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 ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua proclaimed October 2025 as American Pharmacists Month in recognition of the pharmacy profession during the Sept. 22 City Commission meeting.

Pictured from left are Justin Rix, Pharm.D., Palms Medical Group; Bryn Tenney, Pharm.D., Hitchcock's Hometown Pharmacy; Mayor Walter Welch; and William Garst, Pharm.D., Alachua County Association of Pharmacists and Lake Butler Hospital. Commissioners are standing in the background.

The proclamation states: “Whereas, the American Pharmacists Association, the Florida Pharmacy Association and the Alachua County Area Association of Pharmacists have declared October 2025 as American Pharmacists Month. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Walter Welch, Mayor of the City of Alachua, representing the City and City Commissioners, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as American Pharmacists Month and urge all citizens to acknowledge the valuable services of pharmacists.”

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 ~ The following is a press release provided by the Alachua County Office of Supervisor of Elections. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (October 1, 2025) The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office will be present at a voter registration and vote-by-mail ballot request drive at the Village at Gainesville Senior Living Community on Friday, October 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 Residents and staff will be able to register to vote or update their voter registration information, request or renew their request for a vote-by-mail ballot, and learn more about voting and elections in Alachua County.

 For more information about the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office's outreach activities, please visit VoteAlachua.gov or call 352-374-5252 during our normal business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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ONESVILLE ‒ A 26-year-old man wanted on felony warrants out of Oklahoma was arrested late Thursday night in Jonesville after deputies added drug and firearm charges to his case.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) reported that deputies responded around 10 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2025, to the Noble on Newberry Apartments at 671 N.W. 120^th Terrace after a Gainesville Police Department officer spotted the suspect. The man, identified as Samuel Joseph Mantone IV, was wanted in Oklahoma on warrants for use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and drug trafficking.

Deputies detained Mantone at the apartment complex. During the arrest, he reportedly told deputies he had a firearm tucked into his waistband. The loaded gun was recovered, and deputies conducted a search incident to arrest. That search yielded three small baggies containing 3.9 grams of methamphetamine, four baggies with 4.6 grams of marijuana, two lighters and a pipe used for smoking meth.

Mantone, who has at least one prior felony conviction, was charged locally with two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, unlawful concealed carry of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Meshon Rawls later reviewed the charges, ruling that ammunition loaded into a firearm generally does not qualify as a separate offense and therefore found no probable cause for the second count of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Bail for the remaining charges was set at $197,000.

Mantone remains in custody on both the local charges and the active warrants from Oklahoma.

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~ The following is a press release provided by the Gainesville (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~

Gainesville, FL – September 30, 2025 – The Gainesville (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated proudly joined thousands of members across the globe in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Walk for Healthy Living, an initiative first launched in 1995 under the leadership of the organization’s 11th National President, Link Patricia Russell McCloud.

The Gainesville Chapter gathered for a spirited community walk, uniting members, families, and supporters to raise awareness of cardiovascular health while celebrating the joy and benefits of walking. From strengthening the heart and boosting energy to improving mood and extending life expectancy, walking remains one of the most accessible and impactful tools for long-term wellness.

“This walk is about more than fitness—it’s about fellowship, education, and empowerment,” said Alena Lawson Bennett, President of the Gainesville (FL) Chapter. “On this 30th anniversary, we are proud to walk together and engage the people in our area to promote living healthier lives and building stronger communities.”

National Movement, Local Impact

The Walk for Healthy Living is a signature national program of The Links, Incorporated, designed to Educate, Communicate, and Save Lives. Over the past three decades, thousands of members and communities have participated, from toddlers to centenarians, underscoring the importance of health equity and civic responsibility in communities of color.

By combining wellness with civic awareness, the Gainesville (FL) Chapter added its local impact to the national movement—proving that small steps create lasting change.

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 GAINESVILLE — The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is set to transform its visitor experience thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation. The private gift will fund an Elevated Treehouse System and Learning Center, a signature feature in the zoo’s new master plan aimed at expanding educational opportunities and improving accessibility for guests and animals alike.

Zoo Director Jonathan Miot said the grant marks a major milestone in advancing the zoo’s long-term vision. “This will move our special space much closer towards our goal of becoming a zoological leader in creating active, immersive and global learning opportunities for all,” Miot said in the announcement. “We are thrilled the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville see our vision and will be part of our journey.”

The collaboration began more than 18 months ago when two senior Rotarians proposed the idea to the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Board of Directors. After a series of discussions with zoo representatives, the project was officially approved for funding through the 2026 Wild Game Feast grant, one of the foundation’s key philanthropic programs.

Treehouse at the Heart of a New Vision

The planned Elevated Treehouse System and Learning Center will allow visitors to explore the zoo from a higher vantage point, creating new ways to observe exhibits and experience the natural environment. The design includes an outdoor classroom, multi-level play structures, and self-guided learning opportunities that emphasize interactive engagement with wildlife and conservation education.

The treehouse structure will be built by Treetop Builders, a specialty construction company based in Exton, Pennsylvania. The zoo also expects to incorporate additional interactive features showcasing the hidden lives of animals, giving guests a closer look at habitats and animal behaviors.

Construction could begin as soon as March 2026, following completion of the design and permitting phases.

Building on Accessibility and Education

The treehouse initiative builds on the zoo’s recent improvements to make its 10-acre facility more accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. It is also part of a broader master development plan supported by Gainesville-based consulting firm NV5, whose expertise helped outline the zoo’s path toward modernization and sustainability.

Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie said the master plan is a key investment in the future of both the zoo and its students. “This grant enables us to advance our plans to enhance the visitor experience to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo,” Broadie said. “Their expertise has been invaluable in this process, and the results will bolster our world-class zoo. The master plan will make our zoo a prime destination for visitors to our community, while giving our students additional training and learning opportunities to support sustainability, conservation, and preservation of animals across the region and around the world.”

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo remains the only college-based zoo in the nation accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Operated by roughly 100 students in the college’s Zoo Animal Technology program, the facility is home to more than 70 animal species ranging from small primates to exotic birds and reptiles.

Each year, the zoo welcomes approximately 70,000 visitors, drawing families, students and tourists to popular community events such as Boo at the Zoo, which brings in 5,000–7,000 guests for Halloween festivities, and Brew at the Zoo, held annually in May.

With the Rotary Foundation’s investment and the continued partnership of local organizations, Santa Fe College’s Teaching Zoo is poised to elevate its mission — quite literally — through an innovative treetop experience that blends conservation, education and community engagement.

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Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch Florida Forever Project | Photo by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

~ The following is a press release provided by the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff. ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the protection of 20,086 acres of critical conservation lands, representing a $167.25 million investment in Florida’s natural resources. Six of the properties are within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and another will expand Cary State Forest in Duval County. 

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