Celebrate the Holidays at the Old Florida Museum

(Saint Augustine, FL) --  

Old Florida Museum is offering a special gift to visitors this holiday season: free admission for all residents of northeast Florida, and half price admission for out-of-town guests.  In addition, many of the items in the Old Florida General Store will be discounted by up to 40%.  Come to the Old Florida Museum and enjoy an exceptional hands-on adventure and a great family activity for kids during the holidays.  The “Happy Holidays” admission discount and store sale will run from December 21, 2008 through January 4, 2009.   

The Old Florida Museum complex has three areas that showcase the lifestyles of the Timucua Indians, the Spanish Colonial era featuring Fort Mose, and a Florida Cracker Pioneer Homestead from the 1800s. Visitors set their own pace as they move from one time period to the next, and experiment with tools, try their hands at games, grind corn, use a quill pen, try out a pump drill, and much more. The museum also includes the Old Florida General Store, a faithful re-creation of days gone by stocked with unusual items, where you can sit on the porch and play a game of checkers or simply relax in a nostalgic ambience.

The Old Florida Museum is conveniently located at 254 San Marco Ave at State Route 16.  There is plenty of free parking.

For more information about the Old Florida Museum visit their website at www.oldfloridamuseum.com 

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Gator Great Returns to Jacksonville with New Mission

The last time Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel was at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium as a Gator, he completed 16 of 23 passes and threw four touchdowns all before halftime during the 1996 annual Florida-Georgia football game.

Wuerffel is returning to Jacksonville in hopes of scoring another touchdown at the same location on May 15 for his non-profit organization, Desire Street Ministries.

Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to their first national championship that same year, will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon at the stadium’s Touchdown Club to raise awareness for Desire Street Ministries.

FIRST COAST NEWS FIELD TRIP

THE WFIE NEWS TEAM FROM FLEMING ISLAND ELEMENTARY RECENTLY VISITED FIRST COAST NEWS STUDIO.  PAUL BULLUCK, A PROMOTIONS PRODUCER, CONDUCTED A SPECIAL BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR OF THE STATION.  AFTER VIEWING A LIVE NOON BROADCAST, STUDENTS WERE TREATED TO AN AUTOGRAPH AND PICTURE TAKING SESSION WITH ANCHOR, ANGELA SPEARS AND METEOROLOGIST, STEVE SMITH.

SUBARU BASCA Golf Classic Raises $17,000

(Pictured) Ron Dill, Tournament Chairman, second from right, presents a $17,000 check to John Cone, Executive Director of BASCA, INC, second from left. Also shown is Bill Taylor, far left, and Bob Holliday, far right. Bill and Bob served on the Tournament Executive Committee.

The Third Annual SUBARU BASCA Golf Classic was recently held at the Eagle Harbor Golf Club.  “This is the first year of having SUBARU as the Title Sponsor and reflects their high level of involvement and support within the community,” said Ron Dill, Tournament Chairman.  The event was a huge success for the BASCA organization of Orange Park and was the largest tournament ever held at the Eagle Harbor Golf Club.  It was attended by 144 golfers, including numerous sponsors.  The proceeds this year will go towards the purchase of a much-needed handicapped accessible passenger van that will be used for work and activity transportation.  “The Friends of BASCA are extremely pleased with the overwhelming support from sponsors, participants, and volunteers to made this event a success.  Without participants, we wouldn’t be able to have a tournament; without sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to reach our financial goal; and without volunteers, we wouldn’t have great prizes or an organized event,” said Ron.

Second Annual Dinner Auction to benefit FIE

On Saturday, April 12, 2008 the PFA of Fleming Island Elementary
School hosted its second-annual Dinner Auction. The theme of this
year's event was “Let the Games Begin,” in honor of the upcoming
2008 Olympics and was held at Thrasher-Horne Conference Center. It
was also fitting to incorporate the “passing of the torch” as our
school has welcomed a new principal, Ms. Sandy Mead.

4th Graders Experience Florida History Up Close & Personal

Recently the fourth graders at Fleming Island Elementary School visited the oldest city of St. Augustine.  It is an annual pilgrimage for many of the area's schools that are studying Florida History.  In addition to the lessons learned in the classroom, nothing can take the place of actual hands-on learning of what our colonial ancestors did.  Many activities are offered for the students to participate in throughout the city.  Those include a tour of some of the oldest churches in the city that Henry Flagler was involved in building.  Also an area specifically for the students was a "colonial jobs" in which they actually got to do some of the crafts.  Additionally the infamous tour of the Castillo de San Marcos Fort details the heroic battles that were fought many years ago.  Finally, a trip to St. Augustine would not be complete without shopping for some "old time goodies" on St. George Street.  Year after year, the fourth graders appreciate the proximity of such rich history just around the corner.

Rear Admiral Vitale to speak at CCCC Military Appreciation Luncheon

Rear Admiral Michael C. Vitale,  Commander, Navy Region Southeast will be the keynote speaker at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, May 15, 2008.   The luncheon will be held at the Howard Johnson Inn, located at 150 Park Avenue in Orange Park.

St. Johns’ Weaver Named to 2008 FHSAA Academic All-State Team

St. Johns Country Day School senior Thomas Weaver is one of 12 boys selected as a member of the 2008 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Academic All-State Team.

Thomas is the son of Tom and Amy Weaver.  He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in a senior class of 48 students.  Thomas earned varsity letters in soccer, and track and field all four years of high school, as well as two letters in football and one in swimming.  He plans to attend the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and study history, Spanish, and pre-law.

This year, 24 student-athletes are being honored from the more than 70 qualified nominees from the Association’s 650 member high schools.  To be eligible for selection to the team, a student must be a graduating senior, must have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and must have earned a varsity letter in at least two different sports during each of his or her junior and senior years.

Musical Comedy "Where's Charley?" last week at Lakeside Junior High

The Musical Comedy "Where's Charley?" was performed last week at Lakeside Junior High School for three evening and one matinee performances. Hysterical laughter swept the crowd as the characters came to life on the stage. The play set in Oxford, England in 1892, where two college chaps run into trouble when they try to charm their ladies. Hilarious misunderstandings arise when Charley's "aunt" drops by for a visit, setting off a chain of unexpected antics. The play has Tony Award-winning musical numbers by Frank Loesser such as "Once in Love with Amy," "My Darling," "The Woman in His Room," and the title song, "Where's Charley?" The show ran on Broadway back in the late 1940's with Ray Bolger, as Charley, winning a Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.

Suns Begin Ten-Game Homestand Wednesday Afternoon!

The Suns return to action for ten straight games at the Baseball Grounds beginning Wednesday, April 30!  The Suns face the Tennessee Smokies for five games, followed by five games against the Carolina Mudcats, through Friday, May 9!

The homestand begins Wednesday, April 30, with a Businessperson Special, sponsored by Comcast, The Florida Times-Union and WOKV AM690 & 106.5 FM!  Enjoy baseball in the SUNShine, where $14.00 will get a home plate box seat, a large hot dog and a large drink of choice.

The first of two Thursday Night Throwdowns this series takes place on May 1. Enjoy Buds for a Buck and Bacardi specials for $2!  Thursday Night Throwdown is sponsored by Budweiser, Bacardi and Planet Radio 107.3.  It’s also Chevy Night – see the hottest rides from Chevrolet, courtesy of your Southern Chevy Dealers.