Columnists
09/17/2026 · Alachua County
The Tiny Pause That Gives You Your Day Back
You do not need a perfect boundary script—you need three seconds before an automatic yes. Try this small pause today and notice how much more honest your answers become.
Three Dials, One Life: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 73
Shakespeare turns aging into three small, blazing pictures: a bare tree, a fading day, and a fire collapsing into ash. Read closely, and you’ll see why this sonnet feels less like a lecture about mortality than a hand finding yours in the dark.
09/16/2026
The Intelligence of Not Choosing Too Soon
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous sentence is usually treated as a badge of sophistication. Read in context, it is stranger and more useful: a warning that reality may demand contradiction without granting us the comfort of a tidy answer.
09/16/2026
The Bill, the Border, and the Price of Dinner
Washington keeps selling speed while Congress argues over the bill’s fine print. Meanwhile, families, courts, and the Federal Reserve keep forcing the country to confront the same question: who pays for the promises?
09/16/2026
The Immersive Van Gogh Machine Needs to Sit Down
Projecting paintings onto warehouse walls is not automatically an art experience. Sometimes it’s a dazzling doorway into an artist’s work; sometimes it’s a screensaver wearing a beret.
09/16/2026
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Upcoming Events
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Mayor's Youth Council meeting
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Warrington Career Expo
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Adult Services: Mah Jongg
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Announcements
View allYour Guide to Niceville: Explore the City's Event Calendar
City Calendar Explore the City of Niceville's official calendar to stay updated on all community events, public meetings, and important municipal activities. Never miss an opportunity to engage with your local government and community! Key Event Categories Include: * City Commission Meetings * Public Hearings * Community Festivals * Departmental Workshops * Library Programs * Park Events Check the calendar regularly for the latest additions and updates.
Resilience Updates: Important Notices, No-School Dates, and Upcoming Trips
Resilience Updates: Important Notices, No-School Dates, and Upcoming Trips - News and Announcements - Skip to content Skip to menu News and Announcements Resilience Updates: Important Notices, No-School Dates, and Upcoming Trips - 8th grade: possible poison ivy exposure. Check your child's skin and tell the office about any rash.- Sprayground bag tags must stay home, starting now.- No school Fri 10/9 and Fri 10/16.- Report cards 10/22.- Also: Halloween party, field trips, GradVenture, free parent AI workshop. Dear Resilience Families, We have several updates to share. Please read through to the end, as the first two items need your attention right away. POSSIBLE POISON IVY EXPOSURE (8TH GRADE) A few students in our eighth grade group may have come into contact with poison ivy or an irritant plant behind the school. Please check your child's skin for any rash, redness, or itching, and let the front office know if you notice anything so we can keep track. The area is off limits to students while we have it checked and cleared. SPRAYGROUND TAGS MUST STAY HOME, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY The tags that hang from Sprayground book bags have become a problem on campus. Because they carry some resale value, we have seen tags cut off, bags damaged, and tags stolen, including multiple incidents today alone. This is disrupting the learning environment. If your child's book bag has one of these tags, please remove it and keep it at home. We are enforcing this starting now. NO SCHOOL - Friday, October 9: No school - Friday, October 16: Teacher work day, no school REPORT CARDS Report cards will be available Thursday, October 22. Please be on the lookout. HALLOWEEN CONCERT TRIP: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 Students will attend a Halloween children's concert from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. The cost is $10. HALLOWEEN PARTY: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 We are collecting donations for our Halloween party, and anything you can give is appreciated. Please drop donations at the front office with Ms. Tracy, who will set them aside for the day. Students are encouraged to wear costumes as long as they are not using full masks in school and no weapon props. THE NUTCRACKER: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 Students will attend an off-campus school performance of The Nutcracker. We leave at 10:00 a.m. and return by regular dismissal. The cost is $10 and is non-refundable. Payments are being accepted now. ST. AUGUSTINE TRIP (DATE COMING SOON) We are planning a full-day trip to St. Augustine by charter bus, most likely in December. Fifty students will be selected to attend, based strongly on behavior and academics. The trip will be $20, which will go toward future student activities. Details will follow once the date and time are confirmed. 8TH GRADE FAMILIES: GRADVENTURE GradVenture will take place in mid-May, with the exact date to come. The cost is $270 and covers everything, including the charter bus and admission to a special Universal Studios event open only to select middle schools. Families tell us every year how memorable it is for their children. We are accepting payments now, and you are welcome to pay over time. Just let Ms. Tracy know the payment is for GradVenture. FREE AI WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS I will be hosting a free workshop on artificial intelligence for parents and adults in our community. We will cover: how to protect your children how to use AI effectively for your own benefit an introduction to agentic coding. If you are interested, please RSVP here: [Please Click Here]. The form will ask about your preferred time and format, and I may offer two sessions depending on interest. Thank you for your continued partnership. Please reach out to the front office with any questions. Michael Aponte Director https://forms.gle/N9Lo1HDiWajw6mddA
Books-By-Mail
Books-By-Mail is a convenient service that supplies books, audiobooks, and videos to people who cannot travel to the library. Who can get Books-By-Mail? Children and adults in the county who cannot visit a library due to temporary or long-term physical or medical disabilities may qualify for Books-By-Mail. A current library card from one of the member libraries is needed. If you don’t have a card, please call your local library for assistance. How does it work? Materials are sent through the mail in a zippered nylon bag. When the materials are due for return, the patron attaches postage and mails the bag back. The bag may be dropped off at any OCPLC member library to save on return postage. Certain disabilities qualify for federal postage-free return service. Contact your local post office for more information. Which titles will I receive? Visit our online catalog to browse our materials. Email your requests to us or call the telephone number below. If you’d like to establish a "standing order" style request list, or would like suggestions of titles you may enjoy, we are happy to provide that service. Subscribe to the free BookBrowse Newsletter for more recommendations and reviews. How do I apply? Request an application by calling (850) 279-6436 ext 1504 or email us.
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Public Notices
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Zoning - 10/10/2026
CaseAccess
Other - 10/09/2026
Divorce / Simplified Dissolution of Marriage
Public Hearing - 10/08/2026
Adoptions & Termination of Parental Rights
Other - 10/08/2026
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