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Joining an international network of cities dedicated to fostering the best urban forestry practices Fernandina Beach celebrates its recognition by an international program, Tree Cities of the World, which highlights its continued dedication to growing and maintaining the City's urban forest. Fernandina Beach has earned recognition as a Tree City in the program’s third year. To earn Tree Cities of the World recognition, Fernandina Beach demonstrated its commitment by meeting five program standards: establish responsibility for the care of trees, set rules to govern the management of forests and trees, maintain an updated inventory or assessment of local tree resources, allocate resources for a tree management plan, and hold an annual celebration of trees to educate residents. More information on the program is available at https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/. The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Both organizations came together in 2019 to found Tree Cities of the World. The program is a global effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated. “Trees are important to people, no matter what country they are from or what language they speak, said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We all want to live in a city that is healthy, resilient, and beautiful – trees serve as a common language to make that possible. Being recognized in the Tree Cities of the World program means that your city is committing to go above and beyond to define trees as critical green infrastructure for your citizens.” Planting trees in a metropolitan area comes with a myriad of benefits beyond the recognition of this program. Increasing the number of trees in a community can help reduce costs for energy, stormwater management, and erosion control. In addition, the program provides a network of like-minded city leaders in urban forestry to celebrate and share best practices to cultivate greenery in the community. Tree Cities of the World aims to create more green spaces in urban areas by recognizing the cities that do it well. About the Arbor Day Foundation Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation — alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters, and valued partners — has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org. 
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FERNANDINA BEACH, FL (March 23, 2023) Boys and Girls Clubs of Nassau County congratulates our March 2023 Youths of the Month. Miller Freedom Center member Ariya Gotschall, Roberts Learning and Achievement Center member Meyli Hernandez, and Journey Church West Campus member Emma Jo Allen are our latest members to receive this recognition.  Ariya Gotschall, Yulee Elementary School Ariya Gotschall School: Yulee Elementary School Grade: 4th Age: 9 Ariya Gotschall is a nine-year-old in the 4th grade at Yulee Elementary School and has been a member at Miller Freedom Center since October. Ariya really likes the The Learning Zone at the club because she enjoys learning about emotions. She also enjoys expressing her emotions and giving feedback on her personal feelings. Swimming is the sport Ariya likes the most. Her favorite musical performer is Rhianna and her favorite book is ‘Brown Girl Dreaming’ by Jacqueline Woodson. Ariya likes the color pastel pink and her favorite subject in school is math. Ariya tells us she has a hidden talent - she does voice overs of different movie characters! Ariya was chosen as Youth of the Month for March because she is always smiling, kind, and she loves learning new things at the club as well as the meals provided.  Meyli Hernandez, Southside Elementary School Meyli Hernandez School: Southside Elementary School Grade: 2nd Age: 7 Meyli Hernandez is a 7 year-old 2nd grader who attends Southside Elementary. She has one older brother. She recently became a BGCN club member. Meyli’s favorite program at BGCN is the Arts. In addition, Meyli has no favorite sport but she loves playing flag tag. Her favorite color is black. When not studying her favorite subject of math, Meyli enjoys listening to music and spending time with her family. Her favorite singer is Selena “because she’s pretty and her music is good”, Meyli says. Meyli loves to read, and her favorite book is ‘Baby Mouse’. She aspires to be a doctor when she grows up. Meyli was selected as Youth of the Month for March because she slowly coming out of her shell and setting examples for all of her peers. Meyli is always positive, caring and supportive.  Emma Jo Allen, Hilliard Elementary School Emma Jo Allen
School: Hilliard Elementary School Grade: 1st Age: 7 Emma Jo Allen is a 7-year-old in the 1st grade at Hilliard Elementary School and recently became a member at BGCN’s Journey Church West Campus in Hilliard. Emma has two siblings. Emma’s favorite program at the club is Sports, Fitness & Recreation and her favorite sports are gymnastics and cheerleading. In school Emma enjoys studying math. When she’s not studying, she likes to cheer on her older brother whenever he plays baseball for his school. Emma was selected as Youth of the Month for March because she leads by example and surpasses all standards. Emma is always respectful of her peers and the staff at BGCN. Congratulations, Emma! For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County please visit bgcnassau.org. 3/16/23 @ 10:45 a.m. - Two employees were recognized at yesterday's Board meeting for years of service to the County.
William Allen began his employment in high school through a work program 30 years ago and has worked his way up to a Grader Operator position. Road Director, Cameron Hansen, stated, "He takes care of all the roads in the northwest portion of the County. I have never once in my 5 years as Director had a complaint about any of the roads he maintains. He's proactive in his work.... he knows when bad weather is coming, he knows when materials need to be added... and he takes care of those citizens. I often get calls from citizens who appreciate him. I want to thank him today for doing a fine job". Becky Liddell is celebrating 20 years of service to the County this month. She is currently serving as a Permit Coordinator for the Development Services Division. Development Services Director, Caleb Hurst, stated, "Without Becky, all of our lives would be much harder here. She issues driveway permits, works with the public to ensure that they get the permits they need, and trains new employees entering the department. Her work is much appreciated". Congratulations William and Becky! Thank you for all you do for Nassau County and for the residents. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer Madison, N.J. (Grassroots Newswire) March 14, 2023 - Century 21 Real Estate LLC recently recognized the following local sales affiliates with the CENTURY 21 2022 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award. These agents will receive a customized glass trophy, in addition to being recognized at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference.
The annual award is based on results from the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Survey (QSS) which is e-mailed to consumers immediately after the purchase or sale of a home. To earn the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, an agent must receive completed customer surveys for at least 80 percent of their transactions surveyed from January 1 - December 31, with an average survey score of at least 95 percent or better for two consecutive years.
"The Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award is an integral part of our brand's commitment to excellence and recognizes their dedication to making each and every client interaction memorable and worth celebrating," said Michael Miedler, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "The power of the CENTURY 21 brand rests on the shoulders of the relentless sales professionals who always strive to deliver 121% for each and every client they serve. We are thrilled to recognize them for their amazing work and commitment to delivering the extraordinary experience that homebuyers, sellers and property investors deserve in their real estate journey." JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) was named a 2023-24 Military Friendly® School with a “Gold” ranking for leading practices, outcomes and effective programs for student veterans.
Postsecondary schools across the country were evaluated using public data sources and their responses to a survey. Out of the 1,800-plus schools that participated for the 2023-24 award cycle, 530 schools earned awards level designations; FSCJ was one of only 250 to be selected for the “Gold” status. Final ratings were determined by combining each institution’s survey responses and government/agency public data sources within a logic-based assessment. Measurements include the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student veterans. “We are honored to be named among the Military Friendly institutions this year and are even more proud to be recognized for our efforts with the Gold ranking,” said College President Dr. John Avendano. “FSCJ is grateful for all those who have served and continue to serve in our nation’s military. We consider it our privilege to provide educational opportunities and critical support resources for our active-duty and veteran students, helping them to achieve their goals through higher education.” The Military & Veterans Service Center (MVSC) is the principal advocate at FSCJ for active military, veterans, military spouses and dependents, ensuring their unique needs and challenges are met. The MVSC serves as a connection to educational, financial and support resources to help these students be successful in their academic, professional and personal pursuits. Learn more about the MVSC here: https://www.fscj.edu/military-veterans. About FSCJ Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide equitable, high quality, success-driven learning experiences for our diverse community of students. Serving more than 40,000 students and awarding close to 6,400 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.  The Stardom model at Del Webb Wildlight received the Laurel Awards Best Model (2,000-2,500 square feet) and Best Outdoor Living Space awards. Accolades include best models, best outdoor living space and best community amenity
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 8, 2023) – The Northeast Florida Division of PulteGroup, one of the nation’s leading home builders, was honored by the Northeast Florida Builders Association at its Laurel Awards celebration. Pulte Homes received the best model home award in the 3,000 to 3,500 square foot category for the Ashby Grand at Bradley Creek. Pulte’s Del Webb brand received four awards including two best model honors for the Prestige model (under 2,000 square feet) and the Stardom model (2,000 to 2,500 square feet) at Del Webb Wildlight. The Stardom model at Del Webb Wildlight was also recognized with the Best Outdoor Living Space award and the Canopy Club at Del Webb Nocatee received the Best Community Amenity award. The company’s team of New Home Specialists received numerous awards. Million Dollar Circle awards were presented to Catherine Peterson, Ian Kanady, Luis Toyens, Zach Church, Jeff Bass, Kerry Fulford, Harmony Matias, Andrew Mansour, John Glaser, Jeff Nickerson, Gretchen Langer, Braden Dunn, and Asher Harirchi. Harirchi was also named Rookie Site Agent of the Year. “We are honored to receive these Laurel Awards and the recognition from our industry peers,” said Katie Hensley, Director of Marketing, PulteGroup’s Northeast Florida Division. “I am so proud of the accomplishments of our team. They work exceptionally hard to deliver excellent quality and service, and these awards reflect their dedication and commitment.” About Pulte Homes Pulte Homes is a national brand of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM). Pulte Homes builds consumer inspired homes and communities that provide the move-up buyer the best quality of life. Only Pulte Homes offers the combination of innovative Life Tested Home Designs® with an unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail. For more information about Pulte Homes, visit pulte.com. About Del Webb Del Webb is a national brand of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM). Del Webb is the pioneer in active adult communities and America’s leading builder of new homes designed for pre-retirement and retirees. Del Webb builds consumer inspired homes and communities for active adults ages 55+ who want to continue to explore, grow and learn, socially, physically and intellectually as they look forward to retirement. For more information on Del Webb, visit delwebb.com. About PulteGroup PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup’s purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams.  L to R: HR Director, Ashley Metz; Employee Services Manager, Tina Keiter; and County Manager, Taco Pope 2/23/23 @ 3:00 p.m. - At the Wednesday, February 15, 2023 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners recognized Tina Keiter on her achievement of 20 years of service to the County.
Tina began actually began her employment in 1997 as a student in the Human Resources Department but left the County temporarily when he daughter was born. Tina returned to the County in February 2003 as a Benefits Specialist and for the last 20 years has worked in the Human Resources Department in different capacities, working her way up to her current position as Employee Services Manager. Last year, Tina earned her certification as a Professional in Human Resources, further demonstrating her commitment to the Human Resources Department and her desire to improve her overall knowledge of HR Management. Tina is an outstanding public servant and always goes above and beyond to the call of duty to ensure a task is done efficiently. At the meeting, County Manager Taco Pope stated, "Tina does a fabulous job of working within the organization to make lives better for all of us. Throughout the years, I've called on Tina numerous times to help me with insurance matters and retirement related issues. Her service is both internal to the employees and external facing to the community. It's a great pleasure and an honor to recognize her on 20 outstanding years". Congratulations Tina and thank you for all you do for Nassau County! -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer First Federal Bank Named Best Small Bank in Florida by Newsweek for the Third Year in a Row2/15/2023 For the third year in a row, First Federal Bank was named in Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks 2023 as the Best Small Bank in Florida.
This distinction is the result of Newsweek evaluating their annual Best Banks rankings. With the assistance of LendingTree, Newsweek assessed more than 50 different factors from thousands of FDIC-insured banks and credit unions, including the savings and checking accounts they offer, to select the best-in-class institutions based on 26 different categories. ”We are honored to have been recognized as Newsweek’s America’s Best Small Bank in Florida. At First Federal Bank, we recognize the importance of financial stability in today’s economy. We provide banking solutions and services to help customers protect their assets and grow their businesses. In addition, we continuously donate resources and time to our communities’ non-profit organizations in order to support their critical missions.” shares John A. Medina; President & Chief Executive Officer. As Florida’s only mutual savings banks, Newsweek acknowledged First Federal’s ability to be more responsive to local customer needs. Operating for over 60 years, team members strive to enhance solutions and services to ensure customers have the best experience. To read the complete article by Newsweek, go to https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-banks-2023/best-small-bank-2023 We are incredibly excited to announce the winners of the 2022 Annual Business Awards!
These businesses, organizations, and employees work hard to make our community a better place and the Chamber is honored to have the opportunity to recognize their efforts. We would also like to congratulate all of the 2022 nominees; we are proud to know you and call you members of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce! And the winners are... LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Rayonier, Inc. MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Wallace Pierson Travel SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Redbones Dog Bakery & Boutique BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR Ryan Deems | Destination Amelia Vacation Rentals YOUNG BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR Chason Forehand | Pineland Bank CUSTOMER SERVICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Stacy Millett | Wicked BAO NONPROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Northeast Florida Fair Association CHAMBER AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR Dunia Taylor | REMI Realty DISTINGUISHED VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD Renee Stoffel | Barnabas Center, Inc. 2022 CHAIRMAN'S AWARD Jackie Darby | Century 21 Miller Elite  Pictured L to R: Commissioner John Martin; Assistant County Manager, Marshall Eyerman; Interim Planning Director, Holly Coyle, Assistant Planning Director, Gabriel Quintas; and Commissioner A.M. "Hupp" Huppmann 1/25/23 @ 4:40 p.m. - The Board of County Commissioners has received an Award of Excellence for Culture and Historic Preservation for the American Beach Community Master Plan. Since 2018, the County has worked hard to design a plan to enhance the community while maintaining its unique history and culture. The scope of work included extensive community engagement including public meetings with property owners, public workshops, and interviews with stakeholders. The needs and priorities identified through the outreach efforts were then used to develop the final master plan which includes protection of the beach and dunes, as well as the history of the community. The plan also includes enhancements for the community such as water/sewer lines, street lighting, paved streets and sidewalks, and preservation of historic structures such as the Evans Rendezvous.
Seeing all the efforts put forth, the Northeast Florida Regional Council selected the County for this prestigious award. The Board was then recognized at their Awards Luncheon held on January 5, 2023. The Northeast Florida Regional Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Beth Payne, stated, “The Northeast Florida Regional Council is happy to recognize Nassau County’s outstanding efforts to preserve a piece of Northeast Florida history. American Beach is one of our area’s hidden gems and it is the Council’s pleasure to recognize the work done by the County, it’s staff and volunteers to continually engage the residents of American Beach and work together to safeguard the cultural history, as well as the future of the American Beach community." Interim Planning Director/Economic Resources Coordinator, Holly Coyle, stated, “The American Beach Master Plan captures the essence of American Beach by protecting the sense of place, honoring the rich cultural heritage of the community, and authentically telling the story of American Beach through the built and natural environment. Through an extensive public engagement process, the community identified its needs and priorities and created a list of recommendations to achieve their final vision. Among those recommendations were the installation of public water and sanitary sewer; the paving and resurfacing of roadways; re-evaluation of The Crossroads; and the expansion of the A. L. Lewis Museum. We are honored to have been selected for this award and look forward to bringing this initiative to fruition.” To view the Northeast Florida Regional Council's Press Release regarding the 2023 Awards, please click here. If you have any questions related to the American Beach Community Master Plan, please visit https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/990/American-Beach-Neighborhood-Planning or contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Office |
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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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