Did you know that St. Johns County farmers are Florida’s most productive potato growers? In fact, St. Johns County is the #7 producer of potatoes in the nation. St. Johns County potatoes have anchored products by Frito-Lay, Cape Cod, Kettle, Snyder’s and others. Do you know how potatoes took root in the County?

Henry Morrison Flagler, with an eight grade public school education, founded Standard Oil. Along with his business partner, John D. Rockefeller, he built the company into the richest, biggest business in the world. At its height, the company controlled 90% of the world’s oil refining. The New York World paper reported that Standard Oil was “the most cruel, impudent, pitiless and grasping monopoly that ever fastened upon a country.” By 1911, the Supreme Court of the United States had successfully broken Standard Oil’s monopoly into 34 new companies.

At the peak of his business, Flagler brought his wife, Mary Harkness, to Jacksonville for convalescence. She died shortly afterwards in 1881 and Flagler married her caregiver, Ida Alice Shourds two years later (incidentally, Ida Alice was later declared insane in 1896, enabling Flagler to marry once again to Mary Lily Kenan). The newlyweds honeymooned in St. Augustine, sparking an entirely new business tack – one that made the name “Flagler” synonymous with old Florida.

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Amid our ever-expanding world of online networks and social media groups, it can seem more and more difficult to connect with the actual people in our community. Nextdoor has created a great way to use social media to shrinkour network to only include our neighbors!

The website and app, which launched back in 2011, are available for free and only require your email to sign up. They also need your street address so you can be placed in the correct neighborhood group.

Once you join, you’ll find real messages from your neighbors—unlike other platforms that offer ads and reposts by people you barely know about their co-worker’s cousins’ 50thbirthday party.

Plus, there is no need to send requests to connect! You will immediately be connected with all of your neighbors who are members. Since it’s an established platform, you’ll be surprised how many people you know are already members!

So, what will you find on Nextdoor?

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This Mother’s Day weekend treat the entire family to a celebration of music, food and sunny fun at Vilano Beach’s Music Fest 2019!

On Saturday, May 11 from 3 to 7 p.m., Vilano Beach’s Oceanfront Park will be set up with a stage featuring nostalgic music by Peach Life (a tribute to The Allman Brothers Band) and Not Quite Dead (a Grateful Dead tribute band). Both are local favorites!

The oceanfront venue will also have arts and crafts vendors, an array of food trucks and plenty of beer and soda for purchase. Stay to watch a culinary student competition! Raffles will also continue throughout the afternoon.

Just some of the food trucks include Fried Chicken Kitchen, St. Augies Doggies, Kona Ice and more!

Tickets are only $5 and parking is free (but arrive early because Vilano parking can be tricky).

You can also plan to make a full Mother’s Day weekend of it—special weekend packages are available! Learn more by contacting Sallie O’Hara at sallie_ohara@vilanobeachfl.comor 904-540-0402.

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This coming Sunday, May 5, World Golf Village will be teaming with vendors from throughout Northeast Florida to offer their wide-ranging wares and fares for Taste of Jacksonville.

Each year, Taste of Jacksonville invites local small businesses of all kinds to sell their products, services and food at the large outdoor event. This year includes at least 15 food vendors and nearly 50 business vendors. Just some food vendors include:

  • TBoyz Tacoz & Wrapz
  • Nothing Bundt Cakes
  • Frozen Sweets Truck
  • SautéKingz by Chef Count
  • Aahar Authentic Indian Restaurant
  • Catie Rosie’s Comfort Cuisine
  • Ibex Ethiopian Kitchen

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The 19th Annual Murray Bros. Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament is coming to World Golf Village this Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26. Although the player spots are sold out, you can still stop by to enjoy parties, dinner, auctions and music concerts, all to help raise funds for local charities.

Over the past 19 years, the tournament has become renowned, raising more than $4 million–a true Cinderella story!

While golfers take to the course throughout the days, plenty of action will be happening at Murray Bros. Caddyshack Restaurant. Dinner and cocktails will be provided by the restaurant in addition to special events:

  • On Thursday, enjoy a Pairings Party from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., which includes Dinner & Cocktails, live and silent auctions and live music throughout the evening.
  • On Friday night, come for a Celebrity Concert Jam & Dancing from 7 p.m. to midnight.

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Apr
 
24

PROMISE IS IN THE AIR

Posted by: Rick Pariani in Community Involvement, News
 

Thanks to Mr. Ogden Nash: “Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the boidie is”. You can add, come out yourself, and see how ‘tiz.

No doubt, our region is on the move. We continue to experience and learn about “coming attractions”, regards expansion and development. New businesses, superb services, innovative dining, superlative schools, and imaginative entertainment venues continue to blossom. Unique communities and neighborhoods are underway, offering an array of housing options coupled with life style choices to suit a wide variety of residents.

There is also a federal, state and municipal fortune being invested in our mobility system to interconnect with the billion-dollar, private infrastructure investments being made by the region’s real-estate development sector. Major roadway projects are underway which will provide multiple, safer, easier and quicker connections.

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One of the great pleasures of Easter each spring is enjoying brunch with family and friends. This Sunday, April 19, there are plenty of Easter brunch offerings around World Golf Village, Ponte Vedra Beach and historic St. Augustine.

Don’t spend your Easter in the kitchen when you can enjoy a fantastic meal and spend a relaxing holiday with loved ones! Reserve a table at one of these restaurants offering Easter brunch specials. (Hop to it! All of these either require or request reservations!)

  • Villagio at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $48 for adults, $24 for kids and $38 for seniors. Reservations are required. To reserve, call (904) 940-8623. Villagio is located at 500 S Legacy Trail, St. Augustine.
 
 
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This Saturday, the St. Augustine Outlet Mall transforms into a transportation wonderland! The annual Feel the Wheels event will take place in the shopping center’s parking lot this Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All are invited to experience the excitement of riding in trucks, buses, racecars, tractors, construction equipment, fire trucks, boats, military vehicles and even the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office helicopter. The only thing you won’t see is a “do not touch” sign! Kids are invited to explore the vehicles, climb into the driver’s seat, honk the horn, sound the alarm and have fun!

Sponsored by the Junior Service League of St. Augustine, the event was launched in 2012 by tag! Children’s Museum of St. Augustine to spread the joy of play-based learning to kids of all ages.

General admission is $5 and children 2 years and under are free. Visitors can also participate in a raffle contest.

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Northeast Florida’s preeminent music and food celebration is coming this weekend, April 5-7, to Francis Field in the Oldest City! The 24th Annual Rhythm & Ribs Festival combines great barbeque, live music and fun times, all for a good cause.

Hosted by the St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club, the event’s proceeds benefit many organizations like Betty Griffin House, St. Francis House, Habitat for Humanity, S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue, St. Augustine Orchestra, and many other important community institutions.

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Come see a wide variety of Northeast Florida’s beautiful flora at the annual Flower & Garden Expo this weekend at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center. The event will run Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is presented by The Garden Club of St. Augustine and sponsored by EPIC Behavioral Healthcare. Visitors will be treated to a huge array of native plants, butterfly plants, colorful flowering plants, herbs, succulents, ferns and trees, as well as everything needed to start or enrich your garden.

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