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Community Briefs 6/7/18

Clay Today
Posted 6/6/18

Orange Park man honored by Knights of ColumbusORLANDO – Richard E. Carey of Orange Park was named the 2018 “Knight of the Year” on May 26 by the 55,000-member Florida State Council …

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Community Briefs 6/7/18


Posted

Orange Park man honored by Knights of Columbus
ORLANDO – Richard E. Carey of Orange Park was named the 2018 “Knight of the Year” on May 26 by the 55,000-member Florida State Council of the Knights of Columbus at the State Convention held here.
Carey was selected for his dedication and commitment to his community, church and to the Knights of Columbus. He holds several officer positions in his council including chancellor, public relations representative and membership director.
Carey was honored in part for his work creating a video that highlighted his council’s activities and achievements. He also meets with new Knights in their home to discuss their interests and the council’s activities, protocol and procedures.
A member of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Orange Park, Carey has been instrumental in planning and implementing a number of parish programs and activities, including family-oriented dinners and parties, and he co-chaired a Broadway-caliber musical which involved nearly 200 participants in various acting and support roles.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization of nearly two million members worldwide. Founded by Fr. Michael McGivney, a Catholic priest, in 1882, the Knights of Columbus organization is based on the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Last year, the Knights raised $177 million fort various charities and provided more than 76 million volunteer hours.

Become a Master Gardener, more
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Master Gardener training course is now accepting applications.
This is a 9-week program that meets every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning on Aug. 8 for beginner and experienced gardeners who want to gather the knowledge necessary to help educate the citizens of Clay County.
Registration is $100, which covers resource books and materials and there is a volunteer requirement for this program. Registration is due by July 1 and can be found at http://www.clayextension.eventbrite.com or call (904)284-6355 for more information.
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension office will be offering a workshop entitled “Native Florida Landscapes” on July 12 from 6-7:30 p.m, which will highlight native plants for the home landscape, their care, and invasive species to avoid. Registration is $10 to cover costs of course materials and can be completed at http://www.clayextension.eventbrite.com. Call (904)284-6355 for more information.

Soft Skills Training course for road construction jobs
JACKSONVILLE– The Florida Department of Transportation Roads to Jobs Life Skills for Construction Careers course will be held at the Florida State College at Jacksonville Urban Resource Center, 601 West State St., June 11 to 14 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The course, which offers training in entry-level construction math, road construction terminology, communication and grammar skills, road construction safety, and resume and interview preparation, is designed to help job seekers be better prepared to meet with potential employers in the road construction industry.
“There is a great need for skilled workers in the road and bridge construction industry in Florida and that workforce gap is a challenge for construction contractors who have jobs to fill,” said Jill Cappadoro, project principal for Quest Corporation of America Inc. which leads the course. “The Roads to Jobs course is designed to help job seekers increase their confidence with basic life skills so that they are more prepared for entry-level positions in the industry.”
Candidates who successfully complete the course are added to FDOT’s OnBoard4Jobs Construction Careers database and referred for available positions with FDOT-registered road construction contractors. Participants must pass a drug and background screening, be 18 years of age, and physically capable of performing manual labor. Available positions include general laborer, pipe fitter, concrete worker, carpenter, paving worker, welder and more. Many contractors also offer On-the-Job Training with no experience required. The Roads to Jobs Life Skills for Construction Careers course is administered by Quest on behalf of FDOT.
For more information or to register for the course, visit www.roadstojobs.com, email roadstojobs@qcausa.com or call 855-219-4931.

FWC offers additional BearWise funding to reduce conflicts
TALLAHASSEE – For a third year in a row, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is inviting local governments to apply for BearWise funding to help their communities reduce human-bear conflicts.
The FWC will focus on providing funding to local governments with BearWise ordinances that require residents and businesses to keep garbage secure from bears. The funding will offset the costs for residents and businesses to use bear-resistant equipment to secure their garbage from bears.
The Florida Legislature appropriated the FWC $500,000 in BearWise funding starting July 1.
“These new funds will allow us to expand our work with local governments to make it easier for people to avoid conflicts with bears," said Kipp Frohlich, director of the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
The FWC invites counties and cities to submit applications to be considered for funding. Preference will be given to applications from areas with BearWise ordinances and to large projects benefiting a large number of people.
Local governments are strongly encouraged to consult with FWC staff to discuss options and implementation before submitting their applications. The FWC will assist any local government considering passing an ordinance, including providing example ordinances.
Since 2007, the FWC has provided almost $1.6 million in BearWise funding to residents and businesses in the 16 counties with the highest levels of human-bear conflicts in Florida. Funds have been used to purchase over 10,000 bear-resistant trash cans, 9,700 sets of hardware to secure regular trash cans, and 160 dumpsters modified to keep bears out.
For a community to be considered, the FWC must receive applications before close of business on Aug. 1, 2018. Applications should be emailed to BearManagement@MyFWC.com or mailed to: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Attention: Bear Management Program, 620 South Meridian St., 6B, Tallahassee, FL 32399.
For additional details on the funding and application process, visit MyFWC.com/BearWise.

Health Department encourages residents to get tested
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Florida Department of Health in Clay County recognizes June 27 as National HIV Testing Day. This year’s theme is “Test Your Way. Do It Today,” which serves as a reminder that HIV testing has never been more convenient because there are more ways than ever to get tested.
“In our efforts to combat the HIV epidemic, the Florida Department of Health in Clay County participates in this day to continue making strides in providing HIV education, prevention and treatment to the community. We are working to reduce the stigma that surrounds HIV testing so that more people will get tested and we can assist those currently living with HIV,” said Heather Huffman Clay’s Administrato. “This day, National HIV Testing Day, is highlighted to encourage our community to #knowyourstatus.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all individuals 13–64 years old be tested for HIV at least once during their lifetime, and persons at increased risk for HIV infection be tested at least annually.
Florida Department of Health in Clay County is participating in National HIV Testing by offering free confidential HIV testing on Wednesday June 27th from 10 am to 3 pm at the Orange Park Library located at 2054 Plainfield Ave, Orange Park. For more information, call 904-529-2800.
HIV-negative individuals are encouraged to reduce the chance of contracting HIV by using prevention strategies. As part of our strategic efforts to eliminate HIV in Florida, the Department is working to make Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medication available at no cost at all 67 CHDs by the end of this year. PrEP is a once-daily pill that can reduce the chance of acquiring
HIV in HIV-negative individuals. PrEP should be used in conjunction with other prevention methods like condoms to reduce the chance of infection. According to CDC, taking PrEP daily reduces the chance of getting HIV by more than 90 percent.
PrEP will be made available through CHD Sexually Transmitted Disease and Family Planning Clinics and patients can be provided with up to a 90-day supply of medications. Some CHDs may offer PrEP through a specialty clinic. Find a PrEP provider near you with the department’s PrEP Providers List.
You can locate HIV counseling, testing and referral sites by visiting www.KnowYourHIVStatus.com or texting ‘FLHIV’ to 898211.

20 Clay teachers win part of nationwide contest
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Twenty Clay County teachers are part of a $1 million nationwide donation to a nonprofit that assists teachers in raising funds for their classrooms.
Sonic Drive-In showed its appreciation for teachers in May – celebrated nationally as Teacher Appreciation Month – by giving the funds to the web platform DonorsChoose.org. Sonic donated each teacher a $200 Sonic gift card, which teachers can either apply to their own DonorsChoose.org projects or donate the gift cards to another deserving teacher.
The donation comes as part of Sonic’s third-annual #ThanksTeach social media campaign. Each school year on average, public school teachers spend about $500 of their own funds on classroom supplies.
“These teachers are our customers, they teach our crew members and they are an integral part of the communities in which we operate,” said Christi Woodworth, vice president of public relations for Sonic. “We’ve asked everyone to share #ThanksTeach on social media, and in turn Sonic is showing our gratitude with a $1 million donation to our partner DonorsChoose.org to impact 5,000 classrooms coast to coast.”
Clay County winners include one teacher each from Coppergate, RideOut and Wilkinson elementary schools. Two teachers each from Swimming Pen Creek Elementary and Oakleaf Junior High, while Oakleaf Village Elementary had 13 winning teachers.
Founded in 2000 by a Bronx history teacher, DonorsChoose.org has raised $683,614,142 for America’s classrooms. DonorsChoose.org vets each fund request, delivers materials directly to schools, and captures the impact of every funded project with photos, thank yous, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent.