Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday’s severe storm brought much needed rain. At least one Mandarin neighborhood had trees fall; one car fell on a truck in Greenland Oaks, according to The Florida Times-Union.

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Despite a couple of drenching storms this week, our area is still in the throes of a drought. JEA has issued a report about our water supply, including conservation tips and results of testing for various unappetizing substances. The good news is our water is safe.

Water conservation practices are recommended routinely. The Florida Times-Union asked readers if they’d turn in a neighbor for breaking the liquid Golden Rule: water lawns no more than two days a week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Some readers would; others would not.

Months ago, Folio Weekly did a story on Jacksonville residents who use more than their share of water. Way more. Some of these individuals are high on whatever scale the upper crust uses to determine social ranking. The stats were amazing—many of the homes and pools had serious water leaks; the owners simply chose not to address them. The result, other than a whopping water bill, is a complete waste of a natural resource. FW content is not archived online, but that article was a real eye-opener.

The report that came in my mailbox Thursday is an accountability tool detailing the status of water pouring through 3,590 miles of water distribution mains ranging from two to 36 inches in diameter. Reports on testing of each grid are provided. You can learn answers to all sorts of exciting questions you didn’t know you had. Does my water contain above-average levels of arsenic? How about fecal coliform and E. coli? Where’d all that sodium come from?

In addition to test sample results, a variety of conservation tips are offered. You can even learn why our water often leaves spots on your drinking glasses and windows (spots are harmless).

JEA is our water utility. The St. Johns River Water Management District handles permits, resource maps and land acquisition to protect wetlands.

Jacksonville’s water source is the Floridian aquifer, one of the major sources of groundwater in the United States. If we’re smart, we’ll be good stewards. It’d be hard to do without water. (photos & text by Kay B. Day)

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I described Jacksonville in my most recent book as an assortment of mini-cities nestled along the St. John’s River and the Atlantic Ocean. The Mandarin community is one of the most scenic neighborhoods, blending modern home styles with historical residences.

The Mandarin Museum and Historical Society describes the area’s genealogy:

In the 1800s, Mandarin was a small farming village that shipped oranges, grapefruit, lemons and other fruits and vegetables to Jacksonville and points north on the steamships that traveled the St. Johns River.

In the southern part of Duval County very close to the St. John’s County line, Mandarin is within half an hour of the beaches and St. Augustine. You can stroll along the St. John’s River at places like Mandarin Park. There are quality public schools and parochial schools to choose from. Mandarin schools are in Duval County public school region IV. Churches of different faiths are sprinkled throughout Mandarin in abundance. Encounters with wildlife like egrets, hawks, turtles, small game and even alligators are not uncommon.
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This is a 13-SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) unit, but when matched with a variable speed air handler, raises the rating to 14-SEER, producing more control over humidity and more efficient energy usage.

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Many homeowners endorse the ritual of spring cleaning, but when it comes to their heating and air conditioning system, reason goes out the door.

Maintenance on the system that is one of your home’s biggest and costliest appliances is a necessity. Not only will it save you those runny noses and itchy eyes that come from dirty air filters, it can also save money on energy costs. And if you’re contemplating installing a new system, there may be tax advantages. IRS explains this latter benefit as, “any insulation material or system that is specifically and primarily designed to reduce the heat loss or gain of a home when installed in or on such a home.”

George Morris, president of Morrhall, Inc., in Jacksonville, smiles when asked if homeowners put off regular maintenance on their HVAC systems. “When it gets hot, they turn the system on. They don’t think about it until they need it.”

Morris has been in the business for more than 20 years. He says people tend to forget to change their filters. Morris says sometimes when a homeowner discovers the system won’t work, he’ll run out to buy a filter, hoping that’s the problem. And most forget another rule of HVAC maintenance, having the coil cleaned. “As long as the unit’s working, they just don’t think about these things.”
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First in a series of articles about Jacksonville writers

When I first moved to Jacksonville in 2002, I quickly realized the city is a magnet for writers. Our journalists and novelists cover the gamut–from private investigators to quirky cats. Our poets weave verse with themes like history and local places. Our online writers bring you entertainment news and commentary.

I’ve met so many talented writers here—among them, D. H. Eaton, author of the award-winning novel The Osceola Community Club , and poet Michelle Leavitt, who teaches writing at the University of North Florida. Eaton builds her novel around Southern history by way of a cookbook theme, complete with recipes. Leavitt’s work is featured in the Powow River Anthology.

I’ve often collaborated on programs with award-winning poet Dorothy K. Fletcher, whose latest book Zen Fishing and Other Southern Pleasures features poetry and creative nonfiction. Fletcher recently retired from teaching in Duval County Public Schools. She was prolific while she taught. I’m betting she’ll triple her output now that she doesn’t have all those high school courses to deal with. I had the pleasure of reading with her at the Library of Congress in Washington in December.

Victor DiGenti(photo at right), author of the Windrusher series, lives in the area, at Ponte Vedra Beach. DiGenti is regional director for the Florida Writers Association’s Northeast Florida area. Our area has four different FWA writing groups because Jacksonville covers a lot of ground. I had an email from DiGenti last week. He’s in cahoots again with that quirky cat hero Windrusher. The third novel in the series is slated for a spring, 2008, publication date. Windrusher fans can visit the blog With the Wind at My Back. DiGenti’s also tailoring a mystery novel manuscript based on one of the characters in the Windrusher series. That novel won the Josiah W. Bancroft Novel Contest. Windrusher is a favorite in Florida classrooms. (more…)

Car buffs can have a field day Saturday, June 2, at the Jax511 event at the St. John’s Town Center. Members of the First Coast Car Council will bring their classic rides to the event for a Show ‘N Shine from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Jax511 event officially runs from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Twenty lucky registrants selected at random will compete in a scavenger hunt. Top prize: a brand new 2007 Chevy HHR provided by Nimnicht Chevrolet. Runners up will win gift cards and gas cards. According to information at the jax511.com Web site, registration is over and the 20 hunters will be randomly selected from those who completed the contest form on the Web site. The scavenger hunt runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rules and prizes are posted at the Web site pages.

Seeing the classic vehicles FCCC members bring is worth the trip. I visited the council’s Cruise-In in the Julington Creek area and really enjoyed seeing all those incredible cars. I talked with members like Buddy Marable, whose ’55 Chevrolet drew a lot of admiration. Marable worked in car sales and says he enjoys the Cruise-Ins because, “Everybody is friendly. There aren’t any snobs.”

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will also have a tent at the event.

Jacksonville now becomes part of the 511 family, joining other cities across the nation and in Florida like Tampa and Orlando. The service is a great way to stay informed about traffic with “real-time” updates, and is accessible by phone or at the Web site.

Photo of classic cars at the First Coast Car Council Cruise-In by Kay B. Day.

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