Virtual authors, flower show, reptiles, Fletcher reunion: Things to do around the Beaches
Flower show this weekend
Celebrate spring at the Ribault Garden Club Flower Show, with displays of unique floral creations, horticulture, botanical arts and educational exhibits. Club members have been potting and propagating a variety of native plants over the last two years, and attendees will have an opportunity to purchase these beautiful arrangements.
This is a National Garden Club Standard flower show and designs are submitted by members of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. Ribault Garden Club members reside throughout the Beaches area, Nocatee and west of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The show is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. Hours are Friday, April 29, from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The club is located at 705 Second Ave. N. in Jacksonville Beach. Call (904) 246-4641 for more information.
Virtual author event Saturday
Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day by tuning in to children’s author and illustrator Matt Myers, who presents his new picture book, “Children of the Forest,” via The BookMark’s virtual story time author event on Saturday at 9 a.m.
This funny and beautifully illustrated book is the story of two siblings who set off to live a life of adventure in the untamed wilds of their own backyard.
Grabbing a bow and quiver, a boy and his toddler sister set out to live off the land. First, they sneak past their snoozing father to pilfer supplies from the refrigerator, but only what they need. Out in the uncharted spaces they encounter many dangers, from a ferocious mountain lion (a house cat) to a hulking canine beast (their dog). When the sun dips low, they make a camp complete with defenses to ward off predators.
Myers' cool self-serious text is juxtaposed with whimsical art depicting the playful antics of backyard life, making for a tale full of delight for imaginative children.
Reserve a spot for the event on Crowdcast at https://bit.ly/3vLCdIX, or visit the store at 220 First St., Neptune Beach, for prizes and other fun festivities in honor of Independent Bookstore Day.
For more information, visit BookmarkBeach.com, email bkmark@bellsouth.net or call (904) 241-9026.
Saturday lecture: Prehistoric obsidian
The Archaeological Institute of America — Jacksonville Society meets at noon on Saturday in Building 51 at UNF to hear a lecture by Professor Robert H. Tykot, University of South Florida. His lecture, “Obsidian Use and Maritime Transport in the Prehistoric Mediterranean,” discusses how obsidian was widely used for stone tools and traded distances up to 1000 km during the Neolithic period, 6000-3000 BCE.
Formed from volcanic activity, it exists only on a handful of Italian islands: Lipari, Palmarola, Pantelleria and Sardinia. Its presence elsewhere infers maritime travel to mainland Italy, southern France, Croatia, Albania, Tunisia, Spain and other locations around the globe. Nondestructive chemical analysis of obsidian artifacts has been conducted on more than 10,000 artifacts to identify their specific sources.
Free and open to the public, the lecture will be followed by complimentary refreshments in the Physical Anthropology Lab. On Saturday, parking is free, with staff, faculty and vendor spaces available to everyone.
For more information, contact Melva Price at (904) 241-9411 or aiajaxsoc@gmail.com.
Reptile show Saturday
Calling all fans of snakes, lizards, turtles and more! Head out to Dutton Island Pavilion on Saturday for Wild Wonders: “Dinosaurs Among Us” is an informative and interactive live show that displays local, exotic reptiles for children and adults.
Wild Wonders starts at 1 p.m. at Dutton Island Pavilion, 793 Dutton Island Road in Atlantic Beach. For information, email recreation@coab.us or call (904) 247-5828.
Fletcher reunion Saturday
Beaches Museum hosts the Fletcher All-Class Block Party on Saturday, April 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. A gathering for Fletcher graduates, faculty and supporters from across the decades, the party is an opportunity to reminisce and celebrate the Beaches’ only high school, Duncan U. Fletcher High School.
Highlights will feature local music, dancing, food trucks, the gathering of classmates and much more. This year’s theme is “85 Years of Defending the Island.” As the only high school on the barrier island, Fletcher Senators have always taken proud ownership of this coastal community and its unique quality of life.
The reunion coincides with the opening of “Pride of the Beaches,” an exhibit that captures the pictures, stories and nostalgia of each generation of Senators that have walked those purple-lined hallways. In addition, a special Boardwalk Talk, "Channeling Anna Fletcher" by Tim Gilmore, presents the fascinating life of Anna Fletcher, wife of the school’s namesake.
While her husband, Duncan, devoted his life to the body politic, Anna dedicated hers to the spirit world. She hosted séances, opened the Fletcher home to spirit mediums, wrote books about spirit trumpets and ectoplasm, and argued the cause of Spiritualism against Harry Houdini before Congress. Gilmore’s presentation is the story of one woman who struggled to find a voice, wield strength and exercise purpose through the restrictions of her time.
Funds raised support the work of the Beaches Museum. For more information on tickets and sponsorship, visit BeachesMuseum.org or call (904) 241-5657.
Tunnel to Towers exec to speak
On Wednesday May 4, Patty Trousdell, volunteer event director for Tunnel to Towers Foundation, is the guest speaker at Newcomers Alumnae monthly luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001. The organization also honors the military and first responders who continue to sacrifice life and limb for the country.
In addition to its many programs, the foundation builds mortgage-free smart homes for the most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders injured in the line of duty. It has committed more than $150 million in support of the nation’s greatest heroes and their families. For more information, visit T2T.org.
The luncheon takes place at Marsh Landing Country Club, 25655 Marsh Landing Parkway in Ponte Vedra Beach, and the cost to attend is $23. Reservations must be made by contacting bartshar@comcast.net no later than April 29. For more information about the club, visit NewcomersAlumnaeFL.wildapricot.org or email brookemeister@msn.com.
Mayport CO at library
Mayport Commanding Officer Captain Jason G. Canfield addresses the next community meeting of Beaches Watch on Wednesday, May 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Beaches Branch Library.
Capt. Canfield will discuss Naval Station Mayport’s mission and its impact on the beach communities. Expected topics include the role it plays in the country’s national security, what the base has done to address sea level rise and its economic impact on the local area. In addition, Capt. Canfield will share how the community can continue to build and foster a symbiotic relationship with one of the area’s largest employers.
Questions may be submitted before the meeting via email to info@beacheswatch.com no later than May 2. Attendees may also pose questions directly to the captain during the meeting.
The library is located at 600 Third St., Neptune Beach. For more information, call (904) 878-0435, email info@beacheswatch.com or visit BeachesWatch.com.
String quartet performs
Discover an edgy new musical vibe with a performance by ETHEL, a string quartet in a free concert on Friday, May 6, hosted by Beaches Fine Arts Series.
Established in New York City in 1998, ETHEL quickly earned a reputation as one of America’s most adventurous string quartets. More than 20 years later, the band continues to set the standard for contemporary concert music. Known for its enlivened playing that blends uptown, conservatory musicianship with downtown genre-crossing, ETHEL has been described as “indefatigable and eclectic” (The New York Times), “vital and brilliant” (The New Yorker) and “infectiously visceral” (Pitchfork).
Since its inception, ETHEL has released nine feature recordings (one of them nominated for a Native American Music Award), performed as guests on more than 40 albums, premiered 225 new works, won a Grammy with jazz legend Kurt Elling and performed in 14 countries, 45 states and 250 cities.
The church is located at 465 11th Ave. N. in Jacksonville Beach. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first come, first served and a reception follows the performance, featuring the art of Pablo Rivera. For more details, go to BeachesFineArts.org
Book signing
Florida author Robby Weber will be at The BookMark on Saturday, May 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. to sign copies of his new young adult novel, “If You Change Your Mind.”
Hilarious and heartfelt, Weber’s debut novel tells the story of an aspiring screenwriter who learns that sometimes love has its own script.
Harry wants nothing more than to write Hollywood screenplays. He knows the first step toward achieving that goal is winning a screenwriting competition that will seal his admission into the college of his dreams, so he's determined to spend his summer free of distractions — also known as boys — and finish his script. After last year, Harry is certain love only exists in the movies anyway.
But then the cause of his first heartbreak, Grant, returns with a secret that could change everything — not to mention, there's a new boy in town, Logan, who is so charming and sweet, he's making Harry question everything he knows about romance. As he tries to keep his emotions in check and stick to his perfect plan for the future, Harry's about to learn that life doesn't always follow a script.
Masks will be required for any in-store author event. For more information, visit BookmarkBeach.com, email bkmark@bellsouth.net or call (904) 241-9026.
Charity golf tourney upcoming
Take your best swing on Monday, May 9, and support Beaches Habitat for Humanity during the the annual Builders Classic Golf Tournament. Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club is the venue for this year’s tournament, with all proceeds benefiting Beaches Habitat’s mission of building affordable homes in the Jacksonville Beaches.
Jeff Prosser of 1010XL‘s “The Drill” has been announced as Honorary Host. Prosser will be on hand at Queen’s Harbour to play and also welcome the golfers and sponsors.
The format for the tournament is best ball with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Four Par 3 hole-in-one contests feature prizes that include a Pebble Beach golf vacation, a 2022 Land Rover Defender from Fields Auto Group and a 2022 vehicle from Nimnicht Buick GMC. Prizes will also be offered for Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and putting contests. One player has the opportunity to shoot for $1 million, plus four lucky golfers can win a chance to shoot for $100,000.
All golfers will enjoy a boxed lunch at registration, complimentary drink tickets and an awards banquet following tournament play. More information, including online registration and sponsorships, can be found at BuildersClassic2022.com or by calling (904) 595-5794.
Submit events to shorelines@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: LEADING OFF: Things to do in and the Beaches
