Free helmets ensure students can bike to school safely
For children between the ages of five and 14, biking related injuries account annually for more emergency room visits than any other sport. Unfortunately, only 45 percent of children under 14 report wearing a bike helmet “usually.” In preparation for National Walk/Bike to School Day, Hendricks Avenue Elementary PTA Health and Wellness Committee Co-Chair Erin […]
Annual Cardboard City opens eyes, hearts about homelessness
The statistics are sobering no matter which one you read: Every public school in Duval County has at least one homeless student. More than 3,300 students are homeless. Nearly 40 percent of the homeless in the United States are families. One out of four of the homeless is a child. To raise awareness of the […]
Ad hoc council committee hopes new legislation will clear up rezoning issues
When is a planned unit development, known as a PUD at City Hall, not a planned unit development? For many residents opposed to certain property changes, the term is synonymous with circumvention of existing zoning codes. PUDs are often used by property owners to deviate from zoning criteria such as landscape buffers and parking requirements, […]
When community comes together, students are the winners
The public elementary schools in Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods enjoy a longstanding history of community involvement that spells success for their youngest students now and throughout their lives. At many Duval County public elementary schools, three parent groups – the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Student Advisory Committee (SAC) and “Friends” of the school, a fundraising arm – […]
Creative incubator warms students up to career in programming
Students from low-performing high schools had a chance to shine last school year when they were immersed in a technological challenge that allowed them to gain real world experiences in complex problem solving, gathering and evaluating evidence, and deciphering information – skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math – subjects collectively […]
Faces of volunteers seen throughout community
Serving others at any age is gratifying, uplifting Former corrections officer serves others after retirement Upon retiring as Director of Corrections in 2016 after working for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 31 years, Tara Wildes would have been forgiven for putting up her feet and resting. Instead, she has devoted 20-plus hours a week to […]
San Marco lions celebrate 21 years
There was music, adult beverages, free commemorative photos, and, of course, cake as San Marco residents celebrated the 21st anniversary of the installation of the Lions’ Fountain in Balis Park Oct. 13. The fabulous felines, who dress up for every occasion, donned blue and white party hats with yellow tassels created by Karen McCombs, as […]
Road diet pain is worth the gain
After many years of hearing talk from the City of Jacksonville about its plans to make the busy road outside their high-rise condo and apartment buildings pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, Southbank residents are finally seeing the Riverplace Boulevard Road Diet project come to fruition. “I have been eagerly awaiting this project since I first heard of […]
