 The West Nassau Historical Society is actively seeking artists and high school students from Nassau County to participate in their 9th annual Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot (NACD) art show. The judged event is designed to showcase the many talented adult artists as well as middle and high school art students who reside in Nassau County, Florida. The exhibit will be held inside the historic Callahan Train Depot located at 45383 Dixie Avenue on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The quaint ambiance of the 139 year-old station and museum offers the perfect venue for county artists to display their works while giving the public a chance to check out many historic photos and artifacts on display inside the depot.
During this COVID pandemic several aspects of the county-wide art show has been limited or moved to an exterior location. To keep all artists, visitors and volunteers safe several preventative measures such as temperature checks and social distancing will be followed. Artists will be restricted to only 2 judged art works and any who bring more of their art works to sell will be given an area outdoors on the depot platform. With the unpredictability of the virus and the weather, other aspects of the art show could change without notice. The all-volunteer nonprofit organization hopes all Nassau County artists will visit their web site www.wnhsfl.org for entry applications and art show information. Deadline for entering is noon on Friday, January 15. The group also encourages Nassau County middle and high school students to contact the Historical Society or their art teacher for an student entry form. Prizes will be awarded to the adult artists with the best art work in three categories: painting, photography, and 3-D art. The public attending the NACD event will also be given a chance to vote for their favorite art work with that artist receiving a People’s Choice award. Another judged category will cover artwork from high school students who attend school or study at home in Nassau County. Gift cards and other prizes will be awarded to the top winners of each category. The NACD art show is open to the public from 10 AM to 2:30 PM, with a one hour break from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM to allow for the art entries to be judged. During this intermission members of the Historical Society will serve a luncheon for the artists, students and sponsors inside the iconic 1881 train station annex. The Callahan Train Depot will then reopen to the public at 1:30 PM with refreshments and the awards ceremony. Admission to the 9th edition of the NACD art show is free but donations are always appreciated. The West Nassau Historical Society is a registered 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Nassau County’s history and culture and is entrusted with the upkeep of the historic late Victorian-style Callahan Train Depot. They are also active in and receive support from Arts and Culture Nassau, a county-wide organization dedicated to promoting the arts and culture in Nassau County. To become a sponsor or for more details on entering the show or becoming a volunteer visit our web site www.wnhsfl.org, call 904-879-3406, or like us on Facebook. The Historical Society is always looking for new members and volunteers to help us promote our county’s rich and diverse history and to put on historical and cultural events such as this.
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 The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners recently partnered with the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce to use a portion of the funds from the CARES Act for the distribution of sanitizing supplies to the local business community.
Due to the overwhelming response and need within the business community, more sanitizing supplies are available. Each business will be provided supplies based on the number of employees and materials will be available until all supplies have been distributed. Businesses must bring a copy of either their utility bill or Florida Division of Corporations 2020 registration to receive free supplies. The provided document must show the name of the business and a Nassau County address. Nassau County businesses that previously received supplies may participate again. Cases of supplies will be available at the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce on the following dates: Monday, November 30, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Nassau County Chamber of Commerce 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Monday, December 7, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Nassau County Chamber of Commerce 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Supply distribution is available for every Nassau County business, while supplies last. For more information about this program, please contact the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce at (904) 261-3248 or info@NassauCountyFLChamber.com. Interchange expected to improve safety, enhance mobility YULEE, Fla. – Northeast Florida’s first diverging diamond interchange is expected to be implemented this weekend at I-95 and State Road 200/A1A. In an effort to educate drivers on what to expect driving through the interchange, the Florida Department of Transportation has released this video explaining the interchange. This unique style of the interchange has proven to be a safer, more efficient interchange, improving traffic conditions where it has been implemented. Detours will be necessary while crews stripe and shift traffic to implement the diverging diamond. Both directions of S.R. 200/A1A underneath I-95 will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, through 7 a.m. Sunday, November 15, for striping activities. Drivers will use I-95 and follow detour routes during the closure. Traffic will be reopened in the diverging diamond configuration, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. Detour maps are attached for convenience. A diverging diamond interchange is a style of interchange where the two directions of traffic underneath I-95 will briefly drive on the opposite side of the road. By moving traffic to the opposite side of the road, the interchange eliminates left turns in front of oncoming traffic, greatly improving safety. The movement within the interchange also eliminates the number of traffic signal phases, improving efficiency at the intersection and reducing traffic queues. For more information about the interchange including a video on how to navigate this new traffic pattern, visit www.NFLRoads.com/DDI. The $41 million project which includes the newly configured interchange, improved drainage, high-mast lighting and Interstate improvements and is expected to be completed by end of 2020, unforeseen circumstances permitting.   Hagan Ace Hardware, Northeast Florida Local Hardware Chain, Announces Opening of 9th Location11/13/2020  New Hagan Ace Hardware Store Scheduled to Open in Yulee on Friday, November 20th
Ribbon cutting at Noon Yulee, Fla., November 9, 2020 – Scheduled to open its doors on Friday, November 20th, Hagan Ace Hardware of Yulee, located at 85880 Miner Road, will bring its “more personal kind of helpful” and best brands like Stihl, Weber, Big Green Egg, Traeger, Benjamin Moore, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Paint and Scotts to local homeowners and DIYers. Hagan Ace Hardware is proud to provide solutions to everyday home maintenance needs through an extensive selection of products in categories such as paint, grilling, lawn and garden. The Garden Center at Yulee also includes a butterfly habitat Hagan Ace is known for. At Hagan Ace Hardware of Yulee, customers can expect the personal, knowledgeable, and helpful service that makes them feel like a neighbor. This store will also be home to the 3rd location of Hagan Coastal Outfitters - specializing in Sunglasses, Shoes, Kayaks, Paddleboards, Fishing & Marine, Outdoor Apparel and more. With over 50 years of experience serving the North Florida community in the hardware business, the Hagan family decided to think outside the toolbox and open a full service, local outfitter shop. Hagan Coastal Outfitters also offers private, one on one, on the water demos so customers can try before they buy. This is the ninth Ace store opened by owner Bill Hagan. The state-of-the-art store will span 20,000 square feet and stock thousands of products – including a focus on local brands. Hagan Ace recently launched a campaign called ‘Hagan Ace Loves Local’. Old fashioned carts are positioned front and center in each store highlighting locally made goods. From peanuts to popcorn, BBQ sauce to bug spray, honey to fishing hats – you’ll find a wide variety of specialty items made by local small business owners. “Ace Hardware is committed to providing home maintenance solutions, neighborly advice and resources to residents in Yulee,” said Bill Hagan, owner of Hagan Ace Hardware. “We’re excited to be part of the Yulee community, and we look forward to making a positive impact for many years to come.” At Hagan Ace Hardware our philosophy has always been to move our people up the ranks, promoting from within when the opportunity exists and always being open to talented folks outside the company that have experiences and qualities that would be an asset to our company. Thomas Doby, former Store Manager in Hilliard, will assume the management responsibilities in Yulee. Thomas has worked at the Hilliard store since October 4, 2017 and is looking forward to a new adventure with a ground-up store. Hagan Ace Hardware and Hagan Coastal Outfitters of Yulee opens to the public on November 20th at 7:30am. A ribbon cutting ceremony with the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce will be held in front of the store at Noon. About Hagan Ace Hardware Hagan Ace Hardware is a member of the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry. Hagan Ace Hardware began as a single store in 1962. Now, four generations and 58 years later, the business continues to grow, and today has nine locations, including stores in Hilliard, Glen St. Mary, Mandarin, Orange Park, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Palatka and Green Cove Springs. Opening November 20th in Yulee. For more information on Hagan Ace Hardware, visit www.haganace.com. About Ace Hardware Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with more than 5,200 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 70 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Colon, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com. Drivers should expect delays on SR 200 at I-95 this weekend during implementation
Yulee, Fla. – Northeast Florida will see the first diverging diamond interchange in Nassau County at I-95 and State Road 200/A1A open to traffic as early as Sunday November 15. The unique style of the interchange has proven to be a safer, more efficient interchange, improving traffic conditions where it has been implemented. Detours will be necessary while crews stripe and shift traffic to implement the diverging diamond. Both directions of S.R. 200/A1A underneath I-95 will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 14 through 7 a.m. Sunday, November 15 for striping activities. Drivers will use I-95 and follow detour routes during the closure. Traffic will be reopened in the diverging diamond configuration, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. “This interchange style is an example of innovation in the transportation industry,” said FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans. “FDOT is constantly looking for ways to improve the transportation experience for drivers and our commitment to safety. This interchange style harmonizes safety and efficiency and will serve the community, visitors and commercial interests for years to come.” “This new interchange style reflects FDOT‘s innovative approach for not only efficiently moving traffic, but also in saving lives”, said Senator Aaron Bean. “This interchange will serve everyone for years to come”. “Improving safety and traffic efficiency are worthy goals and FDOT has hit the mark with the new diverging diamond interchange in Nassau County,” said Representative Cord Byrd. “The patience of the people in Nassau County will be rewarded as the roadwork nears completion.” A diverging diamond interchange is a style of interchange where the two directions of traffic underneath I-95 will briefly drive on the opposite side of the road. By moving traffic to the opposite side of the road, the interchange eliminates left turns in front of oncoming traffic, greatly improving safety. The movement within the interchange also eliminates the number of traffic signal phases, improving efficiency at the intersection and reducing traffic queues. For more information about the interchange, including a video on how to navigate this new traffic pattern, visit: www.NFLRoads.com/DDI. The $41 million project was awarded to J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc. and is expected to be completed in fall 2020, unforeseen circumstances permitting. Island Art Association, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, presents “A Seat at the Table” to raise much needed funds. Ten artistic repurposed chairs are for sale to benefit the philanthropic and educational mission of IAA. The chairs are displayed at the gallery or available to view online. They are sure to bring a smile to your face while supporting IAA. All bidding is online, accessed through IAA’s website. Bids are accepted through Saturday, November 14, 6 pm at which time winning bidders will be announced. Times have been difficult for many, and "normal" is still being defined. IAA, a long time local non-profit arts cooperative, could use your help in navigating this new world. IAA works year round to secure quality arts vendors for the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, and its primary source of income has been lost due to festival cancellation. IAA remains committed to the arts through its gallery and educational center, outreach displays, workshops, scholarships, and supplies for art education in schools. Donations of any amount are appreciated. Thank you for supporting IAA, as we support the arts in Nassau County. P.O. Box 17251, Fernandina Beach FL 32035 Gallery and Education Center - 18 North 2nd St., Fernandina Beach FL 32034 904-261-7020 https://islandart.org www.facebook.com/islandartassociation www.instagram.com/islandartfernandina  LAKE CITY, Fla., October 20, 2020 – First Federal Bank was recently named on Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks 2021 as the Best Small Bank in Florida. This distinction is the result of Newsweek’s assessment of 2,500 FDIC-insured banks, measuring 55 different factors ranging from banking accounts and customer service, to financial reports from the FDIC. “We are honored by this recognition, which emphasizes First Federal’s commitment to being a financially sound, community bank,” says FFB President and CEO John Medina. “Because we are a mutual savings bank, Newsweek acknowledged our ability to be more responsive to local customer needs. This accolade demonstrates that even through challenging times we remain committed to our purpose of providing stability to our employees, customers, and communities.” Recognizing the pandemic has altered the way individuals function on a daily basis, including the way Americans bank, Newsweek compiled a list of the best-in-class banking institutions. Newsweek partnered with Lending Tree to rank 2,500 FDIC-insured financial institutions based on a wide variety of fees, interest rates, account terms and conditions, digital services, customer service features, and bank profile. To read the complete article, go to www.newsweek.com/americas-best-banks-2021/best-small-banks-state. About First Federal Bank First Federal Bank is a community-based mutual savings bank offering consumer and commercial banking solutions, services, and loans through banking offices in Florida’s Panhandle, North Central and East Florida, and coastal South Carolina. Mortgage, SBA and USDA customers are served through lending offices across the Southeast and Midwest. First Federal is headquartered in Lake City, Florida with assets totaling over $3 billion. First Federal has received a “5-Star, Superior” financial rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla. for more than two decades. For more information, visit www.ffbf.com.  First Federal Bank in Fernandina Beach  First Federal Bank in Yulee  First Federal Bank in Wildlight City Commissioners recently extended Resolution 2020-143 requiring masks or face coverings until December 6, 2020. See the full resolution below or click here for more information. The Veterans Day parade and the lighted Christmas parade will proceed as planned. Shrimp Drop/Fireworks will be considered at a later date.  Nassau County, Florida, November 5, 2020 - The Nassau County Commission has approved the use of the second funding of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to assist in rental and mortgage payments. Any activities (reduction hours, reduction in income, termination/layoff of employment) that occurred between March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 due to COVID-19 are eligible.
The application submittal period will be November 19th – 30th, 2020. For your application to be considered, it must be received by the Nassau CARES office not later than the 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2020. Information about the CRF Program for Rental and Mortgage Assistance will be available at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19th, 2020. Application assistance will be available by contacting Carol Gilchrist between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19th, through Monday, November 30th at (904) 530-6020 or emailing cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com. The office will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th. Application packets can be picked up at the following locations during the normal business hours:
Online applications will be available at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19th, 2020. To request application packets by email, send your request to cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com. VERY IMPORTANT: Because of CDC Guidelines about social distancing, please do not plan to complete your application at the County offices. If you need assistance, please call 904-530-6020 or email cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com. Applications and documentation will be accepted at the drop box located at the front entrance of the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 beginning Thursday, November 19th, 2020. For your application to be considered, it must be in the drop box no later than the 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020. Applications sent by mail or by FedEx should be addressed to Nassau CARES Application, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. Applications must be delivered by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30th, 2020. Please note if the carrier does not deliver by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 30th, your application will be ineligible. Incomplete applications or applications with missing documentation may be deemed ineligible. Applications may not be reviewed if documents are missing, falsified or illegible. Upon the review, if your application is incomplete, you will be notified by e-mail or telephone and will be provided an opportunity to submit the incomplete information by 5:00 p.m. the following business day. The incomplete information will need to be hand-delivered to the Nassau County, James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 by the deadline. Eligible applicants will be selected for an award by an independent contractor. The process for selection will be to sequentially number all submittals on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (but not in date/time order of submittal). After all applications have been numbered, a Random Sequence Generator will be used to establish a review sequence. The applications will be reviewed based on random sequence until the maximum number of eligible applications are processed. Applicants will be notified of their award beginning December 1st, 2020 by e-mail or phone call. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nassau County limited public access to County facilities in an effort to reduce spread of the virus. During this time, the County continued to provide service to the citizens virtually or by phone and email while working on policies and implementing other measures to protect the health of County employees and reduce their risk of exposure.
Beginning Monday, November 9, 2020, the County will begin the process of expanding in-person services and citizen access to facilities/offices. These efforts are in collaboration with the Nassau County Department of Health and Office of Emergency Management to ensure consistency with CDC guidelines and best practices. The access plan will be phased. Therefore, in the short term, you may still see limitations in some areas while we continue to adapt to new guidance. Pursuant to Executive Order 24 issued by the Board on September 24, 2020, face coverings will be required inside all County facilities/offices. In addition, the County will strive to maintain proper social distancing of 6 ft. by limiting capacity to certain lobbies and facilities. Additionally, County personnel will be at the entrance of most facilities/offices to ask screening questions as recommended by the Nassau County Department of Health. Those questions are included in the attached document “Nassau County Expanded In-Person Citizen Service and Access Plan”. This document can also be located on the County’s website at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1021/Corona-Virus-Updates. We encourage residents to review this document carefully to gain a better understanding of rules that have been implemented for each individual department and/or facility. The County also encourages anyone who is sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home and contact us via telephone or email. Likewise, if you are isolating because you have tested positive for the virus, or you are quarantined because of close contact to a positive case, the County requests that you contact us via telephone or email so we can assist you remotely. |
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961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G | Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 261-3248 | info@nassaucountyflchamber.com | site map |
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