The portion of Amelia Island Parkway between Sabal Palm Road and Ocean Village Avenue will be closed from Monday, November 2, through Saturday, November 14, 2015, while repairs are made to a sewer manhole on the Parkway. An aerial map is attached for your information.

Limited access will be provided to Emergency Vehicles and Subdivision Residents of Ocean Village, Summer Woods, and Mariners Walk.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Becky Bray with Nassau County Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225 or via e-mail at [email protected].

-Sabrina Robertson
 Nassau County Manager's Office

On Monday, October 12, 2015, the Board of County Commissioners approved a Resolution proclaiming the week of October 18-October 24, 2015 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Week" in Nassau County, Florida. Wednesday, October 21st was also declared as "Pink Day" to promote breast cancer awareness and to remind everyone of the importance of early detection. County employees were encouraged to dress in pink to commemorate this day and show their support for the cause.

To see a copy of the Resolution, please click here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

As part of their United Way campaign, the Board of County Commissioners occasionally organizes Community Volunteer Projects. The most recent Community Volunteer Project was a Food Drive organized to benefit Barnabas. Employees were notified of the food drive on October 13, 2015, and over the next two weeks, various items were collected including cereal, canned vegetables, soup, pasta, fruit cups, and peanut butter. We are happy to report that today, 237 pounds of food was delivered to Barnabas to help families in need right here in Nassau County.

A big thank you to each person who made a donation for this Community Volunteer Project! We are so fortunate to live in a county with so many caring individuals.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

Representatives from Nassau County attended this morning's United Way Kick-Off Event at Barnabas. After a brief presentation, participants were split into three groups for community projects which focused on education, financial stability, and health.

Included are some pictures of various County Reps filling grocery bags with Thanksgiving foods such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, corn, and cranberry sauce. Over 650 bags are filled and ready for families in need this holiday season. Great job by everyone involved!

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

Sudden cardiac arrest is currently the leading cause of death in the United States and a study released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed that many sudden cardiac arrests occur while the victims are at work. It is believed that placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the workplace, along with proper training on how to use the devices, can mean the difference between life and death because more than 90% of cardiac deaths occur before the patient reaches the hospital. It has also been noted that when a patient is treated with an AED prior to paramedics arriving at the scene, survival rates are improved significantly.

In the Spring of 2015, the County was notified that the Florida League of Cities was accepting safety grant applications to assist local government entities with the costs to purchase AEDs for their facilities. The County applied for the grant and was notified in May 2015 that their grant application had been approved and that Nassau County would be awarded $2,634, with a 50% match required. The County subsequently ordered 7 AEDs and 7 wall cabinets to be placed in various County facilities.

The AEDs were received in July and Nassau County Fire/Rescue began conducting individual departmental trainings to teach staff how to use them. Training curriculum included:

• An overall working knowledge of CPR
  
• Safety for both victims and rescuers
• How to turn on the AED
• Where to place the electrodes
• How to deliver the shocks
• Hands-on practice for each staff member

Brief sessions of about 30-60 minutes are an effective way to provide employees with initial training on how to operate AEDs, and is helpful in keeping their skills fresh.

Nassau County Fire Rescue offers FREE hands-on CPR training to businesses and community organizations including civic groups, sports associations, and churches. Please note that this type of free training does not include official CPR Certifications. To schedule a training, please contact Nassau County Fire/Rescue Headquarters at (904) 491-7525.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

The Nassau County Extension Office is hosting their annual fall plant sale this Saturday, October 10, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the James S. Page Governmental Complex located at 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee.

The plant sale will feature a variety of trees, plants and shrubs, as well as unique planters hand painted by the Master Gardeners. You don't want to miss this event! For more information, please contact the County Extension Office at (904) 530-6350.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

At the Monday, October 12, 2015 Board of County Commissioner's meeting, the Board will adopt a Resolution proclaiming the week of October 18-October 24, 2015 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Week" in Nassau County. If you or a loved one has been affected by breast cancer, we encourage you to attend the meeting to hear the reading of this Resolution.

The Resolution will also designate Wednesday, October 21st as "Pink Day". All citizens are encouraged to wear pink clothing or a pink ribbon in support of the cause and as a reminder of the importance of early detection. Submit pictures of yourself or employees within your organization wearing pink and we will share some of them here on our webpage. Please e-mail your pictures to [email protected].

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

In honor and remembrance of the victims of the Oregon shooting, and pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation, Governor Rick Scott has directed all flags in the State of Florida to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

To view the memorandum from Governor Scott, please click here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

The Florida Department of Transportation has provided the attached monthly status report for the State Road 200/A1A Widening Project. The report gives an overview of activities that have taken place since the project began in September 2014, as well as activities that are expected to be performed this month.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Debbie Delgado, Public Information Officer for Adkins Global, at (904) 524-3869 or via e-mail at [email protected].

-Sabrina Robertson
                         County Manager's Office

National Fire Prevention Week is being observed the week of October 4-October 10, 2015 and this year's theme is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm".

According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of all home fires occur during the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., during the time when most people are asleep. If you have working smoke alarms in your home, your chances of dying in a fire are cut in half.  Be sure to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside of each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement. People who are hearing impaired should install special alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers. And don't forget to change your alarm batteries twice a year. A good rule of thumb is to change them in the fall and spring when the time changes.

If you are in need of smoke alarms but can't afford to purchase them, and you live in the unincorporated area of the County, you may qualify for Nassau County Fires Rescue's Free Smoke Alarm Program. Simply fill out the attached application and return it to Nassau County Fire/Rescue Headquarters located at 96161 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. If accepted, Fire Inspector Jerry Marrison will contact you to schedule a date and time for installation. For questions, you may contact Mr. Marrison at (904) 491-7525 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Last but not least, be sure that each member of your household understands the meaning of the alarm and how to evacuate safety. The National Fire Prevention Week's website provides a variety of facts about fire prevention, tips on how to make learning about fire prevention fun for your children, and quizzes to test your knowledge.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office