Alachua County School Board coming together to unveil a new playground at Lake Forest Elementary School.

The playground serves as a pocket park and will be open to the public from 6 p.m. until sundown during the week and sunrise to sundown on weekends.

The covered playground ensures that kids will have somewhere to play no matter the weather.

Low-income County residents (those who fall below 200% of the poverty line), children with an IEP or 504 Plan, and families who receive SNAP benefits may qualify for scholarships to go to Alachua County's "A Summer of Discovery" Summer Day Camps at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 S.E. 134th Ave, Micanopy). Parents of children ages 7 to 12 are invited to register for A Summer of Discovery. The camp scholarships are available through the Alachua County Children's Trust. Campers who qualify are eligible for eight weeks of day camp programming. 

Day camps are offered for eight weeks, from June 5 through July 28. The Camps are Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Children can participate for one week or the whole summer. Weekly day camps cost $100. Campers receive breakfast, lunch, and a snack. Bus transportation is included to and from Lincoln Middle School (1001 S.E. 12th St, Gainesville). Campers can also be dropped off and picked up from the Camp.

Read more about camp details and the available scholarships.

Alachua County, in coordination with municipalities and our local partners, is hosting a Climate Fair on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 S.E. 134th Avenue, Micanopy) to announce the results of the soon-to-be-released climate vulnerability analysis, and to begin community conversations around the creation of an Alachua County Climate Action Plan. The event is in two parts, a public meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in which the results of the analysis are discussed, and a Climate Fair from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with games and entertainment for the family, as well as vendor booths for those organizations doing work related to climate change and climate resilience.

The County is accepting applications from vendors who would like to participate and encourages all organizations to sign up whose work can help Alachua County build climate resilience. In addition to those groups with a strong history of combatting climate change, the County would also like to welcome agricultural organizations and human system resiliency organizations, including those working with food systems, affordable housing, and any other organization whose work strengthens the resiliency of the local communities.

Learn more and apply to be a vendor.

Concerning the malfunctioning traffic signal at the corner of Archer Road and S.W. 91st Street, Alachua County Public Works staff worked with the City of Gainesville and the contractor working for the private developer. All known issues with the signal at Archer Road and S.W. 91st Street have been corrected. The flow of traffic is greatly improved. 

Public Works staff will continue to monitor the traffic signal at this intersection.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) approved the timing for the new traffic light cycles. Any future adjustments to these traffic light cycles will require FDOT approval. 

The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Orange, Lochloosa, and Newnans lakes in response to recent water samples. The levels detected were low, but the public should still exercise caution in and around these lakes.

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski, or boat in waters with a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms, are not safe for animals. When algae blooms are present, pets and livestock should have a different water source.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish well. 
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

Blue-green algae are a common type of bacteria in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when the rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

Find out more about the harmful blue-green algal toxins.

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce that the May "Plant of the Month" is eggplant.

A serving of eggplant can provide at least 5% of a person's daily fiber requirement, copper, manganese, B-6, and thiamine. In addition, the deep purple skin contains the antioxidant anthocyanin, and all eggplant varieties are a good source of fiber and are low in carbohydrates and sodium.

May is a good time to grow eggplant in North Central Florida. Check the Plant of the Month website for information on planting, harvesting, recipes, and more. Listen to the Extension Cord Podcast for further insights on the Plant of the Month.

"Eggplants come in various shapes, sizes, and colors and, depending on the cultivar, can range from small and round to pear-shaped or elongated," said County Commissioner Mary Alford. "They can be roasted, broiled, boiled, fried, sautéed, stuffed, or used in a variety of casseroles in combination with other vegetables."

The Plant of the Month program is a collaborative effort between the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers, Alachua County Public Library, and Working Food. 

The Alachua County Historical Commission has terms expiring and will soon have four Citizen at Large vacancies. County residents with a knowledge of local history are encouraged to apply, and the County Commission will make appointments. The application deadline is May 8, 2023.

Find out more about the Historical Commission vacancies.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced the appointments of Archie Collins, Reggie Holt, Charles “Charlie” Lykes, Chad Lyons, Jake Raburn, Dr. Cindy Sanders, Ted Schrader, and Robert Thomas to the Florida State Fair Authority Board.

“I am proud to appoint the newest members to the Board of Directors of the Florida State Fair Authority today,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “The Authority Board does a tremendous job of creating positive entertainment experiences throughout Florida, and I am confident that these new members will make a meaningful impact on our state through their commitment to agriculture, education, and community service.”

Find out more about the appointment.