Marissa M. Conner 
Saturday art reception
The town of Atlantic Beach hosts monthly exhibitions that feature photographic works or paintings by local artists. Meet January’s star artist Caitlin Flynn at a reception Saturday 6-8 p.m. at the Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
Musical entertainment and refreshments will also be offered.
Flynn’s contemporary, figurative and landscape paintings will be on display throughout January. A second reception will also take place on Thursday, January 20. Visit coab.us/artgallery, email [email protected], or call (904) 247-5828 for more information.
Songwriters concert on Sunday
Enjoy an evening of performances by local artists on Sunday as they transform Gulliford Hall at the Adele Grage Cultural Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with original music.
The event is organized by Roy Peak. Doors open at 5:45 pm Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Email [email protected] or [email protected], or call (904) 247-5828, for more information.
State of the Beaches Forum
Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser, Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman, and Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown will be guest speakers at the Beaches Watch community meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
This annual event gives residents the opportunity to learn about the issues that have an impact on the quality of life on the beaches. Each mayor will discuss the state of their cities, addressing the achievements and challenges of 2021, plans for 2022 and legislative session issues affecting the communities of Beaches.
Questions can be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than Monday January 10. The meeting is open to the public and attendees can join using the Zoom platform. For more details or more information, visit BeachesWatch.com.
Shakespeare in the Park: “Hamlet”
Meet at Johansen Park in Atlantic Beach on Friday January 14 for an outdoor performance of “Hamlet in 75”. Presented by Apex Theater Studio’s Bard Bus, in collaboration with the City of Atlantic Beach, the show features a tale of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy. With the setting moved from Denmark to the woods of northeast Florida, the show’s title refers to the 75-minute runtime.
Free and open to the public, the production features students, faculty and guest artists from Apex, with New York actor Nick Case in the title role. Johansen Park is located at 1300 Seminole Road in Atlantic Beach, and the curtain rises at 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, the show will move to Gulliford Hall at the Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
For more information, email [email protected] or call (904) 247-5828. Visit coab.us/recreation for details on all upcoming events.
Advance Care Planning Seminar
How would you like to live in the event of a sudden illness or serious accident? On Thursday, January 20 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., you can learn how to make those critical decisions before it’s too late with the help of Community Hospice & Palliative Care.
Topics for the virtual seminar include advance directives, preparing a living will, and important issues to consider when electing a surrogate in healthcare. The online session will also show you how to document your wishes and share them with your family members.
Email [email protected] for more information or register at https://bit.ly/WinterWebinarACP2.
Lighthouse illuminations in progress
Discover 21 uniquely decorated trees, each with a distinct theme, during this special after-hours event at the St. Augustine Lighthouse, which takes place on select days until Friday, January 21. Visitors can explore the keepers’ house and gardens illuminated by festive lights and garlands, as well as a sensational view of the lighthouse’s night mark.
Tickets cost $ 19.95 for adults, $ 17.95 for children 12 and under. For more information on ticket availability and prices, visit StAugustineLighthouse.org.
Maritime Maya Discussion
The Archaeological Institute of America – Jacksonville Society will meet on Saturday, January 22 at noon in Building 51 at the University of North Florida to hear a talk by Dr. Jeffrey Glover of Georgia State University.
His talk, “The Maritime Mayans and the Costa Escondida Project,” covers the coastal communities of the Maya lowlands, which have played various roles in political, economic and social formations over the past 3,000 years. After presenting an overview of archaeological evidence from the Maritime Mayans, Glover will also discuss how the research team at the Proyecto Costa Escondida begins to reveal the challenges faced (and the opportunities sought) by these coastal peoples.
Free and open to the public, the conference will be followed by free refreshments in the physical anthropology laboratory. Parking is free on Saturdays, with spaces for staff, teachers and vendors open to everyone. For more information, contact Melva Price at (904) 241-0411 or [email protected]
Upcoming Jacksonville Boat Show
Ahoy, gentlemen: The North Florida Marine Association is hosting the Jacksonville Boat Show from Friday January 28 through Sunday January 30 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville. The show offers three days of fun, family-friendly water sports and educational seminars, as well as incredible deals on hundreds of boats and thousands of accessories.
Attendees will be among the first to see and embark on brand new models of all types of vessels, including fishing boats, cruisers, ski boats, pontoons, inflatable boats, personal watercraft and more.
Highlights include:
- Seminar presentations on Saturdays and Sundays by Captain Tim Altman of Hoodoo Sportfishing Charters and Founder of Wahoo Junkies. The seminar series is sponsored by Strike-Zone Fishing.
- Children’s fishing clinics run by Donna Frantz of Fishing 101 on Saturdays and Sundays. The first 100 children to complete the clinic each day will receive a rod and reel combo donated by Barracuda Batteries by Continental.
The convention center is located at 1000 Water St. in downtown Jacksonville. Admission is $ 15 for adults; $ 5 for children 12 and under; and $ 12 for seniors, military, and first responders with ID. For opening hours or more information, visit BoatJax.com.
Gift tree
Want more shade in your garden? Chapter 23 of the recently updated Atlantic Beach 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 landowners who contribute to the Tree Conservation Fund, which is intended to extend the canopy of public trees.
In order to evenly distribute tree conservation funds, two trees per calendar year per property may be planted. Plantings will take place in spring and fall. Once planted, the owner is responsible for maintaining the trees.
Go to https://bit.ly/3pfGKQM to complete a free tree request. City staff will review the location of your requested tree to determine if there are any restrictions on the site, which could include overhead or underground utilities, drainage areas and ditches, easements, existing canopy, etc.
For more information, send an email to [email protected]
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