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Jeb S. Smith
Chair, District 2
Board of County Commissioners
P: 904.209.0302
C: 904.325.4182
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Hello
Thank you for registering for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners District 2 newsletter. Inside you will find an update regarding projects and events in District 2 and timely information about St. Johns County programs, services, and initiatives.
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St. Johns County Launches SJC CARES Grant Recovery Program for Businesses and Nonprofits
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners launched St. Johns County CARES, a program to help local businesses and nonprofit organizations respond to and recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. A financial assistance program utilizing more than $18 million in federal CARES Act funding, St. Johns County CARES provides grants to eligible applicants who suffered loss of revenue or income, or incurred unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses and nonprofit organizations may qualify for up to $20,000 in grant funding. For more information, please visit www.sjcfl.us/sjccares, call 904.209.6050, or email sjccares@sjcfl.us.
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Volunteer Opportunities with SJC Boards and Committees
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners provides residents who have an interest in participating in their local government with a variety of board and commission opportunities. Depending on the board or commission, the volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding a myriad of topics including planning and zoning issues, development projects, the library, parks and recreation facilities and programs, and arts, culture, and tourism matters. Please visit the Boards and Commission Webpage to view an updated list of board and commission vacancies and download an application, or contact the Board of County Commissioners office at 904.209.0300 or mlundquist@sjcfl.us for more information.
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Hastings Agriculture Extension Center Introduces New Director
The University of Florida is pleased to introduce the new director of the Hastings Agriculture Extension Center (HAEC), Dr. Christian Christensen. He is a native Floridian and possesses his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and PhD from the University of Florida. Dr. Christensen and his staff at the HAEC support a wide breadth of research and extension programs. These efforts include row crop variety assessment, development of best management practices, and evaluation of alternative crops suitable for production in the Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA). In addition, he dedicates a portion of his efforts towards integrated crop management programming as a Regional Specialized Agent for the TCAA. Dr. Christensen has published numerous extension and peer-reviewed manuscripts over the years focused on variety evaluation, high thru-put phenotyping methods, and crop production.
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The St. Johns County Cattlemen's Association hosted their 61st Annual Cracker Day Celebration on Saturday, October 17, at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton. Welcoming more than 2,500 visitors and 525 entries, the Cracker Day event celebrated cracker horses, which were brought to the Americas by the Spanish. "Cracker" also refers to a cowboy who uses a whip to round up cattle, which makes a cracking sound when used.
This family-friendly event includes horse and cattle games like barrel racing. The Cattlemen's Association looks forward to the 2021 Cracker Day Celebration, and invites you to join!
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The St. Johns County Horse Council is a local nonprofit that strives to promote, defend, and propagate equestrian interests in St. Johns County. Since being established in 1999, the Council has become involved in promoting all types of equine activities and raising awareness regarding the economic impact the equestrian community has in St. Johns County. In addition to quarterly public meetings, the Council hosts numerous events at the St. Johns County Equestrian Center for handlers of all ages and experience levels. For more information on the St. Johns County Horse Council, events, and how to become a member, please visit their website.
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New Hours for Free Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Site at Flagler Hospital
The COVID-19 testing site at Flagler Hospital is now available from 7 to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Located in Parking Lot B at 400 Health Park Blvd., the testing site is open until 11 a.m., or until the maximum number of daily tests are collected. Testing is available for all ages, and patients do not need to exhibit symptoms, possess a doctor's note, or make an appointment. For more information, please click the link below or call the St. Johns County Citizen Information Hotline at 904.824.5550.
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SJC Bookmobile Offering Limited Service
The St. Johns County Public Library System Bookmobile now offers services at four locations in the County, including the Nocatee Town Center Publix and the Palencia Commons Publix on Wednesdays, and the County Road 210 Publix and the Murabella Publix on Fridays, excluding holidays. The bookmobile will offer patrons the ability to pick up requested items, return items, and use free Wi-Fi through December. For more information and to view the full bookmobile schedule, please visit www.sjcpls.org or email libbe@sjcfl.us.
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SJC Public Libraries Offer Evening Hours
The St. Johns County Public Library System recently introduced evening hours at all facilities to accommodate the needs of working families and students beginning Tuesday, September 15. The Main Branch, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch, and Southeast Branch libraries are open from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, and the Anastasia Island Branch, Bartram Trail Branch, and Hastings Branch libraries are open from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. All other library hours will remain the same. The library’s online reference service, Ask a Librarian, is also extending service hours to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, please visit www.sjcpls.org.
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Vilano Beach Driving Access and Surfside Park Parking Lot Closed
Vehicular access to Vilano Beach will be restricted through early 2021 due to a beach restoration project. The Surfside Park parking lot and pedestrian beach access point are also closed, and on-beach driving, horseback riding, and commercial fishing are restricted from Vilano Beach to Serenata Ocean Villas. Pipeline is also present on Vilano Beach, and visitors are encouraged to exercise caution when near the sand restoration pipe. It is recommended that beachgoers utilize sand ramps to access the ocean and avoid construction equipment and heavy machinery in the area. For more information, please call 904.209.0260.
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St. Johns County’s NFIP Rating Provides Insurance Discounts for Some St. Johns County Property Owners
St. Johns County has been designated as a CRS Class 5 community based on an assessment of numerous flood mitigation activities the County recently implemented to protect lives and reduce property damage. The rating provides a 25 percent discount to property owners who hold National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood policies in Special Flood Hazard Areas on or after October 1, 2020. Additionally, a 10 percent discount will be applied to all standard-rated NFIP flood insurance policies in X zones. For more information, please call 904.827.6800 (Option 5).
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Sign Up for Alert St. Johns Emergency Notification System |
St. Johns County is encouraging all residents to sign up for Alert St. Johns, a new emergency notification system that provides critical information during emergency situations. Sign up here.
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Upcoming Holiday Office Closures |
November 11, 2020 - Veterans Day
November 26 and 27, 2020 - Thanksgiving
December 24 and 25, 2020 - Christmas Eve and Christmas
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Sign up for the monthly St. Johns County Public Library System e-newsletter! |
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Sign up for the monthly St. Johns County Parks and Recreation e-newsletter! |
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Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, please use the link below to unsubscribe to the St. Johns County E-Newsletters.
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