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Nassau Habitat for Humanity
Press Release Submitted by Cindy Jacoby June 21, 2022 Nassau Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors invites the community to attend a reception at Mocama Beer Company on Sunday, June 26th at 5 P.M. Nassau Habitat is excited to reveal our goals to increase the number of affordable homes we build each year and expand our building footprint off Amelia Island by 2026. In 2021, 88 eligible applicants applied for the two houses that were funded and built. This is a 57% increase over 2020. Habitat estimates that the local unmet need in Nassau County is up to almost 88% compelling Habitat to do more. Nassau Habitat relies on the local community for funding and for the volunteers we need to help build homes that can be purchased by Nassau County residents at an affordable rate. It will take this village to reach our important new goals. At the event the leadership will launch our newest fundraiser She Nailed It!– an all women, nail-hammering relay competition to be held on October 23, 2022, in partnership with Mocama Beer Company and the New South Food Truck. This inaugural event will feature a fierce competition between local hammering teams from our community along with a silent auction, raffle prizes, food, and beverages. Don’t miss the fun! Gather June 26th 5 P.M. at Mocama Beer Company!
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 Lake City, Florida – First Federal Bank announced in February that it would donate to sixty non-profit organizations over a period of 60 days. Founded in 1962, 2022 marks First Federal Bank’s 60th anniversary of being a community bank. To celebrate, bank employees nominated local organizations and one winner was drawn each day for 60 days. $1000 was donated to each of the winners. On the 60th day, the non-profit drawn received a grand prize of $6000 to conclude the 60 days of giving. The grand prize winner was Advocates for Citizens with Disabilities in Lake City. One of the recipients of the $1000 donation was the Ronald McDonald House Charities North Central Florida. “You truly make my heart leap for joy. Thank you for helping to keep our families close to their hospitalized children. It is a priceless gift to give. We are so honored to celebrate your 60th anniversary with you!” said Sherry Houston, Executive Director. Giving is foundational to First Federal Bank’s culture. It is one of the bank’s differentiators and customers can experience the difference in each interaction. In 2021, employees donated a total of 3,000 hours of volunteer time and 55 local organizations benefitted from First Federal Way, a payroll deduction program in which employees contribute funds that are matched by the bank. “The community impact has been tremendous; we have received photos and letters from the recipients sharing how our donation is helping them continue their mission,” said John Medina, the bank’s President and CEO. “With over 300 employee nominations, it is rewarding to see how much our staff cares about the communities we all call home.” To learn more about First Federal Bank and the non-profits who were awarded donations in honor of the 60th anniversary, visit https://www.ffbf.com/60-days-of-giving. About First Federal Bank First Federal Bank is a community-based 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 $3.6 billion. First Federal has received a “5-Star, Superior” financial rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla. for more than two decades and was recognized by Newsweek as “Best Small Bank in Florida” in 2020 and 2021. For more information, visit www.ffbf.com. For more information contact: Stephanie Esposito Corporate Marketing Manager First Federal Bank (386) 755-0600, ext. 50211 marketing@ffbf.com  Third Northeast home donated by PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® Program JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 16, 2022) –U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry, a Purple Heart recipient, has received the life-changing news that PulteGroup is building him a new mortgage-free home through PulteGroup’s Built to Honor Program. Sgt. Perry and his family will break ground on their future home at Forest Park at Wildlight later this summer. “We are honored to build this home for Sgt. Perry and his family in appreciation of his bravery and service to our country,” said Tony Nason, Division President of PulteGroup’s Northeast Florida Division. “We are thrilled to build a home for Matt and his family that is fully accessible and that will vastly improve his quality of life.” Being built specifically for the Perry family, the home is designed to meet all of Sgt. Perry’s needs. The Forest Park at Wildlight location offers easy access to parks, nature trails and is within walking distance of UF Health Wildlight. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program and welcome the Perry family into the Wildlight community,” said Wes Hinton, Vice President, Wildlight. “It truly is our honor to be a small part of giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for their country.” This is the third home dedicated in Northeast Florida through PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program and is in partnership with Building Homes for Heroes®, a national non-profit organization strongly committed to rebuilding lives and supporting the brave men and women who were injured while serving our country’s armed forces, with the support of Wildlight. For more information about PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program, visit builttohonor.org and follow on Facebook and Twitter.  U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry  U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry and his wife, Army CPT Helen Perry June 16, 2022 (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s “Forever in our Hearts” Memory Pillow program reached its first anniversary this June with over 100 pillow requests from family members. Memory Pillows are special keepsakes created by volunteers that are made from an article of clothing owned by a patient. This complimentary pillow is a one-of-a-kind treasure and a loving memento. It is also a wonderful condolence gift to offer families bereavement and emotional support. The program is comprised of 13 sewing volunteers and 2 liaison volunteers who speak directly with the families and help take orders. The volunteer team consistently receives heartwarming feedback from recipients. One caregiver shared, “It is so thoughtful of your group to do something like this. I miss my husband so badly. We were together for 26 years and this pillow will be greatly treasured. Thank you from my heart and God bless you all.” In addition to the many kind comments from family members, the volunteers equally share the same sentiment and are thankful to be a part of the meaningful opportunity. “The Memory Pillow program was initiated a year ago this month. Betsy Miller, volunteer coordinator, has done a phenomenal job of organizing sewing volunteers and creating a program structure to process the requests from families for a pillow,” said Dan Batty, volunteer manager. “We greatly appreciate the effectiveness with which Betsy has been able to accomplish so much in just the first year of this program. This program is a testimony to turning every critical touchpoint into an intentional encounter to create meaningful experiences and memorable moments for the families of our patients.” If you are interested in becoming a Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteer, please visit Volunteer.CommunityHospice.com for more information. # # # About Community Hospice & Palliative Care Established in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is an innovative national leader in palliative and hospice care, as well as providing programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. During its 42-year history, through the support of more than 1,000 employees and 1,000 volunteers, the organization helps approximately 1,600 patients per day to live better with advanced illness – at home, in long-term care and assisted living facilities, in hospitals and at its 10 inpatient care centers. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, visit CommunityHospice.com.  Sewing Volunteer, Audrey Harrell, of St. Augustine  Liaison Volunteer, Lori Peters, of Jacksonville  Sewing Volunteer, Sue Diedzic, of Fernandina Beach  Barnabas is honored and delighted to welcome, Nicola Barnack, Certified Fundraising Executive with over 16 years of experience as our newest member of the Development team as Director of Development.
Nicola has been a long-time resident of Nassau County with her children being proud students in the Nassau County Schools system. “Nicola brings to the Barnabas Center a wealth of knowledge and success in fundraising and marketing for local and national nonprofits along with a passion for serving others”, said Tania Yount Barnabas Chief Development Officer. She is a graduate of the University of North Florida and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she serves as the Vice President of Membership. When she’s not out making an impact within the community you can find her with her family or at the gym. We look forward to watching Nicola assist in the growth of Barnabas and our services to a community in need. The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched MemoriesMaking.com to gather public input for two strategic initiatives designed to enhance the value of the county’s shared assets for the benefit of the entire community. The Beach Park Harmonization and the Tourism and Destination Development projects both have community surveys open now through June 30. Residents can visit the website to learn more and complete two separate surveys designed to give an easy way to provide input on each project, thereby ensuring all community voices are heard in the planning process. The website was developed by the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau (AICVB), which is assisting the Nassau County BOCC with these two important projects.
Visit MemoriesMaking.com The Beach Park Harmonization Project is part of the Beach Partnership and seeks to harmonize and enhance the visitor experience at Amelia Island’s seven main beach parks: North Beach, Main Beach, Seaside Park, Peters Point, Burney Park, Scott Road Access Point, and the South Road Access. Building on previous studies and existing guidelines, the Beach Harmonization Project aims to modernize and better equip these parks to serve local communities as well as visitors. In addition to the online survey, the community is invited to attend an Open House on Wednesday, May 18, at 5 p.m. at the Nassau County BOCC Chambers (96135 Nassau Place) regarding the Beach Park Harmonization Project. Take the Beach Survey The “Nassau Next” Tourism and Destination Development Project will create a comprehensive roadmap for the future of Nassau County and its tourism economy. Positioning new areas of the county will help capture a greater share of tourism spending while maintaining momentum on Amelia Island. This project will deliver a clear 10-year plan for creating jobs, expanding the economy, and improving quality of life for visitors and residents. Take the Tourism Survey  Nelson and Associates Insurance is proud to host the 1st Annual Health and Safety Expo for Nassau County residents. This exciting event will provide resources, tools, and education for Nassau County residents including FREE sports physicals and immunizations for all Nassau County school-aged children, FREE haircuts, FREE vision screenings and more.
This event will be held on July 15th (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and July 16th (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). We are seeking vendors for this 2-day event who offer products or services to maintain a healthy or safe lifestyle. If you would like to become a vendor, please complete the registration form on this link. Spaces are based on a first come first served basis and are limited. We thank our sponsors for making this event available in Nassau County: Nelson and Associates Insurance, Florida Blue, Baptist Health and UFHealth. In Search of DONATIONS for the Health Expo:
Sponsoring Opportunities: Education Corner, Event Signage, Event Passports, Physical Privacy Screening, Expo Bags or a Monetary Donation of your choosing Vendor Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-health-and-safety-expo-tickets-323516886717?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&fbclid=IwAR0Dd8-d9DMvL485HguiH-Knv7kbGBaTk0wRBV6U2zVjBWAtXNl1gS1odds Food Truck Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-and-safety-expo-food-truck-registration-tickets-347278999837?fbclid=IwAR0abS2aqyg1QMpjAphpFGBokqFSVQYtcaC51Cie3Yf3scjIxG1ejIvGRUY Email Kathy at kathy@nelsonandassociatesinsurance.com or call 904-441-2925 with any questions! 6/8/22 @ 10:25 a.m. -
The Fernandina Beach Library will be hosting another Passport Day on Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 9am-5pm. During this event, you can apply for a passport and get your passport photo taken on site! Appointments are strongly encouraged, however walk-ins are also welcome. If you have any questions or to make an appointment, call (904) 530-6508 or email libraryinfo@nassaucountyfl.com. Event sponsored by the Friends of the Fernandina Library. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer North Florida Land Trust has Facilitated the Potential Expansion of the Egans Creek Greenway6/6/2022 Jacksonville, Fla., May 26, 2022 – North Florida Land Trust has facilitated a purchase agreement on behalf of the City of Fernandina Beach for the acquisition of nearly one acre that could be added to the Egans Creek Greenway. The Fernandina Beach City Commission recently approved the option agreement to purchase 0.72 acres of land that is adjacent to City-owned conservation lands. NFLT handled the negotiations with Studdard Properties, Inc. for a purchase price of $57,000.
“The agreement we negotiated and the sellers signed will allow the city a few months to do their due diligence to purchase the property that will help expand their conservation holdings,” said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT. “Preserving lands, no matter how small, are so important to the environmental health of the area. If we don’t save these natural spaces they could be lost to development and once they are gone, they are gone forever.” The contract negotiated by NFLT allows the city three months to do the necessary tasks to complete the purchase. The money for the purchase will come from the city’s Land Conservation Fund which is funded through donations from the community and other sources. The property would be added to the Egans Creek Greenway which is a protected area of more than 300 acres that runs along Egans Creek. It is a natural space that provides a habitat for plant and animal species while also serving as a passive recreational park with a network of trails for walking and bicycling. NFLT and the City of Fernandina Beach became partners in conservation in 2019 and have been working together to preserve land within the city limits. Since the partnership began, they have been able to preserve 20.74 acres of natural spaces that could have been lost to development. NFLT raises money for conservation projects on Amelia Island through its Amelia Forever Campaign. To donate, visit www.nflt.org/ameliaforever. About North Florida Land Trust North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org.  The full cast of Radium Girls Amelia Community Theatre presents the drama Radium Girls on its main stage for ten performances in June. Written by D. W Gregory, the show is a fictionalized account of the true-life stories of the young women who were hired as dial painters by the U.S. Radium Corporation and exposed to radium poisoning. Set in Orange, New Jersey from 1918-1928, it is an inspiring story of the women’s fight for justice, and the struggle of conscience in the corporate and scientific communities.
By the end of World War I, the U.S. Radium Corporation had a contract to supply the military with radioluminescent watches. Most of their workers were young women whose smaller hands were better suited for the exacting work. They were told that the radium paint was safe and were encouraged to use their lips to bring the paint brushes to a fine point. When the dialpainters began to have serious health problems, the corporation assumed no responsibility. To the contrary, they hired consultants who told the women the problems were caused by poor diet or hygiene. The play focuses on Grace, a dialpainter whose life is upended by her medical issues. She refuses to take a minimal settlement or one that puts the blame on the workers. Instead, she reaches out to a consumer advocate and an attorney to help her get her day in court. Directed by Linda McClane, the cast includes Karina Jimenez, Sharon Parker, and Clarisse Phillips as dialpainters; Carol Bolton and Peggy Strickland as journalists; John Chastine, Ron Kurtz, Eric Linden, and Richard Smith as the company men; Diana Herman, Joe Wall, and Lisa Howard-Welch as family supporters; Elmer Smith and Jayme Taylor as advocates for the women, and Alexis Nix as Marie Curie. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on June 10-11, 16-18, 23-25 and at 2 p.m. on June 12 and 19 at 207 Cedar Street. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students, available at AmeliaCommunityTheatre.org and by calling the box office at (904) 261-6749. Box office hours are 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and ninety minutes before curtain on show dates. Radium Girls is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. |
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Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G | Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 261-3248 | info@nassaucountyflchamber.com | site map |
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