Cold front coming, big events in GNV, reliving the soccer glory days

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful sunshine, and at this point, have your Halloween costumes picked out.

Let’s get you started. As always, we’ll kick off with weather, where we are expected to see a chilly change tonight!

🌡️ Wednesday: High is 69°F and Low is 47° 🥶 with 25% chance of rain ☀️ , Tuesday: High is 73°, low of 51° with 0% chance of rain 🌞 Stay warm!

📰 The General Scoop:

• 🐚 Cedar Key Clam Industry Takes a Hit After Three Hurricanes Cedar Key just can't catch a break. After being hit by not one, not two, but three hurricanes in the last few months, the island's clam industry is struggling to stay afloat. Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and most recently, Milton, have wreaked havoc on the area, destroying clam farms that take two years to grow.

  Local clam farmer Bobby Whitt summed it up best: “It’s heartbreaking because you work so hard, and then it’s all blown up.” With clams wiped out, many in Cedar Key are now out of work. Mayor Sue Colson is calling for more recognition and support for Cedar Key’s aquaculture industry, saying it deserves the same attention as traditional agriculture.

📰 Business News

• 🧑‍💻Gainesville's Biggest Innovation Summit Yet The Gainesville Innovation Summit hosted by UF Innovate and OneSixOne Ventures is coming to town this Friday. Justis Mendez, co-founder of OneSixOne Ventures, is bringing together tech founders, investors, and leaders for a full day of panels, networking, and inspiration at UF. The summit will feature big names like Brian Murphy, CEO of billion-dollar cybersecurity company Reliaquest, and Manny Medina, whose company Terramark sold for $2.3 billion. But it’s not just about listening – it’s a chance for local entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and get on the radar of top investors. One of the must-see talks is by founder Jack Kendall of Rain AI, a UF-founded startup backed by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Jack will be there to share the future of AI and how Gainesville is becoming a tech hub.

🏅 Sports News:

• 🏈 Gators gearing up for Kentucky: The Gators are preparing to face Kentucky in the Swamp this Saturday at 7:45 PM without their QB1, Graham Mertz. Mertz suffered an ACL tear ending his season and ultimately his college career. All the Gator fans clamoring to unleash the freshman phenom DJ Lagway are salivating waiting for his true debut as starting QB at UF.

• ⚽️ Gators' Legendary Soccer Rise to be Featured in SEC Storied Documentary Mark your calendars, Gators! On Oct. 29 at 8 p.m., SEC Network is debuting SEC Storied: "Kick Start", a documentary that spotlights the incredible journey of Florida's women's soccer team from its founding in 1994 to winning the 1998 NCAA Championship in just four seasons. The doc dives into how Coach Becky Burleigh, only 26 at the time, built a championship team from scratch. Florida's underdog squad, including stars like Erin Baxter, Danielle Fotopoulos, and freshman phenom Abby Wambach, went head-to-head with soccer powerhouse North Carolina and came out on top.This film highlights a pivotal moment not only in Gators' history but also in women's collegiate sports. Don’t miss it! Tune in to see how a bold vision and a lot of heart led the Gators to a national title.

📆 Things to Do:

Wednesday October 16th

🍅 Farmers Market at Celebration Pointe (4 PM) Fresh fall produce, prepared goods, and more at the weekly farmers market at Celebration Pointe. Support local, and enjoy the beautiful weather!

🚺️ Women’s Health and Wellness Expo at Hilton UF Conference Center (5 PM - 8:30 PM) Registration is required for this one, but it sounds like a packed agenda with all kinds of tips and tricks for leading a healthier life.

🎼 Songs from the Heart Showcase at Heartwood Stage (7-9 PM) Come enjoy some mid-week live music from a variety of artists playing 15 minute sets!

Thursday October 17th

🎯 Batty Bingo Night at Blackadder Brewing (7 PM-8:30 PM) Bingo is back at Blackadder, and this time it’s supporting the Lubee Bat Conservancy. Come hungry, as there will be a good truck, and thirsty for some delicious brews.

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Have a great rest of the week.
Lauren
Swamptown Scoop