The Florida Department of Transportation would like to announce that the St. Johns River Crossing Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study Public Hearing dates have been scheduled.

These hearings are being conducted to inform the public of the project and provide the public an opportunity to express views regarding the location, conceptual design and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), maps of the proposed alternatives, and other project related information can be viewed on the project's website at http://www.sjrbridge.com.

Those who wish to submit oral or written statements may do so at the hearing or mail them to the address below no later than April 5, 2010. All comments received by this date will become part of the public hearing record. All residents, property owners and interested persons or groups are encouraged to come and participate. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or family status.

Meeting times and dates are as follows:

• Pasta Bella
• Orchids
• Farm Fresh Produce
• Kettle Korn
• Breads and Pastries
• Organic Skin Care
• Artisan Jewelry
• Citrus Fruits
• Locally Roasted Coffee
• Many Sweets and Treets
  ....And Much, Much More!

Haiti still needs your help and local mandarin residents are stepping in. Will you?

Operating in Haiti since 1989, FISH was founded in 2003 by Edsel Redden, Putnam County Extension Agent for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, FISH faithfully serves the Haitian communities of Gressier (just five miles from the quake’s epicenter), Jeremie, and most recently, Boucan Carre.

For more than 20 years, FISH has helped Haitian communities develop local, sustainable methods to feed their populations. Through a combination of direct feeding programs, cooperative agriculture, micro-industry, education and extension agent support, FISH helps Haitians help themselves one village at a time. In Leogane, FISH provides the fish and poultry meals to the children of the Macombre school. You will see what has happened to the school and can appreciate the long-term interruption that has been caused to the nutrition and educational programs once sustained there. The woman in the foreground is a good representation of the average Haitian in the area now - no home, maybe a few possession and no realistic hope of food or shelter.

FISH is focused on the long-term development of sustainable agriculture in Haiti, while utilizing its assets and relationships to support short-term stabilization efforts. FISH's sustainable agri/aquaculture assets produce protein servings at 9 and 11 cents a serving locally, while employing local Haitians to conduct all production and distribution of food. With the disruption of other forms of nutrition, our expansion demands have been increased for the long-term.

The goal is to form a human chain across Clay county from Doctor's Inlet to Black Creek on February 20th. All funds raised will be disbursed through Christ's Church to support FISH Ministries in Haiti. Your donations are tax deductible and can be included in 2009 filings.

For more information, visit http://www.holdhands4haiti.com, click here for more info or here for the registration form.

On the web as reported by Jacksonville Times-Union.

Where: CR 210 Watson Realty Building- Meeting room
When: Saturday, March 6, 2010
Time: 9:30am-12:00pm
Fee: $5.00 per person (Collected at class)
Limited to: 60

To register for this event, please call Rona at the St. Johns Agricultural Center 904-209-0430. Sign up is required due to limited space and also to ensure that sufficient handouts/books are available for everyone.