Wizards of Winter show coming to Thrasher-Horne
ORANGE PARK – The Wizards of Winter will bring their holiday concert to Thrasher-Horne Center on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm.
The Wizards of Winter is a holiday rock event for the whole family, featuring former members of Classic Rock Bands- The Trans- Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, The Irish Tenors Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Alice Cooper Band and others.
The Wizards of Winter will perform a holiday rock opera titled “The Christmas Dream.” The story is based around the music of their self-titled CD, and their albums “The Magic of Winter” and “A Christmas Dream.”
Wizards of Winter will bring their musical intensity, stage theatrics and holiday fun to ThrasherHorne Center this year. This 12-member ensemble boasts soaring vocal harmonies, precision string instrumentation, powerful percussion and stunning keyboard work, layered around a rich storyboard that evokes December’s past.
The event is presented by Thrasher-Horne Center and sponsored by 96.1 WEJZ and 99.9 Gator Country.
Tickets for Wizards of Winter are currently on pre-sale to members. Public on sale will begin Sept. at 11 a.m. Committed to your safety, Thrasher-Horne Center is selling a limited number of tickets for our events in a socially distanced auditorium. Additional seats may open later as guidelines change. For more information on tickets or on the venue’s safety protocols, visit THcenter.org or call (904) 276-6815.
The Thrasher-Horne Center is a performing arts venue and conference center owned and operated by St. Johns River State College. It is located at 283 College Dr. in Orange Park.

Water management district has five tips to prevent flooding
CLAY COUNTY – As Florida keeps a close eye on a busy storm season in the tropics, there are five tips from the St. Johns River Water Management District to prepare for heavy rains from severe storms, including torrential rain from recent summer thunderstorms. By being proactive, homeowners can help protect themselves and their property from flooding.
• Report clogged culverts or slow-moving water in ditches to your local government to allow adequate time for maintenance or repairs before a storm.
• Keep grass clippings and other debris out of stormwater drainage systems to prevent clogging and loss of stormwater storage and treatment capacity. Stormwater systems help control flooding by slowing down surges and absorbing rainwater before it reaches water bodies.
• Clean out roof gutters and extend downspouts at least four feet from structures to keep water from ponding at the foundation.
• Build up the ground around the home to promote drainage away from the foundation.
• Bookmark useful webpages, including www.sjrwmd.com/storm, for links to flood statements and warnings, river stage and flooding data, and local government emergency contacts. Links to the National Weather Service, Florida Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Geological Survey's interactive map of current conditions in the state are also available via the website at www.sjrwmd.com/data.
For general water level information and rainfall data, bookmark the district’s hydrologic data webpage. To know who to call when impacted by a storm, visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/flooding/#state-national.
Join the conversation at #flooding #WaterLess #HurricaneSeason #sjrwmd.

SJR State College celebrates 100% Respiratory Care graduation rate

 CLAY COUNTY – St. Johns River State College respiratory care graduates have excelled on their credentialing exams, achieving a 100% passing rate for the third consecutive year.

Graduates who took the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple Choice and Clinical Simulation Exams surpassed the national average and earned the Certified Respiratory Therapist and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The national passing rates for 2019 are CRT 93% and 2019 RRT 80%.

“We are proud of our outstanding graduates, dedicated faculty and the clinical affiliates who work in collaboration to prepare the next generation of therapists to serve our local workforce," said Holly Coulliette, SJR State’s Dean of Allied Health.

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the crucial role of respiratory care workers has risen to the forefront, Coulliette added. “The first occupation most people think of when they hear “frontline health care workers” are usually, and understandably, nurses; yet, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. Functioning as part of the healthcare team, it takes respiratory care workers to run ventilators and make life-saving decisions at the bedside. For these reasons, respiratory therapy has gained national and local attention.”

Flagler Hospital’s respiratory manager Dianne Loftus said the College’s respiratory program is a huge asset to the hospital and community. “I have seen the program grow since inception in 2007, and the caliber of students rotating through have been top notch. Many of our current employees are graduates from the College,” Loftus said. “When we look at hiring new employees, the students from SJR State’s program are always considered first.”

SJR State’s Associate in Science degree program prepares students for careers as respiratory care professionals. Upon successful completion of the 20-month curriculum, students are eligible to apply to take the national certification exams administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care.

The program is offered on the St. Augustine campus. Prerequisites and requirements apply. The A.S. Degree Respiratory Care program, CoARC program number 200539, located at the St. Augustine Campus of St. Johns River State College, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

Applications for Spring 2021 enrollment are being accepted through Sept. 15.