Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

The Standard Parking Garage is seen on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

More parking may be coming to Midtown

By Meghan McGlone | Nov. 22, 2021

The Gainesville City Commission voted Thursday to allow The Standard, located at 1360 W University Ave, to open its residential parking lots to the public. The change comes amid an effort pioneered by Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos. The apartment complex can choose whether to allow the public to use the parking garage, which previously wasn’t a permitted option.

METRO

Guaranteed income program breaks down barriers for formerly incarcerated

By Troy Myers | Nov. 22, 2021

The privately funded pilot program, designed by formerly incarcerated individuals, assists formerly incarcerated people re-enter society with a guaranteed income.

He Zheng pets a goat, one of the numerous farm animals at the Farm Bureau Food and Agriculture Festival on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

METRO | BUSINESS

Local farmers grow community awareness of agriculture at farming festival

By Alexandra Harris | Nov. 22, 2021

Hosted by The Alachua County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers, 21 vendors sold products ranging from varieties of cheese to succulents. Food trucks supplied global cuisine spanning Cuba to Venezuela and back home with American hot dogs, barbecue and ice cream.

Coco (middle), Anthony (right) and Evelyn Buscemi, 4, stand in front of Celebration Pointe’s Christmas tree after Evelyn turned on the lights on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.

METRO

Celebration Pointe kicks off holiday season with tree lighting ceremony, live music

By Serra Sowers | Nov. 22, 2021

A crowd of about 150 people gathered for the tree lighting, a performance excerpt of Cinderella by Danscompany of Gainesville and some opening remarks.

Karina A., TranQuility volunteer, lights a candle during a vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at Bo Diddley Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

METRO

Gainesville holds candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance

By Erina Anwar | Nov. 22, 2021

About 40 people came together to remember those who had lost their lives to transphobic violence worldwide. The annual vigil at Bo Diddley Plaza was hosted by TranQuility, Unspoken Treasure Society, UF LGBTQ Affairs, Pride Community Center of North Central Florida and UF Pride Student Union.

Ian Vought uses an ice pick and a chainsaw to chisel a pineapple-shaped ice sculpture during the Career Academy Showcase at Eastside High School on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Career Academy Showcase returns after pandemic hiatus, targets racial underrepresentation

By Zachary Carnell | Nov. 19, 2021

ACPS hosted the event at Eastside High School instead of the usual venue, Buchholz High School. The change of location was meant to tackle disproportionate success and representation among minority students in Alachua County, College & Career Pathways Director Shannon Ritter said .

Election Day for Gainesville City Commission was on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Polls were open across Gainesville from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Two candidates held watch parties later in the evening. The special election was held to fill the seat vacated by Gail Johnson when she resigned. Matt Howland, Cynthia Chestnut, Scherwin Henry, Patrick Ingle and Gabe Kaimowitz faced off for the open seat, but none prevailed yet. Howland and Chestnut will face off in January during the runoff election.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Cynthia Chestnut and Matt Howland progress to City Commission runoff

By Alligator Staff report | Nov. 16, 2021

Neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, which resulted in a necessary runoff election on Jan. 25. Chestnut received 46% of the votes, with a 560 lead over Howland, who received 41%. More than 13% of the nearly 90,000 eligible Gainesville voters turned out in the election, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Karl Anderson, Upper Room Ministries pastor, hands out free mugs at the end of the Souls to the Polls event at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Black Voters Matter organize voter engagement event for Gainesville’s Special Election

By Erina Anwar | Nov. 16, 2021

The event targeted Black voters in Gainesville and featured many performances, including gospel singer Keyla Richardson as well as speeches from candidates, city commissioners and other community leaders.

Kenneth Nunn, UF law professor, listens to a speech during the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center's re-opening reception on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021.

METRO

Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center reopens

By Zachary Carnell | Nov. 16, 2021

More than 100 people attended the event, which lasted from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. State Sen. Keith Perry made a brief appearance, and Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe made a short, two-minute speech.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools to lift mask mandate after winter break

By Bryce Brown | Nov. 15, 2021

The Alachua County School Board voted 3-2 on Wednesday to allow parents to opt their students out of masking from Nov. 12 to Dec. 17. The board also voted to make masking completely optional for students of all grade levels after winter break. The decision is consistent with State Department of Education and State Department of Health requirements.

Graphic of Gainesville City Hall and the County Administration Building

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Will Gainesville combat historic voter turnout lows in upcoming City Commission election?

By Meghan McGlone | Nov. 15, 2021

As of Sunday, almost 8,000 ballots have been cast according to the Supervisor of Elections Office — representing about 8.8% of total eligible voters in Gainesville. More than 6,000 of the ballots have been mailed in.

Southeast First Street is seen on Nov. 4, 2021. The Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan will focus on improving safety and lifestyle in the area with more stop lights, better housing, wider sidewalks and more community events.

METRO

City plan outlines new future for downtown Gainesville

By Bryce Brown | Nov. 15, 2021

The Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan process began last fall when city management and elected officials met to create ways to improve the city.

METRO

Music & Memory program unlocks elders’ pasts at retirement community

By Alexandra Harris | Nov. 15, 2021

To honor National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Oak Hammock Retirement Community at UF hosted a Music & Memory event Nov. 5. The organization uses music to help residents recall specific memories linked to songs that span across every era and genre.

METRO

A relative stranger: Gainesville resident finds biological family after 28-year search

By Faith Buckley | Nov. 15, 2021

Lightner, a 72-year-old Gainesville resident, united with his half-sister Linda Crosby, a 77-year-old Flagler Beach native, for the first time Nov. 3.

James Dinh, artist of the new monument, speaks during the Veterans Day event at the Historic Evergreen Cemetery.

METRO

Evergreen Cemetery unveils memorial at annual Veterans Day concert

By Jiselle Lee | Nov. 12, 2021

James Dinh, an artist from Los Angeles, spoke at the Veterans Day concert at Evergreen Cemetery.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Marion County man arrested on UF’s Sorority Row

By Isabella Douglas | Nov. 10, 2021

Antonio Murray, 21, had a warrant for invading a home in Marion County at gunpoint, ACSO spokesperson Art Forgey said. He was booked at Alachua County Jail Monday with a $25,000 bond.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Who’s running for Gainesville’s open at-large seat?

By Meghan McGlone and Troy Myers | Nov. 8, 2021

Early voting for the special election begins Nov. 12 and ends Nov. 14, and registered Gainesville residents can vote at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office or the Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville adds additional legal counsel, other cities to potential lawsuit against DeSantis’ anti-protest law

By Jiselle Lee | Nov. 8, 2021

After passing a unanimous vote at a meeting Thursday, city commissioners voted in favor of adding Southern Poverty Law Center and Jenner & Block firm as outside counsel. The commission also voted to add other cities as plaintiffs.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

For-profit Tom Petty festival approved for three years amid controversy

By Jiselle Lee | Nov. 8, 2021

On Wednesday, the City Commission amended its meeting’s consent agenda, which means a motion can pass without discussion. They added one controversial item: the approval of a multi-year event at Depot Park to celebrate one of Gainesville’s Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Tom Petty.

METRO

East Gainesville festival celebrates Black-owned businesses

By Bryce Brown | Nov. 8, 2021

Swarthy East GNV, a new organization aiming to bring a grocery and retail store supporting local Black-owned farms and businesses to the east side of the city, hosted the first Revolution Before Evolution Festival.