Business closures cause concern
By Michele Leivas Local officials say new ones are taking their place Local residents are expressing concern following a spate of recent business closures in the Five Points and San Marco neighborhoods. In recent weeks, Five Points has seen the closure of the iconic Sun-Ray Cinema, Mixed Fillings Pie Shop, Alewife Bottle Shop and other […]
Hope rekindled for Laura Street Trio
By Michele Leivas A Philadelphia law firm will be brought in as outside counsel to assist the Jacksonville City Council in crafting legislation for a redevelopment agreement for the Laura Street Trio. The Personnel Committee voted Sept. 17 to retain Ballard Spahr at $625 an hour to help bring the redevelopment agreement across the finish […]
Attorney James Cummings launches Cummings Mediation
Longtime Jacksonville attorney James Cummings has founded Cummings Mediation, a full-service mediation firm handling all types of disputes, including both state and federal civil cases in all jurisdictions. Drawing on his nearly 20 years of experience as an attorney, Cummings helps parties work together to resolve their differences quickly and amicably. “I always wanted to […]
Local Folks: Cliff Leonard
By Jennifer Jensen Avondale sculptor honors the fallen More than 20 years ago, something caught Cliff Leonard’s eye, and he decided to try a new hobby. The object was a life-size sculpture of a carousel horse created by an Orange Park woman. “I thought, I’d love to do that,” Leonard said. He visited the artist […]
Women’s Center of Jacksonville celebrates ‘Women, Words & Wisdom’
“Women, Words, & Wisdom” was the theme of the Women’s Center of Jacksonville’s recent speaker event. Held at The Schultz Center on Aug. 26 – Equality Day, which commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote – the event featured a reception and speaker presentation by Dr. Ellen Glasser. The […]
Rise and Grind: Skateboarders celebrate opening of Artist Walk Skate Park
By Michele Leivas Skateboarders, bladers and roller-skaters alike dropped in to celebrate the official opening of Riverside’s Artist Walk Skate Park last month. Skaters joined Mayor Donna Deegan, District 7 City Councilmember Jimmy Peluso and city officials on stage at the Aug. 8 ribbon cutting before grabbing their boards and enjoying the new park, which […]
You asked for it: Backflow preventer exemptions
By Michele Leivas The Resident recently heard from a reader with a question regarding an article in our May edition on the periodic testing of backflow preventers required by JEA. “Your May 2024 article by Laura Phelps (An Ounce of Prevention…) inspired me to contact JEA for an exemption,” Patricia Kendrick wrote. “Our office is […]
Discover OLLI: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to host open house Sept. 10
By Susan Brandenburg The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) – a program for “curious knowledge seekers” aged 50 and over – will host a free “Discover OLLI” open house from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center. Attendees will have an opportunity to watch […]
School board chair: Changing education landscape requires public schools to adapt, innovate
By Jennifer Logue In an era of school choice and new technologies, public schools are going to have to adapt, innovate and start marketing themselves to keep students enrolled and engaged, the chairman of the Duval County School Board said. At an Aug. 13 meeting of the Jacksonville Business Professionals, School Board Chair Darryl Willie […]
