1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | BUSINESS

Community members and organizations are collaborating to create Swarthy, a grocery and retail store

By Lucille Lannigan | June 21, 2021

Swarthy Hair Co., a natural hair product business started by Hatdrika Noble-Monroe, has evolved into Swarthy, a community grocery store where Black-owned farms and small businesses can sell their products like fresh produce, haircare, candles, sage and other healthy alternatives.

Salem Commander brought her homemade candles to 4th Ave Foodpark's Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2021. Commander makes the candles herself and sells them at local markets.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

4th Avenue Food Park Juneteenth celebration highlights Black-owned businesses

By Heather Bushman | June 21, 2021

4th Ave Food Park’s Juneteenth celebration featured five black-owned businesses Saturday. The event had live music and cuisine from the surrounding restaurants and food trucks.

LGBTQ community members shared their thoughts on how queer musicians influence their lives, the U.S. music industry and society.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Members of the LGBTQ community celebrate the legacy of queer musicians

By Karter Nancy | June 21, 2021

Throughout history, LGBTQ artists explored various genres to cement themselves in the music industry. LGBTQ community members shared their thoughts on how queer musicians influence their lives, the U.S. music industry and society.

Purple Nightshade Productions show on August 31, 2019 at Raindogs in Jacksonville. (Photo by Justin Drain Photography)

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Purple Nightshade Productions to hold its last virtual horror show

By Brenna Sheets | June 21, 2021

After over a year of mainly online events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the horror theater company will premier its last solely virtual show, “Mirror Images." The show will feature psychological-based themes with glow in the dark costumes, contortionists and burlesque performances.

Dennis Pfeiffer, 22, adjusts the position of items in the Out Of Pocket Society pop-up event at 4Most Gallery on Friday, June 18, 2021.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

New artist collective encourages community engagement through interactive art pop-up

By Heather Bushman | June 21, 2021

Out Of Pocket Society, also known as OOPS, is a new Gainesville-based artist collective. OOPS hosted its inaugural event at the 4Most Gallery June 18 and 19. The two-day event brought an interactive exhibit that encouraged participants to touch, take photos and engage with the pieces on display.

Former UF swimmer Caeleb Dressel was among four Gators to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at the US Olympic Trials.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators will send four swimmers to the Tokyo Olympics

By Faith Buckley | June 20, 2021

Kieran Smith, Bobby Finke, Caeleb Dressel and Natalie Hinds book their trip to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after their success from the Olympic Trials.

A close-up photo of a Florida player wearing his helmet

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators land two four-star commits

By Faith Buckley | June 20, 2021

Gators took hold of two four-star commits Sunday, a linebacker from Alabama and an in-state wide receiver.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan argues with in the sixth inning of a 19-1 loss to South Alabama on June 5.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball: What went wrong in 2021?

By Ryan Haley | June 19, 2021

In fifteen months, Florida baseball went from reaching the top of the country to falling out of their home regional in straight games. The statistics tell the story of what changed in the 15 months between 16 straight wins and a 19-1 loss.

George Cannon, a supervisor of the Gainesville downtown area, raises the Juneteenth flag on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

METRO

The City of Gainesville celebrates Juneteenth through a month-long series of events

By Sam Schaffer and Phong Huynh | June 19, 2021

Gainesville’s Journey to Juneteenth has constituted a month-long series of online and in-person events.

Robert Thomas, 43, stands in front of his tent behind the old fire station in downtown Gainesville where he says it’s “more peaceful” on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Thomas doesn’t know what he’ll do if the SPARC arts center is built, but says he’s willing to fight for the people camped out on the property.

METRO

Future uncertain for Gainesville’s South Main Street homeless encampment

By Alan Halaly and Lucille Lannigan | June 18, 2021

The Old Fire Station, where about 15 people live in tents outside, has been vacant since 2018, and in February 2020, the city commission invited proposals for how to use the space. In April 2020, UF Center of Arts proposed replacing the Old Fire Station with a community center for wellness, arts and cultural engagement, but current residents have largely been left out of the conversation.

UF and FSU students part of the Global Medical Brigade in Panama in 2019.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Global Brigades chapters makes lasting impact on international communities

By Camila Pereira | June 18, 2021

As international travel came to a halt with COVID-19, the humanitarian nonprofit organization, Global Brigades created TeleBrigades to allow students to still work virtually with these communities in need through a multi-week program.

NEWS

UF Health computer servers still down two weeks after cyberattack on two hospitals

By Alexandra Harris | June 18, 2021

Two weeks after a cyberattack on UF Health computers, its servers are still down.

'Getaway’ marks an era of musical experimentation for Driptones.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Driptones return with new single ‘Getaway’

By Heather Bushman | June 18, 2021

In their latest single, Driptones are “dripping different” — a new sound, new style, new direction. “Getaway,” out now, is the newest release from the Gainesville quartet.

The growing space for LGBTQ stories on kids and family programming begs the question of whether the public can place a level of responsibility on influential children’s media outlets to produce inclusive content.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

UF professionals discuss LGBTQ representation in children’s entertainment

By Brenna Sheets | June 17, 2021

For many members of the LGBTQ community, representation in different entertainment mediums can play a crucial role in personal development, especially in children. UF students and faculty examine the role influential corporations play in the evolving culture of young adult and kid-friendly media.

The Gainesville location will be Buff City’s twelfth Florida store.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Buff City Soap to open in Butler Town Center

By Heather Bushman | June 17, 2021

Buff City Soap, coming to Butler Town Center, specializes in vegan-friendly, cruelty-free soaps, handcrafted daily in each store.

Valerie Griffith, a Founders Club member of Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, participates in the CITRUS Study as a nurse puts a tourniquet on her arm on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

METRO

Gainesville retirement community participates in CDC COVID-19 study

By Alexandra Harris | June 16, 2021

The data will be used to determine if and when a booster COVID-19 vaccine would be necessary, Oak Hammock CITRUS study manager and RN Tiffany Bach said.

METRO

Florida Department of Health ends daily COVID-19 updates and death statistics

By Alexandra Harris | June 16, 2021

The Florida Department of Health will no longer release COVID-19 statistics daily, switching to reporting COVID-19 cases and vaccinations on a weekly basis. The number of fatalities will also no longer be provided.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Innovation Gators: Students share original solutions during Innovation Academy’s Summer A showcase

By Antonia LaRocca | June 16, 2021

UF students show off their skills during Innovation Academy’s Summer A showcase by presenting their innovative solutions to support health and wellness for Florida community members.

A digital sign in front of the Alachua County Public Schools district office building reads “Hiring HR Exec Director” on Sunday, June 6, 2021.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools completes a full school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic

By Abigail Hasebroock and Maya Erwin | June 16, 2021

Alachua County Public Schools students, parents and teachers reflect on a full school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

40 Alachua County Public Schools students and staff are in quarantine

By Abigail Hasebroock | June 16, 2021

Alachua County Public Schools had 40 students and faculty members in quarantine as of Tuesday evening — a decrease of 45 cases since June 8, according to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard.

El Caimán