Neighborhood News

All the latest news from the neighborhoods in our coverage areas.

Wolfson pet therapy program celebrates 25 years

Wolfson pet therapy program celebrates 25 years

When experienced pet handler Linda Dunn moved to Jacksonville, she approached numerous hospitals about starting a pet therapy program. When she shared this vision with Wolfson Children’s Hospital leaders, they saw it as an innovative way to improve patients’ experiences. Dunn promptly joined the Wolfson Children’s Auxiliary, established the program, and made the hospital’s first […]

COVID-19 testing on homeless reveals no positive cases

COVID-19 testing on homeless reveals no positive cases

 When it comes to Coronavirus, Jacksonville’s homeless population has been told it has a clean bill of health. During the week of May 4, Sulzbacher partnered with UF Health Jacksonville to administer tests at every local homeless service provider including Sulzbacher downtown and Sulzbacher Village, Trinity Rescue Mission, The Salvation Army, Clara White Mission, Hubbard […]

Opinions differ on COVID insurance claims for small businesses

Small business owners across the country who have been devastated by loss of revenue and/or employee work productivity due to COVID-19 are now left wondering whether their insurance policy covers their losses. Locally, some in the insurance business say no, while other attorneys say, “definitely maybe.” At-Large Group 4 City Councilmember Matt Carlucci, a State […]

Parks committee goal: Get every park a ‘friends’ group

Community members, park advocates and Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) members are teaming up to elevate public parks and green spaces throughout Riverside and Avondale.  Some parks, such as Boone Park South and Memorial Park in Five Points, already have ‘Friends’ groups that lovingly care for, clean up and reforest them, while many other parks – […]

Nonprofits face uncertain future due to COVID-19

A “Wild West” kind of climate has affected many businesses since the Coronavirus descended in March, but perhaps no other group has been as heavily impacted as Jacksonville’s nonprofit sector. Many of Jacksonville’s charitable organizations were holding their own until COVID-19 hit, leaving the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville’s vital support system for the […]

Stimulus bills offer monetary relief to struggling businesses, nonprofits

Sensitive to the plight of small businesses, many of which have struggled to survive since the Coronavirus pandemic descended in March, Jacksonville City Council members voted unanimously May 26 to offer a financial lifeline to help kickstart their endeavors to reopen. The bill, which was introduced by District 5 Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber of San Marco […]

Former Roosevelt Square taking shape as Ortega Park

Former Roosevelt Square taking shape as Ortega Park

Builders are tirelessly working on renovation and construction at Ortega Park, the former Roosevelt Square retail center that contains a Publix, Stein Mart, Ulta Beauty, and other stores.   Publix, which anchors the center, is also near the end of a $930,000 interior renovation project.  Dwaine Stevens, director of community relations for Publix supermarkets, said […]

Oak Street repaving project to include bike lanes, eliminate parking

Oak Street repaving project to include bike lanes, eliminate parking

The City of Jacksonville will begin repaving Oak Street this summer, and residents and business owners are helping shape what the area will look like after the project is done. Right now, City officials are considering reducing the size of the lanes of traffic and adding bike lanes after the paving is done between Margaret […]