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 […]
Cub Scout ‘Bat Pack’ hopes to earn Conservation Good Turn Award
San Marco Cub Scout Pack 35 could find they have a new nickname, thanks to a unique project. In an effort to earn the Conservation Good Turn Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the “Bat Pack” built bat houses to distribute throughout the San Marco community to encourage the important role bats play in […]
Boy Scouts welcome six new Eagles to the community
Six young men from four area high schools received the coveted Eagle Scout medal Oct. 13 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Each Troop 2 Boy Scout who had completed the requirements to attain the highest rank available in the Scouting program now counts himself as one among 4 percent in Scouts to achieve the rank. […]
Boy Scout honors veterans, grandfather’s memory with wreaths
Boy Scouts of America Troop 522, based at Ortega United Methodist Church, has a lofty goal this fall to raise $1,000 for the troop. However, the Scouts are looking beyond their own needs by holding a fundraising drive for Wreaths Across America to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and to teach children the […]
Small-town boy makes good with pen and ink
It would be more accurate to ask, “Who was your neighbor?” because caricature artist Ken Fallin never looked back after graduating high school in 1966. The Resident caught up with him after a Show and Tell presentation in October at Theatre Jacksonville. The Resident: Where in Jacksonville did you grow up? Fallin: We lived in […]
The Way We Were: Barbara “Bobbi” Margol
Born to George and Shirley Hirshfield in Newark, New Jersey, Barbara “Bobbi” Margol lost her natural mother to polio when she was just four years old. When she was five, her father married a woman named Eva, who had a daughter named Elaine. “Elaine and I became lifelong sisters immediately,” recalled Bobbi, “and a few […]
