Mark Cubbedge, “Strong Hold”

Veterans Day Photography Contest & Juried Exhibition opens Nov. 20

As part of a continued partnership, the St. Johns Cultural Council and St. Johns County are expanding the Art in Public Spaces program to include the Health & Human Services Building. The …
Operation New Uniform CEO and Co-Founder Michele McManamon introduces Lt. Col. (ret.) Allen West at ONU’s Class 70 Graduation.

Operation New Uniform graduates 70th class

Sixteen active-duty and retiring service members took a symbolic step into their next mission last week — removing their military uniforms and donning business suits — as Operation New …
NEWS

News Briefs for the Week of Nov. 6-12, 2025

Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife is Nov. 7-9 Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife, Nov. 7-9, offers award-winning restaurant tastings and unlimited samples of a wide variety of wines, beers and spirits, all …

Old Town Trolley celebrates with Halloween party

Old Town Trolley Tours celebrated its 24th year in business at Old Town St. Augustine on Oct. 28 with a Halloween party. There was live music from the SoundUP Band, entertainment and free food and …

FEATURES
Kathy’s Gardening Guide: Bromeliads
Tropical landscapes gain interest and color with the addition of bromeliads! These unique plants feature decorative leaves in red, green, purple, orange and yellow. Leaves may have stripes, spots or …
Ocean Palms celebrated Staff Appreciation Week with nothing but sunshine for its sun-sational staff. The sun rose with a breakfast from Chick-fil-a and coffee from Starbucks on Monday. The next …
Step into Local Wellness and discover not just an artfully designed space complete with cabanas and cozy seating, but a team of educated professionals dedicated to helping customers look and feel …
Bunny O’Neill knew she had a small window of opportunity to speak to Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and she was determined to make the most of it. “We were at Christie’s Auction in June …
Brookdale Southside, a Jacksonville senior living community, hosted a special event on April 22 in honor of Earth Day where the community celebrated its brand-new Garden Club. The Brookdale …
IN THE ARTS
Mike Wodrich’s unique works on exhibit now
On Thursday, Oct. 9, The First Coast Cultural Center opened a new exhibit featuring the work of local artist Mike Wodrich. Wodrich has been interested in art ever since he can remember. Art runs …
A local teen’s newly published book offers valuable insights and the keys to a more purpose-driven life. Rodrigo Deleon Ruiz’s book, “Fortitude,” was published on Oct. 2. Ruiz was …
The Florida Theatre has a new corporate partner: O’Steen Automotive Group. As such, O’Steen Automotive Group is now the official car dealership of the Florida Theatre. “We’ve been …
Butterfield Garage Art Gallery will feature Mary K. Shaw as the artist for the month of November and her exhibit titled “Keep the Light On,” which is inspired by the St. Augustine lighthouse. …
A Ponte Vedra girl has provided the voice for the main character in an animated feature film coming to theaters nationwide on Friday, Nov. 7. Lily Gilliam, 11, is the voice actor for Amélie in …
More Local News
Behind the bookshelves at San Marco Books and More
Let’s talk about how we get the books in our bookstore. At this time, there are six major publishers: Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Harper Collins, Hachette, Simon and Schuster and Scholastic. …
The present real estate environment can be best described as a standoff between buyers and sellers. Traditionally, when the market shifts from favoring sellers to favoring buyers, there is a …
Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. At 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, the community will gather at Ripley's Believe It or …
The Ponte Vedra Auto Show was held at Nocatee Station Field on Sunday, Nov. 2. The show celebrated its 23rd anniversary with about 190 classic and collector cars all vying for best in show. Mark …
The Recorder celebrated its 56th anniversary on Wednesday, Oct. 29, during a Chamber After Hours event for The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. The gathering was held at the Recorder offices, …
ONLY ON THE WEB

PLAYERS Community Senior Center announces October schedule

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 weekly and will begin Oct. 1. …

Ponte Vedra branch library announces October programs

Here are some of the October programs being offered at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library. For a look at the complete schedule, go to sjcpls.org/branches/ponte-vedra-beach-branch. Free …

COA’s River House announces October classes, events

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 the first week of October. If …

NOCATEE HAPPENINGS

EnterCircle 2025 tickets available

EnterCircle 2025 will be held at the link on Nov. 17-21. EnterCircle is an annual five-day entrepreneurship and innovation summit full of hands-on workshops, panel discussions and networking. This …

The link is planning fun events

Here’s a look at some things coming up over the next month at the link: Saturday, Oct 25: Not So Spooky Kids Night Out . Drop off the kids for a night of fun from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. There …

The Social Society celebrates one year of making memories

The Social Society celebrated its one-year anniversary with an intimate party.

The Social Society, located in the Nocatee Town Center, recently marked its first anniversary on Friday, Sept. 12, with an intimate in-store celebration, filled with the same pomp and flair you’d …

ONE OF US
Beacham Still
Beacham Still is director of the annual Palm Valley Boat Parade, a holiday tradition that is growing in popularity. As director of the Palm Valley Boat Parade, what are your primary …
Lani Milton is someone who recognizes a good idea when she thinks of it. A few years ago, she had an idea for a mobile beverage service. Today, Pour’d Perfections is setting the standard for this …
Jeff and Genie McNally recently opened Bea’s Fine Foods + All Day Café and Jefe’s Fish Wagon in St. Augustine. Tell us about Jefe’s Fish Wagon. What inspired you to start your …
Jeff Manders and son Jake opened Manders 22 in August. The restaurant offers a variety of burgers and subs and also does catering. Tell us about your business. What is your …
Ponte Vedra resident Suzanne Sinclair published her novel “Secrets of Peaceful River Valley,” the first in her Ponte Vedra Series, in May. What first sparked your interest in writing? …
SPORTS

Marsh Creek Country Club captures Club Team Championship

Winners – Marsh Creek: John Matulia, pro Bryce DiPatri, Ashley Casey, Kodi Merrell

Marsh Creek Country Club, led by director of golf Bryce DiPatri, was clearly the strongest team in the 43rd Club Team Championship at the King & Bear course at the World Golf Village on Oct. 27. …

Sporting Jax announces men’s professional team

On Oct. 30, Sporting Club Jacksonville announced that it will field a men’s professional team to compete in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship. The men’s season will begin in March of …

Big wins Sharks, Panthers, Barracudas

A Creekside player calling for the ball during a play

High school football’s regular season came to a close last week with some teams clinching a playoff spot. The Ponte Vedra Sharks defeated the Creekside Knights 17-7 on Oct. 30. Davitt Doherty …

Obituaries
Mary Ann Mancino
Mary Ann Mancino (nee Papiano) went to be with the Lord on October 27th. She passed away peacefully, at home, after a brief illness, surrounded by loved ones. Mary was born in the Germantown …
Stephen Gerard Norton
Stephen Gerard Norton Nov. 17, 1931 – Oct. 4, 2025 Stephen G. “Jerry” Norton, age 93, passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 4, 2025. At the time of his death he resided in Jacksonville, …
Ellen M Dunn
Ellen M Dunn (Helen) passed away peacefully on Monday, September 22, 2025, with her loving family at her side. She was a devoted wife, mother of six, sister, aunt, in-law, grandmother of sixteen, and …
Marie Elizabeth O'Neill
Marie Elizabeth O'Neill passed away in the early hours on September 21st at her home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL at the age of 92 with her oldest daughter by her side. Marie was born on October 10, …
Helen Catherine Quinn
Helen Catherine Quinn, 95, passed away on August 23, 2025, in Johns Creek, Georgia. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 21, 1930, to Ada Henrietta Kane (Greiner) and Hugh Roger Kane. She married …

How to practice gratitude this Thanksgiving and every day

LifeStance Health reports that daily gratitude enhances mental health, improving resilience and relationships even during tough times.

Nearly 40% of 2024 ransomware payouts may have gone to Russia, China, North Korea

Heimdal reports nearly 40% of 2024 ransomware payouts, totaling $813 million, may go to Russia, China, and North Korea, highlighting systemic gaps in cybersecurity.

Cuffing season isn’t fading, it’s evolving, DoorDash data reveals

DoorDash reports that cuffing season is evolving, with data showing new connections through deliveries, from toothbrushes to intimate orders.

The Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous times to drive

Car accident stress.

Holidays are a time of celebration, but they also come with a heightened risk of car accidents. Increased travel, crowded roads, and alcohol use can all contribute to more dangerous driving conditions. Some holidays, like the Fourth of July, are particularly hazardous. Understanding how to reduce your risk and what to do if an accident happens can help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Aging at home: How families and care teams are meeting the rising demand for in-home support

QMedic reports rising demand for in-home support as families seek safe, independent living for aging loved ones; states are innovating to meet these needs.

Digital status signals: 7 essential etiquette rules for modern messaging

Spokeo reports seven key etiquette rules for effective modern messaging, highlighting the importance of digital status signals in communication.

9 Black modernist architects and the landmarks they designed

Stacker highlights nine Black modernist architects and the eight innovative structures they designed.

How Amazon sellers can prep for a profitable (and chaos-free) Black Friday

Intero Digital reports that Amazon sellers can maximize Black Friday sales by preparing inventory, analyzing competition, and managing returns effectively.

Is AI powering the next wave of financial scams?
Finder.com reports AI is increasingly used in financial scams, including deepfakes. Protect yourself by verifying identities and avoiding suspicious requests.
Meet the U.S. Army Soldier-athletes on a mission to compete for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics
(BPT) - The United States' top athletes are aiming to secure their spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This group includes 15 Soldier-athletes and coaches from the U.S. Army's World Class …
Beyond the diagnosis: What people with diabetes wish you knew
(BPT) - Diabetes is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide.1 Daily management is tough, but one of the biggest challenges for those living with diabetes is confronting stigma, …