Clay Today staff<\/p>\n
Florida National Guard to permanently close Youth ChalleNGe Academy<\/p>\n
CAMP BLANDING\u00a0\u2014The Florida National Guard has made the decision to permanently close the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a popular-community based program that has changed the lives of many at-risk young adults.<\/p>\n
In an announcement, the National Guard said the decision to close the 25-year-program “was not made lightly. As the operational demands on the Florida National Guard continue to grow, it is critical that we refocus our resources on our primary mission sets, particularly in today’s dynamic and increasingly challenging operational environment. Our Soldiers and Airmen are busier and more called upon than ever before, making it essential that we are ready and able to successfully execute our dual mission – supporting our national defense strategy and protecting the lives and property of Floridians when they need us most.”<\/p>\n
They added that leadership felt it was time to end the program and refocus on the primary mission.<\/p>\n
The award-winning program has been recognized as one of the nation\u2019s most effective and cost-efficient initiatives for targeting youth who are at the greatest risk for substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency and criminal activity. The program leads, trains and mentors 16\u2013to-18-year-old high school dropouts, leading them to become productive citizens.<\/p>\n
During the process, they learn the value of hard work, leadership, self-discipline, respect, moral and ethical standards and military customs to advance to the second phase of the program \u2014 the credit recovery program and their high school diplomas.<\/p>\n
The program takes 17\u00bd months, with the final 5\u00bd as a residential cadet at Camp Blanding, which closely resembles military boot camp.\u00a0Since opening in 2001, the state branch has graduated more than 5,000 students.<\/p>\n
The school will officially close after its 50th\u00a0class graduates in June.<\/p>\n
Orange Park Lions Club practices Earth Day all year<\/p>\n
ORANGE PARK \u2013 By participating in three environmental recycling service projects, the Lions Club strengthen local beautification, cleanups, recycling, education and global environmental initiatives.<\/p>\n
A lot of clubs plant trees, pick up trash and distribute water filters on Earth Day. The Orange Park Club took it three steps further by initiating the following the entire year:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Installed a yellow donation box at our headquarters, 423 McIntosh Ave., to collect glasses, cases, hearing aids, cellphones and tablets that are sorted and donated to medical missions overseas. New eyewear are distributed for free at local community outreach programs like the Impact Clay Train every month.<\/p>\n
\u2022 A recent recycling program is called \u201cCellphones for Soldiers\u201d is a nonprofit organization that provides free communications services and emergency support to active-duty military members and veterans.<\/p>\n
The Lions collect donated cellphones and tablets all over the United States. The phones and tablets are repaired and sold and the proceeds from the sales are used to buy international calling cards for deployed American soldiers around the world so that they can stay connected to their loved ones. These calling cards are provided for free. The Orange Park Lions Club uses their big yellow collection box on their lot to collect these cell phones and tablets.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The third recycling project involves collecting and recycling plastic. This is done through a company called Trex. The program is called \u201cNexTrex Recycling Project\u201d Groups like the Lions Club collect plastic film (like grocery bags, bubble wrap and case overwrap). The project accepts a lot of items not allowed in curbside recycling. The groups participating collect the plastic, weigh it, take pictures of the bags, record it on Trex website and take it to a designated collection site (Publix, Winn Dixie, etc.).<\/p>\n
From there the plastic is transported to the Trex corporation to be processed and turned into Trex decking. Lions donate to these collections and groups that meet at their clubhouse also donate. The groups are awarded items like benches if enough plastic is collected in a year. The Orange Park Lions Club has collected more than a ton of plastic during the last two years, which was enough to build two benches for the community.<\/p>\n
County\u2019s Public Safety Coordinating Council meeting April 24<\/p>\n
GREEN COVE SPRINGS \u2013 Please be advised that the Clay County Public Safety Coordinating Council Meeting will be held on Friday, April 24, at 9:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room of the Clay County Board of County Commissioners on the 4th floor of the Clay County Administration Building, 477 Houston St.<\/p>\n
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person needing accommodations to participate in this matter should contact Clay County Risk Management by mail at P.O. Box 1366, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043, or by telephone at (904) 679-8596, no later than three days prior to the hearing or proceeding for which this notice has been given. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons can access the telephone number by contacting the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8770 (Voice) or (800) 955-8771 (TDD).<\/p>\n
Touch-A-Truck returns to honor country\u2019s 250th anniversary<\/p>\n
GREEN COVE SPRINGS \u2013 Touch-A-Truck: Saluting Those Who Serve, presented by VyStar Credit Union, is back. And this year, it comes with a patriotic twist to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n
This free event will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds. There will be quiet time from 9 a.m. until noon, with lights and sirens starting after that.<\/p>\n
The county will hold a special opening ceremony with a focus on our country’s 250th anniversary for an hour, starting at 10 a.m. This will include guest speakers and a ceremonial flag folding to retire the large flag in the Cattlemen’s Arena.<\/p>\n
The community-nominated VyStar\u2019s Veteran of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will be announced. There will also be information and resources for our veterans and their families.<\/p>\n
The event boasts food trucks for purchase, children\u2019s games and activities, preparedness resources, information on county services, and of course, trucks, big and small, to get up close and personal.<\/p>\n
Nationwide Days of Second Chances on April 16 at O.P. First Baptist<\/p>\n
ORANGE PARK \u2013 The First Baptist Church will host the Nationwide Days of Second Chances Job Fair on April 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1140 Kingsley Ave.<\/p>\n
The event features a series of job fair across the United States aimed at connecting people with employment barriers like criminal records, lack of childcare or homelessness with hiring employers by offering free coaching, resources and on-the-spot job opportunities.<\/p>\n
All backgrounds are welcome to the free event. To register, text (844) 987-3949 or visit bettertogetherus.org\/FBCOrangePark.<\/p>\n
Golden Years Gala Service Awards accepting sponsors, auction items<\/p>\n
ORANGE PARK \u2013 To celebrate the contributions of senior adults, The Shepherd\u2019s Center of Orange Park is accepting sponsors and silent auction items ahead of its Golden Years Gala Service Awards breakfast on May 13 at 8:30 a.m. at Sullivan Hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 7190 U.S. Highway 17, on Fleming Island.<\/p>\n
The gala honors the county\u2019s Woman and Man Volunteer of the Year and the Ernie Cohen Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n
The Shepherd\u2019s Center offers award-winning educational programing that promotes health and wellness.<\/p>\n
To sponsor and donate auction items, contact Elizabeth Reed at (904) 463-2278.<\/p>\n
UF\/IFAS launches project farming, AgTech businesses<\/p>\n
The University of Florida\u2019s Food and Resource Economics Department is launching the Wayne T. Davis Agricultural and Rural Entrepreneurship program in Fall 2026 to help students build agriculture-focused businesses.<\/p>\n
The new course sequence teaches agricultural business fundamentals in the fall and culminates in a spring \u201cShark Tank\u201d-style pitch process where students present full business plans to industry mentors.<\/p>\n
Funded by alumnus Wayne T. Davis, the program will equip students to innovate in areas ranging from automation, water use, food preparation, precision agriculture and more.<\/p>\n
Growing a business is difficult. Growing an agriculture business can have its own unique challenges that can be daunting for a budding businessperson.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF\/IFAS) Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) is launching a new entrepreneurship program, specifically targeted for students who want to create agricultural businesses.<\/p>\n