Juan Gonzalez

After-school programs are when structure, safety, and belonging matter most for children. That was the message the Children’s Trust of Alachua County drove home at Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide initiative that highlights the activities and experiences of children during the crucial time between the end of the school day and dinner.

The Ghosts & Gators Fall Festival — part Halloween party, part student-run fundraiser, and wholly aimed at kids who live with Type 1 diabetes — will open its gates in Gainesville Saturday morning.

Marion County Public Schools administrators say they are worried that a $64.3 million budget gap will prompt some teachers to leave in search of better financial opportunities.