Category Archives: Articles

by Joe Courter

What does a former news reporter do with his experiences covering Gainesville for eight years at the Sun?

Well, in Larry Schnell’s case, he writes a satirical book about it, and he will be at the Civic Media Center (433 S. Main St.) with copies of the book (or you can buy it at Wild Iris Books) on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 7pm.

The Year of The Gator is based around a storyline of shaky business investment, quick money scheming, political gamesmanship, some quite interesting characters and situations which are only a tad removed from actual people and true happenings of the time he was reporting for the Sun and the Times-Union, which is already set in the familiar confines of Alachua County.

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The main museum building at 513 East University Avenue hosts all programs and exhibitions. It is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm.

Exhibits:

Finding the Fountain of Youth: Exploring the Myth of Florida’s Magical Waters

Mary Ann Cofrin Exhibit Hall

This exhibit is based on Rick Kilby’s award-winning book. The former traveling exhibit was created by the Florida Museum of Natural History and was donated to the Matheson by author Rick Kilby. The exhibit examines how the legend of Ponce de Leon’s quest for restorative waters shaped the Sunshine State’s image as a land of fantasy, rejuvenation and magical spring-fed waters.

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In December, Gainesville holiday events include the first Party for Progress! and the North Central Florida CLC Gainesville dinner.

The first Party for Progress! is on Dec. 3 at the Heartwood Soundstage (619 S. Main St.) from 5pm until 11pm. There’ll be a photo booth sponsored by Lauren Poe’s Dank Meme Stash, food, drinks, and raffle contests. A coalition of organizations are hosting including Alachua County Revolution, Alachua County Young Democrats, Alachua County Labor Coalition, Women’s March, Gainesville Area NOW, Central Florida Democratic Socialists of America, Lauren Poe’s Dank Meme Stash, Planned Parenthood, Civic Media Center, the Gainesville Iguana, Mama Trish and Heartwood Soundstage. You’ll have a chance to register/update your voter status and meet candidates running for local office.

On Monday, Dec. 11, from 6:30pm until 8pm, the North Central Florida Central Labor Council (CLC) hosts their annual holiday spaghetti dinner at the Senior Center/ElderCare of Alachua County (5701 NW 34th Street). This year guest speakers will be Gainesville Commissioner Harvey Ward, the President of the Florida Building & Construction Trades Council Theresa King, and Say Yes to Second Chances organizer Jhody Polk.

The dinner is free and open to anyone who believes in the labor movement. Feel free to bring friends, family and colleagues.

by Kate Ellison

Putnam Democrats  kick-off election 2018

The November meeting of the Putnam Democratic Party marked the start of the 2018 election season with a potluck dinner and planning meeting. Several candidates spoke, and it is evident that the 2018 primary season will be lively on both sides of the isle. Stay tuned for more details and check for future events on the party’s web page at www.putnamcountyfloridademocrats.com.

More events in early evening hours are planned so that students and working volunteers can come. Putnam County is ground zero in the coming election.

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Dr. Paul Ortiz, associate professor in the UF history department, will present a talk entitled “Why I Love Kurt Vonnegut” at 6:30 pm on Nov. 15 at the Unitarian Fellowship of Gainesville, located at 4225 NW 34th St.

Kurt Vonnegut is remembered as a primary source for reflecting on the rapid changes in our society during the twentieth century, told in a voice deep in irony, sharp critical analysis, and his greatest trademark, biting humor.

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by Pierce Butler

Way back in early August, uncountable Trump scandals ago, the Alachua County Commission voted 4-1 to fire then-County Manager Lee Niblock. One of the final straws provoking that decision was a budget proposal for $50,000 for bonuses to help retain the six Assistant County Managers that Dr. Niblock had hired, while rank-&-file staff pay had stagnated for years.

Another precipitating cause had occurred in July, when a Board of Commissioners morning meeting had acknowledged twenty-five years of work on the part of training manager Suzanne Clausier – and that evening considered Niblock’s budget plan terminating her position (and that of a county horticulturalist, with neither named and the firings obscured by bureaucratic jargon).

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by Renaud Lajoie

Two days after white nationalists and protesters faced off at UF, one of the country’s most successful civil rights attorneys, Morris Dees, spoke just blocks away at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.

He served as the keynote speaker for the Southern Legal Counsel’s 40^th anniversary event. The Florida nonprofit law firm, headquartered in Gainesville, has litigated pivotal changes in public policies for the public’s interest against corporations, state and local governments.

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by Jack Kulas

BALLOT TITLE: Voting Restoration Amendment

BALLOT SUMMARY: This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case-by-case basis.

December 31 is the deadline to submit signed and completed Voting Restoration Amendment petitions to Supervisor of Elections offices around the state to get items on the November 2018 ballot.
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by Joe Courter

Thinking back a year I am reminded how shocked and apprehensive (to put it mildly) we were with the harsh reality of the election outcome. When I got out a sweatshirt the other day I saw it had a safety pin on it, something that was suggested people do to make immigrants or other threatened or at risk people know that we were a friendly person to trust. We had groups mobilizing, lots of meetings. Thankfully some of those have persisted, Indivisible, Women’s March and off shoots like Second Chance voting rights. We are, I believe, more “woke,” but the level of resistance seems to have diminished, as the forewarned normalization has occurred.

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by Joe Courter

Background: On Oct. 19, self-styled “Alt-right” figurehead Richard Spencer came to Gainesville to speak at the Phillips Center on the UF campus. 

His organization (National Policy Institute) was charged about $11,000 for use of the building, Governor Rick Scott called it a State of Emergency, and taxpayers paid about $500,000 for security outside the building.

Spencer had two or three dozen supporters sitting up front in their white shirts and khakis. About 250 people who got tickets outside from NPI sat and stood in the rear of the hall with empty rows between them.

A number of people of color and people with disabilities were excluded. A vast majority of the audience were anti racists, who were raucous but peaceful.

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The November-December 2017 issue of the Iguana is now available! If you want to get your hands on a hard copy, check out our distro locations here.