St. Johns County’s COVID-19 testing site open every day
The St. Johns County COVID-19 testing site is now open seven days a week to meet the increased demand. The site is located at the Wind Mitigation Building, 3111 Agricultural Center Drive.
The site has been experiencing long wait times, and those seeking tests should be prepared to wait in line for at least an hour.
All tests will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. To reduce your wait time, pre-registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed at t.co/T4NOf4CW3E.
PCR and rapid (antigen) COVID-19 tests are available for those 12 months of age and older, but recipients may only choose one. Rapid test results will be available the same day, and PCR test results are typically available within 48 hours. Tests are free. Insurance is not required.
The testing site’s hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday. For more information, contact the Nomi Health call center at 904-295-0562.
Author to speak at Ponte Vedra library
The North East Florida Chapter of the Sisters in Crime is planning a presentation by Edward F. Mickolus Jr. on Saturday, July 8, at the Ponte Vedra branch of the St. Johns County Library.
Mickolus is an author, counter-terrorism expert and former CIA officer. He will speak on “How to Be(come) a Prolific Writer.”
The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. The library is located at 101 Library Blvd.
For further information, email floridasistersincrime@gmail.com.
Democratic Club plans program
The Ponte Vedra Democratic Club will hold its monthly meeting Jan. 18 at Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Road, Room 106, in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Chat & Chew begins at 6 p.m. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Ponte Vedra resident and former U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND, 18 years) will speak on "What's the Matter with Congress? Reflections of a former Member." Pomeroy plans to address “the good, the bad, and the ... challenging.”
Free concert at Ponte Vedra Branch Library
The Dr. Gerson Yessin Music Series will present the Bel Suono Duo of flutist Rhonda Cassandra and harpist Kayo Ishimaru on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the Ponte Vedra Beach branch library. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Both performers are with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Ishimaru is enjoying her 34th season as principal harpist and is a renowned orchestral musician. She also serves as principal harpist with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held since 1991. A native of Japan, she began her musical studies on piano at 3 years old and began harp at age 10. Cassandra is an adjunct educator at UNF. Both performers are active recitalists and chamber music performers.
The library is located at 101 Library Blvd.
Zoom presentation to help job seekers
Job seekers are invited to a Jan. 21 Zoom meeting designed to show how to effectively target and land that dream job. Margaret MacNaughton, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Qualified Practitioner, will make the presentation titled “Do What You Are: Connecting Personality Types to Careers!”
The MBTI helps job seekers recognize their strengths and identify careers that are good matches for their personality type.
Register in advance for this meeting at us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqdeqhrz4qHNZk9k6e0GYJQVyPG-rqqWT7. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Sign in begins at 9:50 a.m. The workshop will follow at 10 a.m. to noon.
Dredging of Intracoastal Waterway reduced to one shift daily
The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has announced that it expects to begin dredging operations on the Intracoastal Waterway Palm Valley North Reaches soon.
Dredging will address problematic shoaling and is expected to remove approximately 640,000 cubic yards of material from the channel.
Dredging is to be undertaken in a single shift daily, seven days per week, and is expected to be finished in the summer.
With some 7.5 miles of pipe and up to five booster barges operating at any one time, the Corps requests all boaters and residents to exercise heightened caution in the work areas. Navigators should watch for the marked floating pipeline within the waterway and for the working dredge and transport barge when transiting the north reach. Boaters should also be mindful when passing the dredge, ensure passage on the correct side of the vessel, and abide by no-wake requirements.
For more information on Jacksonville District projects and operations, go to saj.usace.army.mil.
Presentation on sauce secrets is Jan. 12
Celebrity Chef Warren Caterson will demonstrate how to elevate your dishes with a variety of delicious and easy-to-prepare sauces that will leave guests craving more during a Jan. 12 presentation at the Ponte Vedra Branch Library.
“The Secret's In The Sauce: Turn Any Meal Into A Work Of Art” will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at the library, 101 Library Blvd.
Space is limited. To reserve a spot, RSVP to sjcpls.org/upcoming-events/adult-events.
For further information, call 904-827-6950.
Blocker to hold office hours in Ponte Vedra Beach
St. Johns County Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker will hold office hours by appointment on three dates in the upcoming quarter to listen to residents' concerns. All three office hours will be held at Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, located at 101 Library Blvd.
The three dates with availability are Jan. 28, Feb. 28 and March 25. Times for each of the days are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All residents who would like to meet with Blocker should call 904-209-0300 to schedule an appointment.
‘Secrets’ is theme for St. Johns Reads 2022
St. Johns Reads is the St. Johns County Public Library System’s annual “Community Reads” program.
Presented for the 17th year, 2022’s program features four different books, unified by the theme “secrets”: “The Vanishing Half” by Britt Bennett, “Crossing the Creek: The Literary Friendship of Zora Neale Hurston and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings” by Anna Lillios, “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng and a title for young adults, “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi.
The four titles are available in print, large print, audiobook on disc, digital audiobook and ebook formats.
“St. Johns Reads: Secrets” also presents a variety of in-person and virtual programming inspired by the selected books.
As in the past two years, the St. Johns County Public Library System will also host the “Lace Up for Libraries” 5K event as the big finale to St. Johns Reads 2022. The race will begin at 8 a.m. Jan. 29 at the Nocatee Station Field, 400 Nocatee Center Way.
Participants will help raise funds for programming and author visits for future St. Johns Reads events.
To learn more about this event, including the virtual participation option, go to laceupforlibraries5k.itsyourrace.com.
Flagler Health+ partners with Positive Presence Global to connect youth with services
Care Connect+, a social health organization led by Flagler Health+, has announced a partnership with Positive Presence Global (PPG) to provide health coaching, mentoring and life coaching to pre-teens, teens and young adults.
With the announcement, Care Connect+ becomes the exclusive nonprofit partner for PPG.
“This partnership marks a significant advancement in how mental health issues in youth are being addressed,” said Jason Barrett, president and CEO of Flagler Health+. “I am impressed by the proactive approach that PPG makes in identifying potential issues in advance and taking the preventative steps that will have a positive impact on the lives of many young people.”
The partnership allows both organizations to share the resources required to ensure that youth in need have access to the vital resources. Both organizations will serve to refer those in need to each other based on what services are required.
PPG founder Michelle Marie King said the partnership “opens up doors for the next generation and their families to get access to the tools and support they need to lead healthy, confident and radiant lives.”
MOSH appoints director of curatorial services
The Museum of Science & History has announced the expansion of its executive leadership team, bringing on Anthony Mortimer as the first director of curatorial services.
Mortimer will lead the curatorial department in providing exhibitions and program experiences that are historically factual in interpretation and that consistently display socio-cultural respect in bringing together all Northeast Florida communities. Mortimer is also responsible for developing top talent and building collaborative teams that deliver high-quality, research-based, relationship-focused and holistic educational experiences.
He will engage guests, students and community partners in a reflective, meaningful visitor experience. His role is especially important for the museum as it celebrates its 80th anniversary and plans for the future transition to a new location at the Jacksonville Shipyards through the MOSH Genesis project.
Learn more about the Museum of Science & History at themosh.org.
Graduation schedule announced for St. Johns County
The St. Johns County School District has announced the schedule for 2022 graduation ceremonies.
Pedro Menendez High School: 7 p.m. May 24 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
St. Johns Virtual School: 5 p.m. May 25 in the St. Augustine High School auditorium
St. Augustine High School: 7 p.m. May 26 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
St. Johns Technical High School: 7 p.m. May 27 in the St. Augustine High School auditorium
Ponte Vedra High School: 9 a.m. May 28 at the University of North Florida
Creekside High School: 4 p.m. May 28 at the University of North Florida
Bartram Trail High School: 7 p.m. May 31 at the University of North Florida
Allen D. Nease High School: 7 p.m. June 1 at the University of North Florida
First Coast Technical College: 4 p.m. July 8 at FCTC, Bldg. C, in the Conference Center
