News Briefs for the week of January 13-19, 2022

Posted

Growth management workshop to seek community input

St. Johns County has seen substantial growth over the last 10 years. The 2020 census revealed that the county grew by nearly 44%, placing it among the fastest-growing counties in the United States and the second-fastest-growing county in Florida.

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will discuss topics related to managing future growth and addressing infrastructure needs at an upcoming growth-management workshop.

Residents and stakeholders are invited to provide comments after county staff completes their presentations.

The four topics that will be discussed include: local government’s role in managing growth, current growth trends and infrastructure needs, transportation planning and concurrency and additional considerations for new development proposals.

The workshop will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 25 in the county auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine.

The board will not make policy decisions at the workshop or vote on any item brought forth.

Artist plans presentation at library

The Friends of the Ponte Vedra Beach Library will feature Jim Draper, a multi-talented artist in drawing, painting, photography, video and writing on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Draper has taught drawing and painting at Florida State College and Flagler College but is now retired and working full-time in his studio.

He gets inspiration from journeys into the wild as well as myriad sources beyond nature in the form of conservationists, naturalists and other artists known as experts in observation of the natural world.

His work can be seen in hundreds of corporate and private collections such as Jacksonville Airport, Baptist Medical Center and United Nations Visitors' Lobby in New York City.

In his talk, “Defining a Radical Naturalism” with slides, the artist will define the intersection of the mind of our species and the balance of human interaction.

Draper will exhibit his work in the library's entryway during January and February.

The program starts at 6:30 p.m. and the doors open at 6 p.m.

The program is free and open to the public.

Children’s book sale at Ponte Vedra Branch Library

The Friends of the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library is sponsoring a children’s books sale in the library's foyer, near Seymour's Book Store, through Jan 24.

The sale is being held during the library’s normal hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The library will be closed Monday, Jan. 17. 

The sale includes a selection of “gently used” books, priced between $1 and $6 dollars. There will be hardback and paperback titles for children of all ages. Only cash and checks will be accepted for payment. Proceeds will be used for new library materials, special programming, new equipment and furniture for patrons and more.

For more information, call the library at 904-827-6950.