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From Monday, Aug. 8-Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, the City of Gainesville is accepting applications from eligible applicants to participate in the Affordable Rental Housing Projects portion of the ConnectFree Program. The ConnectFree Program provides financial assistance for the cost of extension and connection to the city’s water and wastewater systems to eligible properties located within the Gainesville Regional Utilities’ (GRU) service area.

The Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will soon transition into a city department — the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA). Much like the CRA, this new city department will be tasked with addressing some of the community’s most pressing infrastructure and development challenges over the next 10 years.

Only one rock concert made such a huge and lasting impression that an entire generation was named for it. Fifty years ago, more than 400,000 members of the Woodstock generation gathered in upstate New York to celebrate “three days of peace and music.”

The public is invited to review and comment on the completed City of Gainesville State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Annual Report Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., until Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 at the office of the Housing and Community Development Division (Thomas Center ‘B’, 306 NE 6th Avenue, Room 245). The report covers years 2016-2019.

Ramblin’ Mutts play a mixture of original and classic blues, soul and R&B, with an occasional nod to country music at “Free Fridays” on Friday, Aug. 9 at Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville. They are performing selections from their upcoming album that pays a passionate tribute to the traditions of the soul and rhythm and blues genres. They are also playing updated reinterpretations of traditional classics by such artists as Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Otis Reding that honor the legacy of this timeless music.

The Duppies are a high-powered, seven-piece band that formed in Gainesville in 2004. Since that time, this popular ska, rocksteady and reggae band has received the attention of audiences beyond the local scene by touring throughout the United States. Band members include The Duppies founder, Brian Hiebel (lead vocals/percussion), Tony Farah (bass), Ryan Bonner (keyboards), Daniel Kinney (drums), Chris Chiares (guitar) and Jose Pineiro (sax/backing vocals).

The band Captive Eddies is playing a concert at “Free Fridays” Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville.

The band Other Voices and Friends will present California Dreaming, a tribute to the early Laurel County music scene on Friday, July 19 as part of the Free Fridays concert series. In the late ‘60s, some of the best musicians of their generation took up residence in Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, a mountainous neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. California Dreaming plays tribute to some of those artists with covers of The Mamas and the Papas, The Byrds, The Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Join us Saturday, July 27 from 8-10 p.m., and watch as downtown Gainesville is transformed into a party atmosphere for an evening of non-stop dancing in front of the Hippodrome Theatre. Summer in the City is a free, family-friendly block party with DJ-spun music provided by Genius Entertainment. Revelers can enjoy refreshing snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for sale at food trucks onsite, and also visit downtown bars and restaurants, which will be serving full food and drink menus. The blocks of Southeast Second Place and Southwest First Street will be closed to traffic from 6-11 p.m. for this extravaganza.