Memorial Day ceremonies

planned around county

 CLAY COUNTY – Residents and veterans will honor fallen soldiers who died while defending the country in ceremonies around Clay County on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

One will be at the Taps Monument at the Historic Triangle, 915 Walnut St. where 66 fallen Clay County servicemembers from war dating back to the Civil War will be remembered.

The ceremony will be short; there is no seating. Therefore, everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

Another will be at Magnolia Cemetery, Magnolia Cemetery Lane off Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park, at 9 a.m.

An additional ceremony will take place at the Keystone Heights Cemetery, 7304 State Road 100, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Memorial Day is one of the federal holidays in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

County to break ground

on new animal services building

MIDDLEBURG – County officials will celebrate the groundbreaking of its new Animal Services Building at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, near Paul Armstrong Park at 2511 County Road 220.

The building will replace the outdated and insufficient facility that is close to the South Prong of the Black Creek.

Anyone interested in attending may park at the JTA Park-n-Ride lot and take a courtesy shuttle to the site on the corner of CR 220 and Sleepy Hollow Road.

Black Creek Eco Fest set for June 14

Clay County Parks and Recreation presents Black Creek Eco Fest slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 at Camp Chowenwaw Park in Green Cover Springs.

The event includes interactive programs, ecology, local history, local vendors, hands-on activities and guided hikes.

County partners to host

Kids Bike Rodeo

Clay County Parks and Recreation is teaming up with partners from across the area to hold a Kids Bike Rodeo from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Kids can learn essential bike safety skills, go through obstacle courses, have a bike hospital checkup, a bike carwash, and more.

One of the highlights of the event is a free helmet giveaway, available while supplies last. Helmets are required for participation; fittings will be done by appointment. The rodeo welcomes both bicycles and scooters, but motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Families can now register online at LetsPlayClay.com to secure their spot and schedule a helmet fitting.

DOH-Clay issues health alert

for blue-green algae 

The Florida Department of Health in Clay County (DOH-Clay) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Doctors Lake-Center. The alert is in response to a water sample taken on May 13. The public should exercise caution in and around Doctors Lake-Center.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
• Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

 The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. After samples are analyzed at their laboratory, the toxin results can be viewed on the Protecting Florida Together or on DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard.

Stronger Together Golf

tourney tees off June 10

The 2^nd annual Stronger Together Golf Tournament for Isaiah Carrasco is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 10 at Fleming Island Golf Club. Top of the Tee is the event’s presenting sponsor.

Carrasco survived a 2022 car crash and sustained a traumatic brain injury.

The tournament comprises a 9-hole scramble on TopTracer: The Back 9 of Oakmont, and a Long Drive Competition (three balls for $10 or 10 balls for $20). The event includes a silent auction, raffles, live music and food trucks.