Jacksonville hosts U.S. Nelson Mandela International Day
The Nelson Mandela International Day observation held July 18-19 in Jacksonville actually began more than 30 years ago when prison inmate Khalil Osiris became pen pals with Dr. Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of the late South African President Nelson Mandela. Osiris wrote to Dr. Mandela telling her that, inspired by her father, he was spending his […]
Corporations, community rallies around downtown mission
On any given morning, the Clara White Mission at 613 W. Ashley St. is buzzing with activity. Serving breakfast to the homeless and holding job training classes are just two of the programs and services offered at the 115-year-old downtown mission, but a recent cut in federal funding may change the level of activity. On […]
St. Nicholas resident wants city to move historic marker
More than 200 years ago, when the Spanish occupied what is now known as Jacksonville, a small Spanish garrison once stood just west of the athletic fields of present-day Bishop Kenny High School in St. Nicholas. In the median of Atlantic Boulevard between Assumption School’s soccer field on the north and 50 feet north of […]
Downtown art plays triple role as sculpture, bike rack and monument to black history
As motorists enter downtown from the Main Street Bridge, they will be greeted by a sculpture that spells out DUUUVAL – a rallying cry that resounds throughout the Jaguars stadium during football season but originates from the local hip hop scene of the ‘90s. The sculpture, entitled “Changing Perspective,” is the only perspectival word-based bike […]
Exonerated prisoner shares his story with at-risk youth
When Valentino Dixon spoke to children at the Springfield-based nonprofit Sanctuary on 8th Street about his journey of being convicted of a crime he did not commit and spending 27 years in prison before being exonerated, their eyes and ears took it all in and they eagerly asked him questions about his experience. Since he […]
Pest control expert shares tips on fighting Formosan termites
When reports of termite swarms and infestations are made, thoughts naturally turn toward older, wood-framed structures as sites for drywood termite nests. But when it comes to that nasty import, the Formosan subterranean termite, homeowners of all construction types beware. Formosan termites need and thrive on moisture, which can be found in and around any […]
City study uses bacteria-based product to reduce algae blooms
It may seem counterintuitive but introducing bacteria into stormwater ponds could be the very thing that tips the scales toward making the waterways healthier. The City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Quality Division (EQD) will be doing just that during an 18-month study of nine stormwater ponds during which Microbe-Lift, a blend of specially formulated strains of […]
Marina service project freshens up Sanctuary on 8th grounds
More than two dozen people gave up a Saturday morning June 8 to spruce up the grounds at the Sanctuary on 8th Street before the nonprofit’s summer camp began the following Monday. The community service project was initiated by The Marina at Ortega Landing, an IGY Marinas property, and included patching holes on the […]
