Balis Park seating available for weekend take-out diners
Keeping social distancing in mind, San Marco area residents and their friends now have an opportunity to visit with one another – albeit distantly – over a meal in Balis Park. In the first official in-person social event since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March, the San Marco Merchants Association (SMMA) and the San Marco […]
Mourning a loved one during the Coronavirus pandemic
When it comes to mourning the death of a loved one, “there is no textbook way to grieve,” said Jody Brandenburg, president of Hardage Giddens Funeral Homes and Cemeteries, which owns 10 funeral facilities including Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park & Funeral Home and Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel & Cemetery in San Marco. His words perfectly describe […]
Wolfson pet therapy program celebrates 25 years
When experienced pet handler Linda Dunn moved to Jacksonville, she approached numerous hospitals about starting a pet therapy program. When she shared this vision with Wolfson Children’s Hospital leaders, they saw it as an innovative way to improve patients’ experiences. Dunn promptly joined the Wolfson Children’s Auxiliary, established the program, and made the hospital’s first […]
COVID-19 testing on homeless reveals no positive cases
When it comes to Coronavirus, Jacksonville’s homeless population has been told it has a clean bill of health. During the week of May 4, Sulzbacher partnered with UF Health Jacksonville to administer tests at every local homeless service provider including Sulzbacher downtown and Sulzbacher Village, Trinity Rescue Mission, The Salvation Army, Clara White Mission, Hubbard […]
Opinions differ on COVID insurance claims for small businesses
Small business owners across the country who have been devastated by loss of revenue and/or employee work productivity due to COVID-19 are now left wondering whether their insurance policy covers their losses. Locally, some in the insurance business say no, while other attorneys say, “definitely maybe.” At-Large Group 4 City Councilmember Matt Carlucci, a State […]
Parks committee goal: Get every park a ‘friends’ group
Community members, park advocates and Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) members are teaming up to elevate public parks and green spaces throughout Riverside and Avondale. Some parks, such as Boone Park South and Memorial Park in Five Points, already have ‘Friends’ groups that lovingly care for, clean up and reforest them, while many other parks – […]
Nonprofits face uncertain future due to COVID-19
A “Wild West” kind of climate has affected many businesses since the Coronavirus descended in March, but perhaps no other group has been as heavily impacted as Jacksonville’s nonprofit sector. Many of Jacksonville’s charitable organizations were holding their own until COVID-19 hit, leaving the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville’s vital support system for the […]
Stimulus bills offer monetary relief to struggling businesses, nonprofits
Sensitive to the plight of small businesses, many of which have struggled to survive since the Coronavirus pandemic descended in March, Jacksonville City Council members voted unanimously May 26 to offer a financial lifeline to help kickstart their endeavors to reopen. The bill, which was introduced by District 5 Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber of San Marco […]
