Katron Smith and Elzora Norman are now proud homeowners after months of investing their own labor and through the help of Beaches Habitat for Humanity, Supply Source, Ashco and the Ponte Vedra Rotary Club. The homes of Smith and Norman were recently completed and the Beaches Habitat for Humanity held a dedication service June 27.

- • Vastolas Virtual Soap Shoppe
- • In Review....Transformers II: Rise of the Fallen
- • What's Cooking? with Chef Andrea Rosenblatt
- • The Reel Story
- • Palms Presbyterian youth group volunteers
- • More changes for Clerk of the Courts
- • No movement on TDC initiative
- • County working on manure ordinance
- • New laws took effect Wednesday
- • Worksource pays for technical education

- • Sheriff’s Advisory Council Launches
- • This week's cartoon
- • Editorial: MSD should pay more for extra deputies
- • Letters to the Editor
This Northeast Florida native was born and educated in Jacksonville and has spent the last 15 years helping to shape the lives of students on the First Coast.
A pair of freshmen hurdlers ran off with the MVP awards for the Ponte Vedra Sharks boys and girls track and field teams. The MVPs, Kyle Crompton and Abby Solaun, helped lead the Sharks in an impressive inaugural season and, in the process, won district honors in the 300m and 100m hurdle event respectively.
The first luxury cruise ship to be unveiled in six years has been launched and is now sailing in the Mediterranean.
The 450-guest, 32,000 ton Seabourn Odyssey features 225 luxury suites (90 percent with verandas), Charlie Palmer cuisine and when a series of voyages ends this year she’ll set off on the company’s first world cruise.
Shark Spotlight
Junior Ben Douglas thinks the best thing about going to Ponte Vedra High School is being first to do everything.
Panther Profile (see inside)
Kristen Kemp, rising senior, class of 2010, thinks the best thing about going to Nease High School is that it’s not laid out like a typical high school.
J. Johnson Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Miami photographer Carlos Betancourt. The exuberant artist creates sleek, provocative photographs that capture family, friends, and acquaintances from all walks of life—from beauty queens to drag queens. He fuses nature with consumer culture, ancient conventions, and personal history. He examines life with a sense of humor, controlled spontaneity, glitz, and glamour.
Summer Garden Concert
July 4, 6 p.m. — The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will be closed during normal business hours on July 4, but will open at 6 p.m. for the final concert of the Summer Garden Concert Series. The Cummer concludes this year’s Summer Garden Concert Series with a performance by the St. Johns River City Band at 7 p.m. to celebrate Independence Day. The concert will feature some American favorites to coincide with the City of Jacksonville fireworks. Guests are allowed to bring blankets, chairs, food and alcoholic beverages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from TreeCup Café. The Cummer will reopen for normal business hours on Sunday, July 5.
4th of July At The GTM Research Reserve
July 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Take a trail walk at the GTM Research Reserve and experience a fun and educational stroll through the uplands trails located within the Reserve. The walk will cover approximately one and one-half miles round trip. Bring water, bug spray and wear closed toe shoes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Guana Dam trailhead pavilion. Entrance fee $3 per vehicle.
July 4, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. — Weekend nature movie "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" will be shown at the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center. The movie features a small shorebird that winters on the southern tip of South America that must make a 10,000-mile journey to its nesting grounds in the Arctic. The pocket-sized long distance traveler times its migration precisely to coincide with the annual spawning of one of earth’s most ancient creatures. Horseshoe crab eggs in the Delaware Bay fuel the little bird’s epic journey to the Arctic, but recently, bird numbers have started to crash. Admission is $2 adults, $1 children ages 10 to 17 and 10 and under are free.
July 4, 11 a.m. — Join Research Reserve Visitor Services Specialist Jake Fitzroy for a presentation on the Pine Snake. Learn about their habitat, diet, predators, breeding, population status and other fun facts. Living in sandy pine lands and excellent burrowers, these fascinating creatures often inhabit gopher tortoise burrows. Meet at the GTM Environmental Education Center. Regular admission fees apply.
The GTM Reserve is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information on these events call 823-4500.
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Events as they happen; the latest from the county, the schools and more
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You see the craziest things running up and down the Beaches
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Jesse Jones:
Picture Perfect Life behind the lens means always looking for the bright side. Take your best shot.
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Mark Pettus:
The View from Here Things sometimes look different from the managing editor's chair.
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It’s American Independence Day — the Fourth of July; a time to celebrate in red, white and blue. There are lots of things to do, so here are our top five picks for how to enjoy the holiday and show American spirit.
Nocatee Community Park was filled with live music, delicious food and entertainment Saturday as the community celebrated Independence Day early by Groovin’ in the Park .
Each week we publish a mystery photo of something from the Beaches — from Vilano Beach to Mayport and everywhere in between.
How well do you know the beaches? The proof is in the details






















