New artwork going on display Aug. 8 at Thrasher-Horne’s Gallery

ORANGE PARK – The Thrasher-Horne Center Gallery will unveil a new display of artwork on August 8, and the public is invited to the opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The gallery, located at 283 College Dr., will feature works by Kevin Boldenow, Kristin Cronic and LesLea Anne Ellison. The Gallery is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the current works will be on display until Dec. 14.

In addition to the new artwork, Thrasher-Horne will be serving complimentary appetizers during the opening.

Boldenow’s lifelong passion for photography began the moment he picked up his parents’ Brownie camera. Since that time, Kevin has built a career as a professional photographer specializing in 35mm, medium format, and digital landscape and figurative imagery. Kevin’s work has been exhibited in several galleries across Florida and received the 2004 South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship Grant for Visual and Media Artists. The Consortium award is one of the most prestigious awards given to artists in the United States, having been judged by both local and national art experts.

The Magnolia Point Women's Club provided three Clay High graduates with a total of $12,000 in scholarships for the upcoming school year.

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Magnolia Point Women’s Club award three scholarships

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Magnolia Point Women’s Club Scholarship, awarded annually to senior girls graduating from Clay High, began in 2003 to honor former Women’s Club founder and member Gisela Ferrell. Scholarships are funded by proceeds from the annual Women’s Club luminaria event held each December in Magnolia Point, as well as proceeds from directory ads sales for the member directory. Since the inception of the scholarship program, the Women’s Club has awarded $188,100 in scholarships to young women at Clay High.

Gloriannie Sanchez Morales received a $5,000 scholarship. She will be attending the University of North Florida and plans to major in nursing. While attending Clay High, she was a mentor for NJROTC and was a member of FFA. Gloriannie did volunteer work at the Clay County Animal Shelter and Pets and Paws.

Lauren Westfall received a $4,000 scholarship. Lauren will be attending St. Johns River State College and plans to study diagnostic sonography. While attending Clay High, she was an officer of the Clay High FFA and a peer counselor for the Vet Assisting Program. Lauren did extensive volunteer work at the Clay County Agricultural Fair.

Cameron (Marleigh) Royal was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Marleigh will be attending the University of Florida, majoring in environmental science. While attending Clay High, Marleigh was a senior class officer and played varsity tennis for three years. She also founded the Clay High Science Club.

Special thanks to the Scholarship Committee, led by Director Marsha Fields and members Pam Calloway, Marguerite Martin, Cheryle Newman, Marty Essex and Judy Sessions.

Craig Morgan to perform at Thrasher-Horne in October

ORANGE PARK – Singer, author, actor and soldier Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music hitmaker who has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted more than 25 songs on Billboard, with signature hits including “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” “International Harvester,” “Soldier,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” and his faith-filled tribute, “The Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost,” the multi-faceted entertainer’s music has formed the soundtrack to our lives for over two decades.

He will bring his catalog of hits, along with some new music, American Soundtrack, with six songs to the Thrasher-Horne Center on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which start at $37, are available at the box office or at thcenter.org.

A Magical Cirque Christmas coming to Thrasher-Horne Center

ORANGE PARK – A Magical Cirque Christmas is a dazzling holiday variety show that captivates audiences of all ages.

Bursting with festive charm, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heartwarming magic, this high-flying spectacle showcases the extraordinary talents of the world’s most elite cirque performers.

Guests can see the gravity-defying acrobatics and jaw-dropping feats of strength and agility on Nov. 20 at 7:30 at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets, which start at $37, are available at the box office or at thcenter.org.

Every act is set to a modern soundtrack of beloved Christmas classics. It’s a spellbinding winter journey through music, movement, and holiday joy – perfect for the whole family.

Quigley House in need of personal, household items

GREEN COVE SRINGS – Quigley House, the only dual-certified domestic violence and sexual assault center in Clay County, needs several personal and household items to support its survivors.

The list of urgently-requested items include Uber gift cards so survivors can attend legal and medical appointments from the shelter, body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, new extra-large twin-sized sheets and comforters, pillows, pillowcases, any new clothing, sports bras, short- and long-sleeved T-shirts, sweatpants, joggers, cleaning supplies like Windex, Pine Sol, 409, all-purpose cleaner, Lysol spray and wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergents and fabric softener and new kitchen item like utensils, plates and bowls.

Items can be accepted Monday-through-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Quigley House Administrative Office at 3373 U.S. Highway 17.

Two donors help NFLT improve Smith Lake Reserve

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) just completed a long-anticipated project at Smith Lake Preserve to remove an old fence from Smith Lake that was a significant obstacle for wildlife and a potential danger to boaters, swimmers and researchers. Two generous donors, Faith and Rick Hoffman, and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, made the fence removal project possible.

“We greatly appreciate the support from the Hoffmans and Delores Barr Weaver, both of whom have been a tremendous help to us and our mission,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “This project was on our to-do list for a while, and thanks to our generous donors, our stewardship team was able to remove the fence that had become submerged in Smith Lake. Now the lake is safer for all.”

 Cross-fencing on Smith Lake was constructed in the early 2000s for livestock grazing during a drought when the land was privately owned.  Over the years, water levels naturally rose, submerging the fence and impeding the movement of aquatic species like fish, turtles, amphibians, and alligators, causing population imbalances, and disrupting ecological processes.

The stewardship team brought in North Florida Dock Service to assist with removing just over 1.5 miles of mostly submerged fencing. The fence at the freshwater marsh was removed by using mini-excavators, skid steers, barges and watercraft. The work had no effect on the environment. The fence removal restores natural migration, enhances the environmental balance, and ensures safe access to the lake.

Rotary clubs to honor heroes with flags, coins at OP Town Hall

CLAY COUNTY – The Rotary Clubs of Green Cove Springs, Orange Park Noon and Sunrise and Fleming Island are accepting donations to honor heroes with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Orange Park and Green Cove Springs Police Departments, Florida Army National Guard, Wounded Warrior Project and others by selling flags, coins and mentions at a special ceremony on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at Orange Park Town Hall.

To honor a veteran, current member of the military or a first responder, visit oprotarysunrise.com and click on flags-for-heroes. With all donations, your hero’s name(s) will be mentioned at the event. The costs are:

• Hero, $50 – one seven-foot flag displayed between Sept. 8-19 at Town Square with the hero’s name displayed on it and a custom-designed coin for the hero.

• Friend, $100 – As many as two flags and two coins.

• Bronze, $250 – As many as four flags and four coins.

• Silver, $500 – As many as six flags, six coins and a business logo.

• Gold, $1,000 – As many as eight flags, eight coins and a business logo.

• Platinum, $2,000 – As many as 10 flags, 10 coins, business logo and opportunity to display a table at the ceremony.

Cheer for Jags, support Quigley House – at same time

Quigley House is excited to partner with the Jacksonville Jaguars, The Jaguars Foundation, and the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida through the Jaguars Give & Go Program and the organization that supports survivors of domestic violence needs your help.

When you purchase Jaguars home game tickets through this special program, Quigley House can earn as much as $30 a ticket sold. It's a fun and easy way to support survivors while enjoying an NFL game at a discounted nonprofit rate.

When you purchase your tickets, be sure to select Quigley House as your designated nonprofit. Every ticket helps Quigley House continue its mission to provide safety and support for those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.

For any questions, contact development@quigleyhouse.org.

To purchase Jaguars tickets, visit giveandgo.nonprofitctr.org/events.

Portions of Black Creek Bike Trail closed for construction

CLAY COUNTY – Crews are repairing the Black Creek Bike Trail, and portions are closed for construction.

Phase 1: Two boardwalk sections near County Road 220 are closed, and the work is expected to last a month.

Phase 2: This will start after Phase 1 is finished, and it will impact the boardwalk along U.S. Highway 17 between Harbor Island Drive and Pace Island Trace. The work is expected to last around three months.

The rest of the Black Creek Bike Trail is still open.

Vehicles, vendors needed for Touch a Truck event in September

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Touch a Truck: What Moves Clay County, the annual event that attracts thousands to the Clay County Fairgrounds, is registering vehicles, static displays, community partners and service providers for its Sept. 6 event.

Touch a Truck includes construction, first responder, military, agricultural and utility vehicles that will be displayed and available to be inspected and touched.

What Moves Clay brings together the people and machinery that power the community from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll host a sensory-friendly quiet hour from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and the day will feature dozens of vehicle displays, vendor booths (indoors and outdoors), food trucks, giveaways, and a kid zone.

Whether a group is showcasing a vehicle, hosting a booth or sharing resources, Touch a Truck is a great opportunity to connect with Clay County families and highlight the work of the organization.

To register, visit forms.Monday.com/forms/58b9d81bd5150bb66fc9dead7f3348d4?r=use1.

Vendors need to complete a liability form and vehicle displays must provide certificates of insurance by Aug. 5.