Local Folks: Lauren Carlucci
As of May, Lauren Carlucci is the newly elected president of the San Marco Preservation Society, this role following her one-year stint as vice president. She’s a natural fit for the organization, folks agree, and some are curious to know how she got there. As a Jacksonville University student, Carlucci changed her major seven times […]
Local Folks: Susan Painter and Rick Pariani
Susan Painter and Rick Pariani have been married for 45 years. She is a retired teacher who had taught art in St. Johns County schools for many years. How apt that she retained her maiden name, Painter. Pariani is a landscape architect retired from Davidson Companies. They bought their Avondale home five years ago, commencing […]
Local Folks: Friends, Ginny and Ward
Amid five decades of change, Ginny Stine Romano and R. Ward Lariscy have managed to maintain a consistent friendship. Living and working close by, shopping and socializing in the same circles, and even traveling together—sometimes a state or two away, and sometimes abroad. These two friends have been doing life side by side for the […]
Local Folks: Ed Hall
Despite his social interactions being limited for the past couple of years by personal health issues and pandemic restrictions, San Marco resident Ed Hall’s voice and visual commentary have been seen and heard in publications in the U.S. and around the world. Hall’s profound and wickedly hilarious political and editorial cartoons and award-winning illustrations deliver […]
Local Folks: Dori & Christian Thomsen
Meet the Thomsens: Dori, a Floridian from Pensacola Beach, and Christian, a New Orleans native. They are the Riverside couple who founded Saluna Yoga + Spa in 5 Points in 2014 and who recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. They met in 2004 in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida while Dori was completing […]
Local Folks: Kelly & Clint Ross
Kelly and Clint Ross are opticians who own Davalt Optical, a longstanding eyewear boutique in Riverside. There they fill prescription lenses, repair broken eyeglasses, take custom orders, and so much more. In addition to eyes, the Rosses have a passion for history and collectibles. So, when they’re not dressing the windows of people’s souls, they […]
Local Folks: Joque Soskis
Long time Riverside resident Joque Soskis (who mentioned that the surname was probably shortened at Ellis Island in the 1800’s then continued his commentary with a short lesson on standardized English) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 12, 1941. The quick witted Soskis remarked that makes him “about the same age as dirt.” […]
Local Folks: Beth Robison
Some local folks are fortunate enough to have their hobby and their work be one and the same. Beth Robison, an abstract landscape artist from Ortega, is one such lady. Many might know Robison as the mom of James, Jack, and Anna who run Grassroots Natural Market on Park Street in 5 Points. Others might […]
