Keep Nassau Beautiful 30th Anniversary Celebration
Media Release
Contact:
Lynda Bell, Executive Director Keep Nassau Beautiful
904-261-0165
knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org

For Immediate Release

30 years in the Making - Keep Nassau Beautiful Celebrates

Keep Nassau Beautiful Celebrates 30 years of education and engagement of Nassau County residents and businesses.

Fernandina Beach, Florida, December 8, 2021. Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) recently held a 30-Year Anniversary Celebration hosted by Mocama Beer Company on Saturday, December 4th. For the last 30 years, KNB board members and volunteers have worked tirelessly to educate and engage Nassau County residents and businesses in protecting the environment and improving the appearance of our community. Current local initiatives include programs to clean shoreline or roadways, collect and properly dispose of household hazardous waste, lead educational outreach efforts, and sponsor free tree events."

The 30-year anniversary was an opportunity for the community to gather and celebrate those initiatives, as well as to continue educating and raising awareness about the important work of KNB. The event included raffle drawings for prizes provided by generous community sponsors and businesses. KNB thanks the sponsors and local businesses for their support; these donations, and the community response to them, allow KNB to continue important community efforts.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you to the Nassau County community for supporting and participating in KNB events now and over the past three decades,” said Mike Cole, KNB Board Chair. “Generous donors, sponsors, partners, public officials, and volunteers provide the resources that allow KNB to serve the community.”

A highlight of the event included the announcement and recognition of the winners of the KNB Inaugural Community Awards. The award categories included Beautification, Environmental Responsibility, and Sustainability.

The award recipients are as follows: The BEAUTIFICATION AWARD recognized Mocama Beer Company for the repurposing of a landmark Fernandina Beach building into a thriving business, and their use of Florida-friendly landscaping which adds interest and beauty to the 8th Street corridor.

The ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD was posthumously granted to Rebecca Jordi, the former Director of Nassau County Extension, and a former KNB board member and officer. Becky championed planting and beautification projects throughout Nassau County, partnered with KNB on the “We Noticed” program, and provided the educational content for KNB’s highly successful Free Tree events.

The SUSTAINABILITY AWARD was presented to White Oak Conservation. They exemplify the award criteria by saving endangered wildlife through sustainable breeding, education, and responsible land stewardship. White Oak partners with KNB and the St Marys Riverkeeper in the annual St. Marys River Cleanup, leads multiple Adopt A Road quarterly cleanup events, and provides supplies that allow KNB to reduce its use of plastic trash bags. “Congratulations to the award winners. By your example, others may be inspired to join us in keeping our community clean, green, and beautiful,” said Josh Baker, KNB Board Chair-elect. To get involved or learn more about KNB programs, 904-261-0165 or knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. Current and former KNB Board Members and Staff. Pictured left to right, Len Kreger, Lynda Bell, Mike Cole, Karen Klima, Sheila Page, Jean Mauldin, and Josh Baker.

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. KNB Inaugural Sustainability Award presented to White Oak Conservation. Pictured left to right, Lynda Bell, Brandy Carvalho, Mike Cole, Jean Mauldin, and Josh Baker.

Photo: Michael Ritter Photography. KNB 30-year Anniversary Celebration, raffle drawing proceeds to support KNB programs. Pictured left to right, Josh Baker, KNB Chair-elect, and Becky Diden, Nassau County Solid Waste Recycle Coordinator.

Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org

8/11/21 @ 5:05 p.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful has issued a press release regarding seeking volunteers to assist with maintenance of pollinator beds recently installed along the Amelia River to Sea Trail near Simmons Road and Oak Ridge Drive. See below for full details.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

Contact:
Lynda Bell
Keep Nassau Beautiful
(904) 261-0165
knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org
​
Planting Nassau’s Future
Media Release
 
Community Volunteers Needed for Pollinator Garden
 
300 flowering plants were installed by more than 20 local volunteers to create a pollinator garden along the Amelia River to Sea Trail.
 
Amelia Island, Florida, August 11, 2021. – Earlier this year Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) coordinated the planting of 300 plants along the Amelia River to Sea Trail near Simmons Road and Oak Ridge Drive.  This project was the result of many groups working together.  The 1-gallon and 3-gallon plants were provided under a new KNB program, Planting Nassau’s Future.  The Law Office of Tomassetti & Prince donated to KNB for restoration and expansion of a pollinator garden at this specific location.  Members of the Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter (FNPS), suggested the right plants for the location.  The Dune Science Group sourced the plants, and plants were stored and watered at the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center until the planting day.
 
KNB members moved the plants from the Recreation Center to the Simmons Road location, where more than 20 community volunteers received training from the FNPS experts on the species and proper planting method.  Within 1 ½ hours all plants were in the ground with evidence of bees, caterpillars and butterflies enjoying the new garden.  Nassau County Road Dept. finished up the day’s work by watering in the new plants.
 
The site has been adopted under KNB’s Adopt A Spot program by the Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter.  Several events have been completed with volunteers assisting in the maintenance of the beds.  With recent rainfall levels the beds have been particularly impacted by the growth of non-flowering plants in the pollinator beds.  We need volunteers to help with weeding and dead heading of the pollinator beds.  Our next planned maintenance event is Saturday, August 28, 9am – 11am.  Please register: https://keepnassaubeautiful.org/news-and-events/
 
The Amelia River to Sea Trail is a winding path that is used by residents and visitors for bike riding, walking and running.  Many sections of the trail have way points for resting and enjoying nature.  These newly restored pollinator beds include a designated Monarch Waystation and a Gopher Tortoise burrow.  Come visit, identify some of the native plants and wildlife, and help us maintain this natural environment.  For information and to get involved in Planting Nassau’s Future: www.KeepNassauBeautiful.org or 261-0165.
 
About Keep Nassau Beautiful 
Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses, and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County.    www.keepnassaubeautiful.org   

 

8/9/21 @ 11:50 a.m. -

During adoption of the annual budget, the Board designates funding to certain non-profit organizations who provide important services to Nassau County residents. One of those organizations is Nassau County's only certified domestic violence shelter, Micah's Place.

Micah's Place utilizes their resale store, The Purple Dove, to generate revenue for the shelter to assist them with safe temporary housing for victims of domestic violence and to help them in establishing permanent housing.

The Purple Dove appreciates all donations, however there are certain high-demand items that generate the most revenue for the non-profit. Examples include:

• Matching Bedroom Sets
  
• Chest of Drawers
• Vintage furniture and clothing
• Boutique and name brand clothing

If you have any of these items, please consider donating them to The Purple Dove. The flyer below includes information about their 3 locations, as well as their free pick-up service.

If you have any questions, please contact Outreach Director, Cassie Ott, at (904) 432-3470.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/6/21 @ 11:15 a.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful shared this Press Release regarding Callahan Girl Scout Troop 336's initiative to plant trees at Ewing Park in Callahan. Though this is not a County-owned facility, we support the work of Keep Nassau Beautiful and are appreciative of all beautification efforts made within the County.A big thank you to the Callahan Girls Scouts Troop 336 for all their hard work!

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

7/14/21 @ 2:25 p.m. - The Board of County Commissioners coordinated a non-profit community outreach event for residents within the Town of Hilliard who are being displaced at the end of August. Several non-profit organizations provided information on services and programs available to assist them in their time of need. Approximately 40 individuals were in attendance.

A big thank you to Barnabas Center, Council on Aging, Starting Point, UF/IFAS County Extension, Community Action Agency, and Nassau County School District's Families in Transition for sending representatives and taking the time to share information about their agencies.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

Contact:   Lynda Bell
Phone:     (904) 261-0165
Email:     knb@keepnassaubeautiful.com

Keep Nassau Beautiful is a Keep Florida Beautiful Award Recipient

Nassau County, Florida, June 22, 2021. – Keep Florida Beautiful (KFB) recently held its annual Awards Recognition Ceremony to honor the top Florida Affiliates of Keep America Beautiful and community partners for their environmental efforts. It was a virtual experience celebrating businesses and organizations for their efforts to keep Florida clean, green and beautiful! The award winners were instrumental in organizing cleanup events, increasing recycling efforts and hosting beautification projects.

During the virtual event KFB staff members presented awards in 12 categories. They recognized local Nassau County affiliate Keep Nassau Beautiful for its outstanding results in promoting the Florida Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. Jules Ruppel, Program Manager for KNB, championed the initiatives which led to KNB being recognized in the category. Jules set an annual goal to on-board new Adopt partners, encouraged Board of Directors members to participate in the Adopt program, led the creation of tools to support new and existing Adopt partners, and kept KNB and its Adopt partners focused on lending a hand to keep roadways, waterways and places in Nassau County litter free.

For information and to get involved: www.KeepNassauBeautiful.org or 261-0165.

About Keep Nassau Beautiful
Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses, and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org

6/17/21 @ 1:30 p.m. - At the meeting held on Wednesday, June 16th, the Board approved Resolution No. 2021-137, honoring Wanda Lanier on her retirement from Barnabas Center, Inc.

Ms. Lanier has served as Chief Executive Officer for Barnabas Center, Inc., since June 2010 and has been very successful in providing help and hope to individuals and families in need.

Under her leadership, Barnabas Center, Inc., has been able to expand their healthcare services and successfully led a capital campaign and endowment campaign to purchase and renovate a comprehensive service facility. This had led to the agency winning multiple awards and recognition including the Florida Blue Sapphire Award; Nassau County Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year (multiple years); the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator; and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

Ms. Lanier has always demonstrated professionalism when representing Barnabas and is become admired by many for her strong work ethic and her compassion for the individuals and families she encountered.

Congratulations Ms. Lanier on your retirement. We appreciate everything you have done for the residents of Nassau County and wish you many years of health and happiness!

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

5/20/21 @ 10:00 a.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful has received results from the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event held on April 17, 2021. While we previously reported that a total of 358 vehicles delivered items, we were waiting on the total weight of items recycle by type.

It has been reported that a total of 49,487 lbs. of materials were collected. This is an increase of 15,713 lbs. from the December 2020 event. The most common items collected were: Latex Paint; E-Scrap Materials (TVs, computers); and Alkyd Paint and Used Oil and Lubricants. As a reminder, latex paint and electronics are accepted year-round at the Convenience and Recycling Center located at 46026 Landfill Road, Callahan.

Attached is a PowerPoint presentation showing a complete breakdown of materials collected, vehicle counts by zip code, and a chart showing how this event has grown over time.

The event also included a food drive for the Barnabas food pantry. We are happy to report that over 600 lbs. of food was collected! A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation to help individuals in need.

A big thank you as well to residents who participated to ensure harmful materials were keep out of the landfill, as well as to the employees and volunteers who worked to bring us another successful recycling event.

If you have any questions, please contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165 or email knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

5/13/21 @ 11:30 a.m.

At the Monday, May 10th meeting, Florida Urban Forestry Council President, Joe Anderson, presented a Friends of the Urban Forest Award to Keep Nassau Beautiful for their program "Planting Nassau's Future".

The primary mission of this program is to beautify spaces in Nassau County. So far in 2021, KNB has planted 750 trees in resident's yards; 15 legacy trees; and has partnered with the Florida Native Plant Society to plant over 800 Florida-friendly pollinator plants.

Please see Keep Nassau Beautiful's Press Release attached for additional information about this award.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/29/21 @ 2:15 p.m. - At the Monday, March 22, 2021 meeting, the Board approved Resolution 2021-36 proclaiming April 2021 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Nassau County, Florida. This was done to raise public awareness sexual violence, provide education on its impacts and encourage community response to sexual violence.

Lori Armstrong of the Women's Center of Jacksonville attended the meeting remotely to accept the Resolution. She stated, "It's because of our community partner relationships that survivors are able to get the support they need in Nassau County". She also thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their support.

The Women's Center of Jacksonville is the only certified rape crisis center in Nassau County. Their office is located within Family Support Services located at 96116 Lofton Square Ct. in Yulee. If you or someone you know needs help, please call their 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline at 904-721-7273 or visit their website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer