The Grove Guy: MILTON, A HINT OF THINGS TO COME

TWICE IN TWO WEEKS!

Broken Branch on 10-10-24, NW 11 Road

What's with all the hurricanes? They usually hit each Florida city about once every twelve years.

Irma came to G-Town in 2017. Tampa had not been hit since 1921.

That's all changed. Tampa got whacked. G'ville had near misses twice in two weeks.

Mother Nature is pissed.

We're frogs in warming water with no one to turn off the stove.

Most politicians are hopeless when it comes to solving the ever-worsening climate crisis. Our governor is one of them. Heather Cox Richardson wrote in her column a few days ago,

Before this year, Florida had goals of moving toward clean energy, but in May 2024, Governor DeSantis signed a law to restructure the state’s energy policy so that addressing climate change would no longer be a priority. The law deleted any mention of climate change in state laws. Saying that “Florida rejects the designs of the left to weaken our energy grid, pursue a radical climate agenda, and promote foreign adversaries,” the governor posted a graphic on X that said the law would “INSULATE FLORIDA FROM GREEN ZEALOTS….”

18th Terrace tree fall courtesy of Helene

Until we elect leaders who believe people are more important than profits and power, we are screwed.

We do have an election coming up next month...

RALLY FOR GRU

Our neighbor, David, is very active in our local Sierra Club chapter. He helped put together a rally outside the GRU office last week.

Several eloquent speakers reminded us of the many reasons to VOTE YES to restore local control of "GRU", our city's municipal utilities.

I hope you do.

HEART WALL

Don't you get tired of looking at the graffiti on the 34th Street wall? It's so disjointed, most of it ultra-color tag names that say, "Look at me!". That's one of the reasons I was so pleased to see G'ville's newest wall art across from the east side of Depot Park.

Artists from Shand's Arts & Medicine program created "Wall of Hearts" from colorful tile. It is long and lyrical. Stop by and enjoy it.

NEWS FROM THE WOODS

BE KIND TO FAIRIES

Rattlesnake Woods' "FairyTown", was torn apart before the hurricanes hit. I think it was Sid, the bad kid from "Toy Story".

FairyTown, smashed by Sid?

The fairies are homeless. If you'd like to help re-build FairyTown let me know.

FIXING THE TRAIL

Part of the woods' bike trail has been falling into Hogtown Creek. A big thanks to the neighbors who built an alternate trail to protect our fragile waterway.

ARE WE READY FOR A HOGTOWN CREEK FISHING TOURNAMENT?

A new neighbor, Eli, purchased a house on the south side of the creek. Being an avid fisherman, he did what few do, he cast his line into water we assumed lethal to all living things. Lo and behold, Eli is now reeling in large mouth bass, sun fish, and at least one suwannee bass.

A rare Suwannee Bass

Yes, they are small and Eli tosses them back.

While it's not yet fit for humans to swim in, Eli the Fisherman has hope, "Fish like bass require cool, fast-running, clean water. Maybe the creeks here are healthier than we think".

Eli has spotted a fox and deer in his new backyard. Two blocks east neighbor Susan has seen nocturnal flying squirrels for the first time in years.

Florida Park is wild!

LET'S PICNIC!

Our University Park Neighborhood Association is having its annual Fall Picnic on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 3-6 pm. It will be

held in the pavilion behind Parker Elementary on NW 5 Ave. @ 20th St. The gate will be open so you can park on the field.

Come join us. Chat with your neighbors and make new friends.

You need not be a member or even live in our neighborhood. Drinks and refreshments will be provided.

LET'S PARADE!

We're having our fifth annual Florida Park Neighborhood Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 31st.


Artist: Rosi Arenas

Meet at the corner of NW 17 St and 12 Rd. We line up at 5:30 and march at 6 pm. Gainesville's new Brazilian percussion band, "BlocoGNV", says they'll be joining us.

It's not too soon to begin preparing for Gainesville's greatest event, The Flying Pig Parade. It takes place on Saturday, December 28th. Our neighborhood was well represented when it stepped out for the first time last year.

It's gonna be great again 'cause anything can happen when pigs fly. As one person commented, "It's like taking a bath in laughter".