Soul Food Festival postponed until Nov. 5
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The 21st Annual Green Cove Springs Soul Food Music Festival scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, was pushed back to Nov. 5 by Hurricane Ian.
A month from now, the event will start with a festive parade along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and end with a day filled with music, games, wares and, of course, a variety of foods to satisfy every tastebud.
The festival will be at Vera Francis Hall Park at 1503 MLK Blvd.
The festival was established by a group of community volunteers called BATCOP – Breaking Away The Cycle of Pain” in 2002. The event now draws up to 5,000 visitors each year.
For advance tickets or information, contact statealertevents@gmail.com or call (904) 609-9363.

Baptist Medical Center Clay hosting job fair on Oct. 19
FLEMING ISLAND – Now that the Baptist Medical Center Clay is closer to its grand opening, the hospital is in need of employees.
The new 100-bed, six-floor, 300,000 square foot hospital is expected to bring about 700 new jobs to Clay County. To fill those vacancies, the hospital will host several job fairs.
The next hiring event will be on Oct. 19 from 2-6 p.m. at 2310 Village Square Pkwy. on Fleming Island.
For more information, email Bryce.mcgibeny@bmcjax.com.

After-school programs underway at Augusta Savage Museum and Mentoring Center
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Although classes already have started, officials at the Augusta Savage Museum and Mentoring Center are still accepting students for its after-school programs.
Classes include Art Workshop with Barbara Cornett on Thursdays (through Dec. 15), Introduction in Dance by Leslee Bryan on Tuesdays (through May 25), Dress for Success by Felecia Hampshire on Thursdays (through Nov. 10), Reading Tutoring by Cynthia Reese on Wednesdays (through November), Math Tutoring by Lucy Conrad on Tuesdays or Thursdays (through May), Counselor Tammy Rowson on Tuesdays, Dance by La’Farrah Davis on Mondays (through May 25).
More classes may be added to accommodate enrollment.
For required registration forms, visit greencovesprings.com/AugustaSavageMuseumandMentoring Center.

OP Historical Society accepting essays for Veterans Day celebration
ORANGE PARK – The Historical Society of Orange Park will accept essays from Clay County students for its annual Veterans Day recognition.
There are three grade categories – fourth-through-sixth, seventh and eighth and ninth-through-12.
All entries should concentrate on the importance of celebrating Veterans Day and how veterans have made an impact in their neighborhoods, lives and towns.
The theme for the younger category is “Why are veterans special,” while seventh- and eighth-grade students will focus on “Write about an American who served in the U.S. military who inspires you” and the older division’s category will be “Why are the words ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ important today?
Winners will receive $50 (fourth-through-sixth), $75 (seventh and eighth) and $100 (ninth-through-12). For more information, visit ophistory.org.
Entries should be sent to info@ophistory.org and must be received by the Historical Society by Sept. 30. Winners will be announced on Oct. 28.

Clay Soil and Water Conservation District looking for supervisors
CLAY COUNTY – The Clay Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking people who wish to consider serving as Supervisors effective January 2023.
Supervisors are elected serving two-to-four years each term, but the two unfilled seats shall be appointed by the other three Supervisors according to State Statutes.
After the passing of Senate Bill 1078, the District is seeking anybody who is an eligible voter residing in Clay County and meets one of the following: actively engaged in, or retired after 10 years of being engaged in, agriculture as defined in Florida Statutes 570.02; employed by an agricultural producer; own, lease, or actively employed on land classified as agriculture under Florida Statutes 193.461.

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. To save even more time, both the form and donation have been made available in advance online.
The average household drops off about 55 pounds and donates $14 a visit. Considering that most drop-off shred sites charge more than $.50 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.

Thrasher-Horne puts show memorabilia on sale
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 programing.
Included in the items are items from Aaron Lewis, comedian Bill Engvall, The Highwaymen, Electric Light Orchestra Experience, LeAnn Rimes, the Oak Ridge Boys, Michael W. Smith, Pete the Cat, Ricky Nelson Remembered and The Young Irelanders.
Items range from $25 to $100, and they can only be picked up at the center.
For more information, call (904) 276-6815 or visit thcenter.org.

Clay County looking 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.