Home Town Journal

12/13/2024

Check out the Christmas happenings around Baker on hometownjournal.org
Merry Christmas everybody!!

11/22/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/22/2024

It's time for the Council on Aging's (COA) annual Adopt a Senior for Christmas! The COA has been blessed over the years to have such a wonderful community that comes together and helps them give a special Christmas gift to each one of our Baker County seniors. Many of them have little family and some don't have any. When the gifts are delivered these seniors light up like the star on top of the Christmas tree. It means the world to them knowing someone in our community took the time to think of them during the holidays. Everything you do is greatly appreciated!

If you would like to adopt a senior for Christmas, please call 904-259-2223 ext. 223. The COA will respond with a tag number and a list of items to give you an idea of their size, if they are a diabetic, etc. Please do not feel obligated to buy what's on the list - it's just to give you ideas.

Thank you to the people in our community for always adopting a senior during the holiday season and bringing Christmas to them, it truly means so much to them. If you choose to participate in the event, the COA asks that all gifts are dropped off to the Baker County COA on HWY 90 by 12/18/2024 in order to get them delivered in time for Christmas. You can drop them off Monday- Friday 8-5pm.

May God Bless You All - have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!

11/11/2024

11/04/2024

Mark your calendars for the Okefenokee Pioneer Day on November 23rd! This is an amazing event that showcases how life was 'back in the day'. You and your family will learn so much through the demonstrations and participation!
Event details are at hometownjournal.org

09/13/2024

The Country Pup Expands!
Read about this up-and-coming pet grooming and boarding business in Baker County that is growing! Courtney and John Kline's business has been a huge success and they are expanding their services and their location. Read all about it at hometownjournal.org

09/03/2024

Sugar Cane Festival October 18 & 19
Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich history and sweet traditions of sugarcane harvesting at the Sugarcane Festival on October 18th & 19th at Old Mill Farm! This family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to experience the magic of turning fresh sugarcane into golden syrup, just like our ancestors did. Loads of activities and loads of fun! Details at hometownjournal.org

08/12/2024

🌟 School Supply GIVEAWAY! 🌟
Yes, you heard that right! We’re giving away essential school supplies to help kick off the new school year with ease. Whether you’re a student gearing up for class or a parent preparing for the school season, this is your chance to grab some fantastic freebies!
But that’s not all! Enjoy a morning filled with fun activities (waterslides, games and more!) meet other community members, and celebrate the start of the school year with us.
Mark your calendars, spread the word, and come on out for a morning of fun and freebies. We can’t wait to see you there!
When: This Saturday 8/17 10 AM - 12 PM
Where: Taylor Church
Let’s make this back-to-school season the best one yet. See you at the Bash!

08/12/2024

St. Marys Riverkeeper is looking to bring on two Interns this Fall! If you are passionate about the St. Marys River, science-based advocacy, making a positive impact on the environment, and love to work outdoors, this might be for you!

Internship Opportunities
Sturgeon Intern

The Sturgeon Intern will play an integral role in fulfilling St. Marys Riverkeeper’s mission and support wildlife conservation in the St. Marys River watershed. This role provides individuals with real-world experiences in research field work and public policy to develop core skills in policy analysis, management, and leadership.
Link for the scope of work can be found on hometownjournal.org

Communications and Marketing Intern

The Communications and Marketing Intern will play an integral role in the mission and messaging of various activities critical to St. Marys Riverkeeper. This role provides individuals with experience in content creation, event promotion, tracking and analyzing social media data, and more. Intern will contribute to the implementation of our communication plan and drive community engagement through frequent newsletters, press releases, social media presence, and tabling events.

St. Marys Riverkeeper Communications and Marketing Intern Scope of Work!

Would you or someone you know be perfect this role? To apply, send your resume to Emily Floore, Executive Director and Riverkeeper, [email protected] before Friday, August 30, 2024. Resumes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and a hiring decision may be rendered prior to the deadline.

We are looking for river advocates who love the St. Marys River and want to see it thrive into the future.

07/06/2024

Farm Share Food Distribution Saturday, July 13th. Details at hometownjournal.org

07/05/2024

Have you ever thought about a career as a correctional officer? A Baker Correctional Institution Recruitment event will be held at CareerSource in Macclenny. Details at hometownjournal.org

07/03/2024

Military Lunch on July 4th. Details at hometownjournal.org

06/18/2024

2 Food Distributions this week in Baker County! Get the details at hometownjournal.org and spread the word!

05/29/2024

Are you looking for a great employment opportunity? Tim Prep is hiring!

05/28/2024

The Summer Meal Program kicks off Tuesday, May 28th and runs through July 25th Monday through Thursday. There are 13 sites in Baker County that kids can get free meals! Kids and teens 18 and under can eat for free all summer long. What a great program!?! To help ensure that Florida children have access to wholesome meals during summer break, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partners with schools and organizations to provide free meals to kids and teens from low-income areas.
Looking for your closest Summer BreakSpot site? Let us help!

Baker County Pre-K / K Center
362 South Blvd., Macclenny
Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30
Lunch 11:00 - 12:30
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Baker County High School
1 Wildcat Dr., Glen Saint Mary
Lunch 12:35 - 12:55
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Baker Manor Apartments
680 S. 6th Street, Macclenny
Lunch 11:55 - 12:15
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Baker County Middle School
211 S. Johnathan St., Macclenny
Breakfast 7:45 - 8:15
Lunch 11:45 - 12:15
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Olustee Park
2238 Leonard Ford Rd., Olustee
Lunch 12:10 - 12:30
GRAB & GO!
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Sanderson Circle
6862 County Road 127, Sanderson
Lunch 11:35 - 11:55
GRAB & GO!
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Margaretta Park
County Highway 139, Glen Saint Mary
Lunch 11:00 - 11:20
GRAB & GO!
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Macclenny Duck Pond
160 West Blvd., Macclenny
Lunch 11:00 - 11:20
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Jonesville Park
Highway 127 at Lee Givens Rd., Sanderson
Lunch 11:55 - 12:15
GRAB & GO!
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Taylor Store
24626 Highway 125 N., Taylor
11:15 - 11:35
GRAB & GO!
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Minnesota Ave Apartments
506 W. Minnesota Ave., Macclenny
Lunch 11:30 - 11:50
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Northwood Apartments
307 East Ohio Ave., Macclenny
Lunch 12:00 - 12:20
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Baker County Fairgrounds
5567 Lauramore Rd., Macclenny
Lunch 11:30 - 11:50
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Keller Intermediate School
420 S. 8th St., Macclenny
Lunch 11:00 - 11:20

05/21/2024

Congratulations to Jaslene Diaz, a 10th grader at BCHS! She submitted an impressive art piece for the first ever 2024 Baker County Law Day Art Contest which celebrated this year’s nationwide theme, “Voices of Democracy”. She named her piece “Elements of Democracy” and included a detailed description of the symbols and symbolism in her painting. Judge Lorelie Papel Brannan said, "I enjoyed meeting this young artist and seeing the Law Day theme brought out so beautifully and thoughtfully."