Hundreds of books line the shelves. Titles from every genre read from left to right. They are perfectly sorted into different categories, like mystery, adventure and romance. One book mysteriously fades away while another appears in its place. For some, the background is silent, but for others, the background overflows with familial noises. All are exposed to new worlds with each passing moment, and the perfect book is found as they stroll or should I say scroll through. The second annual Sunshine State Book Festival will be held virtually in January 2021. The digital event will open January 30, 2021, and it will remain accessible to visitors through June 30, 2021.

A communal bathroom, a cafeteria and eight bedrooms. Each bedroom provides a family with a roof when there is nowhere else to stay. The cafeteria gives food when no one else will. The bathroom offers a space to wash the day away and start fresh the next. St. Francis House, located at 413 S Main St in downtown Gainesville, is an emergency family shelter that offers housing, daily meals and other services for homeless individuals and families in the Gainesville area. The shelter helps connect sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals with work, education, job skills or any other necessities a person finds essential for success. “It’s never about us telling them what they should or shouldn’t do,” Lauri Sciffbauer, the executive director at St. Francis House, said. “It’s helping them identify for themselves what it is they want, where they want to go and where they want to be.”

“Although Portrait of a Young Man is mostly fiction, it’s rooted in the very real necessity for forgiveness through enduring love,” Shenk said on a fundraising page for the film. Brandon Shenk, 35, is the writer, director and producer of the movie “Portrait of a Young Man,” filmed in Gainesville, Florida.

COVID-19 has had drastic effects on every business. Restaurants stopped indoor seating. Retailers shut down over 6,000 stores, according to Business Insider. Colleges and universities switched to online learning. However, Zoom, the video conferencing site and app, has exploded in popularity. If you’ve stayed in your house during these bizarre times, then most likely Zoom has become a part of your day-to-day routine. Wake up. Shower. Eat. Zoom. Sleep. Repeat. There is no other way.

The wind blows by, leaves rustle and fluffy, white clouds fill the light blue sky. Simply being outdoors is all Alyne Harris needs to spark her imagination and start her latest piece of artwork.

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication among humans. It has become a crucial part of human existence, dating back thousands of years. Most can’t picture their lives without it. Over the years, storytelling has taken on many different forms.

Black History Month is an important month where we recognize the historical contributions made by black leaders, innovators and pioneers. Enjoy this list of black pioneers and leaders who changed the food industry forever.

A line of people wearing blue “Hate Has No Home Here” shirts chanted “impeach Trump,” while a 30-second walk away, a sea of people in red “MAGA” hats chanted “four more years.” That was the scene outside the building in The Villages where President Donald Trump on Thurday signed an executive order addressing the administration’s future Medicare plans. The signing took place at one of the largest retirement communities in the country where some of his most fervent supporters now live. Previousl

Sometimes a big, family Thanksgiving meal isn't an option. Maybe you don't have enough for the bus/ plane ticket home, maybe familial dinners are complete chaos at your house or maybe you want a pre-Thanksgiving meal with your friends (Friendsgiving, anyone?). Either way, I know the perfect, budget-friendly place to go.

Angela Wright, proud mother of eight children, was home for only an hour before driving to the Florida Education Association meeting Wednesday night. Wright, a computer proctor and union representative for her school, said she speaks as a mother who has noticed the changes in the Florida school system over the years. She had just finished her shift at Hawthorne Middle and High School before heading to the meeting. “When you work together, when you have a voice and let people know what’s going

United Way Of North Central Florida And Bite Squad Partner To Pack 9,000 Meals The screech of packing tape, laughter and the crunch of dry macaroni on the floor were the sounds volunteers made as they packed 9,000 meals Thursday morning. United Way of North Central Florida and the food delivery company Bite Squad partnered to pack macaroni and cheese for people in the Gainesville area who are food insecure. Alachua County had one of the highest food insecurity rates in the state in 2017 at ne

Alachua County Schools Participate In ‘Dads Take Your Child to School Day’ The scent of cologne, crayons and Pillsbury dough wafted through J.J. Finley Elementary School Wednesday morning. At 7:15 a.m., about 300 fathers or father figures sat down in the school’s cafeteria to have breakfast with their children on “Dads Take Your Child to School Day.” Stephen Sangster, father of 5-year-old Ezekiel, is a graduate student studying chemistry. He said he considers moments like this truly special b

Beneath floral-patterned sheets, foster dog Igor hid as thunder and lightning clapped outside his foster home during Hurricane Dorian. What Igor didn’t know is that it could have been much worse. Keara Clancy, 21, agreed to temporarily shelter the Jack Russel terrier after hearing news of Dorian’s approach toward Gainesville in early September. “We really only got the edge of it,” Clancy said. “But we did have storms through the night.” Before the hurricane shifted from its initially predict

One second. One hour. One day. One month. One year. A lifetime. Time passes by quicker than our eyes can see, and minds can remember. One of the best and most memorable ways to spend your time is with your family.

How will you apply your education to achieve success? Jack E. Davis, 63, and John Kaplan, 59, are two Pulitzer Prize winners who not only used their education to attain success but now, choose to educate the next generation of leaders and winners at the University of Florida.

Just Salad is the most ironically-named restaurant in Midtown. They have salads, yes, but they also have wraps, avocado toast, smoothies, snacks, and more. We got the chance to feast on some of their top dishes, and here's what we thought. Yes, the name of this salad is a bit odd, I know. But there is no denying that the flavors and textures incorporated are refreshing and tasty. This salad contains chicken, lettuce, black beans, pepper jack cheese, avocado, and crunchy onions. I initially chos

It’s a warm, Sunday afternoon, you finally get a break from studying, and you decide to go out to eat. You plop down into a booth with a few of your closest friends, look down at the menu and frown. The menu consists of the usual burgers and tacos, but it also has a couple of strange foods. Foods that have such crazy flavors, you wonder what the chef could have possibly been thinking. Wishing you were adventurous enough to try it, you stick with your usual. I used to be just like you, but then

Goblins, ghouls and pink ribbons? That's right; October isn't just for Halloween costumes and sweet treats. It's also Breast Cancer Awareness month. Show your support by purchasing a few items from companies that promise to spread awareness. B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Get your daily potassium intake while also doing good for the community. This is the third year Chiquita bananas is supporting breast cancer prevention with its pink sticker campaign. Its usual blue sticker received a makeover to showcase a p