Rockin’ for Stockins’ to accept new musicians in Rising Stars 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Paul Wane trades sleep for satisfaction during the holidays. He plays his guitar at night when he appears as the Paul Wane Experience or with his Duval County Line. During the day, he and his wife, Lisa, usually run around Northeast Florida stuffing their van with toys and instruments ahead of the Dec. 6 Rockin’ for Stockins’. 

Making money as a musician is how Wane pays the bills. But his real passion is giving children instruments to offer them an alternative to the harmful distractions facing this impressionable generation. 

Rockin’ is an annual event at Boogerville Hideout, U.S. Highway 17 in Green Cove Springs, from noon to 6 p.m. It has blossomed into a massive undertaking that includes a day filled with live performances – four bands from Wane’s Rising Stars recipients – as well as photos with Santa, gift bags with instruments for all children, face painting, meals for children, event T-shirts, toys, raffles and, most importantly, the gifting of at least 20 more instruments to youngsters. 

Wane started Rising Stars: Guitars for Kids to provide children options other than trouble, drugs, video games and cellphones. 

“We wanted to give them something positive to do, something positive,” he said. 

In less than six years, the Wanes, with the help of Keystone Heights guitar maker Jay Murphy, have repurposed donated guitars and collected new guitars and other instruments, which have been distributed to more than 500 children. And with every dedication comes the same declaration: 

“Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not playing it right,” Wane said. “They don’t hear what you hear. You understand? You play your song. Okay? Love this. You go have fun. Go out and rock. Welcome to the family. Once you’re a Rising Star, you will always be a Rising Star.” 

The Wanes said they’ve already collected plenty of stocking stuffers for the Dec. 6 Christmas celebration, so they still need bigger, more significant gifts like bicycles and sporting goods for children ages 8 to 12. 

“This is going to be our biggest event yet,” Paul said. “It’s so big, we’ve had to hire out a sound company.” 

If you’d like to support Wane’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit for Rockin’ for Stockins, contact (352-234-0983) or paulwanemusic@gmail.com. 

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. 

Clay County Fair takes home record 14 awards at IAFE Conference 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Agriculture Fair brought home 14 awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions Networks Awards conference last week. 

The fair won a staggering nine first-place awards, followed by four seconds and a third. 

Finishing first were New Class of Competition (Egg Contest), Sponsor Exposure (Synder Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electric), Strategy to Encourage New Competitive Exhibits Participants – Plants and Art Auction, Creative Display (PRI Productions Selfie Room), Agriculture Individual Livestock Photo (UO Goat Show by Kram Kran Photo), Vendor Marketing and Promotion (Yummy Food Competition), Vendor Communications and Operations (Safety Playbook), In-Kind Sponsorship (Sunbelt Rentals) and Community Impact (Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival and Lowe’s Home Improvement). 

Best Marketing Campaign (The Social Bee), Facility Partnerships (HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital First Aid Building), Agriculture Individual Photo/Crops-Hort ID Contest (Kram Kran Photo), Agriculture Individual Photo: Other Agriculture Photo (Silent Goat Disco Party) finished second. At the same time, Scripted Videos – Meet Me at the Fair – People (Kram Kran Photo and The Social Bee) wound up third. 

Salvation Army’s Angel Tree tags at Orange Park Mall near food court 

ORANGE COURT – Shoppers will have the opportunity to make a child’s holiday a little brighter by selecting an Angel Tree tag from the Salvation Army’s tree by the Orange Park Mall’s office at the Food Court Entrance. 

Each tag has a wish list from a less fortunate child or one currently in foster care. Shoppers can select items while at the mall and leave the bags at the office by Dec. 12. The bags will be picked up by the Salvation Army or delivered to foster care representatives. 

Families can also have their pictures taken with Santa at the mall. To make a reservation, visit whereissanta.com/mall. Personal photos and selfies aren’t permitted. 

Mall hours during the holidays from Friday, Nov. 28, are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays through Dec. 14; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 23 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. 

Craig Seaton releases radio single ‘Morning Glories’ across U.S., Canada 

ORANGE PARK – Orange Park’s Craig Seaton's new single, “Morning Glory,” is now being played on radio stations across the United States and Canada, and the album version is streaming on primary services worldwide. 

The song carries a special history. Written in 2001 by Judy Davies, the late wife of Mark A. Davies of Penney Retirement Community, the song celebrates the vibrant flowers she loved and uses them as a metaphor for human beauty. 

Last year, Mark entrusted Craig with Judy’s piano score. Craig arranged, recorded, and produced the single, bringing her words to life for a new generation of listeners. 

Seaton brings classic roots and heartfelt songwriting to today’s airwaves. He first found his voice in the 1970s as the lead singer and keyboardist for Littlerock, a Sarasota-based southern rock band. Today, he channels that same musical passion into piano ballads that inspire faith, hope and love. 

A familiar face in the Northeast Florida music scene, Craig regularly performs as a guest musician and vocalist at community events and Golden Oldies concerts for senior audiences. He is also the author of “Some Perfect Tomorrow,” a collection of true stories that reflect his deep appreciation for life’s joys and sorrows. 

Gospel’s Yolanda Adams to appear at Thrasher-Horne in December 

ORANGE PARK – Known as the “Queen of Contemporary Gospel” Yolanda Adams rose to prominence after beginning her career with the Southeast Inspirational Choir and releasing her first album “Just As I Am” in 1987. 

Adams has sold 10 million albums worldwide, achieving multi-platinum status and earning numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards and recognition from Billboard as the No. 1 Gospel Artist of the decade in the 2000s. 

Come join Hot 106.5 for “One Joyous Night: A Gospel Concert Celebration,” hosted by Wanda P. & Shawn Knight and featuring Yolanda Adams, along with live performances from local choirs at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. 

Tickets, which start at $48, are available at the box office or at thcenter.org. 

Corrections offering bonuses for officers at Florida State Prison 

RAIFORD – The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is proud to announce a $1,000 hiring bonus available at select correctional institutions statewide, including Florida State Prison in nearby Raiford. This bonus is in addition to the numerous incentives and benefits offered to those who choose to become state correctional officers with the FDC. 

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ ongoing dedication to strengthening public safety, the Florida Department of Corrections is proud to provide new opportunities and incentives for those ready to serve,” said FDC Assistant Deputy Secretary of Institutions Hope Gartman. “A career in corrections offers more than professional growth—it’s a chance to serve, to lead, and to make a lasting difference in the lives of others across Florida.” 

FDC correctional officers receive paid training, high-risk retirement benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement, and a comprehensive benefits package available to all State of Florida employees. 

Upon certification by the FDC Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission, new FDC correctional officers will be eligible for bonuses at 17 institutions. 

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. A panel of judges will review submissions, and selected performers will be notified via email. 

 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 pieces captures the magic of the night and starts 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. 

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 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 a 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.