We Insure HOMES Jane DiLoreto Agency CLAY 215-2121 3701193-01 LEGALS NOTICES: From the Clay Today Sta PAGE 30 & ONLINE TODAY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011 WWW.CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM VOLUME 41, NO. 48 75¢ NEWS Stolen CCFR medications prompt probe Clay Today staff several re rescue units, of cials said Friday, to an investigation that now includes the Clay FOCUS GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Fire Dec. 16. County Sheriff’s Of ce. Rescue personnel are under investigation and A CCFR lieutenant doing routine daily check At news conference Friday, Fire Chief Lorin being required to take drug tests after the dis- on Dec. 7 of the medications, which are kept in covery of “compromised” medications from locked containers inside a locked cabinet, led SEE PROBE, 13 Board lifts threat of 15 FAIR AWARDS An International group honors the Clay Co. injunction fair. Page 10. Clay Today staff FLEMING ISLAND -- The Clay County School Board re- versed itself Thursday, Dec. 15, and decided not to le a prelimi- nary injunction against a Green Cove Springs pastor who has led morning prayers at four schools. After getting a verbal agree- ment from Russell Baptist Church HELPFUL DETAILS pastor Ron Baker that he would Man shows police OP not continue the prayer sessions theft sites. Page 24. outside four elementary schools until a formal school policy was STAFF PHOTO BY RANDY LEFKO written, the board agreed to with- Lexy Moore, 6, smiles in the bike corral at the JP Hall Christmas Party as volunteer Debora Moody looks on. draw its authorization to School Board attorney Bruce Bickner to By Lisa Kohlbrenner year. The J. P. Hall Sr. Christmas seek the injunction. Hall Party staff writer Party for Clay County’s under- The board had taken the ac- GREEN COVE SPRINGS – privileged children marked its tion at its Nov. 22 meeting after Thousands of people lined up for 30th year that day. The event be- it said Baker broke a written gifts bring hours outside the Clay County gan at 8 a.m. and continued until agreement to hold prayer ses- fairgrounds on Saturday, Dec. noon. But gates opened at 5 a.m. sions on property next to Clay BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS 17, waiting for what might be Whitey’s holds annual big smiles their only Christmas cheer this SEE HALL, 14 SEE SCHOOL, 15 boat parade. Page 6. BENNETT BUILDINGS INSERTS DICK’S SPORTING OF ORANGE PARK GOODS Storage * Carports * Gazebos $200 DOWN ON RENT TO OWN! Apply By Phone 904-298-1122 www.bennettbuildingsoforangepark.com 1238 Blanding Blvd. 3875759-01 2 Clay Today • DECEMBER 22, 2011 Business • Community • military • oBituaries • PoliCe • sChools • Classifieds • fun & humor • legals • sPorts CLAYTODAYONLINE.COM Mistletoe, not poinsettias, is the dangerous holiday plant Q. My grandchildren visit me for plants become weaker the longer they are Christmas and I have heard that Poinset- kept under those conditions and grow very tias may be poisonous and children could Seasonal spindly. They often fail to hold their flowers die if they eat a leaf. Is this true? or leaves. A. This is misinformation about this concerns To supplement with additional light, plant that has been held and repeated in place them under a desk lamp or in a cor- various books for years, but is unfounded. from ner where a directional pole lamp or swag Poinsettias are considered toxic from the lamp can be positioned right above them standpoint that their sap may cause un- gardeners and set on a timer so it stays on for 4-6 comfortable rashes in some, but the one in- hours longer than the office is open. In the cident where it is reported that a child died RAY H. ZERBA JR. home, group plants in a corner and once from eating the leaves has been disputed Extension Agent IV again place a light over them with a timer and now thought entirely untrue. The only Clay County to insure they receive 14-16 hours of light toxicity it has is in the skin rashes its sap per day. Don’t leave the light on continu- may cause in a small number of people. and it was used in amulets, bracelets, and ously because these plants also need 6-8 Having addressed that, let’s turn at- rings to ward off evil and protect against A tradition of kissing under the mistletoe hours of relative darkness. tention to a common Christmas plant that witchcraft and poisoning. These customs may have started with the Druids. The second most important factor to is cited by many as being more toxic than and beliefs have carried over to its use at the health of plants inside is providing just most other holiday plants - Mistletoe. Christmas time to encourage passion by door frames, placing it in wreaths that are the right amount of water. Many gift plants Mistletoe has been used as a Yuletide way of kissing. Hanging up a berried twig hung high, or hanging it from ceiling or raf- come wrapped in decorative foil. While it is decoration in homes for centuries. This soft was a subtle challenge to kiss the unsus- ter would seem more appropriate displays unnecessary to remove this foil to water, woody plant, with its dark green, oval foli- pecting individual who stood beneath it. for this plant. Remove the plant should its you do need to punch a drain hole in the age and white berries, symbolized peace Considered by many to be a toxic plant, foliage/berries start to dry and drop to the bottom and set them in a saucer to catch and love in many cultures. A Norse belief there is debate about just how toxic it is. floor, where they could again be picked up the excess water. Not providing for drain- may have been the origin of this symbolism The most documented case that led to and eaten by pets or toddlers. age will quickly lead to root rot and plant as it was said that men who met in battle death was from an individual who inten- Knowing the possible potential for toxic- collapse. Plants inside don’t need lots under mistletoe would stop their fighting, tionally drank an elixir made from mistle- ity of this plant, inappropriate uses (which of water, but they do need to be checked kiss and make-up. toe berries for medicinal purposes. I have personally witnessed) for mistletoe frequently (twice a week) to see that they The tradition of kissing under mistletoe In light of this, if you have chosen to would be (1) enclosing it in cards sent to don’t dry out. The mixes they are placed may have also originated from the Druids bring mistletoe into your home, it would be friends or relatives, (2) Using it as orna- in at the nursery hold water for long peri- who considered mistletoe a sacred plant. best not to have any sprigs with berries on ment on Christmas trees (especially the ods but then when they start to dry, they They believed that it held magical virtue it that might fall to the floor and be eaten by lower branches), (3) attaching it to pack- do so very quickly and are then hard to and was a remedy for evil. Twigs with ber- a child or pet (most vets consider mistle- ages for decoration, or worse of all (4) us- rewet. That sudden drying in a two day ries were hung above doors to indicate that toe toxic to pets as well), and to place the ing it for decoration on a table where food period, because someone was not checking past grievances and hatreds were forgiven plant out of reach of both. Hanging it over or drink is to be served. the plants, is the most common reason to have Holiday Cacti shrivel and loose their Proper care for holiday plants blooms, and have Poinsettias suddenly With the Holiday Season in full swing shed their leaves. In an office, be sure to Clay C unty now, we are fielding calls on how to care for check plants before you leave on Friday Animal Care & Control various gift plants that are being received. and first thing again Monday morning. Two commonly given to office workers (or Least important of all the care activi- Up for Adoption the host of a gathering) are the Poinsettia ties for interior holiday plants is fertiliza- and Christmas cactus. Both can be grown tion. Most come from the grower with little Onyx is a sweet 2 successfully inside a building if their basic round, brownish, pearl-like beads that are year old spayed female who was turned in to needs are met. slow release fertilizer pellets that release CCACC by her owner. All plants need light to make their own nutrient each time you water for up to four She is available for food through the process called photosyn- months inside a home or office. immediate adoption and her adoption fee thesis. One of the two most important --- Bruce Allen Scudder’s is only $20.00. Onyx things to do for plants inside is to make Want someone to answer a specific would make a great sure they have a minimum of 14-16 hours plant question for you? Go online to http:// addition to your family - and certainly of light each day. For many offices that clay.ifas.ufl.edu To speak to someone by she would love to have a forever home before only remain open 8-10 hours a day, this phone, call 269-6355. Christmas. Stop by and take Onyx out for some is difficult.