Penney Farms Historic 5K Run

PENNEY FARMS – Registration is underway for the Third Annual Penney Farms Historic 5K Run, which will be Oct. 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Hosted by the J. C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway, Corridor Management Committee, the route takes participants along tree-lined residential streets where 90 years ago there were acres of productive farmland, a huge dairy, poultry barns, pecan orchards, a cannery and a narrow-gauge train-line running to Green Cove Springs.

The run will wind through Penney Retirement Community, pass the historic Penney Memorial Church, wind by cottages built in French-Norman architecture under shade trees planted by James Cash Penney and his wife Caroline. Professionally organized and timed in partnership with 1st Place Sports, the route is challenging but potentially fast.

A One-Mile Fun Run and Walk is offered for the less serious runners. In addition to the usual awards there will be excellent door prizes and since it is the Halloween season, prizes will be given for best child and adult costumes. After race activities will feature great food, including delicious homemade muffins, good music and community tours.

For more information and registration go to www.1stplacesports.com/calendar. Brochures are also available at Town Hall or by calling (904) 529-9078.

U.S. Postal Service hiring seasonal workers

JACKSONVILLE – The U.S. Postal Service is accepting applications for temporary, non-career positions, including holiday clerk assistant and city carrier assistant (holiday term), at several Post Offices in North Florida and South Georgia. Currently, one or both positions are available in several Florida cities, including Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orange Park and St. Augustine.

The salary is $16.06 per hour. Successful applicants will have a work schedule that includes holidays and weekends. Work hours may vary and employees must be available when called to report to work.

These non-career positions have limited benefits, but may lead to a rewarding career appointment with full benefits.

Job announcements are posted online at www.usps.com/employment. Look for “Search Now” in the right column, and then type either “Holiday Clerk Assistant” or “City Carrier Assistant (Holiday Term)” and select “Florida” or “Georgia” under “Search Criteria for Employment Opportunities.” Select “Start.” (Please note that North Florida and South Georgia are part of the “Gulf Atlantic District.”) Be sure to apply within the job announcement period.

For all inquiries, contact the Postmaster at the Post Office where you want to apply.

Classes available for seniors

ORANGE PARK – The Shepherd Center of Orange Park is offering some 40 different classes for adults 55 and older this fall.

The Center offers the eight-week Fall Session of Adventures in Learning on Mondays, Oct. 10 through Nov. 28, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Orange Park United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center, which is one block east of Park Avenue on Kingsley, right on Reed Street. Other classes are held at Cross+Road Lutheran Church on Fleming Island, at the corner of County Road 220 and 5101 Lakeshore Dr. W., on Thursdays, Oct. 13-Dec. 8, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Monday classes in Orange Park are Elder Law, Shakespeare, Clay History, Music Appreciation, Crochet, Tai’ Chi Easy, Scrabble, Meet the Presidents, Investing in 2017 & Beyond, Art Appreciation, Boxes & Bows, Jewelry Making, Movement/Exercise, Current Events, Civil War Times, History of St. Augustine, Trivia, Line Dancing, Needlework, Mah Jongg, Yoga for Seniors, Bridge Playing, Greeting Cards, Interior Decorating, Grandma Moses, and Water Colors/Acrylic.

Bridge is on Tuesday at Orange Park Presbyterian Church, 1905 Park Ave. A computer class will be held on Wednesday at Orange Park Library, 2054 Plainfield Ave.

Thursday classes on Fleming Island are Beginning Tai Chi, Pilates Fusion, Chair Yoga, Knitting, Crochet, Water Colors, Normal or Nutz, Elder Law, Essential Oils, Interior Decorating and Mah Jongg.

The Center also offer lunch at noon on Mondays, which feature a speaker or entertainment. Lunch includes chef prepared meals including dessert and drink for $6. Reservations are required.

All classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are one fee of $40. All classes on Thursday are one fee of $30. There is a one-time new member fee of $25. With more choices, we hope to reach more active adults throughout the community to share the fun, fitness and friends. We invite you to join and bring along your spouse, family, friends and neighbors as you have fun staying healthy! For more information, contact the Center at (904) 269-5315 or via email at scoop2105@att.net.

Inaugural Therapy Animal Expo Oct. 1

JACKSONVILLE – Northeast Florida Therapy Animals, a new local organization of therapy-animal training hosts its first Therapy Animal Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1.

The free, indoor program includes workshops, therapy-animal experts as speakers and panel-discussion participants, and special exhibits for all pet owners who are interested in learning about animal-assisted therapy.

It’s also for people who are interested in establishing an animal therapy program at their facility, school or business. The Expo will be at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida’s Neviaser Education Building, 4266 Sunbeam Rd. in Jacksonville.

Expo organizers with NEFTA estimate that more than 125 registered therapy animal teams – out of more than 250 who have the credentials necessary to participate – currently volunteer for area organizations. About 60 facilities in the region have ongoing programs.

The Expo will feature speakers and panel discussions. The Rev. Elizabeth Teal, a leader in working with therapy animals and ministry animals since 1985, will discuss “What Makes a Good Therapy Animal Team” and “Dos and Don’ts of a Good Therapy Animal Team.” Teal is the spiritual director for The Ministry of Animals and educational director for Giving Paws, the ministry’s chaplains’ group.

Four panel discussions on “Where to Volunteer” will feature therapy animal handlers who volunteer in programs throughout Northeast Florida and will cover working in hospice care, with the elderly, with children and special circumstances. Kristi Leonard, lead instructor for Pet Partners Jax, will speak on “How to Start a Therapy Animal Program.” Leonard has more than 10 years in therapy animal training and volunteerism. She was instrumental in helping to establish the Caring Canines program at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and also helped found Pet Partners Jax.

More than a dozen organizations will participate, with informational booths and demonstrations on various kinds of therapy animal training, how animals and their handlers can be registered, and organizations accepting volunteers to participate in therapy animal work. Exhibitors include Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Clay County Humane Society, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Humane Society, K9 Obedience Club of Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic, Pawsitive Pets and R.E.A.D., Pet Partners Jax and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

“Interest in animal-assisted therapy is growing,” said Lori Coleman, event co-chair and North Florida coordinator for Alliance of Therapy Dogs. “Potential therapy animal teams are often confused about where to start. NEFTA was formed to make this process easier and to be a ‘go-to’ resource for therapy animal teams and organizations that want to engage them. This Expo should be a great start.”

Admission to the Therapy Animal Expo is free but organizers ask that those planning to attend register on Eventbrite and search for the term Therapy Animal Expo.

Attendees should not bring pets to the indoor event, however, service dogs are welcome. There will not be room at the venue to accommodate a large number of animals.

Calling all U. S. Merchant Mariners

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Do you know someone who served in the Merchant Marines?

As time passes, the nonprofit nationwide Veteran’s organization, that was originally established by WWII Merchant Mariners, needs former and present Merchant Mariners in its membership to help keep its vital maritime history alive.

Officials also need former Merchant Mariners to help them achieve their goals, which includes earning veteran’s status for post-WWII conflict Mariners. Members in the organization receive a quarterly magazine detailing the organization’s progress towards these goals.

Clay County residents who are active U. S. Merchant Mariners or were or a widow or descendant of same and would like additional information about membership, contact American Merchant Marine Veterans. Also, look up the organization online at www.ammv.us or write National Office, 2722 Maynes Ct., Santa Rosa, CA 95405 or call Sindy Raymond at (707) 546-6349, or email her at saaren@sonic.net.