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GAINESVILLE, FL - The window for local families of students in PreKindergarten through 10^th grade to apply for their children to attend one of the district’s academic or career-technical (CTE) magnet programs opened today, January 16. It will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13.

This year 50% of the new students in each magnet program will be chosen through a districtwide lottery. The other 50% will be selected by the school. Students must meet certain academic, attendance and disciplinary criteria to be eligible for each magnet and must also meet program standards to remain enrolled.

The district uses an online process that allows families to apply for more than one program with a single application. Information about the magnet programs, the application timeline and more is available on the district’s website at https://www.sbac.edu/magnet. The online application is also posted on that website in both English and Spanish.

Open houses are being held at all magnet programs to allow students and families to learn more about what each has to offer. A schedule is also available on the magnet website at https://www.sbac.edu/magnet.

For specific questions about a particular magnet program, families can contact the school directly. For all other questions, they can email alachuamagnets@gm.sbac.edu or call (352) 955-7629.

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Updated: Jan. 17, 2024

Gainesville, FL -- The greater Gainesville music community is coming together to benefit one of their own, guitarist Paco, and his lovely wife, Vicki Bordeaux on Sunday, January 21^st, 2024, from 3:30pm to 7:45pm at Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601. This is a FREE event. The fundraiser supports Paco, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on the day after Thanksgiving and his wife, Vicki, who is caring for him at home. Both Paco and Vicki have supported the local music community over the years with their talents in music and publicity.

Paco was born David Lee Fritz 1966 in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin and now lives in Gainesville. At 13, Paco picked up the lap steel and soon progressed to guitar. Since those early years, he has served as sideman in many bands, besides maintaining his solo act under the stage name Paco. Most recently he was the guitarist for Little Mike and the Tornadoes from 2016 -2023 and over the last few years, has formed a blues band, (Paco Trio), a rock band, (FATWOOD) and a classic country band, (Boot Soul) all while continuing his solo act.

Paco's sound is unique and organic. Paco explains, “Sounds, and the manipulation of them has been my obsession since birth. My earliest memories, at the age of three, are of listening to recorded music while contemplating what all the instruments might be, and more intently, how might the arrangement be altered. My core motivation for playing guitar, singing and songwriting is a desire to manipulate sound. I like to think that's apparent in my compositions and performance.”

Paco has also been a lifelong songwriter, and ten of his original songs are included on the upcoming album "Midnight Ramble". The Pre-release premiere of “Moonlight Ramble” occurred this past July on Radio Memphis and Paco’s summer was filled with touring the Mississippi Valley in support of this release. The first two offerings on the album, “I Get a Feeling” and “Food for Your Coffee” are now available on a variety of streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and more. Paco’s talent as a guitarist, singer and songwriter can also be found on his YouTube channel, Soundslikepaco and his Facebook page, Fans of Paco.

The bands performing on Sunday each have at least one band member that has played with Paco. For example, the event features a reunion of Little Mike & The Tornadoes that will bring Little Mike out of retirement to “play for Paco.” 

The schedule is:

3:30pm - 4:00pm Kyle Keller

4:15pm - 4:45pm Boulware Bluegrass

5:00pm - 5:40pm Little Mike & The Tornadoes

5:55pm - 6:35pm Justin Lee Partin

6:50pm - 7:35pm Trigger City

All times are approximate and scheduling changes may occur without notice. Anyone wishing to speak about Paco at the event will have an opportunity between sets.

A GoFundMe account as well as other ways have been established to receive donations. Visit the event Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/3VvwtZCuQ for more details.

The Benefit for Paco will be held Sunday, January 21^st, 2024, from 3:30pm to 7:45pm at Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601. This is a FREE event. For more information about the event or to donate, visit the event Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/3VvwtZCuQ or heartwoodsoundstage.com for more details.

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GAINESVILLE, FL -- The greater Gainesville music community is coming together to benefit one of their own, guitarist Paco, and his lovely wife, Vicki Bordeaux on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. This is a FREE event.  The fundraiser supports Paco, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on the day after Thanksgiving and his wife, Vicki, who is caring for him at home.  

Each band has been selected because each band has members that have played with Paco. A reunion of Little Mike & The Tornadoes will bring Little Mike out of retirement to “play for Paco.” 

The schedule is:

3:30 pm - 4:00pm Kyle Keller

4:15 pm - 4:45pm Boulware Bluegrass

5:00 pm - 5:40pm Little Mike & The Tornadoes

5:55 pm - 6:35pm Justin Lee Partin

6:50 pm - 7:35 pm Trigger City

All times are approximate and scheduling changes may occur without notice. Anyone wishing to speak about Paco at the event will have an opportunity between sets.

A GoFundMe account as well as other ways have been established to receive donations. Visit the event Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/3VvwtZCuQ for more details.

The Benefit for Paco will be held Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 from 3:30 pm to 7 pm at Heartwood Soundstage, 619 S Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. This is a FREE event. For more information visit the event Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/3VvwtZCuQ or heartwoodsoundstage.com for more details.

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FLORIDA, FL – Grace Huguley from Hawthorne High School always knew she wanted to go to college. She just didn't know how or where.

Or if she could afford it.

Coming from a low-income background and with no one in her family having gone to college, Grace simply didn't know the ins and outs of college and the application process. It was this need that prompted Grace to join Talent Search in 9th grade. Through the program, Grace received advice on what classes to take in high school, help to prepare for the ACT, college and career exploration sessions, and hands-on assistance applying for college, financial aid and scholarships. Talent Search helped Grace with her “how.” She is now attending Notre Dame University on a full 4-year scholarship.

Stories like Grace's are not uncommon. Schools are filled with students who have the desire to attend college but lack the "how." North Central Florida TRIO Talent Search (NCFETS) has been meeting this need since 1994, providing guidance to 9th-12th grade students to navigate high school and enroll in the college or university of their choice. Like Grace, the majority of these students are low-income and will be the first in their families to graduate college.

“Talent Search is aimed at those low-income, first-generation households where you don't know what you are doing and they're guiding you,” said Jesus Dominguez, ETS graduate. “So having that guide, having the resources, having people that are there to support you and guide you with everything, that's the biggest thing that they do and it builds a person, it builds them up for success.”

Talent Search is a federal grant, consortium project of the College of Central Florida, Florida Gateway College and Santa Fe College. Over the past 30 years, Talent Search has helped over 4,000 seniors plan for life after high school with 64% of students enrolling in college. These are students who will be the first in their family to graduate college.

The success of the program is a testament to the support of community partners, the dedication of the students and the commitment of its coaches. The program is fortunate to have the expertise of coaches Theresa Cothren (Baker County, Dixie County, Fort White and Union High Schools), Jacki Garcia (Dunnellon, Lake Weir, North Marion and West Port High Schools) and Lindsey Ragsdale (Bradford County and Hawthorne High Schools).

“Our coaches are the heart of Talent Search,” said Jodi Doher, Talent Search Director. “Our coaches have the benefit of working with students for four years and really getting to know the students and develop a relationship. Not everyone's path is the same so individualized guidance is key. There are so many decisions facing our teens and questions about what to do with their future. Having a trustworthy professional, someone to help make high school decisions, plan for the future after graduation, identify pathways to get there, and provide support and resources to achieve those goals, is imperative. Our coaches change lives and this program, Talent Search, is changing our community.”

North Central Florida TRIO Talent Search is a federal grant, consortium project of the College of Central Florida, Florida Gateway College and Santa Fe College. If you have a student at one of our target schools that could benefit from the project, apply online at https://sfcollege-ts-pub.studentaccess.com/appform/default.aspx?guid=9f956522-4de3-4e27-b933-e6bde4647f38

For more information, email talent.search@sfcollege.edu or call 352-395-5960.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – World Masters Athletics (WMA), the international governing body for track & field, cross country, road race, and racewalk for athletes 35+, announced Jan. 10, 2024, that Alachua County will host the 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (WMACi25).

This will mark the first time the event has been held in the United States, giving Alachua County the honor of being the first U.S. community to host. In the WMA announcement, WMA Council President Margit Jungmann thanked the Alachua County, Gainesville Sports Commission and RADD Sports for hosting the 2025 Indoor Championships.

“We are confident their team is exceptionally qualified and capable of organizing a World Championship as they support over seventy sporting events annually,” she said. “It will be special having outdoor events in warmer average temperatures than previous Championships and returning to North America.” 

The WMACi25 is held every two years and features 24 events, including competition in indoor track & field, cross country, road race and outdoor throwing events over eight days.

In 2024, over 4,000 athletes participated in the championships in Torun, Poland. The event is estimated to bring over 10,000 visitors to Alachua County in March 2025, with 60% coming from international destinations.

“My fellow commissioners and I want to thank the WMA Council and its member federations for choosing us to host this amazing international event. We are excited to welcome the world in 2025! We will provide a wonderful experience for all our regional, national, and international visitors,” Stated Mary Alford, Chair of the Alachua County Commission. “Alachua County’s experience hosting major events, our world-class facilities and amenities, rich sports history, and cultural, natural, and entertainment offerings make it the ideal location for the World Masters Indoor Championships.”

The bid committee is a collaborative effort between Alachua County, Viking Companies, Celebration Pointe, RADDSports, Visit Gainesville/Alachua County and Gainesville Sports Commission, which began in May 2023. Now awarded, the Alachua County Local Organizing Committee will be activated to organize this major international event.

“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with the State of Florida, Alachua County, and our community partners to introduce Alachua County to the world stage,” said Celebration Pointe developer Svein Dyrkolbotn. “This success demonstrates the power of sport tourism to bring exposure to our community as a destination.”

The opening of the Alachua County Sports and Events Center (ACSEC) at Celebration Pointe was the catalyst for landing the championships when the center hosted a pre-opening indoor track and field season in early 2023. The announcement comes just ahead of the 2024 indoor track & field series at the ACSEC, featuring 16 total meets, with four collegiate conference championships and a national championship.

The state-of-the-art indoor track facility was made possible through an appropriation by the State of Florida with the support of the Alachua County local State delegation.

“This announcement, and very special event, will put Florida on the world stage to showcase talented athletes from across the globe,” said state Rep. Chuck Clemons,Florida House Speaker Pro-Tempore. “The economic impacts of this event, and games like it, have on our community are opportunities that all Florida communities pray for.”

View the official WMA announcement.

Learn more about the Alachua County Sports and Event Center.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperature below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during evening hours Saturday, Jan. 13 and Sunday, Jan. 14. The anticipated temperatures will lead to the activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace at the Empowerment Center will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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