Lifeguard training, former CIA officer's book, acoustic music: Things to do at the Beaches

Free jazz concert

Kick back with the quintessential American art form known as jazz during a free concert hosted by Beaches Fine Arts Series, the Jazz Studies Program at UNF and the Great American Jazz Series on Thursday, March 3.

The featured performers, percussionist/singer Jamison Ross and tenor saxophonist Bob Reynolds, are graduates of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. As members of the Grammy-winning band, Snarky Puppy, each artist also boasts a thriving solo career and will perform with the UNF Jazz Ensemble 1 as part of the school’s Great American Jazz Series.

One of the hottest young names in music, Ross’ music blends jazz, R&B, soul, gospel and blues. His 2015 debut release, Jamison, garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Reynolds, based in Los Angeles, is an award-winning composer and a prolific recording artist with 10 top-selling solo albums to his credit. Widely known for his work with both Snarky Puppy and John Mayer, he’s been a featured soloist with Grammy-winning instrumentalists like Larry Carlton, Chris Botti, and Jeff Lorber and worked with a host of pop artists including Michael Bublé, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, The 1975 and Usher.

A pioneer in online education, Reynolds has coached thousands of musicians since 2010 through his innovative Virtual Studio, and more than 76,000 people subscribe to his YouTube channel. He began playing the saxophone at age 13, and after high school he honed his skills at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where he was mentored by a number of renowned musicians.

The concert takes place in the Robinson Theatre at UNF Fine Arts Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to BeachesFineArts.org.

Trash to Treasures sale Saturday

Find bargains galore at the Ribault Garden Club's annual Trash to Treasures sale, on Saturday, March 5 from 8 a.m. to noon. Among the offerings are kitchenware, plants and planters, home décor, sporting equipment, jewelry, books, children's toys, clothing and much more.

A preview party takes place on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., which includes wine and appetizers for a $10 fee. Come shop early for fun and the best selection.

The Ribault Garden Club is located at 705 Second Ave. N. in Jacksonville Beach. Parking is available at the rear of the building. Call (904) 246-4641 for more information.

Jax Beach hiring lifeguards

Are you a good swimmer who loves the beach and desires to help others? The Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue Division is hiring paid lifeguards.

Once application is complete:

• An Encounter Assessment (situational judgment test) will be emailed to the applicant and is required to pass training.

• After passing the assessment, candidates will be contacted to schedule the pre-qualification exam day and interview.

Lifeguard Academies are held on Saturdays and Sundays; the schedule is as follows:

• March 19 to April 10 — Candidates must apply and pass their situational judgment assessment by March 3 to be eligible for tryouts on March 6. Candidates who don't complete and pass their situational judgment test by March 6 will be considered for the next class tryouts on April 17.

• April 30 to May 22 — Candidates must apply and pass their situational judgment assessment by April 14 to be eligible for tryouts on April 17. Candidates who don't complete and pass their situational judgment test by April 14, 2022 will be ineligible for hire for the 2022 season.

All candidates are paid during training. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/JOIN-JBOR or JacksonvilleBeach.org/oceanrescue. Candidates with additional questions may also email JDonnell@jaxbchfl.net.

Songwriters Concert Sunday

Enjoy an evening of performances from local artists tomorrow as they transform Gulliford Hall with original music at the Adele Grage Cultural Center from 6 to 8 p.m.

The cultural center is located at 716 Ocean Blvd. In Atlantic Beach, and the event is hosted by Roy Peak. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and seating is first-come, first-served. Email atlanticbeachmusic@gmail.com or recreation@coab.us, or call (904) 247-5828 for information.

PV Beaches Coalition meets Monday

The Ponte Vedra Beaches Coalition hosts its next monthly meeting on March 7, beginning at 10 a.m.

Featured speakers include Vicky Oakes, St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections; Sheldon Friedman, board member of the Citizens Traffic Task Force; and Jane Rollinson, board member, Ponte Vedra Zoning & Adjustment Board and Citizens Traffic Task Force. In addition, Lisa Johnson Cook will provide updates on a number of county meetings.

The meeting takes place at the Ponte Vedra branch library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach. For complete details, go to PVBCoalition.org.

Virtual author event

Legendary former CIA operative Enrique “Ric” Prado presents his new memoir, "Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior,” via The BookMark’s virtual author event on Monday, March 14 at 6 p.m.

The son of a middle-class Cuban family caught in the midst of the Castro Revolution, his family fled their war-torn home for the hope of a better life in America. Fifty years later, the Cuban refugee retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as the equivalent of a two-star general.

“Black Ops” is the story of Prado's legendary career that spanned two eras -- the Cold War and the Age of Terrorism. Operating in the shadows, Prado and his fellow CIA officers fought a little-seen and virtually unknown war to keep the U.S. safe. After duty stations in Central and South America, as well as the Philippines, Prado rose to the highest echelons of CIA headquarters at Langley, Va. In late 1995, he became Deputy Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force.

Three years later, after serving as head of Korean Operations, Prado took on one of the most dangerous missions of his career -- to re-establish a once-abandoned CIA station inside a hostile nation long since considered a front line of the fight against Islamic terrorism. He and his team carried out covert operations and developed assets that later proved pivotal in the War on Terror.

A harrowing memoir of life in the shadowy world of assassins, terrorists, spies and revolutionaries, “Black Ops” is a testament to the courage, creativity and dedication of the Agency's Special Activities Group and its elite shadow warriors.

Reserve a spot for the event on Crowdcast at https://bit.ly/3K2q3AU. For more information, visit BookmarkBeach.com, email bkmark@bellsouth.net or call (904) 241-9026.

Acoustic music in the park

Head out to Bull Park with your lawn chair and some snacks to enjoy acoustic music from local artists on Sunday, March 20.

Hosted by Roy Peak, the free event takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Email atlanticbeachmusic@gmail.com or recreation@coab.us, or call (904) 247-5828 for information.

Tour de Parks ride

Break out those pedal-pushers and sneakers for the Tour de Parks, a family-friendly park-to-park community bicycle ride on Saturday, March 26. Hosted by the City of Atlantic Beach, the seven-mile ride is a fun and leisurely opportunity to explore 10 of the city’s beautiful public parks.

The ride begins and ends at Jack Russell Park, 800 Seminole Road. Starting at 9 a.m., riders will visit Howell Park, Bull Park, Johansen Park, Jordan Park, Donner Park, Dutton Island Preserve, Beaches Veterans Memorial Park, Tide Views Preserve and Rose Park. Participants will be escorted from park to park by Atlantic Beach police.

Helmets must be worn by all riders and every participant must sign a liability waiver when registering. Space is limited to 50 participants. To register, visit coab.us/tourdeparks. For more information, email recreation@coab.us or call (904) 247-5828.

The event could be cancelled in the event of inclement weather, such as heavy rain or thunderstorms. Be sure to check the COAB Cultural Arts and Recreation Facebook page or the events web page at coab.us/events for information and updates.

Walk for veterans

American Legion Post 129 hosts its second-annual Challenge 22 Walk on Saturday, March 26.

On-site registration starts at 9 a.m. at the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion, 75 First St. N. The program begins at 10 a.m. with a 2.2 mile walk to Oceanfront Park, located at 429 First Street S.

Post 129’s goal is to raise $10,000 through the event, which will be distributed among suicide-prevention groups, treatment providers and nonprofits that help veterans in need of mental health assistance, including The American Legion Department of Florida’s Project VetRelief.

Locally, American Legion 129 has 30 coalition partners and 10 strategic partners that receive funding to provide veteran suicide prevention services in Northeast Florida.

Walkers are encouraged to preregister at https://bit.ly/36XwFCA. The cost is $22 per walker and $35 to register and receive an event t-shirt.

For sponsorship information, and to download a sponsor form for the event, visit https://bit.ly/36XwFCA or contact Legion Post 129 Treasurer Jim Wineland at jimwineland@att.net.

Tree giveaway

Want more shade in your yard? Atlantic Beach’s newly updated Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances expands the use of tree-conservation funds to plant trees in front yards on private property. These "Adopt-a-Tree" funds come from property owners who pay into the tree-conservation fund, which is earmarked to expand the public tree canopy.

In an effort to evenly distribute the tree-conservation funds, two trees per calendar year, per property may be planted. The plantings will occur in the spring and fall. Once planted, the property owner is responsible for maintaining the trees.

Go to https://bit.ly/3pfGKQM to complete an application for a free tree. City staff will review your requested tree location to determine if there are any site restrictions, which could include overhead or underground utilities, drainage areas and swales, easements, existing tree canopy, etc.

For information, email trees@coab.us.

Submit events to shorelines@jacksonville.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: LEADING OFF: Things to do in and around the Beaches