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The Nassau County Library System will open for library visits beginning Monday, August 31st by appointment. Please read the below announcement carefully and contact the Library directly with any questions.
From Library Director Dawn Bostwick: Notice to our patrons: As information surrounding COVID-19 continues to develop, we hope everyone is taking care as needed. The health and safety of our patrons and our staff are important. We are following guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Nassau County Public Library System will open for Library Visits beginning August 31st; at the Fernandina Beach, Callahan and Hilliard Branch Libraries. Please make your appointment online or call to reserve your visit. Library visits are for one hour. New safety measures are in place for Library Visits and for Passport Application Processing: Fernandina Beach Branch Library Visits: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Thursday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 an-6:00 pm Curbside Phone (FB Only): 904-574-3586 Callahan Branch Library Visits: Mon, Wed, Thurs, & Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Tuesday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Hilliard Branch Library Visits: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Thursday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 an-6:00 pm Bryceville Branch Curbside Pickup Service ONLY Mon-Thurs: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Closed daily from 12:30-1:00 pm Yulee Branch Curbside Pickup Service ONLY Mon-Thurs: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Closed daily from 12:30-1:00 pm Passport Application Processing Continues Processing is by APPOINTMENT ONLY For appointment use our online calendar or call 904-530-6508 Want to know what new books are in? Try one of our reading lists. Choose from 25 different genre lists! The lists are sent once each month, at the beginning of the month. Love the New York Times Best Sellers? Why not sign up for the latest list! Arrives in your inbox every Tuesday. Sign up on the Library website at nassaureads.com, click on NEWS, then click on SUBSCRIBE HERE.
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At today’s special meeting, Health Director, Dr. Eugenia Seidel, provided an update on COVID-19 which included case counts, current hospitalizations and COVID related deaths. She indicated that the positivity rate in Nassau County is declining and she attributed it to all mitigation factors taking place including physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and wearing masks. She is urging residents to continue use of masks in close settings where social distancing isn’t possible.
The Board discussed the current Executive Order mandating masks at indoor business establishments which was set to expire today. After some discussion, it was determined that the Board would extend the mask mandate an additional 30 days. As a result, the Board approved Executive Order No. 22, extending the mandate through September 25, 2020. Several Commissioners acknowledged that they have been contacted by residents on both sides of this issue. While it certainly wasn’t an easy decision, they ultimately believe that the health and safety of residents is a priority. They also stated that they will be working with the Health Department and Emergency Management to establish criteria for lifting the mandate. We encourage all residents to listen to this discussion and perhaps gain a better understanding of how they arrived at the decision to extend the mandate an additional 30 days. The meeting can be found here.  On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Thad Crowe accepted the position of Director of Planning & Economic Opportunity. Mr. Crowe was hired by Nassau County in May 2020 as a Senior Planner and was asked to serve as the Interim PEO Director in July 2020.
Mr. Crowe's education includes a Bachelors Degree in Geography from the University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Georgia Tech. He holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. Mr. Crowe's work experience includes 33 years of public and private sector planning positions throughout North Florida and South Georgia. He has extensive experience in the development of zoning codes and comprehensive plans, pedestrian and bicycle paths, development review, and historic preservation. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the George W. Simons, Jr. Memorial Award for lifetime achievement, received from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association in 2013. County Manager, Mike Mullin, stated "We are happy that Thad has accepted this position. Even though Thad has only been with us a short time, he has become a valuable member of our team. His knowledge and experience made him a great candidate for the position and I am certain he has the skills needed to lead the Planning Department effectively.” Congratulations Thad! We wish you many years of success as Nassau County's Planning Director. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Office The Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County (BGCNC) are pleased to announce a major gift from donors and Golden Guardians to the organization. Barbara and Don Gant of Amelia Island, Florida recently stopped by the Miller Freedom Center to present a gift of $25,000 from the Gant Family Foundation to the BGCNC Foundation. The Gants are advocates and supporters of the BGCNC efforts to enhance the lives of local Nassau youth and their families. This very generous gift comes at the beginning of a challenging school year for our Clubs and the children of Nassau County. Both the Miller Freedom Center and the Roberts Learning & Achievement Center are committed to operating safely and maintaining social distancing and other guidelines to ensure the health and safety of both our children and our staff. The Gant’s support will allow our members to enjoy all of the enriching after- school programs they have come to love including homework help, technology hardware & software, teen programs, arts & crafts supplies, sports equipment, as well as cleaning supplies and PPE for children and staff. Our Annual and Golden Guardians provide on-going support that is crucial to the operation of excellent programs our members and their families depend on. Guardians sponsor our Club members to ensure that we are able to reach those who need us most. For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County please visit bgcnassau.org.  Steve Nadeau, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County Foundation; Barbara Gant; Don Gant; Bill Gower, Board Member Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County Foundation At the meeting held on Monday, August 24, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution No.2020-140 proclaiming the month of September 2020 as "Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month". Representatives from the Trinity Love Hoblit Foundation were in attendance to accept the Resolution, including founders Philip and Olivia Holbit, who lost her daughter Trinity at the age of 14 from a brain aneurysm. Ms. Holbit stressed the importance of knowing your family history as the condition can be hereditary and she urged everyone to learn the warning signs as it can save your life. The Trinity Love Holbit Foundation is a local non-profit organization who raises awareness and funding for neurological research and training. To learn more about the Foundation, please click here.
538 Nassau County residents participate in the Nassau County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) and Nassau County Solid Waste Department thank the residents of Nassau County for properly disposing of Household Hazardous Waste Nassau County residents showed strong support for the rescheduled spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection (HHWC) event on Saturday August 15. In addition to collection of hazardous waste, residents also supported Barnabas Food Pantry during the event with the donation of 1,068 pounds (1/2 ton) of non-perishable food items.  Volunteers donated time to help residents during the Household Hazardous Waste event. Left to Right: Kelley McCarter, Kile Bell, Laura Schulkins, Jules Ruppel, Jean Mauldin, Andrew Powell, Zach Stowell, and Rachel Woodcock. Not pictured: Lynda Bell, Jim McCarter, and Elders Spencer Garns and Jameson Savage. Historically an average of 350 residents participate in each Nassau County HHWC event. This year’s event was an exception. During the same 4-hour period of 8am to Noon, 538 residents participated in the event making this the largest Nassau County event on record. The event was scheduled as a contactless collection; residents were asked to stay in their vehicles and allow volunteers and staff to remove approved items from their vehicles. For the first time in event history two residency verification stations were set up so two rows of vehicles could be processed simultaneously. Volunteers and staff worked through the sweltering heat at an average speed of 45 seconds per vehicle!
Twelve Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) Board Members and community volunteers, and approximately fifteen temporary staff were outfitted with masks and gloves to unload resident vehicles and sort approved items for proper disposal or recycling. The 12 volunteers donated more than 60 hours of time on the day of the event. It may be more than 30 days before full reporting on the weight and type of items collected, until then it is estimated electronics and latex paint will once again be in the top 3 items collected. Lynda Bell, Executive Director for KNB, said, “Year after year one of the most popular items for disposal during the HHWC event is latex paint. Many residents aren’t aware they can dispose of latex paint throughout the year by following a few easy steps.” The steps include the purchase of any brand of cat litter. Add the cat litter to the latex paint can. Leave the lid off and give the mixture time to dry out and solidify. Once the mixture has solidified the latex paint is not considered a hazardous waste. The can and solidified mixture may be disposed of during regular trash collection which may allow tax dollars to be used for disposal of other household hazardous waste items. Becky Diden, Nassau County Solid Waste Recycle Coordinator, reminds residents the Nassau County Solid Waste Department Tire Amnesty Day is scheduled for September 12. Said Ms. Diden, “While Nassau County residents may dispose of up to 4 tires per household per year, Tire Amnesty Day provides an additional opportunity to properly dispose of up to 15 tires per household with no fee for disposal.” Visit the Nassau County website for more information, http://www.nassaucountyfl.com/368/Convenience-Recycling-Center. KNB and Nassau County Solid Waste Department appreciate Nassau County residents and community volunteers, Nassau County Road Department, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, U.S. Ecology, Sensible Recycling, Barnabas Food Pantry, and Nassau County Sherriff’s Department for their participation in the collection and responsible disposal of household hazardous waste. The next Nassau County Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is already being planned. Signup for the Keep Nassau Beautiful newsletter for details, www.keepnassaubeautiful.org. About KNB: Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Florida’s labor force increased 2.3 percent over the month, an increase of 223,000 Floridians entering the workforce. Florida businesses gained 74,100 private sector jobs over the month. The unemployment rate for July 2020 was 11.3 percent.
In an effort to help Floridians review and evaluate state economic data in a user-friendly format, the Department recently launched Florida Insight, a new labor market and economic data platform. Florida Insight can assist individuals and businesses with making informed decisions about careers, investments and the economy. Florida Insight provides users an overview of key economic indicators including statistics on current employment, unemployment, wages and labor force participation. Information can be found on statistical programs, including data visualization tools and the ability to export custom data series on the website. To access Florida Insight, visit www.floridajobs.org/economic-data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video for users to assist in explaining the data and new platform. Florida Economic Indicators for July 2020 include:
To view the July 2020 jobs reports by region, please see below: Fort Lauderdale Jacksonville Miami Orlando Pensacola Southwest Florida Tampa West Palm Beach To view the July 2020 employment data visit www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. To access Florida Insight, visit www.floridajobs.org/economic-data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video for users to assist in explaining the data and new platform. About DEO The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.  After a successful Summer Academy program from June through the start of August, Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County will be open for afterschool programs when Nassau County schools start on August 24.
Over the summer months, both the Miller and Roberts Clubs provided full-day summer camp experiences for children ages 6-18. We fully implemented the CDC and Florida Department of Health guidelines such as social distancing, requiring masks to be worn inside our clubs and temperature checks and regular handwashing for children and staff, which allowed our Clubs to open to our community. We also installed plastic barriers at the reception desks, reconfigured classrooms for social distancing, and revised our check-in procedures to ensure the health and safety of our staff and members. This fall the Clubs will continue with mandatory masks, intensive cleaning schedules, and temperature checks before entering and leaving the building. While Nassau County school bus drivers will no longer deliver our members to the Clubs, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County has leased buses from the school district and hired licensed bus drivers to transport our members to the Clubs after school. The buses will also maintain a vigorous cleaning schedule, as well as having other safety and health measures in place. While we must only operate at 25 percent of our full capacity, we are looking forward to providing a safe place to go after school for the kids of Nassau County who need us most. As always, we will continue to provide daily meals, homework help, enrichment activities, and mentorship to our members. For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County please visit bgcnassau.org. On August 19, 2020, the Board approved a second round of Small Business Assistance Grant Program funding for businesses affected by COVID-19. The second round of the program has increased the grant award to $10,000 per applicant and expanded the eligibility requirements to allow for more participation.
If you already applied at the previous $5,000 level, you don't need to do anything further. You will automatically be eligible for the $10,000 amount. Applications will be available beginning on Friday, August 21st at 8:00 a.m. They can be downloaded on the CARES Website or picked up at the following locations:
To request application packets by email, send your request to cares@nassaucountyfl.com. To request application packets by U.S. Mail, please contact the Nassau CARES hotline between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at (904) 530-6800. Only 220 grants are available to anyone interested should act right away! Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31st. INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING THE NASSAU CARES HOTLINE BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 5:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT (904) 530-6800 OR BY E-MAILING cares@nassaucountyfl.com. In-person assistance may be arranged by scheduling an appointment with a Nassau CARES representative by contacting (904) 530-6800 or cares@nassaucountyfl.com. The Northeast Florida Fair Board of Directors has unanimously voted to cancel the 73rd annual Northeast Florida Fair that was to be held October 8-18, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The directors of the fair did not make this decision in haste. The public health safety and financial aspects of hosting the fair during this time time of a pandemic have been thoroughly discussed. Information was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Nassau County Health Department. After reviewing the guidelines and regulations set forth by the CDC, the directors determined it would be nearly impossible to adhere to the social distancing protocols required to provide the necessary safe environment for attendees and animals. The financial ramifications of hosting a reduced capacity Fair would be too great. The potential loss of revenue could challenge the fair's current sound financial standing and jeopardize the prospect of having a fair in the future. This year, the Northeast Florida Fair will provide a modified plan for the annual Youth Market Sale. Because of the expense of raising a market animal, 4-H and FFA youth who weighed in market animals, in July, will be allowed to sell them with assistance from the fair association. Our youth invest their time, funds, and skills to raise market animals to sell at the annual fair and we acknowledge their hard work and determination to complete their project. The Northeast Florida Fair Association is looking forward to welcoming guests back when it is safe for us to continue to host our most treasured tradition. The 2021 Northeast Florida Fair is scheduled for October 14-24. |
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961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G | Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 261-3248 | info@nassaucountyflchamber.com | site map | privacy policy |
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