Ward returns to Clay’s Emergency Management office

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Department of Public Safety announced the return of John Ward as Emergency Management Director.
Beginning March 18, Ward will once again be serving Clay County under the direction of the Fire Chief and County Manager and coordinating with the Chairman of the Board. His primary focus will be to manage the County’s emergency response and preparedness programs, while serving as the leader of the Emergency Operations Center during emergencies and disasters.
Ward served Clay County as the Deputy Director and then Director of Emergency Management for over eight years, leading the response for multiple events in Clay County including several wildfires and large storm events such as Beryl, Debbie, Matthew, Irma and Dorian. Additionally, he deployed to the State Emergency Operations Center and assisted in running operations for the State’s response to Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle. He has also served as Incident Commander on the Northeast Florida Incident Management Team for three years, working all over the Southeastern United States on a variety of incidents.
Ward accepted a position with the Clay District Schools in May 2019 as the Director of Operations over Safety and Security. He developed and established a new critical safety and security program to ensure the protection of our students at school. With that program operating effectively and compliant with state standards, Ward realized his true passion lies with Emergency Management.
The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, Gayward Hendry, said, “We are pleased to have John Ward back directing Clay County’s Emergency Management Program, John’s near decade of experience and expertise in the field are unmatched throughout Northeast Florida. He is truly an asset to Clay County and our region and personally I feel that he is one of the finest individuals I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”

Clay Health encouraging Hepatitis A vaccinations

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Florida State Surgeon General declared a Public Health Emergency on Aug. 18 in response to continuing rapid increases in Hepatitis A in Florida. The primary mode of Hepatitis A virus transmission in the United States is typically person-to-person through the fecal-oral route.
The best way to prevent Hepatitis A infection is through vaccination with the Hepatitis A vaccine. Additionally, practicing good hand hygiene – including thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating – plays an important role in preventing the spread of Hepatitis A.
What is Hepatitis A? Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that attacks the liver. People infected with Hepatitis A are most contagious from two weeks before onset of symptoms to one week afterwards. Not everyone who is infected will have all the symptoms. Symptoms usually start within 28 days of exposure to the virus with a range of 15-50 days.
Symptoms can include: • Jaundice
• Fever
• Diarrhea • Fatigue/tired
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Dark-colored urine
People who should be vaccinated for Hepatitis A include:
• People who are experiencing homelessness or unstable housing
• Users of recreational drugs, whether injected or not • Men who have sexual encounter with other men
• People who were recently incarcerated
If you identify as one of the above, you are eligible for a no cost Hepatitis A vaccine at the below location: Bear Run Clinic, 3229 Bear Run Blvd., Building A, Orange Park from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Walk ins are accepted and no appointments are needed.
You will not be turned in, if you report drug use. Health care providers are reminded to immediately report all cases of Hepatitis A to their local county health department to ensure a prompt public health response to prevent disease among close contacts.
For more information on Hepatitis A, you may visit www.floridahealth.gov.

Loafman to run Jax Federal Credit Union resource office

JACKSONVILLE – Middleburg resident Bridgett Loafman was selected as the Chief Human Resource Officer at Jax Federal Credit Union.
In her new role, Loafman will oversee all human resources policies and operations for the credit union and its 135 employees, who serve more than 37,500 members across Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Nassau counties.

Vote by Mail ballots being sent ahead of presidential primary

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Supervisor of Elections office has started mailing Vote by Mail ballots to uniformed and overseas citizens for the Presidential Preference Primary election on March 17. That includes all active-duty military, their spouses and dependents who currently are absent from their places of residence, and civilians who are U.S. residents residing outside the country.
Vote by Mail ballots for domestic voters will be mailed on Feb. 10. If you’d like to request a VBM ballot, you can do it online at ClayElections.gov or call the office at (904) 269-6350. The last day to request a VBM for the presidential primary is March 7.
VBM ballots must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections Office, 500 N. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs, by 7 p.m. on election day, March 17. You can track your VBM ballot online by simply clicking on www.TrackMyClayBallot.com and enter your information to see your status.

Tickets on sale for ‘The Color Purple’ at Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – Multi-award-winning Musical “The Color Purple” comes to the Broadway Orange Park season on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center.
Based on the Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture, “The Color Purple” is adapted for the stage by Tony- and Pulitzer-winner Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
The revival of “The Color Purple” opened to great acclaim in summer 2013 at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, followed by a Broadway bow on Nov. 10, 2015 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. “The Color Purple” went on to win two 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, two Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a Daytime Emmy.
“The Color Purple” played 483 performances on Broadway, closing on Jan. 8, 2017.
For more information, please visit ColorPurple.com.
Tickets for “The Color Purple” are currently on sale at Thrasher-Horne Center. Prices range from $49-$79 with all fees included. Tickets and more information are available at (904) 276-6815 or online at THcenter.org.
The Thrasher-Horne Center is a performing arts venue and conference center owned and operated by St. Johns River State College. It is located on the Orange Park campus at 283 College Drive in Orange Park.

Young Irelanders bringing tour to Thrasher-Horne on March 20

ORANGE PARK – Experience Ireland’s traditions in music, song, and dance. The Young Irelanders: Wild Atlantic Way Tour is coming to the Thrasher-Horne Center on March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Each year the Irish Cultural Academy brings together its finest performers as part of one sensational group known as The Young Irelanders. Presented by some of the most talented young performers in the world, this sensational act is an absolute must see.
Members of the Irish Cultural Academy have performed across six continents and for many heads of state, Presidents of Ireland, U.S. Presidents, and royalty including Prince Albert of Monaco. Members have also performed in many noted international venues such as Beijing Opera House, Sydney Opera House, Kremlin State Palace in Moscow, the U.S. Capitol Building, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center.
This event is presented by Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets for The Young Irelanders are currently on sale at the center. Prices range from $19-$59 with all fees included. Tickets and more information can be found at (904) 276-6815 ext. 1 or online at THcenter.org.

Vietnam Veterans Day on March 28 in Green Cove Springs

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The second annual Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony will be held March 28 at 10 a.m. at the TAPS Monument, 915 Walnut St.
More than 200 are expected to attend the ceremony to honor annual anniversary of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Of the 66 fallen Clay County residents on the TAPS Monument, 21 died in Vietnam – the largest number of the fallen from conflicts represented on the monument, which was first was dedicated in 2017.
The National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is actually March 29, honors the U.S. military members who served during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The day was first observed in 2012.
From Jan. 1, 1965 to March 28, 1973, 2.6-million military personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam. Another 50,000 served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
During the Vietnam Era – Aug. 5, 1965 to May 7, 1975 – more than nine million served on active duty.
There were more than 58,000 U.S. military casualties in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. There still are nearly 1,600 who are considered missing in action from Vietnam.
For more information contact David Treffinger at dtreffinger433@msn.com or at (609) 320-1723.

Players wanted for Clay PAL golf tournament

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay Police Athletic League is accepting registrations for its fourth annual golf tournament on April 3 at Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club.
The fee for the captain’s choice scramble is $75 a person, and it includes golf, cart and lunch. Contests include: longest drive; longest putt and closest to the pin.
The registration deadline is March 27.
For more information, or to become a sponsor, contact deputy Robert Russell at rrussell@claysheriff.com, or call (904) 625-8122 or Sgt. Kenny West at dwest@claysheriff.com or call (904) 591-0729.