Chiappini’s Gulf Station in Melrose is shutting down this week after 91 years in business, with third-generation owners Mark and Robin Chiappini choosing retirement after more than half a century of operation. The store, open since 1935, has served the small community as a source for beer, bait, and propane, among other staples. No announcement has been made about what will take its place.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun · WCJB TV20
National Hurricane Preparedness Week, running May 3–9, is prompting emergency officials and weather agencies to remind residents that waiting until a storm approaches risks running out of supplies and missing critical planning steps. Experts caution that Florida’s safe window for evacuation and final preparations can close faster than expected, and that a storm’s dangerous effects often extend well beyond the official forecast cone. NOAA and disaster-response organizations are encouraging residents to review insurance, stock supplies, and finalize evacuation plans now, while conditions are calm.
Sources: WUFT News · WCJB TV20
St. Francis House, a downtown Gainesville shelter that provided emergency housing and day services to families experiencing homelessness, has fully closed after ending daytime operations in March and shuttering its emergency shelter last month. The closure raises concerns about how the city will continue to meet the needs of homeless families who relied on the facility.
Sources: WUFT News
A state initiative connecting Florida farmers with food banks, first launched in 2010 and expanded statewide in July 2025, has been made a permanent program. The move is seen as a significant benefit for both food banks and agricultural producers in North Central Florida, arriving at a time when rising costs are straining food assistance networks.
Sources: WUFT News
