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Community Briefs 11/17/22

Posted 11/16/22

Youth Holiday Artwork on display at courthouseGREEN COVE SPRINGS – As part of the Clay County Clerk and Comptroller office’s annual community outreach efforts, it proudly will put Show …

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Community Briefs 11/17/22


Posted

Youth Holiday Artwork on display at courthouse
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – As part of the Clay County Clerk and Comptroller office’s annual community outreach efforts, it proudly will put Show No. 4 on display on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m.
The show is a combination display of artwork provided by Clay County children from four programs: Augusta Savage Art & Cultural Center, Guardian Ad Litem, Quigley House and the Clay County Fair Art Contest. The artwork, much dedicated to a holiday theme, will be displayed on the fourth floor of the courthouse at 825 N. Orange Ave. Artwork from AITC shows may be viewed any time the courthouse is open to the public, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The opening reception for Show No. 4 is free and open to the public.

First Baptist Middleburg to continue feeding 1,000 families for Thanksgiving
MIDDLEBURG – As many as 1,000 families will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner because of First Baptist Middleburg. The church will be giving away 1,000 food boxes at 2645 Blanding Blvd., starting at noon. Each box has enough food to feed a family of five. Recipients will be able to pick up their boxes in the drive-through event along the Parsonage Street lot.

Clay County offices to close during Thanksgiving holiday
CLAY COUNTY – All Clay County government buildings will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25. Closures will include the County Administration Building and Public Works Department, Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office, Clay County Courthouse, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections and Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Administration Offices. Offices will reopen and resume scheduled hours on Monday, Nov. 28.
The Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility and all Environmental Convenience Centers will be closed Thursday, and there will be no curbside collection on that day. On Friday, the scale house, and Environmental Convenience Centers will be open during regular hours, and curbside collection will resume. Residents whose regular pickup is on Thursday will receive pickup service the Friday after Thanksgiving. Residents whose regular pickup is on Friday will receive pickup service the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
All Clay County Library Branches will close on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 5 p.m. and will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Camp Chowenwaw Park will be open for day use and overnight camping during the Thanksgiving holiday. For information and reservations, please call (904) 529-8058, extension 3. Clay County Animal Services will be closed on Thursday and Friday. The shelter will reopen on Saturday.

Thrasher-Horne hosting library job fair on Nov. 18
ORANGE PARK – The Northeast Florida Library Information Network will host a library job fair on Nov. 18 at the Trasher-Horne Center on the St. Johns River State College campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Clay County Public Library system will be joined by Jacksonville, Putnam and St. Johns public libraries, and academic libraries from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Flagler College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, SJR State College and the University of North Florida at the fair. Staff will be available to speak regarding opportunities available at their libraries. Positions require a high school diploma or a graduate degree. Visit neflin.org/jobfair for information.

Craig Seaton’s Lunchtime Holiday Concert coming to Shepherd’s Center
ORANGE PARK – Craig Seaton’s holiday concert, an annual event at the Shepherd’s Center of Orange Park, will be on Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. It is a free community event that’s held in the Family Life Center of the Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2105 Park Ave., and is sponsored by Broadus-Raines Funeral Home.
The main auditorium can be accessed off Reed Street. For more information, visit craigseaton.com/events.

Rockin’ for Stockins to benefit the Agency for Life Transformation
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Boogerville Hideout will host its “Rockin’ for Stockins” show on Dec. 4 from noon to 6 p.m. at 6043 U.S. Highway 17. Proceeds will benefit the Agency for Life Transformations.
The first 100 children will receive a gift bag, T-shirt, dinner voucher and toys. In addition to a visit from Santa Claus, there will be a Santa’s workshop, bounce house, pony rides and face painting.
The Paul Wayne Experience and DCL will perform, and some children will receive a guitar from Wayne’s Rising Star Guitars for Kids foundation.
For more information, visit PaulWayneMusic@gmail.com.

Chili cookoff to bring the heat to Shane’s fight against leukemia
FLEMING ISLAND – Clay County first responders and veterans groups will their secret recipes for chili at a special cookoff planned for Dec. 18 from 2-4 p.m. at Whitey’s Fish Camp, 2032 County Road 220, on Fleming Island.
Proceeds will benefit Shane, a boy who’s fighting leukemia. The cost is $10 a taster.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Emergency Management, Schools District and the Schools District, Green Cove Springs and Orange Park police departments to join with Waymaker GIs and Operation Barnabas to support the fundraiser.

BCC to conduct public workshop ahead of Impact Fee vote
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Board of County Commissioners of Clay County will hold a workshop to discuss Impact Fees on Monday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the BCC Meeting Room, fourth floor, Clay County Administration Building, 477 Houston Str.
All interested persons are invited to attend and be heard at the meeting. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, a person deciding to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the meeting of the Board or any subsequent meeting to which the Board has continued its deliberations are advised that such person will need a record of all proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record of all proceeding is made, which must include the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, any person needing a special accommodation to participate in this matter should contact the Clay County ADA Coordinator by mail at P.O. Box 1366, Green Cove Springs, 32043, or by calling (904) 269-6376, no later than three days before the meeting for which this notice has been given. Hearing-impaired persons can access the foregoing telephone number by contacting the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8770 for voice or (800) 955-8771 for TDD.

Veterans get a free race at Autobahn Indoor Speedway in November

JACKSONVILLE – All active military and veterans will be able to enjoy a complimentary race during November at the Autobahn Indoor Speedway and Events at 6601 Executive Park Ct. in Jacksonville.
The karting and gaming facility is making the offer because “We didn’t think one day was enough for our heroes, so we decided to make the free race available all month,” said managing partner David Larson.
Riders must have a valid military ID card, and the offer isn’t available on Friday, Nov. 25.
For more information, call (904) 425-5005.

Volunteers needed for Green Cove Springs Christmas Parade
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Green Cove Springs Business League is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Christmas Parade on Dec. 3.
The annual event will start at 6 p.m. at Houston Street on Orange Avenue and end on Walnut Street.
The parade is billed as the largest nighttime parade in Northeast Florida and the second-largest event (to the Clay County Agriculture Fair) in the county.
This year’s theme is Super Heroes.
To volunteer or for more information, visit gcsbl.com/parade.

Fleming Island Garden Club offers Environmental Studies Scholarship
FLEMING ISLAND – The Garden Club of Fleming Island wishes to assist a graduating student of Fleming Island High who plans on pursuing a career in environmental studies, forestry, horticulture, agriculture, marine sciences or a related field with a $500 scholarship.
The graduating student must have at least a 3.0 GPA and have chosen a college to attend. Interested students should contact their guidance counselor for the application form. The deadline is April 15.

Florida’s Morrisroe’s work to be featured at SJRSC’s Palatka campus
PALATKA – University of Florida Professor in the School of Art and Art History Julia Morrisroe’s current project, “Good Life,” will be on display at St. Johns River State College’s Florida School of the Arts Main Gallery on the St. Johns River State College campus in Palatka.
Julia Morrisroe’s current project was developed from an examination into the question of how the “Good Life” is enshrined in public art and commemorative monuments. The question framed a course Morrisroe was teaching that delved into the fraught history regarding confederate monuments, which was brought to national attention by the white nationalist’s attack in Charlottesville, the visit of Richard Spencer to the University of Florida and the removal of a confederate monument from a local county courthouse.
“This research resonates with my long interest in medieval religious iconography and how images are used to embed meaning in culture,” Morrisroe said. “With over 700 monuments still standing in public spaces, I consider how monuments can become vehicles for transformation rather than agents of oppression and tyranny.”
The exhibit runs through Dec. 1.

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.

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 programs.
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.