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Community Briefs

Clay Today
Posted 1/31/18

Foundation to host “A Drug Free Day in Clay”ORANGE PARK – A nonprofit foundation that educates the public about drug addiction has teamed up with the organization City Streets to …

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Community Briefs


Posted

Foundation to host “A Drug Free Day in Clay”
ORANGE PARK – A nonprofit foundation that educates the public about drug addiction has teamed up with the organization City Streets to Student Athletes to present a symposium about the opioid crisis.
The Derek Hatcher Foundation will host the free event on Feb. 3 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center. The event will feature real life stories, door prizes and interactive discussions about working together to keep the community safe. The foundation will also give a presentation about college scholarship opportunities for Clay County students at the event.
“As you may have heard, we are in the middle of an opiate epidemic and Clay County is not an exception. Deaths from opioids have been rising sharply for years, and drug overdoses already kill more Americans under age 50 that anything else, and it is predicted to get worse before it gets better,” states Debbie Rizer, president of the Derek Hatcher Foundation, in a press release.
Rizer is also Hatcher’s mother.
During his senior year at Ridgeview High, Derek Hatcher threw more than 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns and, as a freshman, walked on as a punter at the University of Arkansas. He died at the age of 24 in February 2016 from a drug overdose. A video about Hatcher’s story will be shown at this event.

Farmer’s market to accept SNAP
ORANGE PARK – Clay County residents who receive aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will now be able to use that benefit at the Orange Park Farmer’s & Arts Market.
Beginning Feb. 4, the Town of Orange Park will start participating in the SNAP, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. SNAP offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families, allowing them to stretch their food dollars and eat healthy. The Orange Park Farmer’s & Arts Market is the first market in Clay County to accept SNAP benefits.
SNAP participants will use their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to purchase tokens, worth $1 each, from the Market information booth. These tokens can be used to purchase fresh produce, local honey, fresh meats and eggs, homemade breads and pasta, and many other eligible food items.
“We know we have veterans, elderly and young families struggling to get access to fresh, healthy, local food and are excited to be able to offer this at our market,” said Council member Connie Thomas.
The Orange Park Farmer’s & Arts Market is open at Town Hall Park on the first and third Sunday of each month from September through June with exceptions in October and March when the Town of Orange Park hosts other major events. Market hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m at the corner of Kingsley and Park avenues.

Jacksonville Symphony musicians to celebrate diversity here

JACKSONVILLE – Two ensembles comprised of Jacksonville Symphony musicians will perform at Island View Baptist Church on Park Avenue in Orange Park on Feb. 4 as part of a concert celebrating the theme of diversity and inclusion.
The concert is in recognition of Black History Month and the unique diversity of the greater Jacksonville community. This event is free and open to the public with limited seating available in Island View Baptist Church.
The concert will feature a brass quintet and a string quartet and will also feature choral music performed by a community choir composed of singers from across the Jacksonville area.
WHEN: Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 4 p.m.
If you are interested in being a part of the Island View Baptist Church community choir, please call (904)562-8409 or (904)264-6411. You may also send your information and interest to gentlemenatheart3@gmail.com. All choir rehearsals will be conducted at Island View Baptist Church.

2018 Clay County Cruzers Scholarships Available
ORANGE PARK – Clay County students who are graduating this year are eligible and encouraged to apply for a $1,500 Scholarship from the Clay County Cruzers.
Applicants must be graduating from the Clay County School System. Students are eligible if they are going to attend any post-secondary program of study including colleges, universities or vocational or technical schools.
Applicants are requested to write an essay of approximately 150 words and complete a short application form. Scholarship applications must be received by Clay County Cruzers on or before the application deadline of March 31.
The scholarship documents will be provided to each high school guidance office. The instructions and application form provide all relevant information a student needs to apply. These forms are also available on the Clay County Cruzers website at www.claycountycruzers.com.
Selected candidates will be asked to attend a Clay County Cruzer meeting to introduce themselves and describe their plans.
Applications and essays should be mailed to Clay County Cruzers, P.O. Box 65010-9998, Orange Park, FL 32065-9998. Each applicant will be notified once their application is received and winners will be announced in April.

Calling all artists for a T-shirt design contest
MIDDLEBURG – Would-be artists have a chance to get some notoriety and help out a growing Clay County nonprofit at the same time.
The Black Creek Bowl Association of Middleburg is holding its annual T-shirt cover design contest. Art can be hand-drawn or computer generated. Designs will not be returned and they become the sole property of Association.
The design will be used in advertising sales and promotions for the 2018 Black Creek 5K, which raises scholarship funds for students who attend Middleburg High School.
This year’s theme is “Running Through Historic Middleburg.” The winner will receive four run entries of the race of their choice and an article in the local newspaper featuring the artist & design. Hand-drawn designs should measure 11-inches by 8.5-inches and be submitted on unlined white paper. Artwork must be produced with black ink using markers, paint, pencils or ink. Computer designs can be submitted in full color vector format on CD, flash drive or email. All designs must include the phrases “7th Annual,” “Black Creek 5K/10K,” and “October 20, 2018.” No other company logos or names may appear in the design. Designs can be mailed to BCBA, P.O. Box 2096, Middleburg, FL 32050. Designs can be emailed to info@blackcreekbowl.com or hand-delivered to April Martin at Middleburg High School no later than Feb. 28. An entry form must be provided with each submission. Do not sign the artwork.

Orange Park entrepreneur appointed to state board
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott appointed an Orange Park business owner to serve on the state Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.
Rose Conry, 58, of Orange Park, joins two other Scott appointees to the board, which reviews, analyzes and advises on the policy decisions and evaluates the effectiveness of the Florida Division of Blind Services. Scott appointed Paul Kurtz, 65, of Jacksonville, is a retired computer specialist with Fleet Readiness Center, to serve from Jan. 26 to August 31, 2019. He also appointed Denise Valkema, 56, of Miami, is the current president of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, to serve from Jan. 26 to August 31, 2020.
Conry is the chief executive officer of StaffTime Jacksonville and also serves as a board member on CareerSource Florida.

Law enforcement officers graduate from Leadership Academy
TALLAHASSEE – Two law enforcement officers from Clay County recently graduated from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Florida Leadership Academy.
John Guzman of the Green Cove Springs Police Department and Chad Ricks of the Clay County Sheriff's Office were among 36 first-line supervisors representing 22 criminal justice agencies throughout the state.
The graduates met for four week-long sessions at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in Miramar Beach where they learned skills necessary to support the needs of their agencies and their communities as they prepare for future challenges.
The goal of the Florida Leadership Academy is to prepare first-line supervisors in criminal justice organizations to exemplify the character and integrity expected of criminal justice professionals and to examine the various components necessary to being an efficient leader.

New hours for garbage drop-off sites
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Department of Environmental Services announces new hours for the Clay Hill, Doctors Inlet, Keystone Heights and Long Bay Environmental Convenience Centers.
Effective Feb. 8, the new hours for all Clay County ECCs will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. This is a slight change to the centers’ current hours. They will open and close 30 minutes earlier than the current schedule. Please call (904) 284-6374 for more information.

Beekeeper short course offered
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Interested in becoming a beekeeper to help pollinate your crops or make your own honey?
If so, plan now to attend the upcoming short course to be held at the UF/IFAS Clay County Extension Office at 2463 State Rd. 16 West in Green Cove Springs. The class will be held March 10 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and registration is $15 for an individual or $25 per couple. Register online at https://ClayExtension.eventbrite.com.
Come learn about the process involved with starting your own hive and take away a free local jar of honey as well. Contact Luke Harlow at (904) 284-6355 for any questions.

Robotics teams need community help
ORANGE PARK – Help a student learn science and team-building by sponsoring your very own robotics team.
The robotics team OneClay A.R.M.O.R.Y., which stands for Advancing Robotics Making Our Reality Yours from the Clay County School District will be competing in an International FRC Competition March 7-10 in Orlando. The team is seeking funds and non-monetary support. All contributions go directly to the team to fund robotic building materials, team shirts and travel expenses, such as lodging, food and transportation.
This worldwide competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded global competitors.
Donors can make checks payable to CCSD: ONECLAY ARMORY Robotics. Checks can be mailed to OneClay A.R.M.O.R.Y., Leslee Bryan, STEM Curriculum Specialist, Clay County School District, 2306 Kingsley Ave., Building 16, Orange Park, FL 32073 or call (904) 336-6594 for more information.