Tynes’ McKenney creates winning Clay Humane billboard

CLAY COUNTY – Clay Humane announced the winners of their annual poster contest recently. Participating fifth grade classes were treated to a presentation on the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent pet overpopulation. The students were then asked to create a poster to demonstrate this important message.
Tynes Elementary’s Savannah McKenney created the winning poster, which reads, “neuter or spay or it could rain cats and dogs.” She drew a cat and a dog, each holding an umbrella, while other cats and dogs fall from the sky like raindrops. McKenney’s artwork will be prominently displayed on a Blanding Boulevard billboard in Orange Park through the month of February. In addition, she also received a check for $100.
More than 1,100 students participated this year. Each school chose three posters to represent their classes, and a panel of judges decided the top three winners overall.
Second place was awarded to Magali Barcenas of S. Bryan Jennings Elementary, while third place went to Isabella Pasquale of Middleburg Elementary. An honorable mention was also given to Emma Collins from W.E. Cherry Elementary.

Martell honored with Rose Award by Culver’s Middleburg

MIDDLEBURG – Ruby Martell spent most of her life in the hospitality industry and has shown us through her experience that going above and beyond for our guests, no matter the situation, is the only way to properly take care of them.
Culver’s Middleburg not only is aware of her dedication, they honored her with its Rose Award.
One day, a couple came into Culver’s with a newborn and a toddler boy, who was leashed to his father. The restaurant was very busy at the time and Martell noticed they were going to try and sit at a table that was obviously too small for them.
She told them, “That table will not work for you. You need a booth to put the baby carrier in and to help hold the boy in.”
At that moment, there were no booths available, but Martell knew there were a couple of them where the guests had finished their meals and were just chatting. She quickly circled around those booths until one of the groups realized how busy we had become and decided it was time to give their seat to the guests waiting to eat.
Once the group got up, she thanked them for coming in and invited them to come back soon. Then she quickly wiped down the booth, set her tray on the table to hold it, and went and brought the family to the table-much more suited for them.
They were so happy and kept thanking me throughout their meal for my kindness. When they finally got up to leave, the gentleman couldn’t thank me enough, and said how much they appreciated me taking such good care of them from beginning to end. Now, the couple and the kids ask for Martell every time they come in.

9/11 mobile Exhibit coming to Orange Park Mall in March

ORANGE PARK – The 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit will make a stop at the Orange Park Mall from March 27-29. The event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and is free to the public.
The exhibit is part of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that pays off mortgages for families of fallen soldiers and first responders.
Siller was a 34-year-old New York City fireman who was on his way to play golf with his three brothers when he heard about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. He rushed to his firehouse, collected his gear got as close as the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel where traffic was blocked. He ran with 60 pounds of gear from the tunnel to the North Tower, where died when the tower collapsed.

Tickets on sale for ‘The Color Purple’ at Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – Multi-award-winning Musical “The Color Purple” comes to the Broadway Orange Park season on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center.
Based on the Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture, “The Color Purple” is adapted for the stage by Tony- and Pulitzer-winner Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
The revival of “The Color Purple” opened to great acclaim in summer 2013 at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, followed by a Broadway bow on Nov. 10, 2015 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. “The Color Purple” went on to win two 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, two Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a Daytime Emmy.
“The Color Purple” played 483 performances on Broadway, closing on Jan. 8, 2017.
For more information, please visit ColorPurple.com.
Tickets for “The Color Purple” are currently on sale at Thrasher-Horne Center. Prices range from $49-$79 with all fees included. Tickets and more information are available at (904) 276-6815 or online at THcenter.org.
The Thrasher-Horne Center is a performing arts venue and conference center owned and operated by St. Johns River State College. It is located on the Orange Park campus at 283 College Drive in Orange Park.

Young Irelanders bringing tour to Thrasher-Horne on March 20

ORANGE PARK – Experience Ireland’s traditions in music, song, and dance. The Young Irelanders: Wild Atlantic Way Tour is coming to the Thrasher-Horne Center on March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Each year the Irish Cultural Academy brings together its finest performers as part of one sensational group known as The Young Irelanders. Presented by some of the most talented young performers in the world, this sensational act is an absolute must see.
Members of the Irish Cultural Academy have performed across six continents and for many heads of state, Presidents of Ireland, U.S. Presidents, and royalty including Prince Albert of Monaco. Members have also performed in many noted international venues such as Beijing Opera House, Sydney Opera House, Kremlin State Palace in Moscow, the U.S. Capitol Building, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center.
This event is presented by Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets for The Young Irelanders are currently on sale at the center. Prices range from $19-$59 with all fees included. Tickets and more information can be found at (904) 276-6815 ext. 1 or online at THcenter.org.

Vietnam Veterans Day on March 28 in Green Cove Springs

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The second annual Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony will be held March 28 at 10 a.m. at the TAPS Monument, 915 Walnut St.
More than 200 are expected to attend the ceremony to honor annual anniversary of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Of the 66 fallen Clay County residents on the TAPS Monument, 21 died in Vietnam – the largest number of the fallen from conflicts represented on the monument, which was first was dedicated in 2017.
The National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is actually March 29, honors the U.S. military members who served during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The day was first observed in 2012.
From Jan. 1, 1965 to March 28, 1973, 2.6-million military personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam. Another 50,000 served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
During the Vietnam Era – Aug. 5, 1965 to May 7, 1975 – more than nine million served on active duty.
There were more than 58,000 U.S. military casualties in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. There still are nearly 1,600 who are considered missing in action from Vietnam.
For more information contact David Treffinger at dtreffinger433@msn.com or at (609) 320-1723.

Melissa Etheridge’s ‘Medicine Show’ makes house call to TH

ORANGE PARK – The Medicine Show Tour: Melissa Etheridge is coming to Thrasher-Horne Center on April 30 at 7:30 pm.
The singer will be performing a variety of fan favorites but will also perform songs from her latest album The Medicine Show. Released on April 12 via Concord Records, The Medicine Show reunited with celebrated producer John Shanks for the album which has her sounding as rousing as ever, bringing a new level of artistry to her 15th studio recording.
The album deals with universal themes of renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and, most profoundly, healing.
Through the songs she processed the deep fears and hurting she saw in the nation on collective and personal levels; “Shaking” about national anxiety, “Here Comes the Pain,” personalizing the opioid crisis, the unifying “Human Chain” about the hope for healing, and the rocking, anthemic “Love Will Live.”
More highlights include the album-closer, “Last Hello” drawing on the incredible strengths and courage shown by the survivors of the Parkland school shootings, and the infectious “Wild and Lonely,” and “Faded By Design,” exploring themes of her past with a new perspective.
Tickets for Melissa Etheridge are currently on sale at Thrasher-Horne Center. Prices range from at $39-$90 with all fees included. VIP Packages range from $199-$379. Tickets and more information are available at (904) 276-6815 or online at THcenter.org.