Jacksonville, FL

A new weekend sport is developing on Loretto Road in Jacksonville. Wall-crashing is the new pastime for careless or impaired drivers zooming from San Jose Blvd. to St. Augustine Road on weekends. Record insurance claims for property damage must have been filed for traffic crashes on this stretch of road. Drivers are typical, or may be impaired, and they are usually speeding. Where’s a traffic ticket when you really need one?

In the five years I’ve lived here, walls and/or fences have been crashed five times. I could also add there have been quite a few fender-benders when the cars didn’t crash into a neighborhood. There have also been about half a dozen occasions where cars mowed down the ornamental trees planted in medians along Loretto Road. I’d tell you what kinds of trees they were, but they didn’t live long enough for me to identify them.

The latest crash happened at Red’s Gait. That’s a new gated community where a large horse sculpture sits at the entrance. Legend has it the horse art represents a steed beloved by the property’s previous owner. These homes are pricey, so it’s hard for me to figure out why the wall is some sort of Styrofoam-like substance with a thin brick-like covering. The fairly large homes sit on small lots, close to the road. The developer cut most of the old growth trees, so there’s nothing of substance creating a barrier for a wayward motorist. The car in the latest incident came perilously close to the house. A couple months ago, when a driver crashed his SUV through our own neighborhood fence, at least there were sturdy trees stopping his progress.

I recently received an email from the Florida Times Union, asking me what I’d like our city council to do.

I’d like to see less wall-crashing. Only the drivers have been hurt so far, but if something isn’t done, some homeowner may wake up to find an SUV in his bedroom.

Loretto Road is one of the only direct routes from San Jose Blvd. to St. Augustine Road. All I can say is city planners surely didn’t plan for the current traffic. Almost every neighborhood along this road is gated. That means one way in and out. Try driving down Loretto Road when schools are in session, around 8 a.m. Traffic is so slow you could catch up on your email or maybe patch your makeup as I have seen other drivers do when I’m taking my morning walk. And when the traffic eases up, well, there’s your opportunity to break the speed limit and crash a wall.

I’d like to see less wall-crashing. The latest example, just like the last example, happened near a school bus stop.

And I’d like to stop paying insurance premiums that help cover people who crash walls.

How’s the traffic in your neighborhood?

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Traffic crash, insurance premiums, Jacksonville City Council, neighborhoods, Traffic and Safety

Chickie Wickie showed up in our back yard two years ago. I think she likes us. She’s still here. We have no idea where she came from.

I felt sad when I read that Dave Flagler, chief at the Jacksonville Animal Care and Control Center is resigning. An article in The Florida Times Union says Flagler told the paper on Thursday he was “unclear” about the reasons he was asked to resign.

I met Flagler on the phone two years ago when I was doing a story for the Times Union about a chicken that flew over our fence, landed in our oak tree and decided to adopt us. He answered my questions patiently—he is the first person I’ve heard use the reference “feral chicken.”

What really came through as I talked to Flagler was his concern for animals. I don’t know the ins and outs of political appointments, but I think homeless animals in our area lost a great advocate. Hopefully, Flagler will continue his efforts by working in the private sector.

As for our “feral chicken,” she is fearless. Our hound dog does not willingly cross her path. She sleeps in the trees and comes up to the door every morning, demanding food.

Otherwise, she doesn’t want to be touched. Those who try seek first aid soon after.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Animal Care and Control, Pets, Lost Pets, Stray Animals, Mayoral Appointment, Jacksonville Politics, Humane Shelter, Animal Shelter

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has published an announcement about a former employee who allegedly sold data to a direct marketing organization. FNIS says the employee, a senior level database administrator, “removed the information from Certegy’s facility via physical processes, not electronic transmission.”

Certegy, based in St. Petersburg, is a subsidiary of Jacksonville-based FNIS. Certegy maintains records like bank account information for use in check authorization requests by merchants. In an announcement at the Certegy Web site, company president Renz Nichols said, “As a result of this apparent theft, the consumers affected received marketing solicitations from the companies that bought the data.”

Certegy hired a forensic investigator, and ultimately requested help from the U. S. Secret Service in figuring out what the employee had allegedly done.

The FNIS announcement says, “The misappropriated information included names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and bank account or credit card information.” The company says 2.3 million records “are believed to be at issue.”

Certegy filed a civil complaint in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the former employee and the marketing companies.

While the employee may not have intended to defraud customers, he or she certainly didn’t do the world any favors. Nobody needs more junk mail.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Shredder, Financial Services, Direct Marketing, Junk Mail, Personal Financial Information, Fraud

I was about to post a Happy Fourth to all my About-Jacksonville, FL readers when an email came in from Governor Charlie Crist. I’m getting ready to enjoy a cookout, maybe a swim (weather permitting), and fireworks. But first I wanted to share the governor’s message with you–his email included the photo above:

America is blessed with incredible diversity, boundless beauty and endless opportunity unlike any other nation in the history of the world. On the Fourth of July, I reflect on the courage of our forefathers, going into war as the underdogs. They had a vision of what the United States could be and that dream carried them through to victory.

It’s the dream my grandfather carried with him when he came to this country nearly 100 years ago, and it’s that same dream of freedom and a better way of life that the brave men and women of our Armed Forces faithfully and skillfully defend.

I can’t say it better than Florida’s popular governor.

So have a great Fourth, stay safe, and enjoy this holiday that nicely gives us a mid-week break.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Florida governor, Fourth of July, celebrations, cookouts, fireworks

We spend holidays like July 4 and Memorial Day here at home. We swim, eat and sometimes go to a fireworks display.

The National Weather Service forecast for Wednesday, July 4, currently calls for scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

I told my younger daughter this morning July 4 weather in the South is always iffy. Even if the day dawns brightly, there’s always a chance for one of our famous Jacksonville popup showers. The rain was so loud last night it woke me up several times.

Nevertheless, we plan a cookout. The one thing I have relented on involves the menu. Now we plan something that won’t be a disaster if we have to cook it indoors. We tend to swim, eat and enjoy music on this holiday. Sometimes we take in a public fireworks display.

The City of Jacksonville always has a great pyrotechnic show—this year’s Skyblast Fireworks show starts at 9:45 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from barges; this increases the security factor. I really enjoy the city displays, but you have to get there early so you can park, and then leaving is a definite boggle. Downtown Jax is very compact, so when everyone leaves an event at the same time, it can get pretty congested. Plus you’re dodging pedestrians all over the place. So take your time and be patient. The fuss is worth it, though, because the displays are gorgeous. Read about the fireworks, parking, and picnic and other activities at the city Web site.

Jacksonville Beach also does a great display. I’ve never gone to that one, but most other events I’ve attended there draw more teen and college-age people.

As far as burn bans, as best I can tell, the ban in Flagler County is still in effect, according to the Florida Times Union.

Remember to be careful with fireworks if you do your own display. The Florida Department of Health says each year within the United States, more than 4,000 children under the age of 15 are treated in emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks.

Above all, have a safe and happy July 4th as we celebrate our country’s birthday.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, July 4, Jacksonville, cookout, fireworks displays, celebrations, fireworks safety, holiday, events, weather Florida, Flagler County Burn Ban

From my backyard garden (left to right, clockwise) I clipped sweet basil, orange mint, tomatoes and banana peppers.

Just as the cold weather ended, I put some tomato plants out and stuck a few pepper plants in a little garden spot out back. I also planted some orange mint and sweet basil—the mint is a great addition to hot or cold tea. I use the basil for vegetables, fish, beef and many other dishes. It’s one of those great all-around herbs.

I have some radish seed my daughter gave me. I plan to stick those in the dirt in a few days. If you’ve never had a radish straight out of the ground, you’re missing a real experience.

Despite boutique markets and abundant produce aisles in groceries, nothing comes close to bounty from your own garden. Maybe it’s because we’ve vested part of ourselves in tending, weeding, watering and even talking to the plants.

I put my garden in a spot near the fence, where we kept a canopy of leaves at the lawn’s edge. Maybe because nothing much had been planted there for years, and maybe because the soil is just plain rich, the plants grew healthy and tall. I still have lots of tomatoes on the vine and the pepper of course continues to grow because that’s how pepper plants work.

Ironically, a squash plant came up around the small fence we put up around the garden plot—we had to do this because of our adopted feral chicken. I have no idea where the squash plant came from. I wondered if some seed from the previous owner’s long ago garden saw an opportunity as we turned the soil.

I’m hoping to add more herbs to my garden mix.

Nothing is more pleasurable than watching your garden grow. This has to be one of the best navel gazing opportunities in the world.

When we have cookouts, as we enjoy a cold drink, we also enjoy talking about the garden.

Here’s a recipe my family enjoys, using some of my bounty. It’s a great side item for grilled food or a veggie plate.

Tomato with Feta Salad

3 medium sized tomatoes
½ block (about 4 oz.) of feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 TBS. virgin olive oil
Sweet basil, finely chopped
Kalamata olives

Slice tomatoes and place on coffee filter or paper towel to wick excess juice. Whisk balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Stir in feta cheese. Place tomatoes on platter, and drizzle vinegar/oil/feta mixture over tops. Sprinkle 1 TBS. of the chopped basil for garnish. Add Kalamata olives as desired for garnish.

(Photo and text by Kay B. Day)

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Home and Garden, Vegetables, Herbs, backyard garden, recipes