Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Early risers get first taste of St. Patrick’s Day celebration

By Mary Velasquez | Mar. 17, 2013

Danielle Gould and her husband wanted to get a head start in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

METRO

Circus coming to town

By Fatemah Albader | Mar. 17, 2013

After a six-year absence, an American-style circus will be back in Gainesville for a two-day performance.

METRO

Tweet ‘til you’re dead — and then some

By Nathalie Dortonne | Mar. 17, 2013

The living dead is back with a vengeance and a 140-character limit.

METRO

Nonprofit hopes shop will get veterans outdoors

By Meghan Pryce | Mar. 17, 2013

Dave McDaid was living in New York during Sept. 11. A few days after, he left because of the uncertainty of what could happen next.

METRO

Food Truck Rally comes back stronger

By Jewel Midelis | Mar. 17, 2013

London Morrogh bit into a fried chicken and waffle slider at the second Food Truck Rally on Saturday night.

Stylist Marguerite Toigo shaves the head of 18-year-old environmental science freshman Alec Cronin at the St. Baldrick's Festival on Friday. Cronin volunteered to have his head shaved at the event to help find a cure for childhood cancer. They raised about $11,000.

METRO

Kids saved, students shaved at St. Baldrick’s Festival

By Meghan Pryce | Mar. 17, 2013

Jackeline Zelaya felt the beaming sun and a refreshing breeze on her newly shaven head.

Mayor Craig Lowe, 55, is seeking re-election on a platform focused on job growth. He points to several ventures like the expansion of Innovation Square as an example of his efforts.

METRO

Gainesville mayoral candidate: Craig Lowe

By Kelcee Griffis | Mar. 14, 2013

After an action-packed three years that included bringing hundreds of jobs to Gainesville and diffusing Quran-burning threats, Mayor Craig Lowe says he’s ready to take reins of the city once again.

City Plan Board member Pete Johnson is running for mayor. He worked in the private sector for about 30 years.

METRO

Gainesville mayoral candidate: Pete Johnson

By Billy Kennedy | Mar. 14, 2013

Pete Johnson wants to take Gainesville from good to great.

David Merahn, 26, works to prepare Broken Shelves bookstore for Friday’s soft opening. Merahn said he wants to create a place where creative and engaging minds can hang out and socialize.

METRO

Indie bookstore opens its doors and shelves

By Hanna Marcus | Mar. 14, 2013

At the Broken Shelves bookstore last week, tattered copies of dog-eared paperbacks overflowed from cardboard containers as hundreds of boxes packed the store.

METRO

Local bars preparing to get lucky

By Hanna Marcus | Mar. 14, 2013

St. Patrick’s Day may fall on Sunday this year, but green tinsel and shamrocks can already be spotted around Gainesville.

Scherwin L. Henry is running for mayor. He served as the District 1 City Commissioner from 2006 to 2012.

METRO

Mayoral candidate: Scherwin L. Henry

By Alexa Volland | Mar. 13, 2013

As a former City Commissioner, Scherwin L. Henry is going back into politics to finish what he started.

Pope Francis I waves from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the papal name of Francis, is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

METRO

Habemus Papam: Argentine is new pope

By Andrew Kays | Mar. 13, 2013

After two days, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled the end of the search for a new pope.

METRO

Mayoral candidate: Ed Braddy

By Billy Kennedy | Mar. 13, 2013

Ed Braddy is a back-to-the-basics guy who thinks Gainesville needs new leadership.

Mayor and City Commission candidates speak to students at the Chomp the Vote forum Wednesday evening at the Reitz Union.

METRO

Candidates battle, students weigh in

By Billy Kennedy | Mar. 13, 2013

With less than a week until Tuesday’s Gainesville city election, candidates discussed local business, the soft closing of bars, utility rates and homelessness Wednesday night.

METRO