Thank you for registering for the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners District 2 newsletter. Inside you will find an update regarding projects and events in District 2 and timely information about St. Johns County programs, services, and initiatives.

2016 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Contest

Working with youth in grades 4 through 6, the Tropicana Public Speaking Contest helps thousands of young people annually learn how to research, write, and deliver a speech. More than 150,000 young people in 50 Florida counties participate in the contest each year. This year, 22 St. Johns County schools are competing in the 4th and 5th grade divisions and nine schools are competing in the 6th grade division. Residents are invited to attend the contest on Monday, April 25 at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center, 3125 Agricultural Center Dr. Fourth and 5th graders will begin at 4 p.m. and 6th graders will speak at 6 p.m. For more information, please visit the Florida 4-H website.

2016 4-H Archery Contest Results

The Toxophily Archery Club recently represented St. Johns County 4-H on March 19 at the State Archery Match in Newberry, Florida. The contest consisted of three challenging events, including open range, field, and three-dimensional animal targets. Congratulations to the following St. Johns County competitors for their achievements:

Juniors - Division 1

Perpetua Bland - 2nd Place
Grayson Lagasse - 9th Place
Anastasiya Frey - 10th Place

Seniors - Division 9

Jeremy Smith - 2nd Place
Nathan Yee - 3rd Place
Beau Wibbing - 4th Place
Jacob Trefry - 8th Place

Seniors Jeremy Smith and Nathan Yee qualified to complete at the 4-H National Shooting Sports Championships June 21 through 26 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

2016 4-H Forest Ecology Contest Results

The 2016 4-H Florida Forest Ecology Contest took place on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Austin Cary Forest Conference Center just outside of Gainesville. The St. Johns County 4-H Club represented one of seven counties. The event consisted of a series of contest stations that require youth to test their identification skills, compass skills, and knowledge of forest ecosystems. Seniors were also tested on tree measurement and competed in a quiz bowl. Congratulations to the following St. Johns County competitors for their achievements:

Senior (Ages 14-18) - Individual

Henry Keating - 1st Place

Jeremy Smith - 3rd Place

Senior - Team

Henry Keating, Jeremy Smith, Cayla Smith - 1st Place

Intermediates (Ages 11-13) - Individual

Harrison Keating - 3rd Place

St. Johns County Horse Council

The St. Johns County Horse Council is a local nonprofit that strives to promote, defend, and propagate equestrian interests in St. Johns County. Since their establishment in 1999, the Council has become involved in promoting all types of equine activities and raising awareness regarding the economic impact of horses in the County. In addition to quarterly public meetings, the Council hosts numerous events at the St. Johns County Equestrian Center for handlers of all ages and experience levels. For more information on the St. Johns County Horse Council, events, and how to become a member, please visit their website or send them an email.

Rype & Readi Golf Bistro Opens at St. Johns Golf Club

The St. Johns Golf Club is now home to Elkton's first farm-to-fork restaurant featuring cuisine made with fresh food grown on local farms. Recently opened in the St. Johns Golf Club Clubhouse, 4900 Cyprus Links Blvd, the Rype & Readi Golf Bistro offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that are modern take on organic, rich, and elegant farm food with an understated simplicity in a relaxed, casual environment. The Bistro is open from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Special event programming includes "Wine Down Wednesdays" and gourmet cooking classes. For additional information or to view a complete menu, please visit the Rype & Readi website, follow the Rype & Readi Golf Bistro Facebook Page, or call 904.209.0360.

For additional information about St. Johns Golf Club events, course conditions, and tee times, please visit the course website, follow the course Facebook page or Twitter Feed, register for the course E-newsletter, or call 904.209.0350.

Solomon-Calhoun Pool Reopens

The Solomon Calhoun Community Pool, 1300 Duval St., has reopened to the public after two months of infrastructure improvements. For the safety and enjoyment of visitors, the pool and pool deck were resurfaced and the water filtration system was enhanced. St. Johns County would like to thank the community for their patience and support during this project. Current pool hours are listed below. For fees, rental inquiries, or information on swim lessons sponsored by the YMCA, please visit http://sjcfl.us/recreation/cc/sccc.aspx or call 904.209.0395.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

"Celebrate Hastings" Spring Harvest Festival

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation is partnering with TeamUp Hastings to present the inaugural "Celebrate Hastings" Spring Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at Al Wilke Park, 6150 S. Main Street. This free event will feature a Gospel Sing Off, a car show, local food and gift vendors, and historical exhibits. A Kids Zone will also be open for young children and will include a bounce house, pony rides, a petting zoo, games, face painting, and animal balloons. Children must obtain a $2 wristband to access the Kids Zone. All proceeds support the Hastings Friends of the Library's annual Back-to-School Supplies Giveaway. For more information on the Spring Harvest Festival, please call the Hastings Branch Library at 904.827.6970.

St. Johns County Named Healthiest County in Florida for Fifth Consecutive Year

For the fifth year in a row, St. Johns County is named the healthiest county in Florida by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. St. Johns County ranks number one in Florida in Health Outcomes, measures of today's health, and number one in Health Factors, measures of tomorrow's health, in the organization's seventh annual County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Report. Community health factors considered in the report include physical environment, social and economic factors, health behaviors, and clinical care. For additional information or to read the report, please visit www.rwjf.org. To review data utilized to rank the counties, please visit the Florida Department of Health's website at www.floridacharts.com.

Volunteer Opportunities with St. Johns County Boards and Committees

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners provides residents who have an interest in participating in their local government with a variety of board and commission opportunities. Depending on the board or commission, the volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding a myriad of topics including planning and zoning issues, development projects, the library, parks and recreation facilities and programs, and arts, culture, and tourism matters. Please visit the Boards and Commission Webpage to view an updated list of board and commission vacancies and download an application, or contact the Board of County Commissioners office at 904.209.0300 or mlundquist@sjcfl.us for more information.

New Video Series Highlights Work of St. Johns County Departments and Employees

St. Johns County recently launched a new video series entitled St. Johns County Works that highlights the projects and programs provided by various County departments and the employees who provide dedicated service to the community. The first episode, featuring members of the Water Treatment Division and their work to provide clean and safe drinking water to the residents of St. Johns County, can be viewed on St. Johns County's YouTube Channel. Future episodes will be available on GTV, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

St. Johns County Memorial Day Hours

All departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, St. Johns County Administrative offices, library branches, and the Pet Center will be closed Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. All offices and branches will resume standard business hours on Tuesday, May 31.

Garbage, recycling, and yard debris collection schedules will not be delayed. The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road solid waste scale houses will remain open on the holiday during standard business hours.

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