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GAINESVILLE – The 53rd Annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival is set to return to the college’s Northwest Campus this weekend, April 12–13, 2025, bringing a weekend of art, music and family-friendly experiences to the community.

Held at 3000 N.W. 83^rd Street, the festival is free and open to the public, featuring a wide array of visual art displays, live performances and interactive activities for all ages.

New to this year’s festival is the introduction of its first-ever Artist in Residence. Street artist Birdcap will create a live mural over the course of the weekend, giving visitors the chance to watch an original work take shape in real time. Folk artist Alyne Harris, known for her vibrant depictions of Southern life and heritage, was selected as this year’s official poster artist.

Festivalgoers will also be able to attend artist talks in the Fine Arts Hall, where participating artists will offer behind-the-scenes insights into their creative process. Other on-campus attractions will include the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, the Teaching Zoo, and the Museum of Earth Sciences. Train rides will be available to transport visitors to the zoo.

In partnership with MusicGNV, the festival will spotlight local talent from Gainesville’s thriving music scene. Scheduled performers include Noah Moses & The Flood, Haylin Watkins, Purple Kloud, Sooza, Trustfall and The Nancys.

“It’s such an honor to host so many incredible artists and members of the community on our campus,” said Kyle Novak, Santa Fe College’s director of cultural affairs. “In addition to our remarkable visiting artists, we’re excited to continue to showcase the unbelievable talents of our Santa Fe College student artists and performers.”

Free parking will be available throughout the weekend, and Gainesville’s Regional Transit System will offer extended free routes to improve accessibility for attendees.

First launched in 1970, the Spring Arts Festival has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events, known for celebrating both established and emerging artists while fostering community engagement through the arts.

The event is presented by the Santa Fe College Fine Arts and Entertainment Technology Department.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA ‒ With laughter echoing across the rolling pastures of Valley View, the Alachua Lions Club marked a major milestone on March 25, 2025, with its 85th annual Cattlemen’s Banquet — the longest-running Lions Club fundraising event in Florida.

The signature event, now held at Valley View at Santa Fe River Ranch, drew more than 400 attendees for an evening of celebration, charity, and camaraderie. From its humble beginnings in 1940, the banquet has grown into a cornerstone of community support, channeling all proceeds into local sight, hearing, youth, and service initiatives.

This year’s crowd enjoyed a festive cocktail hour on the veranda, where scenic views of oak-dotted fields set the tone for the night ahead. Inside the main hall, Alachua Lions Club President Jack Zuidema opened the formal program, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lions District Governor Greg Seltzer. Longtime member Bill Johnson led a heartfelt rendition of “God Bless America,” and Seltzer returned to deliver the invocation.

The evening’s host, real estate broker and former Alachua City Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr., served as Master of Ceremonies. Boukari’s lighthearted jabs and well-timed jokes kept the audience in good spirits, earning chuckles throughout the room.

Headlining the night was award-winning Nashville comedian and musician Jonnie W., whose guitar-infused comedy had the crowd roaring with laughter. His blend of storytelling and stand-up added a fresh twist to the evening’s entertainment lineup.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Cattleman of the Year award to Bob Crane, a respected figure in Alachua County’s ranching community. Surrounded by family and members of First Baptist Church of Alachua, Crane accepted the honor for his longstanding contributions to Florida’s cattle industry.

The night also included a silent auction, once again sponsored by the Alachua Woman’s Club, a dedicated partner of the Lions Club. Guests feasted on a hearty spread featuring aged, flavor-packed steaks, loaded potato casserole, fresh salad, and decadent desserts — all with assistance from the Santa Fe High School FFA Chapter, honoring the banquet’s agricultural roots.

The origins of the Cattlemen’s Banquet trace back to a small but impactful gesture in 1940, when Alachua Lions members rallied to support the Alachua High School FFA by bidding on a student-raised steer. That simple act of generosity sparked a tradition that now attracts dignitaries, ranchers, and residents alike. Past events have featured notable speakers such as President Jimmy Carter and Florida Governors Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham, and Buddy MacKay.

As the curtain closes on its 85th year, the Cattlemen’s Banquet remains a beloved celebration of community, heritage, and philanthropy — and plans are undoubtedly underway for its 86th return, promising more laughter, good food, and goodwill.

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ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua welcomed dozens of local residents and business owners to Alachua’s Theatre Park on Main Street March 27, 2025, to celebrate the receipt of a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile. Alachua was one of just 25 municipalities to receive the Mobile Hometown Grant this year. According to a T-Mobile representative who presented the ceremonial check, the City of Alachua is the only in the greater central Florida area to receive one of these grants from T-Mobile.

Alachua’s Community Redevelopment Agency Coordinator Susan King has been applying on behalf of the City for the grant for three years. The grant will add funds to help fulfill a growing list of plans for renovations in Theatre Park.

A plan to refresh and reimagine the City of Alachua’s iconic park has been underway for more than a year. On Alachua’s picturesque Main Street, the hidden gem known best as “Theatre Park” has seen better years. An overgrowth of vines, a dilapidated arbor, and structural uncertainty have left the park in a less attractive condition.

A variety of designs for the park’s renovations were presented in May 2024 by Monarch Design Group. Among the plans were two overall design themes for the entryway to the park. The City settled on a black powder coated façade for a wrought iron appearance in the gap above the front wall and the archways.

In addition to entryway designs, Monarch Design Group also presented a variety of accompanying interior elements for the park, such as brick pavers, new lighting, a stage, seating, and Florida friendly landscaping.

As a result of the deteriorating conditions within the park, the initial priority in the redesign are the structural elements. Without a roof over the park, rainfall can become trapped and potentially seep through into adjoining buildings. Use of landscaping requiring irrigation in the park exacerbates flooding concerns. Vines posed a risk of damage to the historic brick walls. The arbor, which once served as a tranquil and picturesque backdrop appears to be on the verge of collapse. Hosting live music in the park is untenable without sufficient shade and protection from the elements.

The multiphase renovations will include a small stage with handicap access and the flexibility to install a temporary overhead screen or shield to protect performers from the elements. To increase the viability as study, lunch, relaxation, and gathering space, additional but limited seating is also planned.

When initially assessed in 2024, Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares, who is a Professional Engineer, said the City was planning to develop solutions to divert or dispose of rainwater, possibly using a French drain system. Valladares commented that the projected cost of dealing with the structural concerns together with needed renovations to other elements of the park vastly exceed the CRA’s budgeted $150,000, noting that it would likely become a multiphase project, with solutions starting from “the ground up.”

Located at 14900 Main Street in the heart of downtown, what is now an openair park was once a drycleaner and then a movie house, according to a walking tour developed in 1986 by Alachua County Historical Commission and the Alachua County Tour Service.

In March 2011, the Alachua City Commission authorized structural modifications to Theatre Park in order to make the structure safer. For several months, the park remained closed as a scaffolding system was installed over the brick archways on the streetside opening where there were structural concerns over the ability of the entry to withstand high wind loads.

The 2011 project included removing the top portion of the walls to reduce the wind load on the structure as a whole. The removal included the top 12 feet from the front wall and up to six feet from the side walls.

A report from Driscoll Engineering at the time stated that the outer walls of the theatre park constituted an “immediate safety hazard” because of the lack of support and risk of falling debris. The scaffolding system was a temporary measure to protect pedestrian traffic until more lasting repairs could be completed.

Costing in excess of $40,000, the renovations, which included repairs to the east wall of the park, construction of two new columns and reinforced fiberglass rods, were paid for by the Downtown Redevelopment Trust board (DRTB), which was the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at the time.

The park, which is frequently used for special occasions and is one of the most photographed spots in Alachua was reopened in June 2011.

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UPDATED 04.02.2025 5:42 p.m. - GAINESVILLE ‒ A lawsuit alleging incidents of a “sexual” nature at Santa Fe High School, brought by Anneke Acree on behalf of her child, has been dismissed.

The amended complaint, dated Jan. 8, 2025, stemmed from an initial filing on Oct. 30, 2024, against both the Alachua County School Board and the City of Alachua.

On Monday, March 31, 2025, Circuit Judge Donna Keim dismissed Count III (negligence per se) against the City of Alachua with prejudice—barring the plaintiff from refiling the same claim.

On Tuesday, April 1, Judge Keim also dismissed both remaining claims against the Alachua County School Board: Count I (negligent supervision) and Count II (negligence per se). Count II was dismissed with prejudice, while Count I was dismissed without prejudice—though the judge's order casts doubt on whether any amendment could keep the case alive.

As to the count lodged against the City of Alachua, the judge stated the negligence theory advanced by Acree’s attorney, based on an alleged violation of statute, is premised on an unknown City employee's failure to comply with the child abuse reporting guidelines of Chapter 39, Florida Statutes. “Notably, Plaintiff does not identify the City employee or employees purported to have been negligent, nor does she articulate what knowledge is imputed to the City regarding the alleged abuse,” the judge wrote.

Additionally, Judge Keim clarified that courts in Florida have repeatedly ruled that Chapter 39 does not give individuals the right to sue over a failure to report abuse. Unless a law clearly states that people can file lawsuits, or lawmakers intended for it to be an option, no such right exists. This has been confirmed in several court cases, the judge said.

The Count II negligence per se claim against the Alachua County School Board was dismissed with prejudice for the same reasons as the count against the City of Alachua. In other words, the allegations by Acree are vague, and the legal theory advanced by Acree’s attorney is statutorily unsound.

Finally, the court left little room for hope on Count I against the Alachua County School Board, which is titled as “Negligent Supervision.” In ruling on that issue, the court found that under Florida's Impact Rule, a plaintiff can only recover damages for emotional distress in this type of case if the person suffered a physical injury, a direct impact, or if their emotional distress has caused physical symptoms. The judge held in this case that the alleged physical manifestations of emotional distress clearly fell outside of the exceptions to the “impact rule,” contrary to those arguments put forth by Acree’s attorney. In fact, court cases cited by the court specifically found that the types of “trauma” allegedly suffered by the student are precisely the types that elude any exception to the impact rule.

Although the judge left the door open for Acree to file an amended complaint, the outlook for the plaintiff is bleak. “The Court believes additional amendment to the Complaint is likely futile as the detailed facts previously alleged clearly fail to state a cause of action against this Defendant due to the impact rule.” However, Judge Keim is allowing Acree 10 days to attempt to file a second amended complaint. A failure to file an amended complaint will close the case without further order.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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