October 17, 2022

At their October 11 Regular Meeting, the County Commission voted 4-1 to deny the West End Golf Course zoning change request and stand by the County's Comprehensive Plan.

Watch the West End Golf Course item from the October 11 Regular Meeting.

The Alachua County Commission recently hosted an Agritourism Conference for County residents and businesses interested in learning more about agritourism.

Agritourism crosses Florida’s two largest industries, tourism and agriculture, to provide on-farm recreational experiences for consumers. In 2021, visitors staying in paid accommodations generated over $630 million in economic impact to Alachua County. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ag Census, in 2017, Alachua County sold $99 million in agricultural products.

Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia stated, “Agritourism is a growing area of opportunity for our local businesses, and we look forward to this conference as a day to share resources and ideas to further support our agricultural and tourism economies.”

Watch a short video about the symposium.

Alachua County Community Support Services, in collaboration with faith-based community organizations, invites the community to attend “Honoring the Departed” on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery (401 S.E. 21st Avenue, Gainesville). “Honoring the Departed” is a ceremony to memorialize indigent individuals that were unclaimed, abandoned, or unknown. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Read more about the Honoring the Departed Ceremony.

Alachua County preserves with public access have re-opened after Hurricane Ian, but some have standing water on portions of the trails.  

The Barr Hammock South preserve trails remain closed for public safety due to ongoing timber harvest operations.

Learn more about the Alachua County Preserves. 

Alachua County is pleased to announce the hiring of Jamie Bass as the Alachua County Cuscowilla Manager. She comes to Alachua County from Goochland, VA, where she served as the Program Director for Westview on the James. Previously, she served as the Camp Director for the Girls Scouts of Gateway Council in Jacksonville.

Bass will manage the Cuscowilla Nature & Retreat Center, the County’s summer day camp and overnight retreat facility. She is responsible for developing new and innovative programming; marketing facilities to outside groups to promote rentals and usage; working collaboratively with internal and external partners; serving in an advisory role for the “Friends of Cuscowilla”; and achieving accreditation for summer day camp during 2023.  

“Jamie is a seasoned camp professional,” stated Parks and Open Space Director Jason Maurer. “In her few weeks on the job, she has started developing fun and engaging outdoor nature-based educational programming that helps campers develop a love and respect for the great outdoors. She has also started the preliminary steps for accreditation. We are thrilled that she will lead Cuscowilla Nature & Retreat Center.”

Learn more about Alachua County’s Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center.

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

A cup of fresh arugula leaves has 25 calories, 3.65 grams of carbohydrates, about 2.5 grams of protein, and 1.6 grams of dietary fiber. Arugula also contains an impressive amount of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate.

October is a good time to grow arugula 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 to get further insights on the Plant of the Month.

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. 

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office will be conducting the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Farm Tour on Friday, November 4, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting at the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office (22712 W. Newberry Road, Newberry).

Alachua County has a large agricultural industry ranging from horticulture, beef cattle, nurseries, row crops, and more. Participants will visit local nurseries, blueberry farm, cattle ranch, vegetable packing shed, perennial peanut farm, and discuss best management practices and cover crops. In addition, there will be topics on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, 4-H Youth Development, and local food preparation.

Participants in the tour learn more about what is growing in Alachua County’s backyard and see what local agriculture is all about.

The tour bus leaves the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office at 8:30 a.m. (please arrive by 8:15 a.m.). The registration fee is $50.00 (includes lunch and bus fee). Participants must register online. Registration will be limited to the first 50 paid registrants. There are no refunds for the registration fee.