Newsroom

The 36th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show is quickly approaching and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is looking for individuals and organizations that would like to support this community event by volunteering at one of the top fine art shows in the country. This is your opportunity to mingle with nationally-acclaimed artists, enjoy performing arts and sample international cuisine. This award-winning art festival features 240 of the nation’s finest artists, as well as four stages of continuous entertainment. Four-hour shifts are available on Saturday, Nov. 11 or Sunday, Nov. 12 for volunteers of all ages. Volunteers can assist at the Junior Fire Fighting Challenge, booth sit for artists, greet guests as they arrive or help with the Children’s Imagination Station, a free, hands-on art activity area. As a token of our appreciation, volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

The Solid Waste Division and Waste Corporation of America (WCA), the city’s contracted waste pick-up supplier, are diligently working to pick up yard and tree debris from residential neighborhoods.

CareerSource of North Central Florida (CSNCFL) has disaster unemployment assistance available online and at its office, located at 10 NW Sixth St., to help city residents.

Information and an online application are available at http://careersourcencfl.com/post-hurricane-assistance-recovery/. If city residents need computer access, they may visit the CSNCFL office Monday-Wednesday and Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Thursday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Computers will be available on a first come, first served basis.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) would like to advise citizens about how to address trees on their property in the wake of Hurricane Irma. When replacing damaged trees, it is important to recognize that not all are the same, especially when it comes to storm damage.

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Team will be at the Cone Park Branch Library (2801 E. University Ave.) Friday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The team will be assisting with registration only in the Individual Assistance Program for residents that suffered damage to their homes and property during Hurricane Irma.

The Thomas Center Galleries are proud to announce the new exhibition CROSS CREEK RISING The Consciousness of Land and Water. Presented in conjunction with the Friends of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, the exhibition is part of the “Year of Cross Creek” celebration, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the publication of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ “Cross Creek” and “Cross Creek Cookery.” An opening reception is Friday, Sept. 29 from 7-10 p.m. as part of Artwalk Gainesville.

This expansive juried exhibition of painting, drawing, sculpture and photography will fill the Historic Thomas Center’s Main and Mezzanine Galleries Friday, Sept. 29 through Saturday, Jan. 6. Chosen from almost 300 submitted pieces, the 90 works of art by 70 artists pay tribute to the wilderness, land and water that inspired the artistic voice of Rawlings.

Background:
In 1928, a little-known northern journalist named Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings used a small inheritance to purchase, sight unseen, an orange grove and derelict house on a strait of land between two lakes in southeast Alachua County - the hamlet called Cross Creek. Rawlings abandoned city life to take up residence in those mysterious and challenging palm, pine and live oak hammocks of north Florida, and, in doing, so she discovered her artistic voice.

The natural surroundings of Cross Creek on Rawlings were seminal to her life and her work. Rawlings won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for “The Yearling,” and is recognized as one of America’s great writers.

The year 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the 1942 publication of “Cross Creek,” an autobiographical account of Rawling’s life at “the creek.” In it, Rawlings wrote, “...the consciousness of land and water must lie deeper in the core of us than any knowledge of our fellow beings. We were bred of earth before we were born of our mothers. Once born, we can live without mother or father, or any kin, or any friend, or any human love. We cannot live without the earth or apart from it, and something is shriveled in a man’s heart when he turns away from it and concerns himself only with the affairs of man.”

CROSS CREEK RISING The Consciousness of Land and Water is made possible with the support of the Friends of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, VisitGainesville and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

The Thomas Center Galleries are located at 302 NE Sixth Ave. in Gainesville. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 1-4 p.m. The galleries are closed for observed holidays. 

The “Free Fridays” Concert Series and the Gainesville Latino Film Festival (GLFF) have partnered to bring the Gainesville community a “Night in El Barrio” with Latin music played by the JP Latin Allstars Friday, Sept. 29 from 8-10 p.m.

The City of Gainesville Solid Waste Division and Waste Corporation of America (WCA), the City’s contracted waste pick-up supplier, are diligently working to pick up yard and tree debris from residential neighborhoods.

Crews are working through a zone map starting in areas that were most impacted by Hurricane Irma.  Regular yard waste pickup began immediately after the storm. However, property owners should expect delays due to the amount of storm waste. Larger brush piles will be collected by heavier equipment.  Heavy duty claw trucks are currently working to remove large debris piles in neighborhoods.  As of the beginning of this week, the City has removed over 150 truckloads of debris, which is estimated to be about 950 tons. 

The zone storm debris pick-up map, with work orders and service requests shown, may be viewed at: http://arcg.is/0nC0iP.  Using U.S. 441 (NW 13^th Street) as a dividing line, claw trucks are finishing in zone 25 and will work their way north into zones 26, 27, 28 and 29 through the middle of next week.  On the west side of 441, claw trucks are finishing zone 22 and will be moving into zones 2, 3 and 4 by the middle of next week.  Then these crews will work southward.  Debris removal efforts are expected to continue into November.
 
Throughout the city, WCA work crews are concentrating on removing yard waste in paper bags/cans and small brush piles.  Yard waste may take several weeks to be completely removed.  Please note that some streets within the city limits will have debris picked up by the County or State, depending on who the maintaining agency is for that roadway.  For instance, someone living on NW 16^th Avenue, which is a County Road, debris pick-up will be managed by County staff.

Property owners should place debris along the side of the roadway away from mailboxes, electrical transformers, cable/phone junction boxes, water meters and other items that may be damaged during pickup.   Yard waste (i.e. tree limbs, branches) must not exceed five feet in length and bags of yard waste must not exceed 40 pounds in weight.  All yard waste must be free of any litter or construction debris such as drywall, nails, metal, etc.

Other household or construction debris such as water damaged furnishings or fencing will be collected separately from the yard waste debris. 

Commercially collected non-residential properties (such as businesses, non-profits and apartments) are not eligible under FEMA for free debris pick up.  They may contact FEMA directly (1-800-621-3362) for assistance with their storm-related expenses.

The City of Gainesville continues to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Irma.  Financial service assistance information for those in our community is below.

FEMA ASSISTANCE
Gainesville residents affected by Hurricane Irma should apply for assistance with FEMA. Financial help and direct services may be available from FEMA for clean-up, temporary housing, medical, moving expenses, and more.

To apply visit: www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) TTY: 1-800-462-7585. For a list of counties approved for Individual Assistance visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4337#
 
TAX RELIEF
Gainesville residents granted Individual Assistance may be eligible for tax relief from the IRS. To learn more about IRS assistance for victims of Hurricane Irma visit: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/help-for-victims-of-hurricane-irma

DISASTER RECOVERY LOANS
The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing various disaster loans to business owners in the area. For more information about SBA disaster loans visit: https://www.sba.gov/disasterassistance/hurricane-irma.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides loans and assistance to qualifying individuals, businesses, and communities after disasters. For more information visit: https://www.usda.gov/topics/disaster/storms, or contact the USDA office in Florida at: (352) 338-3400.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Residents who are unemployed as a result of the disaster are encouraged to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through the U.S. Department of Labor. For additional information about DUA visit: https://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp or contact the U.S. Department of Labor by phone at 1-866-487-2365.

MORTGAGE RELIEF
To find out if you qualify for temporary mortgage relief such as a suspension of mortgage payments for up to 12 months, or suspension of late fees, visit the Freddie Mac website at: http://www.freddiemac.com/about/hurricane-relief.html. For additional information visit the Fannie Mae website at: http://www.fanniemae.com/portal/about-fm/hurricane-relief.html or by phone at 1-800-2FANNIE (800-232-6643).

HURRICANE RESPONSE HIRING
The U.S. Small Business Administration is hiring a variety of temporary positions located throughout Florida now through December 31, 2017. For more information visit: https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/hurricane-response-jobs-sba#section-header-4

The City of Gainesville continues to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Irma.  Social service assistance information for those in our community is below.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
If you need emergency help call 9-1-1 or (352) 955-1818.

REPORTING OF POST-STORM ISSUES
Use the 311GNV phone application or online version at http://www.cityofgainesville.org/openGNV/311GNV.aspx

HELP FOR SENIORS
If you know of a senior who needs assistance call 9-1-1 and contact the Florida Department of Elder Affairs hotline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). To report elder abuse, call 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873).
 
SNAP ASSISTANCE
Households have until September 29 to report SNAP food loss and request replacement of benefits due to Hurricane Irma.  Renewal/recertification of benefits has been extended until October 31.  Please call the Department of Children and Families with any questions: (866) 762-2237.

HELP FOR VETERANS
Veterans needing assistance or medication can contact the Veteran Disaster Hotline at 1-800-507-4571 or go to any VA medical facility for assistance.

DIALYSIS
To find a dialysis center in your area visit: http://www.dialysisunits.com/. Patients of DaVita Dialysis may contact 1-800-400-8331 to find the nearest Dialysis Center.

MENTAL HEALTH
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress please call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained counselor. You may also visit: http://bit.ly/2vH2Huc for more information about managing stress after a disaster and talking with children about traumatic events.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
For in-person assistance with storm related questions, or to apply for benefits you may visit your local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. For a list of Centers in your area visit: http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm