October 30, 2023

Alachua County Animal Resources reminds residents to license their pets each year. Purchasing a license tag and attaching it to a pet's collar is one of the most important things residents can do as responsible pet owners. In addition, displaying a current Alachua County tag on a pet's collar makes it easier for animal resources officers and shelter employees to locate a lost pet's owner information. 

The required pet licenses can be ordered online. Pet owners can license multiple pets at the same time and upload the required documents. A $2 convenience fee applies for each transaction. All major credit cards are accepted. The new pet license tags are not only stylish and durable but also offer a range of optional free features, including online pet information storage. 

License fees for cats, dogs, and ferrets are $25. Alachua County pet licenses are valid for one year from the date of rabies vaccination and will expire on the anniversary of the rabies vaccination. All dogs, cats, and ferrets over four months old must have their rabies vaccinations and be licensed with Alachua County. 

Pet parents may also license by mail. To license by mail, pet parents can mail a copy of their pet's current rabies along with a check payable to "Alachua County Animal Resources Licensing" to:

Alachua County Animal Licensing

C/O PetData

PO Box 141929

Irving, TX 75014

Pet parents may also license in person at participating veterinary locations. 

"Required pet licensing is easier than ever," said Alachua County Animal Resources Director Julie Johnson. "Your lost pet's current license could be their ticket home."

For more information, visit the Alachua County PetData website or call 866-201-2447.

​State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) funding for roof replacement and home repair as part of the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation program is available through the Alachua County Housing Division. The funds are for low and very low-income eligible applicants who reside in Alachua County. Those living in the City of Gainesville are ineligible. This program is first come, first serve.

To qualify for the funds, you must meet the following criteria:

• The assisted unit must be owner-occupied, the owner’s primary residence, and located in Alachua County and outside the City of Gainesville.
• Property taxes must be paid current on the unit to be assisted.
• Homeowners must be very low or low income, depending on the funding source.
• Except for emergency repairs, each unit must meet or exceed the minimum housing code.
• Other requirements may need to be met, depending on the funding source.

Click to see low and very low-income household sizes.

For an application or more information, contact Alachua County Housing Grants and Contracts Specialist Tom Allred at 352-337-6240 or housing@alachuacounty.us.

Residents interested in County road improvements are invited to view an interactive County Transportation Capital Improvement Projects map.

Those who are interested in doing a deep dive into the County’s Transportation Capital Improvement Program can view a 17-page spreadsheet of all of the projects. The detailed spreadsheet offers locations, distances, treatments, and budgets for each project. In addition, there is a breakdown of where the funds for these projects come from.

In collaboration with community faith-based organizations, Alachua County Community Support Services invites the community to attend “Honoring the Departed” on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery (401 S.E. 21st Avenue, Gainesville).

 “Honoring the Departed” is a ceremony to memorialize indigent individuals who were unclaimed, abandoned, or unknown. The ceremony consists of inspirational readings and songs to honor those who passed away in 2022.  

“This is an opportunity to collaborate with our faith-based organizations and community leaders in honoring those we lost in 2022,” said Alachua County Community Stabilization Program Manager Satori Days.

Watch a short video from this year's Honoring the Departed Ceremony.

The Alachua County Crisis Center invites residents to the “Survivors of Suicide Loss Day Vigil" on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Judy Broward Survivors of Suicide Loss Memory Garden at Cofrin Nature Park (4810 N.W. 8th Ave., Gainesville). This event is free and open to the community. Those wishing to attend are asked to park at the University City Church of Christ parking lot east of Cofrin Nature Park at 4626 N.W. 8th Avenue. Parking is available at the park for those with a disabled parking placard.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is designated as a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support.

The Survivors of Suicide Memory Garden was dedicated in 2013 with the purpose of serving those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide. The garden offers a space for peaceful reflection to those who have experienced any kind of loss and is also open to the community for those who wish to find retreat amidst the beauty and comfort offered by the garden.

The Vigil is sponsored by the Friends of the Crisis Center in partnership with the Alachua County Crisis Center and the Survivors of Suicide Support Group. The Friends of the Crisis Center would like to extend thanks to the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department and the Alachua County Commission for their support in the development and maintenance of the Survivors of Suicide Loss Memory Garden.

The Alachua County Public Works Department is now using Automated Flaggers to help improve efficiency and safety when travel lanes need to be closed for maintenance activities. Automated Flaggers are trailer-mounted signaling devices equipped with lights, video cameras, and an eight-foot gate arm, which can be raised or lowered to control traffic.

Two Automated Flaggers are currently being used on County Road 235, just north of Newberry. Please expect delays on this road for the next several weeks while crews trim the trees and cut the road shoulders. 

Automated Flaggers are more efficient than traditional hand flagging operations because they require less staff to control the traffic within the work zone. One Road Maintenance Technician can remotely control multiple units at the same time.

Worker safety is improved because staff no longer need to stand at the edge of the busy travel lane to control traffic. Motorist safety is improved because the Automated Flaggers are more visible, giving drivers more time to slow down. Studies have also shown that drivers are more likely to follow the instructions of the Automated Flaggers, which reduces the chances of crashes.

“We are very thankful that our Commissioners are innovative and support the use of new technologies,” said Assistant Public Works Director Brian Kauffman, P.E. “Motorists really seem to be responding well to the new flaggers.”

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

Carrots come in a variety of colors from orange to white, red, yellow, and purple making them a nutritious and colorful side dish for any meal. Just one medium carrot or a handful of baby carrots counts as one serving of your daily recommended vegetables. Carrots are loaded with beta carotene. Beta carotene is a substance that is converted to Vitamin A in the human body.

November is a good time to grow carrots 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.