6-24-20
Generous support for Hooked on Heroes fundraiser
Volunteers from Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, Suwannee County Fire Rescue and others plate up more than 450 chicken and rice dinners, last Friday, raising money to help take veterans fishing. -SCSO Courtesy Photo
5-8-20
Barbershops and salons can reopen Monday in most of Florida
Friday, May 8, 2020, Governor DeSantis announced hair salons, nail salons and barber shops that are already in a county where the Phase 1 program is in effect, can re-open Monday.
They must obey enhanced safety protocols, which includes wearing masks and should be by appointment only.
3-17-20
Effective at 5 p.m. TODAY all bars and nightclubs will close
By Governor's Executive Order
Governor Ron DeSantis Issues an Executive Order Regarding Bars, Beaches and Restaurants
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order that will reduce density and crowds in restaurants, bars, nightclubs and beaches to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Bars and Nightclubs
Under the direction of Governor DeSantis, effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all bars and nightclubs throughout Florida will close for the next 30 days. Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) will be enforcing and providing further guidance.
Beaches
The Governor is directing parties accessing public beaches in the state of Florida to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance by limiting their gatherings to no more than 10 persons.
Restaurants
Restaurants across the state of Florida will now be required to limit customer entry to 50 percent of capacity. Seating must be staggered and limited to ensure seated parties are separated by a distance of at least six feet, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Restaurants are encouraged to remain open and expand take-out and delivery services. Additional information will be provided by DBPR.
3-16-20
Submitted
The Suwannee River Regional Library System will close all branches until further notice, out of an abundance of caution in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).
Please visit our library website at http://srrlib.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SuwanneeRiverRegionalLibrarySystem/
for updates.
All book drops, electronic resources, and e-books are available 24/7 for your convenience.
COMMUNITY EVENTS IN LIVE OAK, LAKE CITY, MADISON, BRANFORD, MAYO, DOWLING PARK, HIGH SPRINGS AND ALACHUA, FLORIDA
High Springs Yard & Bake Sale April 18
Submitted - Yard & Bake Sale at the High Springs New Century Woman’s Club. Saturday, April 18th – 8 am to 2 pm. Rain or Shine. Lots of delicious homemade bakery goodies at the bake sale. Many treasures at the yard sale that you cannot live without. Credit cards accepted. 23674 West U.S. Hwy 27, High Springs, FL 32643. 386-518-3276. Proceeds will benefit Guardian ad Litem.
Live Oak Garden Club Spring Bazaar And Plant Sale
April 24 & 25
Submitted - Mark your APRIL calendar for Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th for the LIVE OAK GARDEN CLUB SPRING BAZAAR. It starts at 8 AM and continues until 3 PM. There will be vendors with unique and unusual items and garden art on display just in time for your garden’s Spring Spruce-up. Of course, we’ll have our usual HUGE yard sale and bake sale and annual Caladium bulb extravaganza. Our PLANT VENDORS have an array of trees, shrubs, perennials, spring plantings, and hard-to-find herbs and medicinal plants to behold! Our Bazaar is located at our Clubhouse, 1300 11th St. SW, right between the hospital and the Coliseum.
In addition to supporting the Garden Club’s projects in the community, proceeds from this yearly event help fund the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ youth projects. Florida Garden Clubs send thousands of youths from first through sixth grades to camp in Longwod at Camp Wekiva for a nature experience. Garden Clubs also sponsor high school students to SEEK (Saving Earth’s Environment through Knowledge) which is held each summer in Ocala. Scholarships are available for college students entering a Florida college/university and for all levels of college coursework meeting garden club objectives. For complete information about Garden Club events, check out the club’s website at liveoakfloridagardenclub.com
Breakfast with the Chief - April 25
Submitted - LCPD Chief Gerald Butler has accepted an invitation from New Mt. Pisgah AME Church to host 2026’s second Quarterly Breakfast with the Chief.
Please join us for a complimentary breakfast, informative discussion, and community forum on neighborhood issues.
Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Breakfast served at 9AM. Located at New Mt. Pisgah AME Church 345 NE Washington St, Lake City, FL 32055
Contact Ashley Hardison at (386) 719-5742, Community Relations Coordinator
Wildflower Festival May 2
Submitted - The 2026 Wildflower Festival in Suwannee County will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 9 AM to 5 PM at Heritage Park & Gardens in Live Oak, FL. This free, family-friendly event features native plants, local vendor crafts, food trucks, live music, and educational gardening talks. The event also includes kid-friendly activities like chalk art and much more.
Heritage Park & Gardens is located at 1004 Helvenston St. S.E., Live Oak. For more information or to inquire about vendor spots (approx. $40–$60), follow Suwannee Festivals on Facebook.
April Hearthstone Botanical Gardens Events
Submitted - Saturday, April 18 from 9-12 Noon – Plant Sale & Easter Egg Hunt
Trees, shrubs, native plants, succulents, herbs, vegetables, perennials, grasses, etc. we got “em and all reasonably priced. Bring the kids. Humane Society will be there with homeless pets. Admission is free.
Saturday, April 25 at 10:00 AM – Ikabana
Join us for a beautiful introduction to Ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. Kathy LaDuke, Jr., Master of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana, will share a brief history of this timeless practice before guiding you stepbystep in creating your own arrangement. All materials will be provided. A materials fee will apply.
Hearthstone Botanical Gardens is located at 3300 134th Place in Wellborn, off US Hwy 90. Call 386-438-3102 or go online to reserve a spot and get information.
Check us out at www.hearthstone botanicalgardens.org.
32nd Annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival, June 6
Submitted - The 32nd Annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival will be held on the first Saturday in June at Andrews Square in Wellborn from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm. This one-day event features a locally grown blueberry pancake breakfast, live local entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s games, plants for sale, a car show, a petting zoo, and other attractions.
In addition to over 100 vendor booths, the Country Store will also be open offering homemade blueberry pies, cobblers, jams, jellies, and syrups for sale from the Wellborn Community Association.
The blueberry pancake breakfast is available at the Wellborn Baptist Church, behind the Fire Station near the country store, and at the Wellborn Community Association Center. It is served from 7:30 am – 10:30 am and the cost for breakfast is $6 for adults and $3 for kids. Admission to the festival is free.
Parking is available at the Masonic Lodge on 137 and at the Wellborn Baptist Church. There will be a trolley service to transport you to and from the festival grounds. Bring your lawn chair. Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome. Get there early to enjoy the blueberry pancake breakfast!
If you need more information, or would like to be a vendor please call the Wellborn Community Association at 386-965-4253.
George Washington Green, Sr.
Born Oct. 8, 1844 in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Died Sept. 11, 1915 (70 years old). He is buried in the Corinth Methodist Church Cemetery in Lake City, FL.
-Photo: findagrave.com, Kimberly Rose Wheatley
By Tami Stevenson
Last weekend the reenactment of the Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond took place at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in Baker County. This year marks the 160th Anniversary of what is known as the largest battle fought in Florida during the Civil War. Thousands of reenactors from all over the world converge each year to participate in the event.
