Hurricane and severe storm prep, survival is public meeting topic
The Palm Valley Community Association invites all residents to a special meeting featuring Kelly Wilson, county deputy director of emergency management, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Blvd.
Preparing for and surviving a hurricane or severe storm requires careful planning, understanding the county’s evacuation instructions and knowing the cleanup process. Wilson will share all of this information and provide insight into how and where your elected officials and the core administration team navigate storms to keep residents safe and return them to their homes as quickly as possible. There will be time for questions.
Wilson has served St. Johns County since 2006, initially as the emergency management planner and emergency management coordinator, and now as the deputy director of emergency management. Wilson specializes in comprehensive emergency management planning, including hazard mitigation planning and continuity of operations planning. She also maintains the social media presence and coordinates public outreach to the community. Her educational background includes a Master of Science degree from the University of South Florida, with a focus on environmental science.
St. Johns Golf Club launches new website
The St. Johns Golf Club, owned and operated by the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department, has announced the launch of its new website at sjgc.com.
The new site offers course, calendar and clinic information as well as access to tee times and tournaments. Players can swing into action with gear and services available at the pro shop, soon grab a slice of pizza from Italiano Vero Pizzeria, and get updated details on events at the course.
After a 2022 renovation, St. Johns Golf Club was considered for Best Transformation by Golf Digest and received an honorable mention in its 2023 awards list.
In January 2025, St. Johns Golf Club Director Wes Tucker and Assistant Golf Professional Bea Mauricio were honored by the PGA of America North Florida Section and Northern Chapter with awards. Tucker received the Bill Strausbaugh Award, and Mauricio received the PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award.
St. Augustine Record Fair returns Sept. 28
The popular St. Augustine Record Fair will return to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Sept. 28 as part of Sing Out Loud Festival.
Presented by ToneVendor Records, the fair is where music lovers and collectors can find limited-edition vinyl, ’90s tour posters, vintage rock T-shirts, even cassette tapes and record players.
In addition to dozens of vendors, onsite screen-printing, food trucks and live entertainment by DJ Papi Disco makes for a full day of family-friendly activities. This all-ages event is free and open to the public.
Palm Valley Market every Tuesday
The Palm Valley Market is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It offers organically grown produce, pasture-raised chicken, eggs and pork; grass-fed and finished beef; local honey; raw milk; bone broth; whole grain, sourdough and gluten- and dairy-free sourdough breads; an array of baked goods; all-natural plant- and animal-based skincare; local artisans; and more. This charming venue located in the heart of Palm Valley affords customers both an indoor and an open-air shopping experience. Palm Valley Market — Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Blvd.
For more information, email info@PalmValleyMarket.com.
Nature journaling event planned
Join nature journaling instructor Elaine Bergstrom at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve to explore the wonders at the reserve from 9:50 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 10.
Each month focuses on a different topic using words, pictures and numbers to learn more about what we observe.
The event is free, but online registration is required. To register, go to gtmnerr.org/calendars.
Meet at GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach.
Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Hat, insect repellent, water, sunscreen and binoculars are recommended.
Farmers market open every Friday
The Ponte Vedra Friday Farmers Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday at The Peace of Heart Community Farm, offering fresh produce, local farm goods and a welcoming space to connect with neighbors and small businesses.
This farmers market features fresh, organically grown produce; Florida grass-fed beef and pork; real local honey; pasture-raised chicken and eggs; wholegrain breads; gluten-free sourdough bread; natural botanical skincare; creations by local artisans and more in a family-friendly atmosphere
The Peace of Heart Community Farm is located at 14A S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.
Delegation promotes state management of red snapper
On June 30, U.S. Rep. John H. Rutherford (FL-05) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Florida legislators in a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in support of Florida state management of red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic.
“Every local angler I talk to says there are more red snapper off the coast of Northeast Florida than ever before,” said Rutherford. “Yet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under President Biden only gave us one day to fish last summer. It’s time to hand over the South Atlantic fishery management to our governors DeSantis, Kemp and McMaster.”
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
