Latest Neighborhood Newsletter- Feb. '26

                                  THE END OF A GOOD THING

         We loved Saturday's farmer's market on 441 at NW 59 street. You could buy fresh produce while chatting with real farmers. Compact and simple, you could get in and out easily. The two "tractor barn" structures kept us dry in wet weather. That ended five weeks ago when the county closed it

and moved it to a shopping mall seven miles north.

       "Tech City" is not really shopping mall, it just looks and feels like one, a group of disjointed structures that allows shoppers to get drenched on rainy days.  The "city's"  glassy exterior's got no soul, nothin' "barn" or "farm" about it.

     

    The county says the move was necessary to make more room for the fire department facility next to the old market.  

         It was on the outer edge of Gainesville. Now it is seven miles north in Alachua, a city with one-tenth the population of GNV.  

We've been there twice  -there are plenty of shoppers- but not the Gainesville faces we're use to.

BUY BACON ON THE HOOF

    Most of the old farmers are selling their okra and squash elsewhere because they aren't allowed park their trucks nearby. The new market is three times as big, like one long strip mall. The old one was proudly "growers only" with little prepared food.  This one has people selling  everything from tacos and perfumed soap to bird houses.

        For now we'll be buying our greens in the heart of Gainesville, at the Monday market located at Cypress & Grove Brewery.

       Gainesville would be wise to create its own Saturday market, one with tractor barns and room for farmers and their trucks.

THE MARKET THAT WAS

 

 

  DEMOCRACY IS DYING

      You've probably noticed that the President is hell-bent on destroying our democracy. The similarities between U.S. life and that in 1930's Germany are beyond chilling.

        What he wants is an "autocracy",  a government where one person holds absolute power, it could be a monarchy or dictatorship.  

    Fortunately we live in a city that's fighting back. Last Friday 500 people took over University Avenue to demand that we end ICE and its gestapo tactics.

 

 

The following evening 150 of us gathered to honor  those killed by ICE in recent months.

   This is no time to sit on your hands. Call your senators, donate to good candidates, and come join  the next protest. The 3d "No Kings" rally will be held on March 28th at Cora Roberson Park, noon to 4 pm.

 

THE PIG THAT FLIES 

     There were a few political statements made at the Flying Pig Parade. The President tossed paper towels to hurricane victims, voters were chasing a ballot box, and free vasectomies were performed in the street.

     We just finished editing a 11-minute video of "Pig III".   Every group in the parade makes a brief appearance. You're invited to its World Premiere on Thursday, February 12th, 7 pm, at First Magnitude Brewery. 

 

   

    Come join us. It'll be like taking a bath in laughter.

 

A NEW LOOK FOR RAINBOW BRIDGE

    We're seeing less rainbows since the governor declared them illegal.  One that's remained is the wooden bridge crossing Rattlesnake Creek.

DeSatan missed it because it's on private property.  

     The neighbors re-paint it every year or two. Last month Teri covered it with white primer before the re-painting. 

Shocked neighbors thought the Gov had painted and renamed it "White Supremacy Bridge" but slowly, the colors are coming back.

 

    Let's hope we get our democracy back. In these distressing times, remember to stay vigilant, informed, and raise as much hell as you can.

                          _________________

 

                     Last weekend at Manatee Springs