The Way We Were: Malcolm and Kathryn Fortson
By Victoria Register-Freeman Malcolm Fortson took the Biblical command “Love thy neighbor,” literally. Growing up next door to Kathryn Register, he would often see her playing records on the family porch. Her sister, Beverly — known to everyone as Wookie — would occasionally repeat the well-known Biblical phrase. As Kathryn recalls, “He was a year […]
Go-Giver: Melissa Bartley
By Julie Kerns Garmendia Volunteers commit to charities for a variety of reasons. In Melissa Bartley’s case, it was her grandfather. Henry Solomon’s rapid diagnosis and death from brain cancer led Bartley to the Northeast Florida American Cancer Society. After a difficult experience with hospice and Bartley’s personal feelings of loss and grief, she […]
Go-Giver: Lanelle Phillmon
By Julie Kerns Garmendia American Cancer Society volunteer Lanelle Phillmon credits the U.S. Navy’s volunteer service program — and her mother’s example — for setting her on a course of helping nonprofit organizations. Chief Phillmon, who just completed a 27-year naval career, retired to the San Jose area in November 2010 and jumped right […]
RAP hopes to fetch approval from city on dog park
By Susanna P. Barton Plans for a dog park at Riverside Park are inching forward, according to officials with Riverside Avondale Preservation. The city of Jacksonville has a proposal from the state Department of Transportation to use land under the Interstate 95 bridge for the dog park, according to RAP Executive Director […]
Transit workshops hone in on San Marco
By Steve DiMattia It is not unusual to see Jacksonville’s infamous Skyway traveling its limited 2.5-mile downtown route without any passengers. Many have criticized the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s “boondoggle” for “going nowhere” and suggest that is the reason it is often sans riders. But San Marco engineer Doug Skiles […]
FDOT spending $60 million on neighborhood real estate
By Susanna P. Barton The state Department of Transportation is spending $60 million on neighborhood real estate as it clears the path for the $384 million Overland Bridge replacement project. The state’s local shopping spree means demolition for many area homes and relocation for some area churches and businesses — including The […]
Group forms to birddog Mellow Mushroom plans
By Susanna P. Barton A group of Avondale neighbors and business owners have formed a new partnership called “We Love Avondale LLC.” The group intends to keep an eye on Mellow Mushroom’s rezoning application process and its plans for a 220-seat restaurant in the Shoppes of Avondale. “We won’t be in […]
Residents, merchants weigh Love’s moratorium, ordinance
By Steve DiMattia Love letters typically evoke a lot of emotion and one recently addressed to city Planning and Development Director Calvin Burney is no exception. This one, written by Jim Love, city councilman for Riverside/Avondale District 14, proposed a six-month moratorium on any new commercial development requiring Planned Unit Development (PUD), […]
