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In today’s Scoop:
🏛️ Alachua County unanimously backed an immigration-enforcement resolution
💡 GRU kept investment-grade ratings before a $150 million bond sale
🌳 Gainesville collected $14.1 million in tree-removal fees
🚸 School-zone cameras now carry $100 speeding fines
⚖️ Two veteran public defenders are running for County Judge Seat 5
🫓 Honduran Baleadas on West University Avenue
At 1702 W. University Avenue, Tela serves Honduran-inspired bowls, burritos, and baleadas from two childhood friends who first met in kindergarten in Honduras and later reconnected in the United States.
The build-your-own menu layers red beans, plantains, pickled onions, cotija, and Tela sauce with chicken, chorizo, steak, or vegetables. It is a fast-casual taste of the coastal city that gave the restaurant its name and the baleada its home.
Read more here.
How to Start Your Own Pink Zebra Moving Business
Gainesville households move all year long, and most of them need a mover. Most of that work still goes to companies nobody recommends twice, which is exactly the gap Pink Zebra Moving was built to fill, with hot-pink zebra-striped trucks and a customer experience people actually rave about.
It comes from Ron Holt, who grew a single cleaning store into a $40 million, 90-location brand before selling it and pointing the same playbook at moving. Owners get comprehensive training, a recession-resistant service, and no moving experience is required because the model runs semi-absentee alongside what you already do.
The numbers show what is possible: franchisee Drue Chrisman’s location generated $2.5 million in revenue and $707,000 in net operating income in its first full calendar year, even after franchise expenses and new-truck purchases.* Across the network, franchise owners average $135,904 in net operating income.*
Gainesville gets only one owner, and whoever raises their hand first gets the territory.
If you have been quietly wanting something of your own with no ceiling on the upside, tap below to explore the model and request more information directly from the Pink Zebra team.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible!
🏛️ County unanimously backs immigration-enforcement resolution
The Gist: Alachua County commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 11 for a resolution addressing immigration-related enforcement. It says the county will follow Florida law while expecting enforcement to be nondiscriminatory and nondestructive, and it stops short of naming ICE or creating a sanctuary policy.
Why It Matters: County Attorney Sylvia Torres said the state attorney general could challenge the action, while officials also acknowledged possible risks to federal grants, including HUD funding.
Read more here.
💡 GRU keeps investment-grade ratings before $150 million bond sale
The Gist: Fitch, Moody's and S&P affirmed stable, investment-grade ratings for Gainesville Regional Utilities before its planned $150 million bond issue. The ratings remain A+ from Fitch, Aa3 from Moody's and A from S&P, with another $150 million bond planned for 2028.
Why It Matters: The new debt will help fund work including Main Street Water Reclamation Facility upgrades, while GRU's high debt load and governance dispute remain risks cited by the agencies.
What's Next: GRU plans to sell the bonds later in August. Water rates rise 2% and wastewater rates 1.75% in October.
Read more here.
🌳 Gainesville collected $14.1 million in tree-removal fees
The Gist: Gainesville collected $10.3 million from projects that removed regulated trees between fiscal 2019 and 2024, then another $3.8 million the next year. The city spent $110,800 on tree planting during the first five years and allocated $4 million for land purchases in 2026.
Why It Matters: With limited room for new trees, the city is shifting toward buying existing woods, including land near Main Street and 39th Avenue and Four Creeks Preserve.
What's Next: UF researchers plan to present an updated inventory of more than 25,000 public trees to city commissioners this fall.
Read more here.
🚸 School-zone cameras now carry $100 speeding fines
The Gist: Alachua County's school-zone cameras now mail $100 fines to drivers going at least 11 mph over the limit while a zone is active, or at least 15 mph over while school is in session. The administrative fine initially carries no license points or insurance report.
Why It Matters: The cameras capture a three-second video and four photos only after detecting a violation, extending enforcement when deputies cannot cover every school zone.
What's Next: Recipients have 30 days to pay and a 15-day grace period before the fine can become a traffic citation with higher penalties and possible points.
Read more here.
⚖️ Two public defenders vie for County Judge Seat 5
The Gist: Eric Atria and AuBroncee Martin, each a public defender for more than 20 years, are competing for Alachua County Judge Seat 5 in the Aug. 18 election. County judges handle criminal misdemeanors and civil disputes involving up to $50,000.
Why It Matters: The winner will oversee everyday local cases involving traffic, landlords and tenants, small claims and misdemeanors in the county's most community-facing trial court.
What's Next: Early voting runs through Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 18.
Read more here.
🎨 Design + Doodle Lab | Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention | Gainesville | Friday, August 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | More
Drop in for pop-up projects or create freely at the open art station.
🖼️ Weekend Tour | Harn Museum of Art | Gainesville | Saturday, August 15, 2-3 p.m. | More
A docent leads a free, conversational tour through the museum's current exhibitions.
🦒 Story Time at the Zoo | Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo | Gainesville | Wednesday, August 19, 10:30-11 a.m. | More
Hear animal stories on the zoo's front lawn, with free parking.
🎲 Teen/Tween D&D Encounters | Headquarters Library | Gainesville | Wednesday, August 19, 4-6 p.m. | More
Ages 12 to 18 can join a beginner-friendly tabletop adventure.
🎤 Gainesville Youth Chorus Auditions | Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Thursday, August 20, 4-6 p.m. | More
Young singers perform part of a favorite song; no experience is required.
🎶 Free Fridays Concert Series with The Impostors | Bo Diddley Plaza | Gainesville | Friday, August 14, 7-9 p.m. | More
The Impostors perform a free outdoor Beatles tribute concert downtown.
🎸 Rock for a Cause at the 2026 Battle of the Bands | The Wooly | Gainesville | Saturday, August 15, 7:30 p.m.-midnight | More
Local company bands compete alongside a silent auction benefiting GRACE Marketplace.
🥂 Gator Garden Brunch | Sweetwater Branch Inn | Gainesville | Sunday, August 16, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | More
Book one table per party for a seasonal buffet and live acoustic music.
🎵 Free Porch Sessions | Heartwood Soundstage | Gainesville | Wednesday, August 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m. | More
Free acoustic sets bring a laid-back midweek soundtrack to the deck.
💃 Thursday Night Swing Dancing | Rosa B. Williams Center | Gainesville | Thursday, August 20, 7:30-10:30 p.m. | More
Start with a free beginner or intermediate lesson, then stay for social dancing.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
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