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ALACHUA – Downtown Alachua has officially been selected as one of only 26 communities nationwide to receive a prestigious multi-year Levitt Foundation grant, bringing 10 free, family-friendly outdoor concerts to the city each year for the next three years.

The award comes through the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation’s competitive Levitt AMP program. This year’s grant cycle drew more than 300 proposals from across the United States. Alachua’s application — submitted by Josh’s Place, a local 501(c)(3) — was selected following a national public voting period and subsequent foundation review.

Under the award, Alachua will receive up to $40,000 per year in matching funds from 2026 through 2028 to produce the Levitt AMP Alachua Music Series. The series will showcase diverse artists and a wide range of musical genres, all with the goal of bringing people together, strengthening community ties, and supporting local businesses in the downtown district.

City officials celebrated the announcement immediately. In a public statement posted by the City of Alachua, officials said, “We are thrilled that Alachua has officially been selected.” The City also thanked residents for turning out in strong support during the public voting phase — a key milestone in advancing to the finalist round.

Organizers emphasize that this investment is more than a concert series; it is a multi-year catalyst for downtown revitalization. Consistent foot traffic, expanded evening activity, and a strengthened Main Street economy are all anticipated benefits.

“This is a milestone moment for Alachua. This is a win for our community vision. And this is the start of something big,” project partners said in their announcement, citing the role of residents, small businesses, and volunteers in pushing the effort across the finish line.

Josh’s Place will serve as the lead grantee and fiscal agent for the series. The Alachua Business League (ABL) will coordinate artists, vendors, and promotional efforts, while the City of Alachua Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will provide venue support, infrastructure assistance, and match funding.

The three-year series is expected to launch in spring 2026. Organizers say additional updates — including official concert dates, lineup announcements, and kickoff celebrations — will be released as planning advances.

For now, they say the community has reason to take pride.

“Out of more than 300 proposals nationwide, only 26 communities were chosen, and Alachua made the cut,” the announcement reads. “This is a huge win for our city, our small businesses, our families, and everyone who’s been working so hard to bring more life, music, and culture to Main Street.”

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A steady stream of visitors packs Main Street as local businesses, artisans and food vendors showcase their offerings at the 2025 Fall Festival. / Alachua County Today Staff Photographer

ALACHUA ‒ Downtown Alachua once again transformed into a lively corridor of music, food and color on Sunday as the Alachua Main Street Fall Festival returned to historic Main Street, drawing crowds that filled the heart of the city from end to end. The festival continued its tradition of showcasing local culture while supporting educational opportunities for area students.

Hosted by the Alachua Business League (ABL) with support from the City of Alachua and dozens of community partners, the event brought together families, visitors and longtime residents for an afternoon of celebration. As in past years, festival proceeds will help fund scholarships for local students planning to attend Santa Fe College — a mission that has become a hallmark of ABL’s community involvement.

Main Street was closed to traffic for the day, creating a pedestrian-friendly promenade lined with vendor tents, food trucks and demonstrations. Visitors moved at an easy pace between stalls offering handmade crafts, local art, boutique items and fall-themed goods. The aroma of barbecue and kettle corn mingled with the sound of live music drifting from the entertainment area, where local performers kept the energy high throughout the afternoon.

Children flocked to hands-on activity stations and family attractions, giving the event its signature mix of small-town charm and festival spirit. Adults browsed the wide selection of vendors or gathered near food stands for lunch and desserts, turning the street into a bustling outdoor marketplace.

Parking filled quickly as attendance grew through the day, with festival-goers using lots near downtown, City Hall and the area surrounding Skinner Park. Many chose to walk in from nearby neighborhoods, adding to the steady foot traffic that defined the event.

Vendor participation remained strong again this year, with booths sold out well in advance — a sign of continued support from local artisans, small businesses and regional makers. Organizers say the turnout reflects the festival’s important role in highlighting Alachua’s growing business community while keeping its small-town identity at the forefront.

Over the years, the Alachua Business League has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships through funds raised at the Fall Festival and other community events. That philanthropic purpose, blended with a festive atmosphere, is one of the reasons the event has endured as one of the city’s most anticipated annual traditions.

As photos from this year’s festival show, the 2025 event delivered the familiar warmth and hometown appeal that residents have come to expect. For those who missed it, organizers encourage planning ahead for next year — promising another day filled with entertainment, community spirit and opportunities to support Alachua’s next generation.

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Customers line up outside the new Chick-fil-A in Alachua. The restaurant drew steady drive-thru and dine-in traffic as residents welcomed the city’s newest fast-food addition. / Today Staff Photographer

ALACHUA – Chick-fil-A opened its new Alachua location on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, drawing steady lines of customers throughout its first day as residents stopped in to try the city’s newest fast-food option.

The grand opening followed a private ribbon-cutting ceremony held the previous afternoon, Wednesday, Nov. 19, attended by representatives of the City of Alachua, local dignitaries, community leaders, the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, and the Alachua Police Department. Attendees signed a welcome wall inside the restaurant and posed for photos with Chick-fil-A’s well-known cow mascot.

In a statement, the Alachua Chamber of Commerce described the event as “a very exciting moment for our community,” offering congratulations to Operator Hayden Harbuck and his family on the new location and welcoming them to Alachua.

The restaurant’s opening capped several months of construction and preparation. While several fast-food chicken chains already operate in the city – including Popeyes, KFC, and Zaxby’s – the addition of Chick-fil-A has been a notable point of local interest, particularly among residents accustomed to traveling to Gainesville for the chain’s menu.

Opening day brought a consistent flow of vehicles along the drive-thru approach, and the dining room saw steady turnout during lunch and dinner hours. First-day customers sampled the chain’s familiar offerings, including its signature chicken sandwich, nuggets, waffle fries, salads, breakfast menu, and rotating seasonal items.

As part of an opening-day promotion, customers wearing cow-print attire received free food, a nod to Chick-fil-A’s long-running “Eat Mor Chikin” advertising campaign.

The restaurant follows the chain’s standard operating model, including its policy of being closed on Sundays, a practice observed across all Chick-fil-A locations nationwide.

Staffing for the new location includes a mix of local hires and experienced team members working to maintain service levels during the restaurant’s first days of operation. Chick-fil-A has not yet announced plans for a public ribbon-cutting or additional community events tied to the launch, but the restaurant is now open for regular hours Monday through Saturday.

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Retired Alachua City Mayor Gib Coerper (Navy, Ret.), Jackson Gold Star Family, Horace Jenkins (Navy) and Major (Ret.) Charlie Jackson / Photo special to Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – The Young Men of Manhood Youth Development Foundation, Inc., hosted its first All-American Veterans EXPO-2025 @ Alachua on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, bringing together veterans, Gold Star Families, mentors and young people for a day of storytelling, education and recognition at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex.

The event opened with a 9 a.m. brunch before shifting into a full day of intergenerational engagement. Local veterans, parents, mentors and mentees spent the morning sharing their experiences with attendees and with the young men of the foundation’s mentoring program.

Foundation members used the expo to launch a long-term oral history project aimed at preserving the stories of Alachua County veterans. According to the organization, the young men “seized this event as an opportunity to kick off their first in a series of interviews with a goal of producing a video of Alachua County veterans telling their stories.”

The initial round of interviews captured accounts from veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the Gulf War — including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm — Operation Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The foundation plans to continue conducting interviews throughout 2025, with the goal of completing the project by Veterans Day 2026.

Throughout the day, representatives from the Malcolm Randall Veterans Hospital and the Florida Veterans Office in Gainesville provided attendees with information on available military benefits. Their presentations covered housing, medical and health care services, education, suicide prevention, homelessness prevention and the process for filing disability claims.

The program also included recognition of the 3396th Reserve Reception Battalion for its military service. Major (Ret.) Charlie Jackson, former Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper (Navy, Ret.) and Mr. Jenkins (Navy) led the honors. Accepting on behalf of the battalion was First Sergeant Larry McDaniel.

The event concluded with a tribute to members of Gold Star Families, whose loved ones died in military service. Organizers extended “special thanks to our many sponsors who helped in making the first All-American Veterans EXPO-2025 @ Alachua a success.”

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ALACHUA – The Cleather Sr. Hathcock Community Center was filled with food, fellowship and holiday spirit recently as local seniors gathered for a Friendsgiving potluck that organizers say captured the essence of community togetherness.

The event drew a strong turnout, with attendees arriving carrying homemade dishes and favorite recipes to share. Tables were lined with a variety of holiday staples — pasta dishes, turkey, ham and an assortment of other specialties — creating a festive and abundant spread.

Organizers noted that the Friendsgiving potluck reflected the close-knit connections among area seniors and showcased the collaborative support of Crafty Gemini, the City of Alachua and local volunteers. They said the gathering demonstrated the value of shared meals and social engagement, both of which play an important role in “preventing social isolation and fostering strong community relationships.”

The potluck’s success has encouraged organizers to build on the momentum. They expressed appreciation for the enthusiastic participation and community support and said they are already planning to make Friendsgiving an annual tradition. The next event — a Christmas potluck — is scheduled for next month and is expected to draw an equally engaged crowd.

Residents interested in learning more about senior activities or volunteering can visit the City of Alachua website or call 386-462-0145.

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission closed out its 2024–25 agenda and ushered in a new governing year during a Nov. 13, 2025, meeting that included the swearing-in of a returning commissioner, board appointments, grant approvals and progress on several major city projects.

Unfinished Business Concludes FY 24–25

Commissioners began the evening by addressing remaining items from the previous fiscal year. The board voted unanimously to hire Fred Fox Enterprises, Inc. to provide administrative services for the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Neighborhood Revitalization project.

High Springs was awarded a $700,000 small cities CDBG grant through Florida Commerce. To support the initiative, commissioners also approved CPH Consulting, LLC in response to Requests for Qualifications for professional engineering services.

In addition, the Commission voted unanimously to approve three firms for continuing engineering contracts: CPH Consulting, Kimley-Horn and Woodard & Curran. CPH—previously known as Mittauer & Associates—has a long history with the city, including engineering work tied to major sewer system improvements.

With all unfinished business resolved, Commissioner Tristan Grunder, who had been re-elected, formally adjourned the final meeting of the 2024–25 fiscal year.

Commission Reorganized for FY 25–26

City Clerk Angela Stone administered the oath of office to Grunder as he began his second term on the City Commission. During the reorganization, Commissioner Andrew Miller was elected mayor and Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth Jr. was chosen as vice mayor. Commissioners then switched seats as Miller assumed leadership of the meeting.

The annual reorganization also included appointments to city advisory boards. Grunder was named chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Zachary Walter was appointed to the Plan Board, while Linda Hewlett and Joanne Trembly were reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board.

Commissioners also authorized the standard list of check signers for the new fiscal year. The mayor, vice mayor, city manager and city clerk are empowered to sign city checks. Following approval, an updated resolution is submitted to the bank to formalize the authorization.

Public Safety and City Projects Move Forward

High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard informed the Commission that the city has been awarded a $65,000 grant to replace aging police radios. Commissioners voted unanimously to accept the funding.

The board also unanimously authorized a services agreement with Hoffman Construction, Inc. for structural roof repairs to the historic Priest Theatre. In September, the city awarded Hoffman a contract totaling $550,828 for roof replacement and structural upgrades, along with an additional $18,280 to replace the parapet wood apron on the building’s front elevation.

Budget Adjustments Reviewed

Finance Director Diane Wilson presented the Final Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2025, outlining significant adjustments and responding to commissioner questions. After discussion, the Commission approved the ordinance on first reading.

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