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As the community's go-to for signs, FASTSIGNS of Fernandina Beach has created signage to assist businesses during these trying times. See below for exterior signage, Social Distancing floor decals, and acrylic shields. The acrylic shields are lightweight, completely customizable, a fraction of the price when compared to permanent or glass shields, and made in Nassau County. These shields are designed to sit on top of the desk or counter surface of your business and can be moved to different locations as needed. FASTSIGNS of Fernandina Beach is offering these products at 20% the standard retail price off for a limited time. For more information and to place your order today, call (904) 261-0340 or email 576@fastsigns.com.  
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To All Nassau County Citizens ‐
As Superintendent of Nassau County Schools, I wanted to take a moment to update you on our School District and plans for the days ahead. On Friday, March 13th, teachers had a planning day and we were all preparing for Spring Break. By the end of the day things changed, FOR EVERYONE! Schools were closing and we had to completely redesign what school would look like for our students. It happened! In true educator fashion – local administrators, teachers, volunteers, and our communities, came together to figure it out! It’s remarkable the work that has been done in just a few short days. I would like to share just a few of the highlights from the past week!
As we move forward, here’s some additional information that may be helpful to you:
Hopefully this will answer some questions and assist in clarifying misinformation. I could not be prouder of our School District team and our County as a whole. Our theme in the school district is “We Are Nassau!” This is a time when it must ring true for ALL OF US. We are all in this together. We must continue to move forward with a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork. We are in a challenging time and we are going to strive to do our VERY BEST WORK during this time. 15th Annual Railroad Day Festival and Classic Car Show Rescheduled for Saturday, November 7, 20203/17/2020 With the uncertainty of the current Coronavirus pandemic along with the CDC’s newly released guidelines regarding crowd limitations, the Board of Directors of the West Nassau Historical Society has decided to reschedule our 2020 Railroad Day Festival and Classic Car Show from this April 18 to Saturday, November 7, 2020. This new date had already been set aside for our fall Hobo Day so now we will use the autumn Saturday to celebrate both our rich railroad history along with the fabled rail riders of yore.
This decision was not an easy one to make considering the ever-changing aspects of this very fluid national health crisis. The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit and we rely heavily on the proceeds that we receive from this one day event. Many of our members have already put in countless hours preparing the historic 1881 Callahan Train Depot, stage and grounds for our 15th Railroad Day and Car Show. We were very excited about opening in a few weeks the doors of our beloved depot museum to visitors both young and the young at heart. However, the health and well-being of the people of our community, especially our senior citizens, are paramount to anything else. In the coming days we will be reaching out to our sponsors, supporters, entertainers, exhibitors and vendors and explain our situation. Those arts/craft and food vendors who have paid for their spots will be given full credit to use on our new November 7th date or at our 16th Railroad Day Festival and Car Show to be held on April 17, 2021. Any questions will be addressed via CallahanRRdays@aol.com. The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend Hot Topics: ‘Outbreak Prevention & Control at the Local Level’ on Friday, March 13, 2020 from 8:30-9:30 A.M. at the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, located at 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G, Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Guest speaker Eugenia Ngo-Seidel, MD, MPH is the Director for the Florida Department of Health Nassau County. Dr. Ngo-Seidel has over 27 years of experience in public health at the local level. She is a graduate of the University of Florida (BS) and the University of South Florida College of Medicine (MD), board certified in Family Medicine and a diplomate of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Ngo-Seidel’s special interests include integration of population-based and preventative health with medical practice, improving access to care for undeserved populations and clinical care innovation including telehealth, group visits and team care. Hot Topics workshops are free for Chamber members and $25.00 for prospective members. Advanced payment and registration are always preferred. For more information, CLICK HERE or email info@NassauCountyFLChamber.com. The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce announces the Annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast for Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 8:00 A.M. at West Nassau High School, located at 1 Warrior Drive, Callahan, Florida.
The Teacher Appreciation Breakfast is one of the signature events of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce. This highly publicized event welcomes over 500 hard-working teachers, administrative staff and non-instructional employees from all over Nassau County. The breakfast is a way to thank those who work so tirelessly to ensure a bright future for the children in our community. Breakfast, door prizes and gift bags will only be available to guests (teachers, administrative staff and non-instructional employees) who register in advance. We ask that you register no later than Friday, May 22, 2020. The title sponsor for this year’s Teacher Appreciation Breakfast is Orange Park Mall. The Teacher Appreciation Breakfast is also sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, CopyFax, Matovina & Company, Paul Clark Ford, Community First Credit Union, Nader’s Pest Raiders, Okefenoke Rural Electric Management Corporation and Rayonier Advanced Materials. Sponsorship opportunities are still available at every level. For more information, email Stacy Cruikshank at Stacy@NassauCountyFLChamber.com or call (904) 261-3248. CLICK HERE to register for the Annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast today! At the February 20, 2020 Board of County Commissioners meeting, County Attorney/County Manager, Mike Mullin, requested the Board to set a Workshop Session to discuss examples of how growth is addressed.
Mr. Mullin stated, “Everyone is aware that growth is an issue and staff has been developing ways to control and manage it”. The County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan and Ordinances established tools for properly managing growth. Examples include the following:
Mr. Mullin went on to say, “While we cannot legally stop growth, we can plan for it by ensuring that the property is reviewed for historical values before a development is approved, that the proposed structures are aesthetically pleasing, and that recreational facilities are in place before construction on a development begins.” Mr. Mullin suggested a Workshop Session be held to provide the public with information on what the County is doing to manage growth and the challenges we have in controlling it. The Board will also discuss the new trend of public/private partnerships that are being utilized to ensure the County has facilities and infrastructure in place to accommodate the growth. Examples include the recently approved Tributary and Nassau Crossing Communities in which the Developers donated land and covered costs associated with constructing parks to be enjoyed by all Nassau County residents. The Workshop will be held on Monday, March 23, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The public is encouraged to attend and learn more about this very important issue. If you are unable to attend, you can watch the meeting live on our website at www.nassaucountyfl.com. The video will also be available to view at the conclusion of the meeting. If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010. Kristen Musgrove awarded $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation Kristen Musgrove, a sixth grade mathematics teacher at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School, was honored by the Milken Family Foundation during a surprise announcement for her dedication and commitment to providing students with a high-quality education. Musgrove joins an elite group of educators as one of only 40 nationwide to receive this year’s award. “Congratulations to Kristen Musgrove on receiving this prestigious award from the Milken Family Foundation,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “High-quality educators are critical to student success and it is clear that Ms. Musgrove works hard every day to ensure her students reach their full potential.” The Milken Family Foundation is celebrating 32 years of surprising and rewarding teachers. Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Educator Awards and a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator, made the announcement at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School. "Kristen Musgrove knows that math is the ticket to the future in so many fields, and she's helping all of her students to get on board," said Greg Gallagher, Senior Program Director of the Milken Educator Awards. "Even in non-technical situations, sound logic, a rigorous approach and creative mathematical thinking translate into successful problem solving. Musgrove's energy, empathy and ingenuity make her a great teacher—and an inspirational colleague. We're proud to welcome her as a Milken Educator." Kristen Musgrove is a 13 year educator. She teaches 6th grade mathematics at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School in Nassau County. Ms. Musgrove develops relationships with her students and incorporates strategies to ensure her students are engaged in learning. She has led her district in student performance and learning gains and is dedicated to ensuring every student succeeds. Her influence as an outstanding educator extends beyond her classroom and impacts her school and district. This impact is evident through the increase in student achievement and learning gains her school saw after Ms. Musgrove instituted small-group instruction in the mathematics classrooms. In addition, Ms. Musgrove has facilitated professional development for mathematics teachers across the district and has opened up her classroom as a model for other teachers to observe new strategies. “Kristen Musgrove is an inspiring, dedicated teacher whose love for teaching and learning shine through every day in her classroom,” said Dr. Kathy Burns, Superintendent for Nassau County School District. “We're excited to celebrate with her as she is recognized as a Milken Educator Award winner.” Described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 to exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering education excellence. New recipients are invited to join the Milken Educator Network, a nationwide group of distinguished educators whose expertise serves as a valuable resource to fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others shaping the future of education. Florida has had 43 educators recognized with the Milken Award since 1998. In addition to participation in the Milken Educator Network, 2019-20 recipients will attend a Milken Educator Forum, March 26-28, in Indianapolis. Educators will have the opportunity to network with their new colleagues and hear from state and federal officials about the importance of maximizing their leadership roles to advance educator effectiveness. For more information about the Milken Educator Awards, visit www.milkeneducatorawards.org.  Milken Award Recipient, Kristen Musgrove  Kristen Musgrove with Students from Hilliard Middle-Senior High School  Left to right: Tammy Johnson, Greg Gallagher, Kristen Musgrove, Jacob Olivia and Dr. Kathy Burns  The West Nassau Historical Society would like to thank everyone who attended our 8th edition of Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot art show and sale held on January 25th. Over 220 visitors attended the annual juried event held inside the historic 1881 train station. 20 Nassau County artists displayed over 50 of their paintings, photographs and 3-D art while students from 5 local schools exhibited an addition 51 pieces of art. Some local artists also made scores of their works available for sale in our Art Shop. Thank you Nassau County artists and students! While the exhibition was being judged, historical society members and friends with support from Callahan Subway and Callahan BBQ hosted a delicious luncheon for the artists.
The winners of the judged competition are as follows: 3-D art: 1st place, Elizabeth Wiegel; 2nd place, Christine Elsesser; 3rd place, Linda Vacca - Photography/CGI: 1st place, Shari Bickford; 2nd place, James Widerman; 3rd place, Cindy Belt - Painting/Drawing: 1st place, Barb Wylie; 2nd place, Gary Johns; 3rd place, Ann Wamack; People's Choice Award, Barbara Davis - Student Division: 1st place, Heidi Dinius; 2nd place, Josie Jordan; 3rd place, Afton Hamelin; 4th place, Heidi Dinius; 5th place, Heidi Dinius; 6th place, Emily Lefebvre. The 3 winning paintings and top photography winner from the adult division will be on display at the Nassau County Courthouse in Yulee from Jan 27 to Jan 31, Amelia Island Museum of History the week of Feb 2, Vystar Callahan branch the week of Feb 9 and Southeastern Bank Hilliard branch the week of Feb 16. We would like to thank renowned artist Pablo Rivera for judging our art competition and for all the artists and students who participated. The West Nassau Historical Society is a member of Arts and Culture Nassau, a county wide arts advocacy group that supports cultural events such as NACD. For pictures of all the art show entries like our Facebook page and visit www.wnhsfl.org for more info our all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit and more upcoming events. On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, over 450 local business owners and community leaders came together to celebrate the best of the Nassau County business community at the Chamber's Annual Awards Dinner & Gala. The purpose of this event is to highlight the talented men and women who work so tirelessly to provide a service for members of our community. On behalf of the entire Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, we thank every business that worked so hard to make 2019 such an incredible year. We would also like to thank all of the sponsors of this year's event; without their support, the Annual Awards Gala would not be possible. And the winners are... LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR The Lakeside at Amelia Island MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Traders Hill Farm SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Atlantic Hair Studio GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR MosquitoNix BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR Octavio Martinez | Hot Paws Pet Grooming, Hotel & Spa YOUNG BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR Jackson Selvidge | Brightway, The Coastal Agency CUSTOMER SERVICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Rachel Clark | Traders Hill Farm NONPROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Barnabas Center ISLAND COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE YEAR Melanie Brubaker | Amelia River Cruises YULEE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE YEAR Stuart Davis | River Capital Advisors WESTSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE YEAR Lisa Rozier | Family Support Services of North Florida CHAMBER AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR Ashley Powell | Building It Green, LLC 2019 CHAIRMAN'S AWARD Sean McGill | Taylor Morrison DR. HARRY HALLEY BOWTIE AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE Kimberly Schwerdtfeger | Amelia River Cruises THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS  Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has adopted by resolution the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Vision Book. The adoption of the Vision Book is the culmination of a community-driven process to proactively plan for the future of western Nassau County, including all of the County west of I-95.
In response to a Fall 2017 Urban Land Institute report on the impacts of growth on Western Nassau, the Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) formed a subcommittee, the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee (WNHPC). Five PZB members who live in Western Nassau served on the WNHPC. The committee was charged with discussing the future of Western Nassau, and to work with the Planning and Economic Opportunity Department to determine how they can best assist in planning efforts. The Committee’s logo “Our Heritage, Our Future” echoes the historic Hilliard Poultry Association signage as a nod to the County’s past. During the process, Nassau County Department of Planning and Economic Opportunity (PEO) facilitated an extensive public outreach campaign to gather input from residents, property and business owners, and state and local agencies to craft their vision for the future. On March 26, 2019, after a full year of community engagement, the WNHPC adopted the following mission statement: The Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee exists because there is a genuine desire on the part of our citizenry to ensure what our name implies–Preservation! We enjoy a rich heritage in Western Nassau County. Through purposeful community engagement, we are driven to gain perspective and insight for inevitable growth. The underlying impetus of our goal is to maintain a high quality of life, preserve rural character, and ensure fiscally sustainable and appropriately controlled development. The Committee and PEO staff then translated community input into the Vision Book’s goals, objectives, and strategies to be implemented over the planning horizon through 2045. Objectives and strategies relate to community goals including history, natural resources, health, quality of life, recreation, jobs and education, and public spaces and infrastructure. Community partners and other related planning efforts such as Vision 2032 and the County Comprehensive Plan are also included in the Vision Book. The Vision Book was approved by the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee on October 22, 2019. The full County Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval to the BOCC in November 2019. Last month, the County PEO staff received the Outstanding Public Participation award from the First Coast Chapter of the Florida Planning and Zoning Association for efforts related to the Western Nassau Vision Book. The WNHPC and County staff extend many thanks to the numerous citizens who took time to attend meetings and events, or stop to talk to staff during community events. The Vision Book is truly a citizen-led plan and would not have been possible without their time and interest. More information on the work of the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee and the Vision Book can be found at: www.nassaucountyfl.com/westernnassau. The Nassau County Planning and Economic Opportunity Department is charged with leading long-range and current planning for the community, with a focus on technical planning, implementation and management of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, development and site plan review, and assistance to citizens, the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and other staff, advisory boards, government agencies, and the private sector regarding growth and development in Nassau County. For more information on our Plan, Code, or current initiatives, visit www.nassaucountyfl.com/planning, call (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com. |
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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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