Thanks to the selfless actions of Alachua County residents and businesses, COVID numbers continue to improve. We've passed the 70% vaccine threshold! 560 new individuals were vaccinated last week. That's 140 more than the previous week. Our positivity rate went from 3.1% to 2.7%. New positives are down from 195 to 160. Cases per 100,000 went from 71.5 to 58.7. Today and tomorrow are your last days to get the $25 gift card. 

Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. The County Commission urges residents to get vaccinated and, for those eligible, to receive a booster shot.

See the latest statistics at the COVID-19 Dashboard.

A tree planting event held October 9, 2021, in High Springs drew public officials, university students, and residents. The trees were planted to enhance the former railroad right-of-way running south of the downtown business district.

County Arborist Lacy Holtzworth directed the planting of approximately 30 trees, both live oak, and bald cypress, along the rail corridor between N.W. 234th Street and N.W. 237th Street. The trees will provide shade along the site of a future trail and space for community events. They offer other environmental benefits, including the improvement of air and water quality.

County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler joined local citizens, County staff, and student groups organized by UF Professor Terry Harpold, Associate Professor of English and Director of Imagining Climate Change. The High Springs Community Redevelopment Association and Keep Alachua County Beautiful were sponsors of the event.

This event followed another High Springs tree planting of September 25. At that time, 17 trees were planted at the High Springs post office and along the newly established bike trail along County Road 340.

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce that onions are the November “Plant of the Month”.

November is a good time to grow onions in North Central Florida. For information on growing, harvesting, recipes, and more on this nutritious vegetable check the Plant of the Month website.

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

“Every month will offer a chance to explore new foods and expand your palate. As we go forward, we want to expand and include recipes for cooking and techniques for preservation. We want to also expand to fruit trees and bushes, herbs, and perennials. It is an exciting program – please grow with us!” said Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford when this program was introduced in September 2021. 

Recognizing lack of health care access as a contributing factor to health disparities, the County Commission has provided additional funding to the Alachua County Health Department to support after-hours appointment clinics, seven days a week beginning November 1, 2021.

Effective November 1, the Health Department is extending its primary care hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its East Gainesville location (224 S.E. 24th Street, Gainesville). Appointments are required by calling 352-334-7910, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The Alachua County Health Department is well-positioned to provide additional primary care and communicable disease appointments at our East Gainesville clinic,” stated Paul Myers, Administrator of the ACHD. “Our staff is excited to continue addressing the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.”