Local news | Clay Today

Notice of Special Meeting

The Board of County Commissioners will meet for a Special Meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the BCC Meeting Room, Fourth Floor, Administration Building, 477 Houston Street, … more

For Clay Today | 9/12/25

New nonprofit It Takes a Village was founded by Nikita and Greg Copeland.

Locals celebrate the 904 Orange Park style

ORANGE PARK — It was a 904 Day takeover at the Orange Park Mall on Thursday, Sept. 4, as locals came together to celebrate what makes the Jacksonville area unique. Twenty-two nonprofits, ranging … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/11/25

Hurricane Irma in 2017 dumped 14 inches of rain in Clay County in about 12 hours, causing $40 million in damage, and flooding at the intersection of State Road 21 and County Road 218.

Clay residents urged to assist with FEMA flood zone mapping

CLAY COUNTY – FEMA is updating Clay County’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which determine flood risk and may affect whether some residents are required to carry flood insurance. Clay County is … more

For Clay Today | 9/11/25

Sanders selected as Baptist’s executive vice president, chief consumer officer

FLEMING ISLAND – After an extensive nationwide search, Baptist Health has named Sarah C. Sanders, MBA, as executive vice president and chief consumer officer (CCO), effective Monday, Sept. 8. … more

For Clay Today | 9/11/25

Students of all ages take part in individual and group sessions learning Spanish with Layla.

Spanish with Layla gives the gift of language

FLEMING ISLAND — Layla Willmore speaks three languages. And she joins at least 50% of the world’s population who do it well, according to Living . Two of those languages she learned a … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/10/25

Soul Food Festival returns to Green Cove on Oct. 4

GREEN COVE SPRINGS — The Soul Food and Musical Festival is back in its 24th consecutive year for a "boot stompin" good time. On Saturday, Oct. 4, the community is invited to Vera Francis Hall … more

For Clay Today | 9/10/25

"Aunt" Jane Van Zant signs one of the bottles of Jimmie Van Zant whiskey during the release of the Hoochie Hooch Distillery elixir and the 84th birthday celebration for Jane.

Storms provide a lot of the rockin’ at Jimmie Van Zant’s whiskey release

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Boogerville Hideout Bar was rockin’ last Saturday, partially by bands and celebration of Jimmie Van Zant’s life, and the 84 th birthday party for his sister, “Aunt” … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/10/25

Forming the 14th Colony: British East Florida

CLAY COUNTY – As many view it as the “14th Colony,” Florida’s role in the formation of our great nation is often overlooked. When teaching about the American Revolution, most lessons focus on … more

By Archives Supervisor Vishi Garig, A Service of Clerk of Court and Comptroller Tara S. Green | 9/7/25

Lincoln Memorial University is located at 335 Crossing Blvd. off Wells Road in Orange Park.

LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine opening in June 2026

ORANGE PARK – The Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM) has reached a significant milestone on the path to full accreditation, receiving a Letter of … more

For Clay Today | 9/6/25

Spencer's has an eclectic storefront inside the Orange Park Mall.

Time changes fashion, fads; Zales, Spencer’s remain the same

ORANGE PARK – Stores, like fashion and fads, have come and gone during the last 50 years at the Orange Park Mall. Several athletic shoe and clothing stores, a Food Court, nail spas, and health … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/5/25

How to grill locally-sourced football tailgate parties

CLAY COUNTY – Tom Estevez knows meat. When the assistant lab manager for the University of Florida’s Meat Retail Store looks for a steak to throw on a grill to impress his tailgating buddies, he … more

By Meredith Bauer, Senior Specialist, UF/IFAS Communications | 9/4/25

Clay Electric's Steve Hollingsworth presents $10,000 from the company's "Operation Round Up" program to officials with the Emmanuel Project.

Clay Electric rounds up $10,000 donation for Emmanuel Project

JACKSONVILLE – Through its foundation, Clay Electric Cooperative recognized the compassionate, escalating need and thankless work done by the Emmanuel Project by presenting the nonprofit a $10,000 … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/4/25

Penney Retirement Community President and CEO Teresa Scott, right, visits with a family in Kenya while delivering Personal Energy Transportation carts on behalf of Partners for Care.

Penney Retirement’s Scott delivers PET carts, hope to Kenya

PENNEY FARMS – The conditions were crude. Children were covered with chiggers and mosquitoes. There was no running water or electricity. As many as 20,000 people crammed into a three-block … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/4/25

William Gura is a retired, disabled veteran whose passion for art has led him to success.

Disabled vet finds fulfillment in artistic outlet

ORANGE PARK —William Gura is on the quest to find what he calls the “American Mona Lisa.” As an artist and expert at his craft, Gura doesn’t know exactly what all that entails, but he’s … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/4/25

Mazerac said it was this view from his Oakleaf home that inspired the location for his debut novel.

Oakleaf community inspires debut author's book series

OAKLEAF — For more than 20 years, Joseph Mazerac worked as an unexploded ordnance technician. And although that career is still meaningful to him, the creative bug that bit him years prior … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/4/25

Grace Episcopal Day School introduced a new turf this school year, which will be used for after-school activities, physical education classes, and athletics.

Grace Episcopal Day School introduces new outside turf

ORANGE PARK—In an effort to promote the positives of outdoor learning, Grace Episcopal Day School welcomed students back to school this year with some brand-new campus additions. Replacing what was … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/4/25

The garden club got tips on successful ideas for dealing with shady areas.

Fleming Island Garden Club gets tips on shade-loving plants

FLEMING ISLAND – The Garden Club’s summer hiatus ended when we gathered for our August meeting. Our guest speaker, Master Gardener Volunteer and Garden Club member Connie Gladding, discussed the … more

By Rhona Scoville, Fleming Island Garden Club | 9/4/25

Broskie shocked the Clay SafetyNet Alliance by telling them district school buses will travel the equivalent of 129 trips around the world this school year..

Broskie’s address receives an ‘A’ from SafetyNet Alliance

MIDDLEBURG – One of the standing procedures of the SafetyNet Alliance meetings is for everyone to introduce themselves and give a brief description of the service they provide. Since SafetyNet … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/25

Michelle Reaves and Brian Knight explain the benefits of Impact Clay's new Impact Works, a program that puts all of the county's nonprofit services in a sinlge database.

Program connects county’s nonprofits with click of keystroke

MIDDLEBURG – With a couple of clicks of a computer and a single sweep of a finger across the mouse pad, a standing-room-only audience of nonprofit, community, health and wellness, government, … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/25

The Clay County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a list of future legislative requests at Tuesday's meeting.

County prioritizes public safety, quality of life for legislative requests

GREEN COVE SPRINGS — The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve an extensive list of future legislative requests at Tuesday's meeting. In its 2026 legislative … more

By Kyla Woodard
kyla@claytodayonline.com | 9/1/25

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