City employees get ‘Thanks’

BRYAN BOUAKRI/Alachua County Today

L-R: Alan Hitchcock, Duane Helle and Ben Boukari, Jr. hand over a turkey and a quilt to City of Alachua employee John Stephenson.  Nearly all of the City of Alachua’s 110 plus employees gathered at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex on Thursday for a special luncheon.  An effort organized by Duane Helle and Alan Hitchcock, the get-together was their way of telling employees “thank you.”  Helle and Hitchcock were not alone however.  They were joined by a dozen other area residents and business people in serving up the feast which included prime rib, chicken, homemade green beans and dessert and a host of other sides.

As the employees enjoyed their meal, they also won various door prizes donated from area businesses and organizations.  The prizes included 40 turkeys, Alachua’s centennial quilts and dozens of gift cards to area restaurants and specialty shops.  Each employee walked away with a door prize and a smile.