Ascension St. Vincent's welcomes first baby of 2026

St. Vincent's Clay County has been honored with several awards for its care. Newsweek named it one the World’s Best Hospitals for 2025 and also recognized it as a Best Maternity Hospital for 2024 at its highest five-ribbon level. The hospital is preparing to expand its Family Birth Place to a Level II NICU to care for newborns from 30 weeks gestation and/or 1,250 gram (2.75 lb) or greater birthweight. The upgraded NICU will care for newborns who require close monitoring and support issues such as feeding, temperature and mild respiratory problems.

Reinhold Foundation accepting Celebrate Clay nonprofit nominations

FLEMING ISLAND – The Paul E. and Klare N. Reinhold Foundation, Inc. is welcoming applications for the 2026 Celebrate Clay awards, an annual community service recognition program honoring outstanding organizations and individuals serving the Clay County community.

The Foundation will award up to $100,000 in cash prizes, including Category Awards of $1,000 and the prestigious $15,000 Paul E. Reinhold Community Service Award. Recipients will be announced at the 2026 “Celebrate Clay” awards breakfast on April 28. A panel of judges will vote on the best projects of 2025 to determine the recipients of the cash awards.

Eligible applicants encouraged to apply include 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organizations, as well as school and church outreach groups that provided services to Clay County residents in 2025.

Celebrate Clay is a program that supports the ongoing efforts of charitable organizations in the community working to strengthen and enrich Clay County. Program details and applications are available at reinhold.net.

The application deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 3.

For more information, contact Amy Parker, Executive Director at (904) 269-5857, ext. 404 or at aparker@reinhold.net.

 Orange Park Lions in a ‘giving’ spirit throughout December

ORANGE PARK – The saying goes, “It is better to give than to receive,” and the Orange Park Lions proved that in December.

The first event was donating books to Toys for Tots. The next stop was one of the Lions Club’s favorite places to visit and help, the Safe Animal Shelter in Middleburg. A check was presented to them by Carl Crosby, with backing from Vicky Crosby and Ken O’Neal, to help our four-legged friends.

The club’s attention was then shifted to helping local food banks. Treasurer Dave Vencil presented a check to the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs. Later that week, club vice president Ken Growler presented a check to Clothes Closet of Orange Park.

The Lions were not done. Dave and Celia Vencil helped by ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign at a local Winn-Dixie. The club sponsored a child for “Adopt a Raider” for the Orange Park High Community Partnership School.

Finally, several Lions (Don and Kitty Minor, Richard Campbell, Dave and Celia Vencil, and Michael Poweleit provided vision screenings and handed out snacks, Lion ornaments and pencils at the Impact Clay Train event at Green Cove Springs Junior High.

Santa and The Grinch joined up with close to 100 volunteers and served a record 300 guests, providing all kinds of needed services, meals, food, clothing and 25 bicycles.

All in all, it was a wonderful month for the Lions, and it was indeed better to give than to receive!

 Andrew Forrest appointed to Board of Dentistry

 TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed nine to the Board of Dentistry, including Orange Park’s Andrew Forrest.

Others were Marc Anderson, Dr. Chadwick Marshall, Jessica Stilley-Mallah, and Elizabeth Traverso and the reappointment of Dr. Bradley Cherry, Karyn Hill, Angela Johnson and Nicholas.

Forrest is the Founder and Clinical Director of Orange Park Dental Partners. He previously served as a faculty reviewer for the Periodontics Chapter in the McGraw-Hill Clinical Dentistry textbook and retains a teaching appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Florida’s Department of Periodontics. Forrest earned his master’s degree in oral immunology from the University of Florida and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Miami.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

 Dr. Monica Mortenson re-appointed to Board of Osteopathic Medicine

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed four to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, including Dr. Monica Mortensen, who’s affiliated with HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital and HCA Florida Putnam.

Others were Terry Reid-Paul and Derek “Patrick” Rooney and the reappointment of Dr. William Kirsh and Mortensen.

Mortensen is a Pediatric Endocrinologist for Nemours Children’s Health. Previously, she served as a Pediatric Endocrinologist for Central Florida Family and Project Health. Dr. Mortensen earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola University and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Midwestern University.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

You can support Bags of Hope to feed families, rebuild lives

 ORANGE PARK – Clay County Outreach’s Ministry Council is accepting donations of non-perishable food items for its pantry for its Bags of Hope program.

The organization has served more than 1,020 families since May 31 by providing bags of food every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the second and fourth Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1125 Kingsley Ave., Suite B.

By providing bags of food, Clay County Outreach also restores hope and rebuilds lives.

If you’d like to host a donation box, donate food or partner with the Ministry Council, contact them at (904) 444-1215 or email infoccomc@claycountyoutreachministrycouncil.com.