Calhoun County libraries have updated their hours for the rest of the year into 2021. Click on the image below for more details:
Local Libraries Update Hours
on Category: Kind to Your Wallet
on Flea Across Florida
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Flea Across Florida is here! FAF is Florida’s longest open market going from Jacksonville to Pensacola and occurs annually in April and September. It is sponsored by Friends of Flea Across Florida. Today, September 11th is the last day to enjoy the fleeting journey of flea shopping until next year. Want to find participating locations near you? Visit the official 2021 map here! For more information or to stay up-to-date on next year’s events, visit the FAF Facebook page. 
Free Trees for North Florida
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The Arbor Day Foundation is working with Florida State Parks to help replace trees lost by Hurricane Michael in North Florida. If you live in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, or Washington County, visit Arbor Day – Florida Trees to reserve your free tree.
There are four different native tree species to choose from but supplies are limited so be sure to reserve yours today. When the saplings are ready to be planted, they will be shipped directly to your home. Trees are beautiful, reduce energy costs, improve air quality, provide shade, and more!
Tallahassee Nurseries
on Did you know that indoor plants offer both physical and psychological benefits to humans who own them? The benefits of houseplants are:
- Boosts indoor air quality
- Promotes exercise
- Encourages healthy eating
- Improves mood
- Relieves stress and anxiety
- Helps prolong attention span
- Boosts self-esteem
- And More!!!
This means the ongoing 2-for-1 houseplant sale at Tallahassee Nurseries is a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of your household! From now until September 2nd, or until supplies run out, the garden center will be selling 2-for-1 of equal-or-lesser value houseplants; rare plants and orchids are not included, despite being indoor plants.
Kayaking on Ocheesee Pond
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Recent rain and perfect summer weather call for a trip to Ocheesee Pond in Grand Ridge! Kayaking is a must-do at this local. To get to the launch site, head east from Marianna on Highway 90 and turn right on Highway 69. Then, after crossing the railroad tracks in Grand Ridge, take a left onto 69A and follow it to the dirt road on the left marked Arkansas. Marking the spot is a boat ramp sign marking the turn.
Don’t attempt this pond alone if you haven’t done it previously, as after a short half-mile paddle through the clear water, there is a maze-like cypress swamp. There is a marker system but they are often difficult to spot and irregular. However, the kayaking route is a beautiful trip. Amongst the cypress tree-maze are aquatic glades of water lily and spatterdock that give the water a splash of seasonal color. There are often basking turtles, elusive alligators on the prowl, duck sightings, and a plethora of osprey and woodpeckers.
Celebrating National Thrift Store Day
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Today is National Thrift Store Day! Looking to celebrate? Visit a local thrift store to support your community and maybe find your new favorite treasure! For instance, perhaps visit the recently opened Fusion Church Thrift Store in Blountstown. They are located at 17256 N. Main Street, Tuesday through Saturday. For more detailed information, visit their Facebook webpage.
Help Marianna Win a Dog Park
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Jackson County has been nominated for a new dog park grant but requires the assistance of the community to win this grant. You can vote ONCE A DAY every day until August 31st. Jackson County has proposed 4574 Lodge Drive as the location for their future dog park. In the city of Marianna alone, there are five pet salons, two animal hospitals, one animal shelter, and one pet daycare resort – truly, a city of dog lovers! However, this animal-loving community has no place to take their dogs for social interaction and playtime. The Bark for Your Park grant, sponsored by the PetSafe Brand, would fund a fenced-in off-leash dog park at the Citizen’s Lodge Park; it would be about a half-acre in size and feature benches for seating, a watering station, shade structure, and a dog waste collection station.
Visit the voting link for Marianna’s dog park location to register your vote!
Parks & Recreation: Jackson County
on Jackson County Recreational Areas, Boat Ramps and Landings
Blue Springs Recreational Area
5164 Blue Springs Rd. Marianna, Florida 32446
Spring Creek Park
4841 Hwy 90 Marianna, Florida 32448
Citizen’s Lodge Park
4574 Lodge Drive Marianna, Florida 32446
Visit the Jackson County parks and recreation website to learn more.
Fishing on the Ocheesee Pond
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Ocheesee Pond is a great place to enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, and more. The lake is 2,225-acres with dark tannic water covered by cypress trees. Lake access is available by taking SR 69 south of Grand Ridge (1.0 mile); then turn left on CR 69A (5.9 miles) and travel left on Shady Grove Rd. to the ramp.
Be careful navigating while in the water; there are many exposed stumps and snags. Try fishing around the stumps and snags in deep holes, where fish often gather. The best baits for wildlife in the pond include grass shrimp, crickets, wigglers, or various colors of 1/16 to 1/8 oz. beetle spins. Try fishing in the early morning and/or late afternoon along weed lines or in deep holes in the lake. The best baits include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, dark plastic worms, or live shiners.
U-Pick Produce in Northwest FL Panhandle
on July is the end of U-Pick Produce at Jackson Farms for this growing season until October. U-Pick is a fun, cheap, and delicious activity for those of all ages. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can pick a variety of peak produce including tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, snap beans, eggplants, pickles and more.
Jackson Farms also offers packaged produce that offers the same freshness as picking produce yourself; this is because they are picked and sealed at peak ripeness instead of being picked early in order to be shipped to a secondary location like your local grocery store. They have been offering homegrown produce for over 20 years. Visit them in Grand Ridge or visit their official website for more information.