St. Johns County pier reopens for fishing
The St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, reopened for fishing Sunday, Jan. 12. Charges for fishing and sightseeing have also resumed.
After a period of being landlocked due to work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on shoreline restoration, water once again reaches the pier at high tide. Regular fees from before the restoration project will apply. All annual fishing and sightseeing passes sold before the pier’s closure will be extended seven months past their original expiration dates.
The last 100 feet of the pier are still closed until further notice.
Beach exploration planned
Join volunteers at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve for a beach exploration from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18.
Collect seashells, search for shark teeth and learn about coastal wildlife.
Meet at the GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach.
Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Hat, insect repellent, water and sunscreen are recommended. The event is free but online registration is required. Register at: gtmnerr.org/calendar/beach-exploration-7.
Cameron tour to visit local church
Actor Kirk Cameron will start his Strong Families, Strong Communities Tour at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at Crosswater Community Church, 211 Davis Park Road, Ponte Vedra. Worship and music will be by Matt Hammitt. Tickets, which start at $20, are available at ticketweb.com/event/kirk-cameron. VIP packages, which include a Q&A session with Kirk Cameron, 15% discount on merchandise, commemorative lanyard and first access to seating, cost $75; early entry for premium seating cost $35; and groups of four or more cost $15 each.
Scholarship opportunities offered
The Florida Supervisors of Elections Association has announced a scholarship opportunity aimed at supporting the next generation of leaders. The Florida Supervisors of Elections is offering three $1,200 scholarships to college students across the state, according to St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes.
Applicants must be registered Florida voters and live in the state for at least the preceding two years. Applicants must be either a political science, public administration, business administration or journalism/mass communication major and be at least a junior in college. Students must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida and have maintained at least a “C” average or above for the previous year.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is March 7. Applications are available online on the Scholarship page in the “About” section at votesjc.gov or may be picked up from the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office, 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101, in St. Augustine.
Applications must be submitted to the Elections Office of the county in which the applicant is registered to vote. Each county will select one finalist to send to the FSE Scholarship Committee for consideration.
For additional information, go to votesjc.gov or call 904-823-2238.
St. Johns County launches new application for exemptions The St. Johns County Property Appraiser’s Office has launched a new and enhanced online application that provides homeowners the opportunity to quickly and efficiently file for exemptions, including homestead, widow(er) and portability. More will follow later.
The new application is submitted through a secure online portal and provides homeowners step-by-step assistance and continual communication during the process. The application also provides a quick approval turnaround for complete and valid applications, often within one business day. The application can be found at sjcpa.gov/exemptions. The online portal and application are through Just Appraised, a business partner of the Property Appraiser’s Office. By setting up an account with the online portal, homeowners can file for multiple exemptions and make changes as needed at any time.
All other exemptions can be filed by visiting the Property Appraiser’s Office, 4030 Lewis Speedway in St. Augustine. Go to sjcpa.gov/otherexemptions for a list of available exemptions. The deadline to apply for exemptions for the 2025 tax year is March 3. Exemptions reduce the property tax bill for eligible homeowners. For additional information, call 904-827-5500 or go to sjcpa.gov.
Landrum honors December Students of the Month
Landrum Middle School recognizes exceptional students through the “Students of the Month” program. This initiative celebrates students who demonstrate outstanding character, academic success, effort and resilience.
For December, the honored students were: Alexandra Dennis, grade six; Jeremy Stewart, grade seven; and Fayaz Ebrahim, grade eight.
The students were treated to a celebratory lunch with Principal Kasting in his office. The event was sponsored by Chick-fil-A at Marsh Landing Parkway.
First Coast Essential Tremor meeting Feb. 4
If you have — or suspect you have — essential tremor, you and family members, friends and loved ones are invited to hear wellness and fitness instructor Pamela Ryczko, CES, at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at Baptist HealthPlace at Nocatee, 400 Colonnade Drive.
Ryczko will discuss: “Essential Tremor and BALANCE: Can It Be Improved?” People with Parkinson's may find this relevant as well. RSVP and/or questions: Jan Kary at jkary@verizon.net or 202-438-6750.
Palm Valley Market every Tuesday
The Palm Valley Market is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday inside the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Road. The market offers fresh produce, baked goods, local honey, tea, seasonal treats, soap, jewelry, plants and more.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
