🌱 How Fleming Island kids are helping decorate the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool

Good day Fleming Island! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Fleming Island kids are helping decorate the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool
• Why is Fleming Island’s Sam Garrison blocking DeSantis’ tax backfill fund?
• How will Sam Garrison’s stance reshape Florida’s big property tax amendment?

Also on today's calendar: Fleming Island Saturday Market and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Some sun; breezy, not as warm, with a high of 82 and low of 66 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 83, low: 65.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 83 and low of 68 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Art project to honor America's 250th on National Mall (america.gov) — Fleming Island families recently joined a nationwide art effort by painting patriotic cubes at the local library for a massive display in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool honoring America’s 250th anniversary. The Portraits of Hope project is traveling the country, inviting kids and adults alike to help decorate 3,000 floating red, white, and blue cubes for public viewing in Washington this October.
   

2. This pillar of DeSantis' property tax plan won't be on the November ballot (miamiherald.com) — Fleming Island’s own Sam Garrison is leading the push to strip a key backfill fund from Gov. DeSantis’ property tax plan, signaling skepticism about using state dollars to replace local revenue. His stance, shared by Senate leaders, could mean counties must absorb tax losses without guaranteed state help, even if lawmakers later choose to offer targeted aid.
   

3. DeSantis has claims about his tax amendment. Here's what it actually does. (tampabay.com) — Fleming Island residents may want to watch a major statewide property tax amendment that prominently involves their own Rep. Sam Garrison. Lawmakers have scaled back Gov. Ron DeSantis’ original plan, keeping school property taxes, dropping a promised relief fund, and raising homestead exemptions more gradually while also cutting assessment caps for all non-homestead properties, including big businesses and investors.
   

4. 2026 Pangos All American Camp: 7 Swingmen Who Starred (ballislife.com) — A standout performance by Fleming Island High School’s 6'7 wing Carson Crawford caught NBA scouts’ attention at the 2026 Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas. The lanky senior impressed with his length, above-the-rim play, and smooth all-around game, boosting both his national profile and Fleming Island’s reputation on the elite basketball stage.
   

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📸 Around Fleming Island

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fleming Island

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday June 6

• Popsicles in the Park | Girl Scouts Interest Meet... →
  Thunderbolt Park, 5700 US-17, Fleming Island
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Saturday June 6

• Fleming Island Saturday Market →
  Village Square, 2245 Plantation Center Dr, Fleming Island
  9:30 am

Monday June 8

• Boys/Girls Soccer Camp
  Fleming Island High School Fleming Island, FL 32003
  8:00 am

Tuesday June 9

• Exploration Lab: Dino Dig In-Person
  Clay County Public Library Orange Park - Meeting Room A, Orange Park Library
  2:00 pm

Wednesday June 10

• Boys/Girls Soccer Camp
  Fleming Island High School Fleming Island, FL 32003
  8:00 am
• Coffee with Caroline →
  Maple Street Biscuit Company - Fleming Island, 1960 E West Pkwy Suite 103, Fleming Island
  9:30 am

Thursday June 11

• Boys/Girls Soccer Camp
  Fleming Island High School Fleming Island, FL 32003
  8:00 am

Saturday June 13

• Fleming Island Book Club: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini In-Person
  Clay County Public Library Fleming Island - Meeting Room, Fleming Island Library
  10:00 am

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📣 Fleming Island Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday June 4

• Basketball Camp -Gym
  Orange Park High School Orange Park, FL 32073
  8:00 am

Friday June 5

• Basketball Camp - Gym
  Orange Park High School Orange Park, FL 32073
  8:00 am

Saturday June 6

• SAT Main Building
  Orange Park High School , 2300 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park, FL 320
  6:00 am
• Clay County Cruzers Callahan’s Irish Bistro Cruise-in →
  Callahan’s Irish Bistro, 2141 Loch Rane Blvd, Orange Park
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Papa John's posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Fleming Island. Apply here.
• Chili's Grill & Bar posted a job opening for Bartender - Fleming Island Chili's in Fleming Island. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fleming Island here.

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Ok Fleming Island! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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