THE CREEKLINESM
SERVING THE NORTHWEST ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMUNITY SINCE 2001 M EMBER OF THE RT PUBLISHING GROUP OF COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Volume 11, Issue 12 Visit our online edition at www.thecreekline.com December 2011 CCE welcomes new citizens at annual Young cyclist peddles his Naturalization Ceremony way to championships By Karl Kennell By Karl Kennell of Jacksonville Honor Guard He may not be presented the colors and the on the United States national anthem was led by Olympic cycling team fourth grader Lexi Skipper. or cycling the moun- Nineteen student ambassadors tain routes of the took turns at the podium giv- Tour de France—yet! ing a description of each of But 12-year-old Hans the countries being represented Vandenberg is well on by the new citizens. Student his way, having taken ambassadors Kayla Ahren, Ciera up road cycling at age Atkinson, Libby Brown, Trevor 10. On October 29 he Carter, Olivia Creamer, Jake Del won fi rst place in at Signore, Chloe DuTremble, Raf- the Florida State Road faella Funnell, Brandon Good, Race Championships Hassan Gulaid, Jailyn Hopkins, riding for the Velobrew Robert Jones, Jake Schneider, Cycling Club in the Emily Sikes, Carsyn Turrentine, Junior 10-12 category Dan Williams, Emma Wood, with two laps and a Claire Yelvington and Herbert time of 0:40:34.528. His Steigelman each took their turn time bested the second describing what made each new place winner by .409 citizen’s country of origin spe- of a second. In the time cial. A chuckle ran through the trial he broke the state Fifth grade teacher Kris Burkes with her students audience when student ambas- record for 12-year-olds Hans Vandenberg (on right) prepares to race. sador Steigelman fi nished his with a time of 15:07 for Fifty men and women States citizens came from talk about India by quoting the the 10K distance. terium and Time Trials. Medals waited patiently in anticipation around the world, including a lowest available round-trip air This past June, Vanden- are awarded to the top fi ve in of possibly the most impor- total of fi ve active military and fare on an international carrier each event. He placed fi fth in tant event of their lifetimes as military dependents. berg participated in the Cycling for a visit to India by name. National Championships, which the Road Race, second in the friends and family fi lled the The ceremony began by Time Trial and second in the auditorium along with the fi fth Nereida Liberty DiDeo, are held once a year, typically Principal Allen Anderson of- mother of 11 year-old triplets bringing the best young cyclists Criterium in the 10-12 year old grade classes of Cunningham fering opening remarks fol- age group. Creek Elementary School. The who attended Cunningham from throughout the country lowed by USCIS Immigration Creek Elementary gave an emo- together. At the National Cham- His prowess in cycling event was the third annual Services Offi cer Troy Ferrill Naturalization Ceremony held tional and inspirational speech pionships awards are given in has drawn the attention of the welcoming the awaiting new about her family’s journey to three diff erent events for each National Pathways program for at the school. The new United citizens. The Naval Air Station Naturalization cont. on pg. 13 age category: Road Race, Cri- Cyclist cont on pg. 14 Your Many thanks to the community What’s Inside JCP CARES holds major food drive Page 3 What’s New Page 4 From the Commissioner By Contributing Writer Kathy Bravo, President and Founder, JCP CARES Page 5 School District Journal On November initiative includ- BUSINESS 19, JCP CARES ing McDonald’s, Page 6 The Sheriff Reports in 2012! collected more Publix, Mar- Your Vote Counts than $21,000 tino Tire, VyStar Page 8 New elementary school Contact us today worth of food and Credit Union, The cash donations to CreekLine, Pinch- Page 10 Constitution and ask about help the hungry in A-Penny Pool Page 12 Register for Relay
Increase our 2012 St. Johns County, Service, The UPS Page 15 Helping Hands setting a new Store, The Cham- discount plans! record for the food pions Golf Club, Page 17 Adventure in patriotism drive this year! Julington Creek Page 20 CHS Happenings Linda Gay With help Chiropractic and [email protected] Page 21 BTHS Fashion Academy from the St. Johns Wellness Center Rotary Club, bags and Lisa Marti- Page 23 Newcomers’ mystery were dropped nelli with Watson Page 25 FCMS Happenings Realty. off at more than Page 28 Garden Club 7,000 homes in Most vol- NW St. Johns Wards Creek Elementary Safety Patrol members more than unteers for this Page 31 Nease Sports Permit No.4 Permit
US Postage Paid US Postage County. The food doubled what they collected for the food drive last year project are local
Presorted Standard Presorted Page 33 Sports in Brief Callahan, FL 32011 was then picked students needing up, counted and sorted. Wards was collected was divided be- service hours for school. This Page 35 Faith News Creek Elementary, Liberty Pines tween Betty Griffi n House and project provides them a way to Page 36 Fishing Report Academy, Fruit Cove Middle Celebration Lutheran’s Christ’s see what a diff erence they can Gardening School and Julington Creek Cupboard Food Pantry. make in their community. More Elementary participated in the JCP CARES also had a num- Page 38 Middle school food drive as well. The food that ber of business partners for this Food drive cont on page 6 running clubs &20,1* SHOP SPA ME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON... 6221to May 2010 &5: Don’t ENVYMEMBERSHIP our MEMBERS is the GIFT that keeps on GIVING!! (purchase a membership and receive a FREE massage) ...Bet(0-'."44"(&1"$,"(&t(*'5$"3%4BWBJMBCMFJOBOZBNP ONE! VOU t'BCVMPVT3&5"*-HJGUJEFBT461&3450$,*/(456''&34 Reserve YOUR Appointment 904.824-9804 The CreekLine 12443 San Jose Boulevard, Ste. 403 32223 Jacksonville,FL A Med Spa by'U5LFKDUG7RZQVHQG www.SpaMeOnline.com Page 2, The CreekLine • December 2011 • www.thecreekline.com џѡѕќѝюђёіѐȱѠѠќѐіюѡђѠ 904.825.0540 of St. Augustine www.oastaug.com LET OUR SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM Keep you in the game!
SPECIALIZING IN THE TREATMENT ȱ ȱ OF SPORTS RELATED INJURIES: ȱ - FOOT/ANKLE SPRAINS & FRACTURES FOR THE TREATMENT OF: - NECK & BACK INJURIES x)UDFWXUHVx'LVORFDWLRQV - SHOULDER SEPARATIONS & DISLOCATIONS x/DFHUDWLRQVx6SUDLQV6WUDLQV - ELBOW LIGAMENT & TENDON INJURIES No Appointment Required - HIP INJURIES & GROIN PULLS St. Johns Location Clinic Hours: - KNEE CARTILAGE & LIGAMENT TEARS 5 pm to 9 pm | 9 am to 2 pm - COLLARBONE FRACTURES Monday - Friday Saturday - BURNERS & STINGERS St. Augustine Location Clinic Hours: 5 pm to 10 pm | 9 am to 7 pm 3055 CR- 210W, Suite 110, St. Johns, FL 32259 Monday - Friday Saturday One Orthopaedic Place, St. Augustine, FL 32086 ȱȱȱ JAMES GRIMES, MD ALBERT VOLK, MD KURTIS HORT, MD BRIAN HAYCOOK, MD JOHN STARK, MD SINA KASRAEIAN, MD ANDREA TRESCOT, MD BETH PEARCE, DPM www.thecreekline.com • December 2011 • The CreekLine, Page 3
Do you have community or club news you would What’s New like included in The CreeekLine? Then contact Martie Thompson at: Community Happenings [email protected] or 886-4919. Start the New Year...
As part of the Food for The Bartram Trail New- Fines program, the St. Johns comer’s and Women’s Club will County Library System will ac- hold their fi rst meeting of the RT Publishing, Inc. cept non-perishable food items New Year on Tuesday, January on a high note! The CreekLine in lieu of overdue library fi nes 10 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the The Ocean Breeze through Thursday, December 22. Ramada Inn in Mandarin. The Why advertise: Mandarin NewsLine Patrons may bring one sealed, meeting is open to everyone. We non-expired, non-perishable invite you to join us for break- $WWUDFWQHZ Players Journal food item for each $1 overdue fast and an informative program Publisher Rebecca Taus fi ne. This waiver is for library by Mike and Dawn Smock of FXVWRPHUV fi nes only and does not include Cruise Holidays Travel Agency [email protected] fees for printing, lost items, nor in Fruit Cove. They will give (QFRXUDJH Editor Martie Thompson may it be used for credit against us useful travel tips, demon- future fi nes. All food collected [email protected] strate the most effi cient way to UHSHDWEXVLQHVV will be given to the Mental pack, explain the new airline Advertising Sales, Linda Gay Health Food Closet for local regulations and delight us with .HHS\RXU [email protected] distribution. The general public tales of their own travel adven- top Advertising Sales, Josh Allen is also encouraged to drop off tures. The breakfast buff et will EXVLQHVV their contributions at any of our be served for $12 a person. A [email protected] library branches or bookmobile check must be mailed by Tues- of mindZLWK Graphic Design, stops. For more information, day, January 3 to secure your Brittany Lehman please visit the Library’s web- reservation. Please call Fran VKRSSHUV site, www.sjcpls.org or contact Albert at 230-6010 for more [email protected] Library Administration at 827- information. *LYH\RXU RT Publishing, Inc. 6925. 12443 San Jose Boulevard EXVLQHVVD Suite 403 Need a break from the Jacksonville, FL 32223 hectic holiday routine? ‘Tis the VXFFHVVIXOLPDJH Ph: 904-886-4919 season for native plant educa- tion! Learn what Florida native Letters to the plants can do for you. Come all ye faithful to the St. Johns Let us help you start attracting Editor policy County Agricultural Building NEW Customers for 2012! At RT Publishing we Auditorium, located at 3125 The CreekLine Community Newspaper is Agricultural Center Drive in St. a free monthly publication distributed via bulk welcome Letters to the Editor. mail to homes and businesses in NW St. Johns Augustine on Thursday, Decem- County. Submission of articles and photographs We request they be no more are received by mail or email, although email ber 15 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 to [email protected] is preferred. than 250 words. All letters The CreekLine The writers’ opinions do not necessarily reflect p.m. Featured speakers include the opinion of RT Publishing, Inc. Advertising must include writer’s name, Rates are available by request. address, and telephone num- Beverly Fleming, Florida Mas- Your Community Newspaper RT Publishing, Inc. is not responsible for advertisement content or accuracy of ber. Only the name will be ter Naturalist Instructor; Gail information provided by its advertisers. Nor Compton, nature columnist; and does RT Publishing, Inc. endorse any of the published. E-mail to editor@ products or services included in this publication. Renee Stambaugh, native plant 904-886-4919 RT Publishing, Inc. reserves the right to refuse rtpublishinginc.com. Anony- advertisement or copy from any advertiser. consultant. This class is free, www.thecreekline.com All rights are reserved and no portion of this mously sent letters will not publication may be copied without the express written consent of the publisher. © 2011. be published. What’s New Cont on pg 9
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valid at whole foods market® jacksonville only. not valid with any other offer or tm discount card. not redeemable for cash or gift cards. limit one coupon per customer. no copies, duplications or facsimiles will be accepted . PLU30 675VALID Through December 31, 2011 Page 4, The CreekLine • December 2011 • www.thecreekline.com /DZ2IILFHRI From the 5RVH0DULH.3UHGG\3$ Commissioner’s Desk (VWDWH3ODQQLQJ:LOOV7UXVWV 3UREDWH*XDUGLDQVKLS By Contributing Writer Ron Sanchez, County Commissioner, District 2 Over 15 Years Legal Experience 904-665-0005 New communication system coming soon www.preddylaw.com In 2004 all government us- along with everyone else on our of 2013. This was a tough but ers of the current radio system system, but the timing was not much needed step towards an 6DQ-RVH%OYG6XLWH frequencies currently used were economically feasible. Funds emergency communications -XVWQRUWKRIWKH-XOLQJWRQ&UHHN%ULGJH The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements. notifi ed by the Federal Com- were very short. It had been 10 improvement that was long over %HIRUH\RXGHFLGHDVNXVWRVHQG\RXIUHHZULWWHQLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWRXUTXDOL¿FDWLRQVDQGH[SHULHQFH munications Commission (FCC) years since our system received due. that they would have to change any equipment update and some Over three years ago, As- to a narrow band system. Some of it was well over 20 years old. sistant County Administrator SICK AND TIRED OF INSURANCE RATE INCREASES? counties had already gone to If more than one agency was Jerry Cameron started research- IT MAY BE TIME FOR A SECOND OPINION. the most popular one used involved in an emergency and ing the system the county was which is the 800MHZ Trunk Si- attempting to reach the com- interested in using. No stone mulcast Interoperable system. It munication center, they were all was left unturned and after a VA RSIT Y is said that the St. Johns County out of luck. A perfect example while he had become a walking Commission back then was go- was the fi re recently at the BP reference book on the radio sys- INSURANCE, INC. ing to wait for federal funding. station and storage facility on tem. He then came to the Board Serving Mandarin That never came and no action State Road 16. Seven units were of County Commissioners for Since 1990 was taken. Our county was left in service and none could com- approval on hiring RCC Con- 268-6365 with the deadline right around municate with the communica- sultants, Inc. to come up with www.varsityinsuranceagency.com the corner and had to make a tion center or each other. the answers we would need to We have helped insurance consumers make better decision because we were in In September 2011, our proceed. They did an excellent protection and security choices since 1990. jeopardy of losing our current board passed a small increase in job and made a presentation to frequencies. The federal govern- the millage to start covering this the board on August 16, 2011. WE LOVE COMPETITION! PUT US IN THE GAME! ment needed those frequencies item with the FCC. This put in During a recent County community meetings concern- space for that purpose. This will for cell phone companies. place a funding source for the Commission meeting, Chief ing the locations are unneces- be a new income source for It’s not that the county system and provided compli- Prevatt brought the board up to sary and will not take place. our county when the system is didn’t need new radio com- ance with the federal govern- date. He covered the procure- complete. munications for the St. Johns ment whose fi nes and other ment process, site identifi ca- A Request for Proposals for Sheriff Offi ce and Fire Rescue, things were to start in January tion, site development work and site work was issued on October A Request for Proposals to tower locations. Our Land Man- 28, 2011. Site development is to locate a contractor to install the agement Department examined be completed by March 31, 2012 towers went out in July 2011. property within the search areas in order to provide the vendor We had three vendors submit to identify suitable parcels. Sev- with developed-ready sites for proposals by the deadline. The en of the towers could be built tower construction. The towers Evaluation Committee ranked on existing county-owned par- will be comparable to the coun- the proposals on November Wishing You cels and four additional parcels ty-owned tower on Palm Valley 3, 2011. The proposals will be have been purchased. Because Road. Most will be 250 feet tall. brought before the Board of site selection is very precise in The towers will be hardened to County Commissioners at the order for the towers to function withstand 155 m.p.h. winds. December 6, 2011 meeting. as needed, the towers must go They will be designed to support Joy additional commercial carri- in the locations selected. It is because of this preciseness that ers and the county will lease Share your news! [email protected] Peace & Beach Blast Off 2012 to be held on New Year’s Eve By Contributing Writer Jennifer Sauvage, Chairperson, Beach Blast Off 2012 Good Hair Our NW St. Johns County you have the skills to dunk them Community is welcome to come in icy water! Outside the Kids’ out and kick off 2012 in sea- Zone will be more to do with side style at the sixth annual a carnival ride, face painting, Beach Blast Off New Year’s Eve clowns, bungee jumping, pony s 4AX 0REPARATION this event! Enjoy a blast of fl avor, rides and more. s 4AX 0LANNING ice sculptures and fi reworks After things cool off from when several of St. Augustine’s the chili the fi reworks begin s &INANCIAL