Water District issues extreme drought declaration

 CLAY COUNTY – The St. Johns River Water Management District has updated the regional drought declaration to a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage, which includes Clay County.

What does this mean for residents?

Landscape irrigation remains limited to one day a week, and watering is not allowed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. These restrictions apply to all water sources, including private wells and pumps.

The new current watering schedule is:

• Odd-numbered or no addresses: Saturday
• Even-numbered addresses: Sunday
• Nonresidential properties: Tuesday

The District encourages all residents and businesses to reduce unnecessary water use while dry conditions continue across the region.

Even small efforts like checking irrigation systems for leaks, avoid over spraying and only watering when needed can help protect local
water resources.

For additional information and full restriction details, please visit: sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions/.

THE PLAYERS taking applications for community grants through June 15

 PONTE VEDRA BEACH – THE PLAYERS Championship is accepting applications for its annual Red Coats’ Community Grants Program, which provides funding to eligible nonprofits in Clay, Baker, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

The program awards grants of up to $25,000 to local nonprofits to support initiatives and projects that benefit the Northeast Florida community. Grants are awarded to organizations supporting youth services, education, character development, health, wellness, sports and military support.

“Northeast Florida is home to so many organizations making a positive impact, and we’re proud to support their efforts,” said Rusty Pritchett, Captain of the Red Coats. “The Red Coats are honored to help fund programs that improve lives and strengthen our community.”

Applications are being accepted at theplayers.com/community/grants until 11:59 p.m. on June 15. For complete guidelines, visit THE PLAYERS website.

More information about THE PLAYERS community initiatives can be found at THEPLAYERS.com/community.

Orange Park Library hosting Cat Café adoptions on May 30

 ORANGE PARK – Here’s an opportunity to cozy up to a nice book and a playful kitten at the Orange Park Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30, and when you’re done, you have the option to check out the book and take the kitten home.

The Clay County Animal Services and Public Library System’s Cat Café is an opportunity for visitors to find their next “fur-ever” friend.

The adoption fee for kittens is $25, and adopters will go home with a goody bag. And each kitten has been treated with its shots and has been neutered or spayed.

From 10:30-11:30 a.m., families can also enjoy additional activities in the Children’s Department. There will be cat toys available for guests to interact with and play with the kittens throughout the event.

No adoption, no problem. No commitment is required. Visitors can still support Animal Services by contributing to the Amazon wish list amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32OTXXJ69MIHA/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1.

Freedom Truck to stop at Clay County Courthouse for USA 250 Celebration

 GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Freedom Truck will be at the USA 250 Celebration at the Clay County Courthouse on June 16 and 17.

There are only six trucks nationally, and they have been traveling throughout 2026, bringing the story of American independence to students, families and citizens in every corner of the country with interactive and inspiring content for visitors of all ages.

The exhibit tells the harrowing story of how 13 colonies declared independence, defeated the greatest empire in the world and secured American sovereignty 250 years ago.

The truck will arrive on June 15, and after setting up, visitors will be allowed to explore the exhibits. Opening ceremony is scheduled for June 16.

With engaging elements such as, “Are you a loyalist or patriot” quiz, a kiosk to sign your name digitally to the Declaration and a wall of 50 American heroes, these exhibits celebrate the remarkable achievements that 250 years have made possible.

It’s time to register new students for 2026-27 school year

CLAY COUNTY – Parents and guardians are encouraged to register new students, and incoming kindergarteners, for the 2026-27 school year in advance. Students who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026, should register for kindergarten.

The first step is to locate which school the student will attend. To do that, visit oneclay.net and click on the registration tab.

All students are required to have immunization documents, a birth certificate, a completed religious exemption form for school entry shots, a Florida physical and proof of residency, which includes a government-issued identification card, a copy of the property deed and settlement statement and one of the following: current utility, water, electric, cable, gas, internet, cellphone or landline bill.

Renters must provide a signed lease agreement. Families that live with someone who rents or owns a home must provide a government-issued identification and a district-provided signed and notarized verification of residency.

Parents and guardians of new students must also complete a new student registration form found at oneclay.net/registration-and-enrollment.

Finally, all information should be emailed to the student’s new school. For a list of email addresses, visit oneclay.net/registration-and-enrollment.

UF/IFAS launches project farming, AgTech businesses

 The University of Florida’s 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.

The new course sequence teaches agricultural business fundamentals in the fall and culminates in a spring “Shark Tank”-style pitch process where students present full business plans to industry mentors.

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.

Growing a business is difficult. Growing an agriculture business can have its own unique challenges that can be daunting for a budding businessperson.

That’s 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.

The Wayne T. Davis Agricultural and Rural Entrepreneurship program will kick off in the fall of 2026 with the course Principals of Agricultural Entrepreneurship, with a follow-up course in the spring of 2027. The class series will focus on the basics of entrepreneurship and business-planning, with a focus on agricultural issues, said Tori Rumenik, an FRE alumna and the program’s creative coordinator. The courses are open to both undergraduate and graduate students as joint classes. All majors across the UF system can enroll.

“Agriculture is facing huge challenges, from automation demand to responsible water use, and UF really has the brightest minds in the nation where it comes to agriculture innovation,” she said. “We want to make it possible for them to take those big ideas and transform them into businesses after graduation, but we need to provide the toolkit to do so.”