Beach exploration planned
Join volunteers at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve for a beach exploration from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15.
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.
Delaney to speak at Ponte Vedra library
Flagler College President John Delaney will speak at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the FOL room of the Ponte Vedra branch library. He previously served as president of UNF for 15 years and was the second named president emeritus of UNF's 52-year history. His background also includes being chief assistant state attorney and general counsel of Jacksonville as well as mayor. The program is free.
Archaeologist to discuss submerged landscape research
The Archaeological Institute of America — Jacksonville Society will meet at noon Saturday, March 15, in Building 51 at the University of North Florida to hear a lecture by Dr. Jessi Halligan from Texas A & M University.
The title of her lecture is “Why Underwater? The importance of submerged landscape research for understanding Pleistocene peoples in the New World.” The lecture is on the thousands of Pleistocene artifacts discovered in Florida rivers and springs and some of the best-preserved early sites in the Americas.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be served afterwards in the Anthropology Lab.
On Saturday, parking is free and the staff/faculty/vendor spaces are available to everyone.
For more information, contact Melva Price at 904-241-9411 or aiajaxsoc@gmail.com.
Grief support group to meet
A grief support group meets on the third Wednesday of every month at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Room 107 of the Family Life Center, 578 First Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach. The group is for men and women grieving the death of a family member or friend. The next meeting will be 7 p.m. March 19. For information, call Kathy at 904-553-8933.
Job Hunters workshop focus: networking
The Savvy Job Hunters Ministry of Christ Episcopal Church will host a free virtual workshop, “Networking Strategies for Job Leads,” from 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday, March 21.
Learn how to optimize social media and other resources to expand your job leads network. The goal is to transform passive network connections into active promoters. The workshop will be presented by Chad Sorenson, president of Adaptive HR Solutions, LLC.
Email Pam Ottesen at pottesen66@gmail.com to receive the Zoom meeting link.
Registration open for Florida Bonsai Festival
Florida Bonsai Nursery & Supply and The North Florida Bonsai Club will present the second annual Florida Bonsai Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 12-13 at 12985 Chameleon Drive, Jacksonville.
General admission is $15 per day or $20 for the weekend.
The festival will feature workshops and “bring your own tree” sessions with artists such as Mike Lane, Mike Rogers, Larry Naeder, Wilson Sanchez and Josh Brown. Workshops and demos are free to observe with general admission, but participation is limited to pre-registration only. Registration is open now.
For more details or to register for the festival, workshops or BYOT events, go to flbonsaifest.square.site.
Palm Valley Market every Tuesday
The Palm Valley Market is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday inside the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Road. The market offers fresh produce, baked goods, local honey, tea, seasonal treats, soap, jewelry, plants and more.
Essential Tremor Support Group to meet
The Essential Tremor Support Group will meet at 11 a.m. April 1 at Baptist HealthPlace at Nocatee, 400 Colonnade Drive, Unit 130; Ponte Vedra. Anyone with essential tremor, their family, friends and loved ones is welcome to participate. The featured speaker will be Alaine Keebaugh, Ph.D., discussing “Brain Health: What are Things We Should Do (and Shouldn’t Do) to Promote Overall Brain Health?” To RSVP and/or questions, email Jan Kary at jkary@verizon.ne.
Repticon set for March 29-30
Repticon is coming to Jacksonville with a mixture of vendors and breeders. This family-oriented, fun-filled event offers guests the opportunity to learn about animals not normally seen in local pet stores. Breeder-vendors are always willing to teach in their field of herpetology.
Guests can also shop for a new family pet among the hundreds of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, arachnids and small exotic animals. Repticon Jacksonville is also the perfect place for them to get merchandise, cages, supplies and both live and frozen feeders, as well as to get expert advice about caring for their new household member.
This event, held at the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair & Expo Center, 510 Fairgrounds Place, Jacksonville, offers a unique family outing suitable for all ages and for a very diverse range of enthusiasts.
Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 30.
Ticket options (sold online only) range from $6 to $15. Children younger than 4 will be admitted free. To purchase tickets or for more information about the show, go to repticon.com/florida/Jacksonville.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
