Officers treated to golf outing
FLEMING ISLAND – Officers with the Orange Park and Green Cove Springs police departments were recently given a big thank you by members of the Fleming Island Lions Club. Club members sponsored the team of lawmen in the 17th Annual Quigley House Purple Ribbon Golf Tournament held at Fleming Island Golf Club on Oct. 27. Steve Conrad, development officer for Quigley House, said sponsoring the officers was their way of thanking law enforcement “for the great work they do for our community.” From left are, Lions Club member Larry Hopkins, Mel Akers, OPPD Chief Gary Goble, Green Cove Springs Police officer Derek Asdot, OPPD Officer Ed Kaczkowski and Lions Club member Tim Rust.

Elves packing goodies for U.S. soldiers abroad
DOCTORS INLET – Volunteers from throughout Clay County are converging at the offices fo a fairly-new nonprofit organization that sends care packages to the troops overseas. In November, Kathy Signorile, president and founder of St. Michael’s Soldiers, said volunteers will stuff almost 2,000 Christmas stockings during its Sixth Annual Stocking Project. The stockings will be packed and shipped to “unsuspecting troops deployed all over the world” from its offices at 1635 Farm Way, Suite 409 in Doctors Inlet.

Stuffed owl drive underway at Kids First
MIDDLEBURG – Joyce Hall, Avon district manager, presents the first stuffed animal to Ernie Cohen, community liaison with the foster care agency Kids First of Florida. Hall has been collecting cash donations throughout the community to pay for the owls, then donating them to children who are being served by Kids First. She has already delivered 40 stuffed owls and is currently collecting contributions for 40 more. Cohen said Hall’s efforts are certainly bringing joy to numerous kids.