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Community Briefs 1/18/18

Clay Today
Posted 1/17/18

Foundation to host “A Drug Free Day in Clay”ORANGE PARK – A nonprofit foundation that educates the public about drug addiction has teamed up with City Streets to Student Athletes to …

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Community Briefs 1/18/18


Posted

Foundation to host “A Drug Free Day in Clay”
ORANGE PARK – A nonprofit foundation that educates the public about drug addiction has teamed up with City Streets to Student Athletes to present a symposium about the opioid crisis.
The Derek Hatcher Foundation will host the free event on Feb. 3 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center. The event will feature real life stories, door prizes and interactive discussions about working together to keep the community safe. The foundation will also give a presentation about college scholarship opportunities for Clay County students at the event.
“As you may have heard, we are in the middle of an opiate epidemic and Clay County is not an exception. Deaths from opioids have been rising sharply for years, and drug overdoses already kill more Americans under age 50 that anything else, and it is predicted to get worse before it gets better,” states Debbie Rizer, president of the Derek Hatcher Foundation, in a press release.
Rizer is also Hatcher’s mother.
During his senior year at Ridgeview High, Derek Hatcher threw more than 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns and, as a freshman, walked on as a punter at the University of Arkansas. He died at the age of 24 in February 2016 from a drug overdose. A video about Hatcher’s story will be shown at this event.

School district preps for Teacher of the Year awards
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Months of filling out applications and undergoing interviews has been narrowed down to a field of five nominees.
The Clay County School District announced the five finalists competing in this year’s Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year awards.
Teacher of the Year nominees are Denise Carmichael, a third-grade teacher at Coppergate Elementary, Fleming Island High English and Social Science teacher Jason Poole, Scott Boyer, band director at Lakeside Junior High, and Monica Claridge, physical education teacher at S. Bryan Jennings.
School-Related Employee of the Year nominees are Grove Park Elementary school secretary Melodie Ryan, Lakeside Junior High School Secretary Judy Collins, Middleburg Elementary Media Technical Assistant Michelle Deakin, Ridgeview High Head Custodian Eugene Jenkins and Stephanie Melton, ESE assistant at W.E. Cherry Elementary
“Each of the five finalists are winners in the hearts of their peers and in the eyes of our county. Congratulations to all finalists for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to elevating Clay. I look forward to recognizing our 2019 winners at our upcoming event along with celebrating the efforts of all Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year nominees,” said Addison Davis, school superintendent.
The School District will nominee the finalists and nominees on Jan. 23 from 7-9 p.m. at a ceremony at the Thrasher-Horne Center, 283 College Dr.

Orange Park Medical Center to make $12 million investment in Westside Jax
ORANGE PARK – Orange Park Medical Center will build a $12 million free-standing emergency room facility on Jacksonville’s Westside.
The hospital paid $1.35 million for 1.96 acres of land on Jan. 11 and plans to break ground in the spring. The 10-bed, 10,800 square foot emergency room will be built just east of the Lane Avenue and Normandy Boulevard intersection.
“We know that when people experience emergencies they’re looking for fast, high-quality and convenient care. By bringing an ER to the Normandy area we will be able to meet the communities growing need with the same high-level of care that we offer in our main emergency room,” said Steven Goodfriend, OPMC’s Emergency Services medical director.
When complete, the center will add 50 staff members to the Orange Park Medical Center health system. The facility will be the second free-standing emergency room for Orange Park Medical Center. Park West ER on 103rd Street just east of Interstate 295 in Westside cared for more than 50,000 patients in 2017.
“Immediately after we opened our Park West ER, it was clear that we were meeting a great demand for emergency care in the West Jacksonville area. Due to continued growth, we expanded the space by 3,100 square foot and 8 patient rooms last May,” said Chad Patrick, OPMC chief executive officer.
The ER will be open 24-hours a day, offering around-the-clock radiology services and staffed by a team of board-certified emergency physicians, as well as specially trained nurses and staff, equipped to treat both adults and children.
The new emergency room located at 5573 Normandy Blvd. is expected to open in the fall of 2018.

School needs community’s help with field trip expenses
ORANGE PARK – In recognition of Black History Month Orange Park Junior High students are writing research-based essays about how the sacrifices of the Civil Rights movement have improved the quality of life for their generation.
On Feb. 3, 50 students will be selected to take a deluxe tour to Savannah, Georgia where they will be given a private Freedom Trail tour of significant sites related to African-American history. They will have lunch at Savannah State College, a first experience for most on a college campus.
The school is turning to the community for help.
History teacher Cindy Cheatwood is accepting donations to help cover the expenses of the trip. The Rotary Club of Orange Park, which sponsored 13 students, was the first group to assist the students. However, 14 students still need sponsorships.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Cheatwood at ckcheatwood@hotmail.com or at Orange Park Junior High at (904) 336-5975.

Clay WIC offices moving
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Florida Department of Health in Clay County’s Women Infants and Children program offices will move to 301 South West St. in Green Cove Springs on Feb. 1.
“Moving our WIC program to Green Coves Springs will help to streamline services to our clients. Our Healthy Start program and Vital Statistics offices are also at our Green Cove location making it easier for young families to access all of our services. We are planning to have a satellite office for WIC clients in Orange Park in the coming year,” said Heather Huffman, Health Department administrator.
WIC is a federally-funded nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children that provides healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals for health care and community services at no cost. Florida WIC clients use a WIC EBT card to purchase WIC-approved foods at authorized WIC grocery stores.
Recipients must have a total household income equal to or less than the amounts shown in the WIC Income Guidelines. Recipients of Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance or Food Assistance are also eligible for WIC. To apply for WIC, call (904) 272-3177 and choose option 1.

Extreme athletes return to Clay County
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Once again Ultrarunners are returning to Clay County for the 4th annual ‘Run Into History’ on Jan. 27.
The fourth annual Hellcat 10K, 30K and 50K races will be held on the runways and trails of the long forgotten Navy Auxiliary Air Station Jacksonville at Benjamin Lee Field, 1 Bunker Ave. in Green Cove Springs.
More than 50 Ultrarunners from seven different states and as far away as Michigan and Ohio will be participating in the 50K with an additional 200-250 runners doing the 10K and 30K races. Because this base was the main training base for the F6F Hellcat fighter, which had over 5,000 shoot downs in WWII, runners will run in the shadows of WWII fighter pilots and heroes to include Gen. Roy Geiger, the father of Marine Corps Aviation, The Black Sheep Squadron pilots, Joe Kennedy (JFK’s brother) and many more.
The race is a fundraiser for the Military Museum of North Florida. All runners and their families will have free access to the museum. Runners will be feted with hamburgers and hot dogs.
“We have the coolest finishers medal out there. It depicts the F6F Hellcat,” said Chris Rodatz, race director.
Needless to say, the race is named after this great carrier based fighter.
In Jan. 2017, over 300 runners finished the races and all agreed they enjoyed their “Run into History”
For more information, go to www.hellcatrace.com or contact Rodatz at (904) 655-6511 or
crodatz@bellsouth.net.

3rd Annual Private Camellia Garden Tour is coming
MELROSE – On Jan. 28, from noon to 4 p.m., guests have a chance to stroll the private gardens of 1,500 camellias hosted by top camellia prize winners in Melrose.
Acres of beautiful plants, with hundreds of varieties will be on display. Larry Rahme will be selling camellia plants including many hard-to-find varieties. There will also be demonstrations, handouts, gardening tips and silent auctions, as well as coffee and homemade cookies for sale.
Golf carts will be available for those needing assistance.
Directions:
The tour location is 202 Mason Rd. in Melrose. Travel on State Road 26 two miles east of Melrose. Turn south on Mason Road and follow the signs. Admission is $5 per person.

Little joins DCSI and Idea Recruitment
FLEMING ISLAND – A Fleming Island human resources consulting and recruitment firm has a new business development manager.
Lauren Little joined IDEA Recruitment and DSSCI after serving eight years of active duty as a U.S. Marine duty, owning two Edible Arrangements franchises, and working in education, rehabilitation, not-for-profit and banking firms.
Little was named the Southeast Business Magazine’s “Woman of Influence” in 2016. Earlier in her career, Little received titles such as “Veteran of Influence,” “Entrepreneur of the Year,” “Small Business Administration Veteran Business Owner of the Year” and “Women in Business Franchisee of the Year” by various organizations.
Little said she chose to get back into the workforce and team up with DCSI/Idea Recruitment because “I love working hard with others who desire to help businesses and employees be successful, making our communities, cities and world a better place.”
“We are so proud to have Lauren on our team. She brings an enormous amount of talent, passion and skill to our award-winning team,” said Suzi Lemen, chief executive officer.
Formed in 1993, DCSI has been recognized by INC. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S.

“Dine with the Doctor” event at Canterfield
MIDDLEBURG – Canterfield of Clay County invites the public to enjoy a complimentary gourmet dinner in its dining room and listen to an informative educational talk presented by local hematology and medical oncology physician Hema Vankayala.
This “Dine with the Doctor” educational program will take place on Tuesday, January 23, 5:30 p.m. at Canterfield of Clay County, located at 1611 Winners Circle, just off 3243 Old Jennings Rd.
Vankayala’s will discuss “Cancer Screening and Advances in Cancer Therapy.” She practices with Cancer Specialists of North Florida and sees her patients at the CSNF Fleming Island location. Vankayala is affiliated with St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay County, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside and Orange Park Medical Center.
Dinner is complimentary as are admission and parking. Reservations are required. To reserve your dinner seat or for more information, call Brenda Lee at (904) 203-6100 ext. 405.