🌱 Styrofoam Rains Down On Gainesville + Touch-A-Truck Event Returns

Morning, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Gainesville Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 68 Low: 56.
• Friday: Possible thunderstorms. High: 70 Low: 57

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Here are the top three stories in Gainesville today:

1. Have you noticed white flakes coming from the sky lately? Rest assured that it's not snow. Pieces of Styrofoam have been falling from the construction site at Courtyard by Marriott, according to Taylor Sharrette, president of Ecker Construction. Starting Tuesday, construction workers spent hours vacuuming the area to remove the bits of Styrofoam and will continue to do so until the project is finished. (Subscription: Gainesville Times)
2. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and to raise money for the cause, The Rape Response Inc. based out of Gainesville will host its first annual Bingo & Bubbly fundraiser. The event will provide brunch and will include five rounds of Bingo, a DJ, prizes, complimentary mimosas, silent auctions, and more. All proceeds will go to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. You can purchase tickets for the event at the link, which will be on Apr. 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center Grand Ballroom. (Rape Response Inc.)
3. Don't miss out on the event of the season! Gainesville's Touch-A-Truck festival, hosted by Gainesville Parks and Recreation, returns this Saturday, Apr. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 20 trucks will be on site this year and attendees will be able to climb aboard and explore Mack trucks, emergency vehicles, and more. Several concession stands and live music will also be at the event. (Subscription: Gainesville Times)

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Today and Tomorrow in Gainesville:

Thursday, April 13

• Little Sprouts Storytime At Gainesville Branch Library (11:00 AM)

Friday, April 14

• Adult Coloring Week At Gainesville Branch Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Starting in May, every Wednesday the Blue Sky Concerts will be back on the Historic Downtown Squareat! Grab lunch to-go from your favorite restaurant or eat at a sidewalk café, shop at local boutiques, and enjoy live music downtown. Concerts will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• At its weekly board meeting, Hope for Hall Inc. presented a check for $390,000 to be used toward building an all-inclusive playground at Wauka Mountain Elementary School. The playground, which is scheduled to be completed by this coming October, will meet a variety of students' needs, making it easier for students with and without disabilities to play alongside one another. (Hall County School District via Facebook)
• Join the Spout Springs Library for a Mario-themed engineering game! Elementary-aged children can build a course for their marble to travel, filled with tubes, tunnels, and obstacles. All supplies will be provided. The event will be on Apr. 17 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Hall County Library System via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.