Coastal Friends holding enrollment
Coastal Friends, a women’s social club, is holding an open enrollment this summer and is inviting members of the community to join.
Coastal Friends, formerly known as Newcomers Alumnae, has been in existence since 1998, and its hundreds of members consist of women who have had a change in circumstance, are new to the area, recently retired or just want to meet new people in a fun and welcoming environment and to foster friendships through social activities.
The club offers many activities throughout the year such as book club, bunco, canasta, mah jongg, samba, Lunch Out, Lunch In, wine socials, Ladies Adventure, monthly luncheons and Happy Hour. All these activities allow women to meet other women and have fun in the process.
Additionally, at its luncheons, the club features a speaker or special program and highlights a different charity of the month.
For more information about Coastal Friends, contact brookemeister@msn.com.
Ponte Vedra Beach Library plans book sale
Seymour’s Bookstore in the Ponte Vedra Library is having a mid-summer lobby book sale starting on Friday, July 18, through Saturday, Aug. 2. Open all library hours (except Saturday, Aug. 2, when the book sale closes at noon.) All books (fiction, non-fiction, children’s, cookbooks), CDs, DVDs, vinyls are $1. Stop in and find some real bargains.
Beach exploration planned
Join volunteers at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve for a guided exploration hike from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19.
Collect seashells, search for shark teeth and learn about coastal wildlife.
Meet at the GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach.
Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Hat, insect repellent, water and sunscreen are recommended. The event is free but online registration is required.
Register at gtmnerr.org/calendar.
Palm Valley Market every Tuesday
The Palm Valley Market is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It offers organically grown produce, pasture-raised chicken, eggs and pork; grass-fed and finished beef; local honey; raw milk; bone broth; whole grain, sourdough and gluten- and dairy-free sourdough breads; an array of baked goods; all-natural plant- and animal-based skincare; local artisans; and more. This charming venue located in the heart of Palm Valley affords customers both an indoor and an open-air shopping experience. Palm Valley Market — Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Blvd.
For more information, email info@PalmValleyMarket.com.
Farmers market open every Friday
The Ponte Vedra Friday Farmers Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday at The Peace of Heart Community Farm, offering fresh produce, local farm goods and a welcoming space to connect with neighbors and small businesses.
This farmers market features fresh, organically grown produce; Florida grass-fed beef and pork; real local honey; pasture-raised chicken and eggs; wholegrain breads; gluten-free sourdough bread; natural botanical skincare; creations by local artisans and more in a family-friendly atmosphere
The Peace of Heart Community Farm is located at 14A S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.
Community meeting subject park upgrades
St. Johns County will host a community meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center (1300 Duval St., St. Augustine) to discuss the master planning effort for upgrades to Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park (10 N. Holmes Blvd.) and solicit feedback from area residents.
County staff, including the planning team, will attend the meeting to answer questions in an open-house format, presenting early concepts and collaborating directly with residents to gather ideas and identify project priorities.
The proposed upgrades include (in multiple layouts) courts for tennis, pickleball and basketball with sports lighting, a football field, a community center with a covered patio, park benches, a restroom and concession building, a new fence and more.
Hunger Fight plans open house
Hunger Fight will hold an open house at its new home at 2222 Harper St., Jacksonville, from 4 to 8 p.m. July 24. Attendees can take a behind-the-scenes tour, meet the tea and see how public support helps fight hunger and illiteracy across Florida and beyond.
RSVP by July 21. Text “OPENHOUSE” to 904-736-7755. For more information, go to hungerfight.org.
Archaeologist to discuss handling of Indigenous artifacts
The Archaeological Institute of America — Jacksonville Society will meet at noon Aug. 16 in Building 51 at the University of North Florida to hear a lecture by Megan Fry, coordinator and bioarchaeologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Her lecture is titled “Introduction to NAGPRA: Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Natural History Collections.”
This talk explores the ongoing impact of NAGPRA (Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act) on museum collections, including natural history, ethnographic and archaeological collections.
Updates that went into effect Jan. 12, 2024, will be examined, highlighting both their successes and their limitations. Through case studies, this presentation underscores the ethical imperatives of repatriation, the role of collaboration in the process and the broader implications for cultural heritage and Indigenous sovereignty.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be served after the lecture in the Anthropology Lab. On Saturday, parking is free, and the faculty/staff/vendor spaces are available to everyone.
For more information contact Melva Price at 904-241-9411 or aiajaxsoc@gmail.com.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
