At 3445 W. University Avenue in the Westgate Regency Shopping Center, Mildred's Big City Food is Tara and Bert Gill's longtime Gainesville restaurant, first established in 1999 and built around local produce, Florida seafood, and a changing menu.

By day, it shares a casual bistro rhythm with New Deal Cafe. At dinner, Mildred's slows down with a nightly menu, a careful wine list, and the Golden Spoon Hall of Fame nod to back up its old-Gainesville staying power.

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The Gist: The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a five-year employment agreement that would make Stuart Bell UF's 14th president. The proposed contract starts July 1, runs through June 30, 2031, and includes a $2 million annual base salary, up to 3% annual merit increases, performance incentives, retention payments, and a guaranteed faculty appointment if Bell completes the term or is removed without cause.

Why It Matters: UF is Gainesville's biggest institution, so the president shapes campus hiring, research growth, hospital strategy, construction, athletics, housing pressure, and the university's relationship with city and county leaders.

What's Next: The Board of Governors vote is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, after a June 24 delay tied to broader governance concerns.

Read more here.

The Gist: The Shands Nurses Union, OPEIU Local 713 and Florida Nurses Association, ratified a new three-year contract with UF Health Shands Hospital after five days of bargaining. The agreement covers 2,952 bedside registered nurses, includes $18.3 million in wage and compensation improvements, adds $3.3 million to keep health insurance premiums flat in 2027, and gives hourly raises ranging from $1 to $4.

Why It Matters: Shands is one of Gainesville's central employers and health care anchors, so nurse staffing, wages, and workplace voice affect both local families and patient care across the region.

What's Next: The contract includes a wage reopener clause that allows new wage negotiations to start in spring 2027.

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The Gist: Gainesville hosted the first of three community workshops Tuesday on the former Thelma A. Boltin Center site. Commissioners voted last September to demolish the building and reimagine the property as a Sweetwater Greenway Loop trailhead, with outdoor community space, stormwater improvements, a community garden, and features tied to the site's World War II history and Thelma Boltin's legacy.

Why It Matters: The city has about $2 million in Wild Spaces & Public Places money budgeted for the site, but trail connection funding is still uncertain and residents are still questioning what was lost during demolition.

What's Next: The planning process is expected to take several months, with two more workshops planned and online survey input available through the city's Wild Spaces and Public Places website.

Read more here.

The Gist: The Gainesville City Plan Board voted 4-2 Thursday to recommend higher density for The Verve, a planned 12-story building at 1026 SW Second Avenue near UF and the Innovation District. The amendment would add 23 units and 125 bedrooms, bringing the project to 227 units and 682 bedrooms, with 24 affordable units at 50% to 80% of area median income and parking rising from 90 to 100 spaces.

Why It Matters: The project sits beside the University Heights Historic District and would reshape a tight corridor near University Avenue, forcing Gainesville to balance student housing demand, scale, parking, and on-site affordable housing.

What's Next: The Gainesville City Commission still has to decide whether to approve the density amendment and whether the 24 affordable units must stay on site instead of being replaced by a cash payment.

Read more here.

🎆 WUFT's Fanfares & Fireworks 2026 | University of Florida Bandshell at Flavet Field | Gainesville | Friday, July 3, 6 to 10 p.m. | More
Free UF celebration with live music, food trucks, and fireworks around 9:30 p.m.

🎇 Fourth of July Celebration | Legacy Park | Alachua | Saturday, July 4, 5 to 10 p.m. | More
Annual celebration with live music, food vendors, free parking, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

🎵 Music and Movement | Tower Road Branch Library | Gainesville | Tuesday, July 7, 10:30 to 11 a.m. | More
Toddlers and preschoolers can sing, dance, and play along with library staff.

🦎 Summer at the Library: Wild Wonders | Tower Road Branch Library | Gainesville | Wednesday, July 8, 3 to 4 p.m. | More
Interactive reptile program with local and exotic reptiles, stories, music, and kid participation.

🐶 Read with a Dog | Tower Road Branch Library | Gainesville | Thursday, July 9, 3 to 4 p.m. | More
Kids practice reading aloud with visiting therapy dogs in the children's area.

🥁 BLOCO GNV Drumming | Oakview Community Center | Gainesville | Sunday, July 5, 5 to 7 p.m. | More
Community drumming session focused on Afro-Brazilian rhythms and samba-reggae.

🎲 Adult Board Gaming | Cone Park Branch Library | Gainesville | Tuesday, July 7, 12:30 to 3 p.m. | More
Adults can drop in for Scrabble, Risk, Ticket to Ride, and other tabletop games.

💃 Smooth Flava Dance Parties | Bo Diddley Plaza | Gainesville | Tuesday, July 7, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. | More
Free community line-dancing meetup with Smooth Flava at Bo Diddley Plaza.

🎸 Free Porch Sessions ft. Amanda Husband & Friends | Heartwood Soundstage | Gainesville | Wednesday, July 8, 6:30 to 9 p.m. | More
Free outdoor acoustic porch jams with happy hour specials on the Heartwood deck.

🖼️ Art After Dark: Museum Nights: Liberty & Art For All | Harn Museum of Art | Gainesville | Thursday, July 9, 6 to 9 p.m. | More
Free evening museum program with hands-on art, mini-tours, and Liberty & Art For All activities.

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