‘Doing Business in Clay County’ coming to Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – Clay County municipalities and agencies will come together on Thursday, Nov. 14, for a half-day conference at the Thrasher-Horne Center called “Doing Business in Clay County.”
Purchasing representatives will network with attendees to provide valuable information about their agency’s procurement process and vendor access, according to America’s Small Business Development Center of Florida.
The event also will host an educational resource panel to help your business sell to the governments in Clay County.
Some of the local agencies already committed to the conference include: Clay County, Clay County School District, Town of Orange Park, Clay County Tax Collector, Clay Chamber, City of Green Cove Springs, Clay County Utility Authority, Clay Electric, City of Keystone Heights and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The conference starts at 7:45 a.m. Registration is $10 a person, and it includes breakfast.
For more information, call (904) 620-2476 or contact www.sbdc.unf.edu.

Huddle House makes sweet offer for Veteran’s Day

MIDDLEBURG – In honor of Veteran’s Day, active and retired military can get a free order of Sweet Cakes at Huddle House from Friday-through-Monday.
The restaurant is rewarding past and present soldiers for their service “to show respect and express our thanks for our nation’s active, retired and veteran military members, may of whom put their lives on the line to protect our country. We believe that an order of our thick, fully Sweet Cakes pancakes is a nice way to share a token of appreciation and thank them for their service.”
The offer is redeemable with a valid military identification card, and good at the Huddle House at 4094 County Road 218.

Thieves rip off decorations at industrial park entrance

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Thieves took three decorative hay bales at the entrance of the Harbor Road Industrial Park, Challenge Enterprises reported.
The bales were secured by rebar and were part of a decoration to “welcome employees and businesses to the park.”
Earlier this year, thieves dug up flowers at the entrance.

Local churches to provide home-cooked Thanksgiving meals

CLAY COUNTY – First Baptist Church of Orange Park, Advent Lutheran Church, Celebration Church and St. James A.M.E. Church will sponsor the Annual Feast of Plenty, a free meal for anyone who needs it.
The event will be held on Thanksgiving from noon until 2 p.m. in the gymnasium at First Baptist Church, 1140 Kingsley Ave., in Orange Park.
Persons who are unable to prepare a traditional meal for their families, those who are homeless, or others who are alone and would like to experience a family gathering are all invited to dine in at the church. Although reservations are not required, persons dining in are encouraged to call ahead with the number of persons in their party, so we can make adequate seating arrangements.
Transportation will be provided to and from the church for residents who need it, and volunteers will deliver meals to the elderly, shut-ins, the disabled, persons in physical rehabilitation, or those who are working and are unable to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Meals can be delivered as far north as Jacksonville and as far south as Keystone Heights. Please call before Thanksgiving Day to register for a delivery, the office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Members from the four host churches will prepare roasted, smoked and fried turkey & dressing with gravy, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles, cornbread and rolls served with hot cider, coffee, sweet tea and lemonade. A variety of home-made holiday pies will be served for dessert. The gymnasium will be transformed into a huge family dining room filled with wonderful holiday aromas and smiles, and volunteers will wait on tables to serve guests a delicious sit-down meal.
For more details please contact Selena Hayle at (904) 504-0625 or Ruth Johansen at (904) 214-5120.

Faculty, SJRSC open negotiations for new contract

ORANGE PARK – The Collective Bargaining Team of the recently formed chapter of the United Faculty of Florida at St. Johns River State College presented their draft proposal of a Collective Bargaining Agreement to representatives of the St. Johns River State College Board of Trustees last Friday at the Orange Park Campus.
This proposal includes the first salary increase for faculty members in several years as well as key proposals on health care benefits, due process disciplinary and continuing contract procedures, academic freedom and shared governance. This meeting is a critical milestone in the collective bargaining process that must lead to a completed agreement between SJR State and the UFF under Florida Statutes, chapter 447.
The faculty of SJR State College voted overwhelming to form a union in February to strengthen the faculty's role in providing high quality educational opportunities for students and to represent faculty's interest in the operations of the college. The faculty included in the bargaining unit are approximately 150 instructional faculty, librarians and advisors serving more than 10,000 students.
Founded in 1958, St. Johns River State College is a member institution of the Florida College System. The college serves Clay, Putnam and St. Johns counties, with campuses in Orange Park, Palatka and St. Augustine.
It is known for being the location of the Florida School of the Arts, one of the premier public art colleges in Florida. SJR State awards its students technical certificates, A.A., A.S. and B.A. degrees. The college is also known for its excellent business, information technology, nursing programs and offers courses that transfer to Florida public universities.

GCS’s Skendziel volunteers for Empty Bowls

DEMOREST, Ga. – Kelsey Skendziel of Green Cove Springs participated in Empty Bowls, a community outreach program that raises money to benefit the Lord`s Help Soup Kitchen in Cornelia.
Freshmen art students created bowls in which to serve soup, donated by El Junete Mexican Restaurant, Fenders Diner, and Chartwells. Guest paid for a bowl of soup and enjoyed it while listening to performances given by Cantibile, the student a cappella ensemble, and Shticks and Giggles, a student improv troupe. Guest also were able to keep their bowl crafted by the Piedmont College freshmen art students.
All proceeds for this event were donated to The Lord`s Help Soup Kitchen to aid in fighting hunger locally.