Find Good. Share Good. Celebrate Good.
Issue #026 · Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Morning, Fleming Island 👋
A Navy band, two flyovers, and a birthday party for the country, just down US 17.
Clay County's America 250 celebration takes over the Historic Triangle in Green Cove Springs today, and the weather is cooperating. Here's the schedule worth planning around.
☀️
86° / 68°
HIGH / LOW
TODAY AROUND THE ISLAND
Foggy start, then sunny and warm.
Fog burns off by about 9, then mostly sunny with no rain. Thursday looks the same.
🇺🇸 America 250 is today in Green Cove
The county's celebration runs 9 AM to 5 PM at the Historic Triangle in Green Cove Springs, and it's free. Food trucks and vendors all day. Here's when to show up:
9:30 AM · Clay High NJROTC demonstration at the gazebo
10 AM · Clay High Brass Ensemble
11 AM · Patriotic storytime and crafts with the Green Cove Springs Library
1:30 PM · Local pilots from Haller Airpark fly over in formation, then the Daughters of the American Revolution read the Declaration of Independence
1:45 PM · The U.S. Navy Band, until 2:45
2:50 PM · A Navy P-8A Poseidon from Patrol Squadron 30 flies over to kick off the ceremony
2:55 PM · The commemorative ceremony
About 4:10 PM · Officials sign the proclamation inside the Historic Courthouse, shown live on the outdoor screens
Why today? On October 14, 1774, the First Continental Congress adopted the Declaration and Resolves, declaring that colonists were entitled to "life, liberty and property." That's the date the county built the day around.
The best stretch lands on a weekday afternoon, so if you can swing a long lunch, aim for 1:30 to 3. It'll be in the mid-80s, so bring water and a hat. The county says times can shift and the flyovers depend on weather.
📅 Today and tomorrow
Wednesday, October 14
📚 Preschool Storytime: Letter J, 10:30 AM, Fleming Island Library
🧠 Brain-Boost Habits, 2:30 PM, Fleming Island Library. A talk for adults on everyday habits that support brain health.
♟️ Chess Corner, 6 to 7:30 PM, Fleming Island Library, all ages and skill levels
🎸 Curtis Willis at Whitey's, 5 to 9
⛳ Ladies Night at Top of the Tee, specials 5 to 10, karaoke 7 to 10
🎤 Karaoke with Ashe at Encore, 8 PM
Thursday, October 15
🧩 Kaleidoscope Play & Learn, 10:30 AM, Fleming Island Library, for kids 5 and under and their grown-ups
🪕 Banjo Brown at Whitey's, 5 to 9
🎶 Soulful Sarah at Encore, 6 PM
🏈 Seahawks at Broncos, 8:15 PM on Prime
Friday's issue has the whole weekend.
WEDNESDAY SPOTLIGHT
🥞 Why Grumpy's closes at 2
Grumpy's opened on Fleming Island Monday. The story starts with a retired Navy cook.
The company says Grumpy's began as the dream of a U.S. Navy cook known as Chef Grumpy, "The Bad Mood Dude," who kept cooking for his community after he retired. They date it to 1999, and Orange Park is still home base.
The Fleming Island Grumpy's is owned and operated by the Hoard family, who also own the Middleburg location. It's the largest Grumpy's yet, in the old Dick's Wings spot at 1803 East West Parkway, and the soft-opening weekend was tied to a fundraiser for Fleming Island High football.
I stopped in Tuesday to see the new place for myself, and Grumpy's made a very good first impression. Great staff, great food, and my walnut pancakes with bacon did not disappoint. The menu is classic diner territory: pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, homemade soups, fresh-squeezed juice, and chalkboard specials that change daily and weekly.
And the 2 PM close is on purpose. Every Grumpy's shuts down at 2, part of what the company calls its commitment to "the ultimate family, work and life balance." Breakfast people, that's your window: 5:30 AM to 2 PM, every day.
🎭 The Addams Family opens Friday at The Island Theater, 1860 Town Hall Circle #54. Ten shows through November 1, evenings plus Sunday matinees. Adult presale tickets are $18. All dates and tickets →
🍽️ The long table is open for sign-ups. One Street. One Table is a free, bring-your-own-lunch gathering down the middle of Walnut Street in Green Cove Springs on Friday, November 13.
🏈 Friday night: Middleburg at Fleming Island High.
Before you go... tell me something good 💛
See a new business opening? Know of an event we should add to 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 or on 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, a festival, a market, a 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.
See you Friday,
Shelly 🌴
Find Good. Share Good. Celebrate Good.