Storm ‘Beryls’ down on the neighborhood
Tropical Storm Beryl caused minor flooding and took down some neighborhood trees, but did not bring widespread damage to the city’s historic neighborhoods during its late May visit. While power went out sporadically in some areas, electrical outages were not widespread — about 20,000 homes lost power across JEA’s service area. JEA dispatched 15 tree [...]
Avondale organ donor receives ‘angel of hope’ award
By Susanna P. Barton Avondale resident Terry Dennis received a life honor last month. The Gabriel House of Care at Mayo Clinic gave Dennis its first annual Christopher Mark Gregory Angel of Hope Award for his organ donation advocacy. But Dennis makes one point very clear: While the award is an exhilarating recognition, Dennis [...]
Pizza Palace closes Riverside store
By Susanna P. Barton The Pizza Palace on Margaret Street quickly and quietly closed last month following news that a national retailer would be taking over the space. Pizza Palace owner Elias Demetree said he is grateful to the Riverside/Avondale area for supporting his store over the years and is “actively looking” for another neighborhood [...]
Garden Club presents check to Riverkeeper
The Garden Club of Jacksonville planted a little “seed money” with the St. Johns Riverkeeper last month. During their end-of-the-year council meeting last month, Garden Club leaders presented the Riverkeeper with a $1,500 donation. The organization is one of the groups the club supports through civic outreach programs each year.
Children’s chorus headed to Ireland
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus will be performing in Ireland this June as part of its first international tour. The young singers, many of them local residents, will spend six nights and seven days traveling throughout Ireland. Some of their stops include Dublin, Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny and Wicklow. The choir will perform with [...]
In the Garden: Crape Myrtles — love them, or not?
By Victoria Register Freeman I have a friend who refers to the twin trees on each side of her Historic District driveway as Crap Myrtles. Her mispronunciation is intended to convey her distain for the multi-trunked trees even though their white blossoms present her with a riotous visual bouquet throughout the summer. I confess, [...]
Ortega UMC celebrates centennial
Ortega United Methodist Church has come a long way since the first meetings that took place in tents almost 100 years ago. From there, the gatherings moved to a house at the corner of Cherokee Avenue and Baltic Street before becoming the beautiful institution it is today located on Roosevelt Boulevard. Now Ortega UMC is [...]
Murray Hill art center back on display
The City of Jacksonville’s parks department recently signed an agreement with the Art League of Jacksonville to offer art classes at the Murray Hill Art Center. The popular center, which opened in the mid-1980s, closed in 2010 in the wake of city budget cuts. The Murray Hill Art Center is located at 4327 Kerle Street in [...]
