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GAINESVILLE, FLA – Boo at the Zoo returns to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, from 3-7 p.m. The SF Teaching Zoo is located on SF’s Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville.

Boo at the Zoo is Gainesville’s wildest Halloween event for the whole family. All ages are welcome to join us in costume and trick or treat!

Admission is one canned good or non-perishable food item per person. Canned goods will be donated to local food banks.

The zoo will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in order to prepare and transform the zoo into multiple themed areas with candy stations. This year, explore the worlds of Mario Kart, Pixie Hollow, 100 Acre Woods, A Bug’s Life, Medieval Kingdom, Jurassic Park, Pirate Treasure Hunt and Hercules! 

 In addition to the festivities and trick or treating in the zoo, Fun4GatorKids will host a KidsZone in front of the zoo full of community organizations with crafts, activities, and even more candy. There will be live entertainment, animal encounters, games and food available for purchase at the event.

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ALACHUA ‒ Despite a light rain Saturday morning, the classic car show charity event at the property of Dexter and Sarajo O’Steen went on as scheduled and was a great success.  The Fellowship of Christian Athletes D&S Classic Car Show was held for the benefit of the North Central Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  In all, some 80 cars were entered in the contest and show, which featured classic cars, trucks and motorcycles, food tents, raffle and awards.  In addition to the car entrants, the event was also well-attended by spectators, whose entry came with free admission.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Co-developers Mitch Glaeser and Rich Blaser of San Felasco Tech City (SFTC) have announced that Harvest Thyme Express will establish a brand new 2,400 square foot café in Alachua, Florida, which will be located near the entrance of the Tech City development. Harvest Thyme Express plans to open their new location at SFTC in February of 2024.

At Harvest Thyme Express, the focus has always been on more than just food; it's about a culinary journey that caters to various dietary preferences and requirements. Whether customers are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or have allergies, they can rest assured that Harvest Thyme Express is fully equipped to accommodate their needs. The new café's design embraces a welcoming and comfortable ambiance, designed to make every customer feel right at home. With a combination of indoor and outdoor seating, customers can choose their preferred dining setting while enjoying the lush surroundings and inviting atmosphere that San Felsasco Tech City offers.

    "We love being a part of the growth we’ve seen over the last few years at Tech City. We can’t wait to bring our yummy food to everyone in the area," said Caitlin Burkill, Owner of Harvest Thyme Express.

"Strategically, we’ve waited for the ideal café to come along and fill the need out here. Harvest Thyme Express has the quality and selection that our tenants, their employees, and the area residents have long requested. The Café will provide a drive thru for customers on the go, and will be open for breakfast and lunch," said Mitch Glaeser, CEO, Emory Group Companies (Owner of San Felasco Tech City).

“The Tech City community is thriving evidenced by the latest edition of Harvest Thyme Café. We have no doubt their fresh quality food will be well received on campus." said Dan Drotos Senior Vice President, with Colliers GNV Commercial Advisory Team, who represented San Felasco Tech City in the transaction.

Harvest Thyme Express will be joining and serving over 55 innovative companies that call SFTC home. These companies include Vobile Inc., Okito America, Neurotronics, Anamar Environmental Consulting, Inc., IIA Engineering, Nextgen Biologics, Fracture, Novapproach Spine, Momentum Dance, Daft Cow Brewery, and Beaker & Flask just to name a few.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ The residents of Micanopy are seeing their fire services move from the Town of Micanopy to Alachua County as the town’s services have transitioned to Alachua County's Fire Rescue Department (ACFR).  Ongoing Issues such as staffing, equipment and insurance led in part to the decision to move operational control to Alachua County.

The transition, which came at the request of Micanopy officials, took place on Sunday, Oct. 1. According to County officials, that transition will dramatically strengthen fire and rescue services in this area. 

Last May, Alachua County and The Town of Micanopy entered into an Interlocal Agreement to transition these services. The new service protects residents and property in an over 25 square mile area. 

With a dedicated three-person crew operating an Advanced Life Support Engine, “Station 64,” ACFR's 16th station, will provide 24/7 coverage year-round. This new station will meet or exceed the standards recognized by the Insurance Service Office (ISO), which will benefit property owners' insurance rates.

“This is a major step forward in providing critical emergency services to residents of the Town of Micanopy and the surrounding unincorporated area," said Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus. "I am grateful for the cooperation of all of the elected officials and for their support and commitment to public safety."

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GAINESVILLE Fla.—Rebecca Hall of Alachua County has been named as a state finalist for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Excellence in Agriculture award.She will compete for the statewide honor later this month at the 2023 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Orlando, Oct. 25-27.

Hall serves as the vice president of Promised Land Family Ministries Inc., a nonprofit founded by her and her husband. The couple own a 54-acre farm, considered to be within a food desert. To help serve families in need, Hall initiated a community garden to provide a variety of produce to those in the area. Hall oversees all administrative, fundraising and marketing efforts as well as the coordination of volunteers for the non-profit.

 “We seek to be a blessing to the community and one way we do that is through our community garden,” said Hall. “One hundred percent of produce we grow goes to families in need. I take produce to families and keep spreadsheets with data from our garden so we can make notes and improve our yield the next season.”

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is based on an applicant’s involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other civic organizations. Each Excellence in Agriculture award finalist will make a presentation to a panel of qualified judges at the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Orlando..

The Excellence in Agriculture Award winner will receive a utility vehicle, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, $500 in cash and an expense-paid trip to the 2024 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 19-22, 2024.

Florida Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general agricultural organization, represents more than132,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A High Springs man has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. Jon Walter Crawford, 34, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 10:35 a.m. and charged with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material with additional charges pending.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office received a Cyber Tip in October 2022, alleging that a person using a Yahoo account sent two files with child exploitation material via email on Sept. 4, 2021. The investigator reviewed the files provided in the tip and determined that at least one video, which is 2.46 in length, met the criteria for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

A subpoena revealed that the IP address belonged to Windstream, and Windstream responded in January 2023 with a physical address in High Springs. Crawford lives at that address.

Deputies made contact with Crawford and he reportedly denied possessing any CSAM and gave consent for a search of his phone. Crawford went into the house and returned with his phone. The deputy reported finding an 11:32-minute video that met the criteria for CSAM and informed Crawford that he was under arrest.

Post Miranda, Crawford reportedly admitted to possessing the video and viewing images showing child pornography; he said he received the files via an online messaging app and normally watched a video and then deleted it unless he liked it enough to save it. Crawford aided the investigator and was cooperative during the investigation.

Additional charges are pending a search warrant for his electronic devices.

Crawford has no local criminal history. Bail was set at $25,000 by Judge Thomas M. Jaworski. Crawford has since bonded out.

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