Find Good. Share Good. Celebrate Good.
Issue #008 · Friday, September 11, 2026
Hey, Fleming Island 👋
Twenty-five years ago today.
This morning, our community gathers in Green Cove Springs to remember. The Honor March begins at 9:15, as first responders from agencies across the area march through downtown. You can watch along Palmetto Avenue and Walnut Street. It ends at Spring Park, where the Remembrance Ceremony begins at 9:30 at the gazebo.
The names of more than 400 firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders who lost their lives that day will be read. Chairs will be set out, and you're welcome to bring your own.
If you can be there, it's a meaningful way to remember together. 🇺🇸
Then we'll turn to the weekend ahead. 🌴
⛈️
92° / 75°
HIGH / LOW
TODAY AROUND THE ISLAND
Storms likely from late afternoon, hanging around into the evening.
Heat index near 106 before they arrive. The morning is the easy part of today.
🦅 The parade was called off
Fleming Island High canceled Thursday night's homecoming parade. Their words: "Due to forecasted inclement weather and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our students, participants, and community members."
We told you to go on Wednesday, so if you were reaching for your keys — sorry. September in Florida.
No new date has been announced, and the parade was the only thing called off. Tonight's game and Saturday's dance are both still on the school's calendar.
🏈 Friday night is going to make you choose
Two good things start at exactly 7 PM tonight, in two different towns, and you can't do both.
Homecoming at Fleming Island High. Varsity football against Ridgeview, 7 PM at home, and it's the district opener — so it counts for more than a homecoming game usually does. Tickets are $11.25 through GoFan, and your phone is the ticket.
Or September Porch Fest, on the lawn of the historic Rivers House in Green Cove Springs, 7 to 9 PM. Brandon Leino is playing. He’s a Clay High graduate, local business owner, and guitarist for years. Turning up is free. Bring a chair and the lawn is yours.
If you'd rather chip in, the Green Cove Springs Preservation Society is raising money to keep putting music on that porch. A reserved space for two is $20, and it's through Zeffy, which takes no cut.
🎃 Saturday morning is the one to get up for
Two festivals, both free to walk into, both 10 AM to 3 PM, both in Green Cove Springs.
The Fall Festival is at the Clay County Fairgrounds — a hundred-plus vendors, food trucks and music, run by Charming Sisters. Admission is free.
The No Man's Land Chili Challenge is at the Military Museum of North Florida on Roland Avenue, second year running.
Go in the morning anyway. There's a 40 percent chance of showers after 2, so the first half is the safer bet. And Saturday night the homecoming dance closes out the school week.
🎸 And the road doesn't stop
Whitey's and Encore face each other on County Road 220, and they're both booked all three nights.
Tonight
Brian Rowland on Whitey's tiki porch 4 to 8, Elizabeth Cross 8 to midnight. Old Man Jameson at Encore, 8.
Saturday
Three at Whitey's — Darron Ronan from noon, Mike Cook at 4, Groove Blanket at 8. Julia Gulia at Encore, 8.
Sunday
Steff Botha at Whitey's, 2 to 6. Darrell Rae back at Encore, 4.
Encore is 21+. Whitey's is a fish camp and a restaurant that's been there since 1963, so bring the kids or bring the boat.
📅 What's happening this weekend
Friday, September 11
🇺🇸 9/11 Honor March
9:15 AM · Viewing along Palmetto Ave & Walnut St, Green Cove Springs · Free
🇺🇸 Remembrance Ceremony
9:30 AM · Spring Park gazebo, Green Cove Springs · Free · Chairs provided
🚂 Clay County Historical Society & Museum
10:00 AM–1:00 PM · 915 Walnut St, Green Cove Springs
🏈 Homecoming: varsity football vs Ridgeview
7:00 PM · Fleming Island High · District opener
🎶 September Porch Fest
7:00–9:00 PM · The Rivers House, 219 Spring St · Green Cove Springs · Free
🎵 Brian Rowland
4:00–8:00 PM · Whitey's Fish Camp, 2032 CR 220
🎵 Elizabeth Cross
8:00 PM–midnight · Whitey's
🎵 Old Man Jameson
8:00 PM · Encore, 2015 CR 220 · 21+
Saturday, September 12
🎃 Fall Festival
10:00 AM–3:00 PM · Clay County Fairgrounds · Free admission
100+ vendors and food trucks. Showers are possible after 2, so the morning is the better half.
🌶️ No Man's Land Chili Challenge
10:00 AM–3:00 PM · Military Museum of North Florida, 990 Roland Ave
🎼 Top of the World: A Carpenters Tribute
7:30 PM · Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park · From $37
💃 Homecoming Dance
7:00–10:00 PM · Students
🎵 Darron Ronan
12:00–3:30 PM · Whitey's
🎵 Mike Cook
4:00–8:00 PM · Whitey's
🎵 Groove Blanket
8:00 PM–midnight · Whitey's
🎵 Julia Gulia
8:00 PM · Encore · 21+
Sunday, September 13
🎤 Ann Wilson
6:30 PM · Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park · From $47
The voice of Heart, just up the road. All-in pricing, so the number you see is the number you pay.
🚂 Clay County Historical Society & Museum
2:00–5:00 PM · 915 Walnut St, Green Cove Springs
🎵 Steff Botha
2:00–6:00 PM · Whitey's
🎵 Darrell Rae
4:00 PM · Encore · 21+
🚧 Quick local heads-up
Green Cove Springs, this morning. The 9/11 Honor March begins at 9:15, with public viewing along Palmetto Avenue and Walnut Street before the Remembrance Ceremony at Spring Park. If you're driving through downtown, give yourself a few extra minutes.
Still open from last week: the restrooms at Thunderbolt Park are closed, one of the uncovered slides at Moccasin Slough is shut for maintenance, and the sidewalk at the Main Street Boat Ramp is closed. The pier is still open.
🚂 One more good thing: there's a caboose on Walnut Street
If you're already downtown this morning, the Clay County Historical Society & Museum is on the same street, and Friday is one of only two days a week it's open from 10 AM to 1 PM.
It's in the 1890 Courthouse Annex at 915 Walnut, and the thing to know about it is the Railroad Collection. Bud Hess spent a lifetime assembling it; the Society bought it from his widow in 1992 and brought it across the river. A real caboose, sitting on Walnut Street. A train station that started life in Elkton. Crossing gates, signals, lanterns, hundreds of pieces. The Society gives its own address as “near the Red Caboose,” which tells you how much of a landmark it is.
The rest of the museum is a country store, an 1890s kitchen, a bank vault, and a working printing press. The 1894 jail and the 1890 courthouse are right there on the same triangle.
It's run entirely by volunteers, and the Society turns 60 this year. Sundays, it's open from 2 to 5.
915 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs · (904) 284-9644
Before you go... tell me something good 💛
See a new business opening? Know about an event we should have on the calendar? Got a neighbor doing something wonderful, a local team having a big season, or just something good happening around Fleming Island?
Send it our way. This only gets better when all of us help find the good stuff.
❤️ Tell Us Something Good — A neighbor doing something kind. A kid doing something awesome. Something new going in around town. Anything that makes you think, "people around here should know about this."
📅 Submit an Event — Live music at a local restaurant, a fundraiser, festival, market, school activity. Anything locals can put on their calendar.
⭐ Get Featured — Own a local business? Tell us your story through a short interview and give the community a chance to meet the people behind it.
Have a good weekend,
Shelly 🌴
Find Good. Share Good. Celebrate Good.