Garden Club celebrates National Garden Week
ORANGE PARK – The Garden Club of Orange Park has prepared a display at the Orange Park Library to celebrate National Garden Week.
Two glass cases in the lobby highlight some of the projects the club has been involved with this year, including Plant America, Clay County Fair and the Smokey Bear-Woodsy Owl poster contest for elementary school students.
While you are there, be sure to pick up a free copy of “20 Easy to Grow Wildflowers,” compliments of the Garden Club. We hope you’ll consider becoming a member when our meetings resume in September.
The club’s exhibit will be on display through June 10.

Waste Not Want Not hosting yard sale to feed those in need
ORANGE PARK – Waste Not Want Not is sponsoring a yard sale on June 9, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Challenger Enterprises Shopping Plaza at 556 Kingsley Ave.
Thousands of new items will be available at yard sale prices, including Halloween and Christmas decorations, cleaning supplies, automotive supplies, pet supplies, household goods, health and beauty aids, toys, books, toiletries, supplements, paint, tools and more.
Every dollar raised will provide 15 pounds of food to someone in need.
In America, stores and restaurants throw away lots of perfectly good food: one-quarter of all food produced in the United States.
One in six children, adults and seniors do not always have enough to eat: 1 in 6 of all Americans.
In North Florida, Waste Not Want Not prevents the discarding of food to be used to fight hunger here at home. Our volunteers rescue surplus food within a 15-mile radius of Orange Park and provide it to charities serving the less fortunate in 14 counties.

Learn, win by downloading passport to Clay County history
CLAY COUNTY – For the second year, Clay County will encourage everyone to play along as they learn about the county’s rich history.
All you need is a mobile phone to participate in Clay County History Passport, and everyone is eligible to win prizes.
To download the passport adventure, visit exploreclay.com/passports/.
Some exciting places everyone can visit – and complete their passports – include the historic courthouse and jail in the Historic Triangle in Green Cove Springs, Camp Chowenwaw, Camp Blanding and Spring Park.

Teens can work out for free this summer at Planet Fitness
CLAY COUNTY – Starting May 15, teens 14-to-17 years old can work out at Planet Fitness for free during the summer.
In addition, the company will be giving away $200,000 in scholarships.
There are three Planet Fitness clubs in Clay County – 1980 Wells Road and 700 Blanding Boulevard, both in Orange Park, and 1514 County Road 220 on Fleming Island.

Winn-Dixie shoppers can earn $20 in groceries by getting vaccines
CLAY COUNTY – Seven Winn-Dixie stores in the county are offering $20 in free groceries if they receive two vaccinations on the same day at their in-store pharmacies to further encourage customers and their families to get up to date on routine vaccinations. Winn-Dixie’s trained pharmacists can administer a variety of recommended vaccines to help keep communities healthy and safe while traveling during the summer months with friends and loved ones.
In accordance with recently updated CDC and FDA guidelines1, SEG is now administering additional COVID-19 bivalent mRNA doses for those who qualify. Customers are encouraged to talk to their pharmacists if they have any questions regarding an additional bivalent mRNA dose.
To receive the free grocery offer, customers can walk up to a Winn-Dixie in-store pharmacy or make an appointment online to get two vaccines of their choice on the same day to receive a voucher for $20 in free grocerie2. These include more than 15 vaccine options such as pneumonia, meningitis, shingles, Tdap and COVID-19 doses.
The offer is available through June 30.
For more information on available vaccinations, visit winndixie.com/pharmacy/vaccines.

Active, retired federal employees to meet monthly
ORANGE PARK – As the only organization dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees delivers valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy.
Clay County Chapter 141 meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Orange Park Library at 2054 Plainfield Ave. at 12:30 p.m. Each gathering consists of a short business meeting and a presentation.
Since NARFE’s founding in 1921, the association’s mission has been to defend and advance America’s civil servants earned pay and benefits. Today, NARFE’S team of professional lobbyists continues to work tirelessly on behalf of the federal community. Supported by grassroots advocates, NARFE is a leading voice in Washington and across the country, although often unknown to our active and retired local civil servants and postal personnel.
Federal benefits and retirement plans are unique, complex and subject to change. NARFE provides federal workers and retirees with the precise, reliable and accessible counsel they need to make critical decisions and gain confidence in a secure future.

Mission of the Dirt Road offering free showers
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Adults can sign up for free showers on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Mission of the Dirt Road, 7790 State Road 100.
Adults can utilize the services from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Families with children can get free showers on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. Showers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Residents are required to sign up during the day of the shower. To make a reservation, call or text (601) 568-3473.

Thrasher-Horne: Show memorabilia on sale to fund future shows
ORANGE PARK –Signed posters, flyers and banners from recent acts at the Thrasher-Horne Center are on sale at the center’s box office at 483 College Dr. in Orange Park.
The money will go to the Thrasher-Horne Center Annual Fund to provide financial assistance for future programs.
Included in the items are items from the shows by Rumours, Always Patsy, Elvis, Craig Morgan, comedian Bill Engvall, Diamond Rio, Electric Light Orchestra Experience, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pete the Cat, Ricky Nelson Remembered, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Young Irelanders, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, 1964, Dragons and Mythical Beasts, Brass Transit, Champions of Magic, Sara Evans and Melissa Etheridge.
Items range from $5 to $50, and they can only be picked up at the center.
The center also is selling tickets and gift certificates for upcoming shows
For more information, call (904) 276-6815 or visit thcenter.org.

Shred For Good: Challenge Enterprises offers shredding drop-off
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Shred for Good hosts Residential Shred Drop-Off events for the benefit of individuals that don’t have an ongoing need for regular shredding service. During the drop-off events every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, participants may deposit their sensitive documents in secure and locked bins at 3530 Enterprise Way in Green Cove Springs. The bins are then securely transported to the Shred for Good facility, where it is destroyed.
After a six-month shutdown for the pandemic, Shred for Good rolled out a rebooted Residential Shred Drop Off Program in October 2020. On the first day, 92 households were able to destroy 5,116 pounds of sensitive materials in just two hours. Each one of these events is focused on convenience for the consumer and streamlined processes for the staff.
Residential consumers now follow the signs to the drop zone, complete a short form, donate and drive away without ever having to leave their vehicle. Both the form and donation have been made available online in advance to save time.
The average household drops off about 55 pounds and donates $14 a visit. Considering that most drop-off shred sites charge more than 50 cents a pound, the Shred for Good’s Residential Shred Drop-Off Program at $.26/pound is a cost-effective alternative for the community it serves.
Business and Commercial customers, please call (904) 252-9786 to schedule a pickup using one of our secure bins.

Clay County eager to fill several job openings
CLAY COUNTY – The Board of County Commissioners is looking for a few good people – make that a lot of good people.
The county posted several job openings, including animal control officer, building inspector, deputy director of engineering, engineering specialist, equipment operator, firefighter/EMT, grants administration analyst, grounds maintenance technician, HVAC technician, kennel attendant, laborer, permit services technician, veterans’ services officer and 4-H young development extension agent (apply through the University of Florida).
For more information, click the Career Opportunities tab on the county’s website, www.claycountygov.com.