In Memoriam: Joe Smith

In Memoriam: Joe Smith

March 31, 1948 – February 15, 2020 Retired firefighter Lt. Joe Smith answered his “Last Alarm” and took his last ride to Union Hall on Engine 18 as he was remembered by his fellow firefighters on his birthday March 31.  In keeping with the motto “remembering our brothers who have answered their last alarm,” Joe […]

ANIMAL TEACHERS

ANIMAL TEACHERS

When schools open in August, students will be welcomed back by more than just teachers, administrators and staff. In some school classrooms, a variety of friendly classroom pets and animal reading companions will enrich and expand traditional learning, according to longtime educators Ana Andenmatten and Laurie Wilbur. Both women are teachers and mothers with decades […]

READ USA delivers programs for literacy, jobs

READ USA delivers programs for literacy, jobs

An electric atmosphere of excitement and energy abounded at the Jessie Ball duPont Center in mid-June as 60 teens received training for a unique and meaningful summer job.  For the READ USA Summer Reading Program 2021, teens received a week of intensive professional development training, using high-quality literacy curriculum, on how to teach and assess […]

A new tomorrow for students of Riverside High

A new tomorrow for students of Riverside High

The Generals are still the Generals, just not General Robert E. Lee. A new sign went up on the gymnasium of the former Robert E. Lee High School the morning of July 22 as pickup basketball games began inside. The Cherry Street campus’ new name, Riverside High School, became official by a vote of the […]

A new anchor for San Marco to the South, creative ideas emerge

A new anchor for San Marco to the South, creative ideas emerge

South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church has a plan to renovate its location and turn it into a meeting place for the residents of San Marco. When the church sold off part of its land for the upcoming four-story, 49.5 foot tall Park Place San Marco apartment complex, officials determined changes needed to be made to their […]

Preserving ‘Authentic’ Downtown Jacksonville

Preserving ‘Authentic’ Downtown Jacksonville

Downtown Jacksonville is looking to the past to help shape and revitalize its future via the Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program (DPRP). Due to some ambitious plans for growth and revitalization, those programs are being put to the test and should spell progress for Downtown in the months ahead. Launched by the Downtown Investment Authority […]

Khan, Jaguars plan for riverfront gets green light from DIA

Khan, Jaguars plan for riverfront gets green light from DIA

Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority gave unanimous approval July 7 to a $114 million incentive package with Jaguar owner Shad Khan for his plan to revitalize the former Kids Kampus parcel on the St. Johns River. Khan’s development company, Iguana Investments is looking to build a $321 million development across from TIAA Bank Field. The proposal […]

Riverfront Plaza design unveiled, winner chosen for former Landing site

Riverfront Plaza design unveiled, winner chosen for former Landing site

The Jacksonville Professional Services Evaluation Committee (PSEC) has selected Perkins&Will as the winner of the design competition for Riverfront Plaza, the former home of The Jacksonville Landing. In June, Perkins&Will was one of three groups who presented their plans to the PSEC. Their plan narrowly outscored the proposals by Agency Landscape+Planning and Olin Limited.  The […]