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🌱 Why is the Greater Gainesville Chamber selling its downtown headquarters?
Hello Gainesville! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why is the Greater Gainesville Chamber selling its downtown headquarters?
- What key transportation decisions are on today’s MTPO agenda?
- Will Gainesville’s Frazer School change hands—or lose its founder?
Also on today's calendar: DIY Mandala Holiday Ornament.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Gainesville? Post it to Gainesville photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Tuesday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 69 and low of 46 degrees.
- Wednesday: Pleasant with some sun, temps: high: 74, low: 56.
- Thursday: Rather cloudy, with a high of 75 and low of 59 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Gainesville chamber reduces staff, puts office up for sale amid budget shortfall (wcjb.com) — Gainesville’s business community is feeling a shakeup as the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce lays off a quarter of its staff and puts its downtown office on East University Avenue up for sale to close a $250,000 budget gap. Leaders say the chamber is now “right-sized” and searching for a smaller headquarters near 43rd and 13th streets as it prepares for new leadership next year. 
2. December 16 Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization Meeting (alachuachronicle.com) — Gainesville and Alachua County residents can weigh in on local transportation priorities at today’s 1 p.m. Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization meeting at the County Administration Building downtown. Officials will elect officers, interview an executive director candidate, and discuss planning needed to secure state and federal funding for area road, transit, and mobility projects, with multiple options for watching and giving public comment.
3. Frazer School founder threatens exit over owners' alleged mismanagement (gainesville.com) — Families connected to The Frazer School in Gainesville face uncertainty as founder Will Frazer says he’ll leave next year unless the school is turned over to an unpaid board. Frazer and school owners James and Rachel Schrader sharply dispute how millions in building, rent, and renovation costs have been handled, even as enrollment tops 400 students and tuition pressures mount.
4. North Florida K-12 students unearth archaeology, life skills, and fun in robotics competition (alachuachronicle.com) — A Gainesville-based robotics team of middle and elementary schoolers is heading into this weekend’s Northeast Florida First Lego League Regional Championship in nearby Alachua after winning a recent qualifier. Working with Florida Museum archaeologists and UF engineers, the Turbo GatorBots designed an AI- and radar-powered project to reduce damage at dig sites, while sharpening teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that go far beyond the competition table.
5. Three kidney recipients meet their living donors (alachuachronicle.com) — UF Health in Gainesville recently brought together three living kidney donors and the three patients whose lives they helped save in a rare three-way kidney exchange. The gathering at the UF Health Heart and Vascular Hospital highlighted how the Living Donor Program can turn one intended donation into multiple successful transplants, shortening waitlists and improving outcomes for local patients.
📸 Around Gainesville
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Gainesville
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
-
DIY Mandala Holiday Ornament
Millhopper Branch | Alachua County Library District , 3145 NW 43rd St , Gainesville
1:00 pm -
Student/Teacher Holiday - FLEX DAY #1
Rawlings Center for the Fine Arts Gainesville, FL 32609 -
Winter Holidays (10 weekdays)
Rawlings Center for the Fine Arts Gainesville, FL 32609
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Monday December 22
📣 Gainesville Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Baby Adventures
Alachua Branch - Meeting Room
10:30 am -
Archer Farmers Market at the Archer Historical Society Railroad Museum
Archer Historical Society Railroad Museum , 16994 SW 134th Ave , Archer
3:00 pm -
Artful Adventures & Hidden Clues
Archer Branch -
2:00 pm -
Whatchamacallit Wednesdays
Alachua Branch - Meeting Room
3:30 pm -
Read with a Dog
Waldo Branch - Children's Area
4:00 pm -
Story Time
Micanopy Branch - Dance Hall
11:00 am -
Community Resource Navigator
Alachua Branch - Learning Center
11:00 am -
ArtSpace: Origami Tree Ornaments
Waldo Branch - ARTspace
4:00 pm -
Micanopy Craft 'n' Quilt
Micanopy Branch - Dance Hall
10:00 am
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker...
In our back yard this morning. At first glance I thought it was a Downy woodpecker. But she was a bit too large and with that long pointy beak...not… (Nextdoor Valwood) - Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
Pretties was LOST on November 24, 2025 in Gainesville, FL 32641 near Near Ave Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Duval Heights)
- City of Gainesville Florida posted a job opening for TEMP Part Time Recreation Assistant PRCA in Gainesville. Apply here.
- Chuy's Tex-Mex Restaurant posted a job opening for Janitorial in Gainesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gainesville here.
Ok Gainesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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