NEWS

News Briefs for the Week of Oct. 1-7, 2026

Voter registration deadline is Monday The deadline for Florida residents to register to vote in the upcoming 2026 general election is Monday, Oct. 5. Online voter registration is available …

Butterfield gallery hosts October invitational

This month marks the Butterfield Garage Art Gallery’s annual October Invitational. During the month, member artists have the opportunity to invite guest artists to show their work in the gallery. …

Spooky season returns with Florida Water Tours’ Moonlit Mysteries
Florida Water Tours is welcoming fall and the Halloween season with the return of its popular Moonlit Mysteries: Haunted History Boat Tour. The cruise departs after sunset and features guides who …
A model shows off one of the creations from North Florida designers at last year’s JaxFuse festival.
Fashion Day brings back JaxFuse in style
Local fashion models will take to the runways Saturday, Oct. 10, during the JaxFuse festival to show off the collections of established and emerging North Florida designers, accompanied by music and …
The Sykes Family Farms crop maze is an annual favorite.
Crop maze and more opens Saturday
Sykes Family Farms will re-open its annual crop maze on Saturday, Oct. 3. It will run through Nov. 1. The popular event also features sunflowers to pick, hayrides, playgrounds, races, farm …
Creatures Of The Night returns to St. Augustine Alligator Farm
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park’s Creatures of the Night event returns Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, for a spooktacular spin on trick-or-treat. Guests of all ages …
Corks & Forks Gala raises $80K to fight hunger
Waste Not Want Not’s second annual Corks & Forks Gala: The Cigars & Bourbon Edition was held recently at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach. Supporters in attendance were prepared …
High School Sports PREVIEW

Ponte Vedra gets second win of the season

The Sharks offense had a strong performance against the Golden Eagles.

The Ponte Vedra Sharks earned their second straight win of the season on Friday, Sept. 18, with a 31-18 road victory over the Fleming Island Golden Eagles. Carter Sole passed for 240 total yards …

Nease wins first game of the season

Creekside players celebrating after a touchdown

High school football is in full swing, and the Nease Panthers got their first win of the season on Friday, Sept. 4, over the Mainland Buccaneers. The Panthers put together a full team effort to earn …

Beachside hits the ground running

Beachside

High school football has returned to St. Johns County, and the Beachside Barracudas are off to a strong start. The Barracudas are currently 1-0 after defeating the KIPP Bold City Greyhounds 58-0 …

A look at some other football programs nearby

Bartram Trail Bears The Bartram Trail Bears are off to a good start this season with a current record of 2-0. On Aug. 21, the Bears won their home opener against the Tocoi Creek Toros 37-3. …

Creekside Knights build on last season

Creekside’s defense stayed tough against Nease throughout the game.

Last season, the Creekside Knights were a young, inexperienced team, and their 4-7 record was proof of that. Rebuilding is a part of every team, and Head Coach Sean McIntyre is no stranger to it. …

Young team key to Jaguars’ future

The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially concluded the preseason with a record of 2-1. The Jaguars defeated the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason but lost to …

LIFESTYLES
Kathy's Gardening Guide: Annuals vs. Perennials
Homeowners often wonder whether it is better to plant annuals or perennials to develop color in their landscape. The answer is both! Planting a combination of annuals and perennials adds color and …
In Northeast Florida, we are part of Planting Zone 9. We have warm winters and hot summers that allow us to plant year-round. This climate also enables us to transplant trees during the fall, winter …
Are you looking for bold, bright blooms to bring color into your landscape? Hibiscus and hydrangea plants are great options. Both produce large, colorful flowers that stand out in garden beds and …
Observing nature in action is part of the wonder of gardening. Although deer can be as beautiful as butterflies, hummingbirds and other visitors, they can also cause significant damage to the plants …
Flagler College welcomes interdisciplinary artist, biologist, environmental researcher and educator Dr. Brandon Ballengée as the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum’s (CEAM) Artist-in-Residence now through …
IN THE ARTS
Rakov Studio Gallery opens in St. Augustine
Award-winning local artists Nikki and Eric Rakov have announced the opening of Rakov Studio Gallery, 137 King Street, Suite 101, in the San Sebastian Art District. Rounding out a trio of fine art …
The curtain goes up Sunday, Oct. 18, on JaxFuse, with Film Day. JaxFuse is a celebration of the creative economy held at the link in Nocatee; it will be conducted on three days over three …
Singer and songwriter Eddie 9V will perform at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall with special guest Katie Skene on Oct. 10. Eddie 9V has released his new single, “Rock Your Baby,” a reimagined …
The City of Atlantic Beach is inviting artists and artist teams to submit proposals for a permanent patriotic public art installation at the newly constructed Marsh Oaks Community Center, located at …
Mystery writers know how to hook a reader. But can they hook an editor? The same skills writers use to capture readers — finding the hook, telling a compelling story and knowing their audience …
More Local News
Cummer Museum receives exhibition award
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has announced that it is a recipient of the 2026 Southeastern Museums Conference Bronze Award in the Under $10,000 budget category for the exhibition “Touring …
Community Pumpkin Patches First United Methodist Church 118 King St., St. Augustine 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily throughout October. Pumpkin sales begin Oct. 8. Prices are 50 cents to $35. …
Monkee’s of Ponte Vedra is a women’s boutique that specializes in clothing, accessories, shoes and gifts. They celebrated their grand opening on Aug. 13 and have been thriving ever since. …
Landrum Middle School was honored this fall by the School Photographers of America, the national trade association for school photography and yearbooks, for their 2025-26 yearbook. In fact, they took …
This November, Hunger Fight, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, will celebrate 14 years of providing meals for children in Northeast Florida experiencing food insecurity. In 2012, founder Sherri Porter and …
ONLY ON THE WEB

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library announces October programs

Here’s a look at programs being offered in October at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library. To see the complete schedule, go to https://sjcpls.org/branches/ponte-vedra-beach-branch. …

COA’s River House announces classes and events for October

Council on Aging (COA) has announced the following programs will be held at COA’s River House, 179 Marine St., St. Augustine, beginning in October. Classes are one to five weeks long and begin …

PLAYERS Community Senior Center announces October programs

Council on Aging (COA) has announced the following programs will be held at COA’s THE PLAYERS Community Senior Center, 175 Landrum Lane, Ponte Vedra Beach, beginning in October. Most activities are …

NOCATEE HAPPENINGS

JaxFuse: Festival of creativity returns to the link

A table with food is seen from the 2025 JaxFuse Fashion Day.

JaxFuse, Northeast Florida’s one-of-a-kind celebration of the creative economy, returns this October for its third year. The three-day festival, held on three consecutive weekends at the link in …

RISE at Nocatee celebrates second anniversary

RISE at Nocatee celebrated its second anniversary Sept. 2.

RISE at Nocatee, a luxury active living community for adults 55+, celebrated its second anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Residents, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the growth and …

BODYBAR Pilates Nocatee preparing to open doors

BODYBAR Pilates Nocatee is preparing to open their doors at the end of August. Husband-and-wife franchise owners, Stephanie and Logan Ridley, are excited to bring Reformer Pilates to the area. …

ONE OF US
Carl Cricco
Carl F. Cricco is president and CEO of United Way of St. Johns and Putnam Counties. Tell us about United Way and the resources it offers. Our work is really about strengthening the …
Artist Sandra FitzSimmons draws on her experiences growing up and living in the South and is interested in all things coastal. Tell us about your latest art collection. What inspires you? …
Chef Mimi Lan is a personal chef who works hard to ensure every detail is correct. What does a personal chef do exactly, and what kind of clients use your service? Most of my clients …
Kiwi Dabold is director of food and beverage and general manager at Coastal Farmer, an oceanfront restaurant inside the newly renovated Dune House Hotel & Spa. Tell us about your role …
Scott and Lindsay Meyer are the owners of Congaree and Penn, a farm, a restaurant and more. It is located at 11830 Old Kings Road, Jacksonville. Tell us a bit about the history of Congaree and …
SPORTS

PLAYERS Championship tickets now available

Tournament officials have announced that tickets for The PLAYERS Championship 2027 are now available at ThePlayers.com. The championship will be contested March 9-14 and bring together the …

Sporting Jax women’s team ties on the road

A Sporting Jax player getting ready to take a shot.

The Sporting Jax women’s team tied with Carolina Ascent FC 3-3 on Saturday, Sept. 26. This game was a rematch of last season’s playoff semifinal, and it did not disappoint. Jacksonville …

Nease wins at home

The Panthers offense turned in another good performance against Beachside.

The Nease Panthers are now 2-3 overall and 1-1 in district play after defeating the Beachside Barracudas 49-14 on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Panthers turned in a full-team performance to claim the …

Obituaries
Rose Wittemen
Rose Wittemen, 78, passed away gracefully on Sunday, September 13, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Born on December 28, 1947, Rose lived a life defined by quiet devotion, …
Christy Vlahos Bromberg
Christy Vlahos Bromberg of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away unexpectedly on September 25, 2026, at the age of 68. Christy was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 12, 1958. Christy and her …
Mary Yvonne Rose
Mary Yvonne Rose, 91, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2026, at Community Hospice Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center South. Mary was born in San …
James Francis Marx
James Francis Marx, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, respected leader in banking and finance, cherished volunteer and board member at the Pace Center for Girls, avid golfer, fervent Boston …
Richard Stanfill Blankenbaker, Sr.
Richard Stanfill Blankenbaker, Sr. of Bozeman, MT, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2026. Born on August 11, 1941, in Lincoln, ME, Richard was the Son of Fisher F. and Sarah S. Blankenbaker. The …
The Best Lifestyle News

Helping Parents Help Their Kids In School

The school your children returned to this fall doesn’t have to be the school they return to next fall—it can be a much better fit for them.

(NAPSI)—Here’s news about education many parents may be glad to learn: More than 1.5 million students are heading back to school this fall with the help of a private educational choice program, a …

The Bell Rings. Is Your Child Ready?

Dr. James Anderson Sponsored by Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (NAPSI)— Back-to-school is an incredibly important moment to get ADHD treatment right. Every August, I watch the same thing happen. A …

3 in 4 US shoppers blame tariffs for shortages they personally encounter

inFlow Inventory reports that a survey reveals 73% of U.S. shoppers blame tariffs for personal shortages, while only 22% cite them for overall shortages. 
Why You Need This Everyday Essential for Effortless Fabric Care
(BPT) - You spend a lot of time, effort and hard-earned money building a wardrobe you love. Whether you're dressing for the workweek, heading out for a special occasion or simply trying to keep your …
President Donald Trump gestures as he exits the stage during a midterm election rally at the Choctaw Event Center on Oct. 1, 2026, in Durant, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jessica Tobias/For Oklahoma Voice)
Anxiety is growing Trump may try to disrupt the midterm elections. States are prepping.
President Donald Trump gestures as he exits the stage during a midterm election rally at the Choctaw Event Center on Oct. 1, 2026, in Durant, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jessica Tobias/For Oklahoma Voice)
Halloween should be scary. Your bill doesn't have to be
CreditFresh reports that Halloween expenses are rising, with families facing higher costs for candy, costumes, and decorations.