THE PLAYERS invites artists to join Military Appreciation Ceremony  

PONTE VEDRA BEACH – THE PLAYERS Championship is inviting talented individuals and groups from Northeast Florida to audition for a special performance opportunity during the Military Appreciation Ceremony and Concert, taking place on Tuesday, March 10. 

As part of this annual tradition honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military, THE PLAYERS is accepting audition submissions from vocal performers interested in singing during the ceremony. Separately, THE PLAYERS is also accepting applications from American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to sign the same song and the National Anthem as part of the performance. 

“The Military Appreciation Ceremony is one of the most powerful moments of THE PLAYERS Championship,” said Lee Smith, Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship. “We’re proud to invite local talent to help us honor the brave men and women who serve our country.” 

Interested vocal performers should submit a video clip of their rendition singing "America the Beautiful”, and ASL interpreters should submit a video of their signed performance of the same song, by 5 p.m. on Jan. 7.  Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and selected performers will be notified via email. 

Trash pick-up affected by Thanksgiving holiday 

CLAY COUNTY – Curbside trash collection in the FCC service areas scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday will be picked up on Friday, Nov. 28. 

Friday collection will be delayed until Saturday, Nov. 29.  Normal collection schedules will resume on Monday following the holiday. 

 Additionally, the Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Facility and the Environmental Convenience Centers will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27. 

Thrasher-Horne putting memorabilia on sale ahead of holidays 

ORANGE PARK – Throughout the years, the Thrasher-Horne Center has welcomed some of the biggest names in entertainment. Now you can own a piece of that incredible history. 

The center is opening its archives with a limited sale of signed and unsigned posters and banners from past performances, including William Shatner, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Howie Mandel, The Addams Family, Craig Morgan and The Oak Ridge Boys. 

Each piece captures the magic of the night and stars who’ve graced the stage. Each is perfect for framing, collecting or gifting to a fellow fan. 

Availability is limited, and once these items are gone, they’re gone for good. 

For more information, visit thcenter.org. 

Vintage Market Days returns to fairgrounds Nov. 14-16 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – More than 125 vintage curators, specialty makers and food creators will return to the Clay County Fairgrounds Nov. 14-16 for the Vintage Market Days to kick off the holiday shopping season. 

The event features original art, vintage items, holiday decor and gifts, repurposed treasures, boutique clothing, handcrafted jewelry, furniture, food trucks and live music. 

A portion of the proceeds benefits Clay County 4-H. 

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

Tickets start at $5 and are good for reentry all weekend. Children 12 and younger can enter for free. Tickets are available online at vintagemarketdays.com/market/jacksonville or at the gate. 

Fleming Island’s Hector Bustos appointed to Clay County Court 

 
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Hector Bustos was appointed to serve as Judge on the Clay County Court on Thursday, Oct. 30, by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

Bustos has served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit since 2013. He served as a Division Chief of County and Juvenile Court and as Lead Attorney for traffic homicides in Clay County. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his juris doctor from Florida Coastal. Bustos fills the judicial vacancy created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508. 

It’s time to like big Boston butts from Vineyard Transitional Center 

CLAY COUNTY – It’s time to pre-order Boston Butts from The Vineyard Transitional Center as construction on the new facility enters its second stage. 

A fully smoked Boston butt costs $40, and they’re available by calling John Sanders at (904) 305-5641 or Joseph Smith at (904) 343-1869. 

The center will provide rooms for as many as 16 men as they gain job skills and placement training, as well as life skills training while they transition back into society, to reduce the chance of recidivism. 

The Center will deliver butts to businesses on Nov. 21 after 1 p.m., while residents can pick up their butts on Nov. 22 between 1-4 p.m. at the Center, 518 Pine Ave. 

Sanders said this year’s goal is to sell 600 Boston butts. 

Sheriff Cook puts out APB for winning Christmas cookie recipe 

CLAY COUNTY – Sheriff Michelle Cook is looking for help – not looking for a fugitive, but for a great cookie recipe. 

She will participate in the Second Celebrity Christmas Cookie Challenge to benefit Operation Barnabas on Dec. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Toasted Yolk Café, 10915 Baymeadows Road, Suite 135, Jacksonville, and she wants to know if you’d like to share your can’t miss winning recipe. 

She asks that you submit your entry to sheriff@claysheriff.com. 

Tickets are $75 and are available at operationbarnabas.com, and they include food and refreshments. 

Spread the word (and peanut butter) during Peanut Butter Challenge 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Spread the word – or in this case, the peanut butter. The 14th annual Peanut Butter Challenge gives people across the state a chance to donate jars of the protein-packed spread to hungry Floridians. 

Donations will be accepted at the Clay County Extension office, 2463 State Road 16, from Friday through Nov. 26. 

Agents and volunteers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS) and Florida A&M encourage residents to participate. 

Jars of any size and variety are welcome, but they must be new, sealed and not expired. 

Last year, Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton strained the state’s food pantries, so Floridians stepped up to help through the Peanut Butter Challenge. That led to an increase in donations. 

In all, 40 of Florida’s 67 counties participated last year, and people donated 39,898 pounds of peanut butter, a 14,201-pound increase over 2023. 

As they collect peanut butter, extension agents from various counties challenge each other in a friendly competition to see who can collect the most peanut butter. Last year, Orange County collected the most peanut butter, with a total of 5,065 pounds. That’s a new record for a single county. 

“I think that the energy from the county Extension offices has definitely ramped up,” said Kevin Camm, director of UF/IFAS Extension Orange County. “I definitely think (statewide) we will be well above 40,000 pounds – quite possibly 45,000 pounds.” 

Regardless of the quantity donated, the challenge is a great initiative, Camm said. 

“At the end of the day, every jar collected means a family has food on the shelf that is nutritious to eat,” he said. “That is the real impact of this collaborative effort.” 

The Peanut Butter Challenge unites the Florida Cooperative Extension Service with the Florida Peanut Federation (FPF), the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and community partners throughout the state. 

UF/IFAS Extension offices in the Panhandle launched the competition in 2012 to provide hungry residents with shelf-stable, protein-rich food before the winter holidays. 

The challenge spread statewide in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity and increased demand for help from food banks. Matching donations from the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and the Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have helped the program increase donations year over year. 

Peanuts are a major crop in Florida. In 2024, Florida’s peanut production totaled 550 million pounds, 5% more than in 2023, according to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service (FASS). Peanuts contributed more than $137 million to the state economy, according to the FASS. 

“Peanut butter is more than a staple — it’s a symbol of nourishment, comfort and hope,” said Laura Goss, executive director of the FPF. “At the Florida Peanut Federation, we are proud to support this annual challenge because we believe no child should go to bed hungry when we grow one of the most nutritious and shelf-stable foods right here in Florida. We commend the Extension offices, volunteers and community members who turn compassion into action by helping fuel a future, one jar at a time.” 

For more information about drop-off locations and participation, visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutbutter. 

You can support Bags of Hope to feed families, rebuild lives 

ORANGE PARK – Clay County Outreach’s Ministry Council is accepting donations of non-perishable food items for its pantry for its Bags of Hope program. 

The organization has served more than 1,020 families since May 31 by providing bags of food every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the second and fourth Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1125 Kingsley Ave., Suite B. 

By providing bags of food, Clay County Outreach also restores hope and rebuilds lives. 

If you’d like to host a donation box, donate food or partner with the Ministry Council, contact them at (904) 444-1215 or email infoccomc@claycountyoutreachministrycouncil.com.