Fun Earth Day event will help keep county tidy
The St. Johns County Solid Waste Division has announced its inaugural Earth Day event for 9 a.m. to noon April 20 at Tillman Ridge Landfill, 3005 Allen Nease Road, Elkton. The event offers free services to St. Johns County residents, including e-waste recycling and paper shredding. This is a part of the county’s new anti-litter initiative called Get Hooked launched in February. Call the county’s Solid Waste Division at 904-827-6980, email solidwaste@sjcfl.us or go to RecycleStJohns.com for details.
“This event is another step in our Get Hooked initiative to help get trash off our roads, out of our rights-of-way and clear of our waterways,” said outreach coordinator Matthew Denny. “It will aid us in our efforts to get residents ‘hooked’ on St. Johns County and keeping this beautiful area litter free. The event is another opportunity for the community to get involved with the campaign led by our mascot, Captain Reducio, and promote the 3 Arrgh’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Together, we can make a difference.”
Denny explained that the event will include a station for the public to donate gently used clothes and household items for charitable causes, educational booths, as well as fun activities for kids to learn about the importance of recycling.
There will also be a chance to see boats, trucks, helicopters and heavy equipment in the touch-a-truck area.
“We will also have our Get Hooked mascot Captain Reducio available to take pictures with attendees,” said Denny. “We encourage people to post them on their social media accounts with the hashtag #MySJCFL to help us spread the word.”
Explore the beach at GTM Research Reserve
Join volunteers at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM) for a beach exploration 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Collect seashells, search for shark teeth and learn about coastal wildlife. Meet at GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach.
Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Hat, insect repellent, water and sunscreen are recommended. The event is free but online registration is required. To register, go to gtmnerr.org/visit/events.
Access beach information on new app
The St. Johns County Beach Services Department has announced that beach information can now be found in the SJC Connect App, providing a seamless experience for accessing comprehensive beach information. Effective immediately, the former “Reach the Beach” app will no longer be updated, and users can find all their beach-related updates and details under the “more” tab within the SJC Connect App.
This move aims to consolidate resources and streamline accessibility for beachgoers. Whether it's checking beach driving updates, accessing tide predictions or finding the interactive beach access points map, all these features are now conveniently housed within the app.
The SJC Connect App offers a range of features beyond beach information, including reporting issues, paying utility bills, accessing news updates and more. For more information, go to sjcfl.us/sjcconnect.
Job interviewing tips to be offered
The Savvy Job Hunters Ministry of Christ Episcopal Church will host a free virtual workshop, “Must-Have Interviewing Tips and Mock Interviews,” from 10:30 a.m. to noon April 26. The workshop will be presented by Buddy Webster of LEADERS Professional Recruiting, Inc. Email pottesen66@gmail.com to register. Everyone is welcome.
Palm Valley Market every Tuesday
The Palm Valley Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday inside the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Road. The market offers fresh produce, baked goods, local honey, tea, seasonal treats, soap, jewelry, plants and more.
Library to offer resources for moms, infants
The Ponte Vedra Library and St. Johns CARES, Inc. are collaborating on a St. Johns community drive and event for infants and mothers. Throughout the month of May, donations of needed infant items, such as diapers, baby wipes, formula/baby food and diaper cream can be dropped off by the public at the Ponte Vedra Beach Library Branch. The donations will be distributed to organizations in St. Johns County with families in need.
On May 9, a Resource Fair for Moms & Babies will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library and will include information on various topics, CPR training, a pediatrician and more.
Republican committee to meet May 16
The SJC Republican Executive Committee District 4 monthly meeting will be held at 6:15 p.m. Thursday May 16 at the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
