Jacksonville, FL

I’ll be offline Monday, July 30, and Tuesday, July 31, because my new home office is finally ready. I wish I were—I cannot believe how much paper we accumulate despite perceiving ourselves as a paperless society. From bookshelves to filing cabinets, the paper gluts every square inch. My goal: getting truly organized, deleting clutter (real-world SPAM!) and settling in so I can meet a mountain of deadlines.

I’m optimistically allowing 2 days to purge paperwork, cull through books and choose what’ll go to charity and what I’ll keep, and go through the hundreds of small slips of paper I seem to always write my passwords on.

I’ll return to regale you with tales of the move (and other things too) on Wednesday, August 1.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Home Office, Getting Organized, Clutter, Books, Jacksonville Writer, Publish, Florida Writer

The scoop on the tickets

Tickets for the Jacksonville Jaguars preseason game August 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go on sale Sat. July 28 at 9 a.m. Fans may purchase tickets online at the official Jaguars site, or by calling 904-633-2000 (extension 3). By going to the stadium ticket office, located in the North End of the stadium, on Saturday, July 28, from nine a.m. until noon. This will coincide with the Jaguars’ first day of training camp.

The Jacksonville Municipal Stadium ticket office, located next to the West Crown Royal Touchdown Club, is open Monday-Friday from nine a.m. until five p.m.

Single-game ticket prices for the 2007 season are as follows: $42, $52, $57, $70 and $95. Crown Royal Touchdown Club seats are also available upon request. Single-game tickets for regular-season games will go on sale on Saturday, Aug. 18, at nine a.m., based on availability.

Season ticket and group tickets for parties of 10 or more are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 904-633-2000 or 1-877-4-JAGS-TIX. (Photo of Coach Jack Del Rio is from official Jaguars press room.)

Tips for fans

The first preseason game I attended in Jacksonville taught me a few things. Here are some tips to maximize your fun:
~Dress for the heat.
~Leave early. Traffic is heavy.
~Avoid alcohol (I know it’s breaking your heart, but it’s all about the heat.)
~If you tailgate, prepare light foods that have a low spoilage index.
~Hydrate before, during and after the game (water not alcohol).

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Special Announcement

Michael Austin Davis of Jacksonville, Fla., has been missing since June 25. I promised to keep this story in the public eye in hopes someone will come forward with information. To learn more, visit these links:

Our About Jacksonville FL column July 11.

Michael Austin Davis pages at MySpace.

Web site about Michael Austin Davis at iticomputers.com.

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Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Jacksonville Jaguars, Preseason NFL games, Football Fans, Tailgating, Tickets NFL games, Tickets Jaguars, Michael Austin Davis missing

Deborah Hansen will talk with guests and sign her new book ‘Broken Strings: Wisdom for Divorced and Separated Families’ at the popular Jacksonville coffee house Truffles on August 11 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

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As Jacksonville author Deborah Hansen wrote her new book ‘Broken Strings: Wisdom for Divorced and Separated Families,’ she drew on personal experience. Every parent knows the pain of being time-challenged. Single parents get a double dose. So Hansen made her book user friendly. “Single parents are often subjected to endless lists of Dos and Don’ts with no real substance,” she says. “The only other alternatives are lengthy research studies that no single parent has time to read. Each chapter of my book is designed to be read in five minutes or less, and relates to a specific lesson I learned along the way.”

The book is a collection of Hansen’s personal experiences as a single parent, and is an offering to the families who are currently navigating a divorce or separation. The work has already received advance praise from Dr. David Brooks. “Excellent!” he said. “This is a must read book for everyone who is going through a divorce or for those counseling divorcing couples.”

Hansen’s experience isn’t confined to being a single parent. A veteran teacher, she worked with teenagers for fifteen years, and most recently has trained teachers, administrators, and parents on the importance of positive role modeling in raising children of character. She founded JDC Educational Enterprises, Inc., a consulting firm that focuses on parent workshops and providing support to school systems in the implementation of character education.

Hansen is also a veteran county court mediator and journalist. Her regular column, “Building Kids of Character,” appears monthly in First Coast Parent Magazine as well as on the Web. She has also written articles for Women’s Digest and Kids ‘n Sports, and she provides a monthly column on divorced parenting to attorneys. She is currently under contract with Young People’s Press in San Diego, California to write a literature-based character education curriculum for middle school students.

Hansen will launch ‘Broken Strings: Wisdom for Divorced and Separated Families” in Jacksonville at Truffles Coffee House, 11362 San Jose Blvd., on Saturday, August 11, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The author will sign books and talk to guests. Music by Dot Wilder will be featured. The public is invited.

“This event is to thank all the people who made this book possible,” Hansen says, “and to introduce it to the public.”

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Divorce, Separation, Single parent, Divorced Parenting, Character Education

The Lighthouse Book Awards competition is sponsored by the Northeast Florida region of the Florida Writers Association. FWA-NE placed the top three entries in each category in the hands of legitimate acquisition editors working for major publishing houses. NE Regional director Victor DiGenti invites the public to the celebration of the awards competition this Saturday, July 28, at the Ponte Vedra Library (101 Library Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach) at 11 a.m.

All manuscripts have been returned from the acquisition editors who ranked the finalists. Names of the winners have been a closely-held secret for the past month. DiGenti says, “Contest Chair Terri Ridgell has refused to tell even me, saying she’s keeping the names frozen in a carton of Ben & Jerry’s Berried Treasure ice cream.”

Light snacks and drinks will be served. DiGenti invites you to come and cheer on your favorite writer or just be there for the party. Finalists are:

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Jean Osborn
David Pereda
Mary Kilgore
FICTION-GENERAL
Bill Barbour
John Holley
Leonard Emmel
YOUNG ADULT
Karen Harvey
Gertie Poole
Suki Litchfield
Bill Dougherty

DiGenti says finalists may bring family and friends and “pose for the paparazzi on the red carpet” before the awards ceremonies if they wish. First Place winners should also be prepared to make a brief “Thank you” speech.

DiGenti credits Terri Ridgell and all of the preliminary judges for making this first contest such a success. He says a special thank you goes to the three acquisition editors — Barbara Moore/Midnight Ink, Julie Doughty/Penguin Group and Andrew Karre/Flux.

RELATED LINKS

Visit FWA Ponte Vedra group on the Web: http://www.fwapontevedra.blogspot.com/

Visit FWA state organization on the Web: http://www.floridawriters.net/dnn/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Lighthouse Book Awards celebration, Florida Writers Association, NE Florida Writers Association, writing contests, writers’ groups

Safe Haven seeks to protect unwanted babies

The heat index in Jacksonville on Thursday topped 100 degrees—not a good day for anyone to be outside for long without water or shade. A resident of Beachwood Apartments on the Southside decided to take her trash out. What she found in the dumpster will likely be a memory she’ll carry for the rest of her life. Inside a pillowcase, along with the garbage, the female resident found a newborn baby girl. The fact the child was alive is a miracle.
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Finding a family-owned eatery anywhere is becoming increasingly difficult, but Jacksonville’s locally owned and operated Sweet Indulgence Café stands out among other restaurants for quality in service and food.

I’ve eaten there several times, and each visit has been a definite ‘sweet indulgence.’ My favorite is the Greek salad. I’ve also bought muffins and pastries too—the banana nut muffin is big enough for two people to share. The café offers traditional and specialty sandwiches, including a Vegetarian Delight with Provolone and Swiss cheese, leaf lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and red onions on wheat bread. Grilled Panini sandwiches are also on the menu, with the Portobello Milano a very tasty veggie treat. There’s also a Reuben sandwich, and the corned beef is tender, without that excess chewy stuff you find in a lot of other restaurants’ Reubens. The same goes for the Philly Cheesteak sandwich.

Diners may opt for fresh salads, both entrée sized and on the side, and a variety of soups like Broccoli Cheddar and Creamy Potato.

The café also serves breakfast until 11 a.m. Monday-Saturday, and until 12 noon on Sunday. Omelets, Belgian Waffles and French Toast are among the offerings.

The coffee is always fresh, and there’s a selection of desserts to tempt any palate, with the Brownie Cheesecake and Tiramisu especially sinful delights. A variety of ice cream flavors and specialty drinks like the Sherbet Fizz round out the sweets.

This café is a favorite of my family; my husband and his co-workers also eat there often.

On nice days, if you don’t want to dine inside, there’s ample seating outside. We really appreciate the fact the café stays open for the dinner hour. Catering is also available. Prices are reasonable.

Two branches make the café accessible to a wide area here in the River City, one at Reedy Branch Commons on the corner of Baymeadows Rd. and 9A, and the other at Durbin Crossing at the corner of Old St. Augustine Rd. and US-1.

So far, my positive dining rate there is 100 percent, and that qualifies Sweet Indulgence Café for a Restaurant Rave from your About Jacksonville FL columnist.

Recommended link:
http://sweetindulgencecafe.com/
Sweet Indulgence Café Web site; includes menu, operating hours, locations & contact numbers.

Ed. Note: Any restaurant or product reviewed in this column is at the columnist’s own expense. We do not accept free meals or free products for review here at About Jacksonville, FL. Restaurants are not notified prior to our writing a review.

(Photo Credit: Becky Day)

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Sweet Indulgence, Restaurant Review, Café, Jacksonville FL Dining, Jacksonville FL Restaurants

What do enlightened singles do for entertainment in Jacksonville? Follow these recommendations for nightlife from two of Jacksonville’s finest.

One thing about Jax. We have some of the prettiest, smartest women on the planet. So I searched for two young professionals to deliver up confessionals about places they like to go for stellar entertainment. I also asked them if they’ve ever come across a celebrity at a Jacksonville club.

Haley Blount and Tara Allison Newton responded to my requests—both women are friends of my daughter Jen. Haley works in the education field; Tara works in criminal justice.

Haley likes to dance and sing. She says, “After much debate (over wine and cheese, of course), this was the conclusion I came to—although there are numerous “hot spots” around Jacksonville that I seem to enjoy (i.e., The Bricks at the beach is always a good time; Dueling Pianos off Southside always makes me sing and dance my heart out; and Aromas is a great place to chat over wine), the one place that I have consistently been and had a magnificent time is the Mark Bar, which is downtown. Always a great, diverse crowd, bartenders are quick to take your order, and the music always encourages me to dance like a rock star!”

Tara, shown here with her boyfriend Orlando Garcia, opts for the beaches. She says, “One of my favorite places to go is the Atlantic. It’s a club right off First street (I am sure you have heard of it). A lot of people do not like that place, but I always went there on Thursday night, ‘Ladies Night’, for free drinks. They always played “booty music” which I love to dance to. Occasionally they would play 80s music and even if you didn’t like either of those, they play either 80s but mostly reggae in the bar next door; they are connected. They also have an outdoor bar for the nice nights and it is right on the beach so you can look over onto the ocean. I don’t think I have ever seen a celebrity, but some unknown rapper was trying to get his name out and had his whole crew on a big tour bus handing out demo tapes. He invited me and a couple of my friends onto the tour bus, then tried to take us back to his hotel room…we got off quickly after that!! Funny story. I think that is as close to a celeb as I’ve come to.”

So there are your recommendations from a couple of Jacksonville’s liveliest, loveliest smarties.

Coming up for 80s fans, classic rockers Poison will be in the River City for a concert September 2 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

For additional information about Jacksonville nightlife, visit JaxBars on the Web.

Enjoy your weekend, be wise, and be safe!

(Photos courtesy of Haley Blount and Tara Allison Newton)

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Community Alert: The family of Michael Austin Davis is still hoping his disappearance will have a positive outcome. A tip was received from a person reporting a possible sighting in Gainesville, Fla. If you have friends or relatives in the Gainesville area, please make them aware this young man was last seen in his home city of Jacksonville on June 25. For full details and contact information, read our July 11 column, ‘Vanished without a trace.’

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Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Nightlife, Singles, Clubs, Dancing, Bars, Poison, Concert, Memorial Arena, Jacksonville Entertainment, Missing Persons

The Duval County Extension office is offering a series of workshops to help make your yard cooperate with Florida’s climate, soil and water. What should you grow? Read on.

The ideal Florida back yard features plants conducive to the amount of rain we receive, the soil in our area and the blazing heat we experience in summer months. The Duval County Extension Office is offering a series of workshops under the banner “Camp Florida Friendly.” Participants can learn how to create a Florida-friendly yard, how to landscape for wildlife and vegetables, and even how to plant for security.

The workshops at the Extension office located at 1010 N. McDuff Avenue in Jacksonville begin July 10. There is a $5 fee for each session or a $25 fee to attend all six sessions.

For more information, call 904-387-8850. Visit the Extension office on the Web, and check out the calendar pages for upcoming events.

Yesterday, I spied the butterfly in the photo above enjoying a big Lantana that grows by the corner of my office. When we bought this house about five years ago, the Lantana was a single tiny sprig nestled by some old azaleas. I made sure if someone besides me cut the grass, that little sprig was left alone. That bush is now about four feet wide and makes a beautiful blooming work of natural art. Butterflies and hummingbirds frequent it. We never have to water it; we do cut it back when cool weather approaches. My mother had a huge Lantana bush growing by her lily bed when I was a girl. So my own plant is a touchstone for my childhood.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Landscape, Florida yards, Plants, Shrubs, Butterflies, Florida Wildlife, Conservation, Environment, Florida Friendly Yard

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Michael Austin Davis of Jacksonville is missing and his friends and family are worried sick.

According to pages at MySpace, Davis is missing without a trace. He left behind his bookbag, laptop and a blank check from his dad. Davis called his employer on the morning of Tuesday, June 26th. He said someone would be taking him for a ride to get his [driver’s] license squared away.

Ed. Note: For administrative purposes, I am inserting Technorati Profile.

To read the rest of the story about Davis, click the link below.

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Season tickets time

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed rookie linebacker Chad Nkang June 21. Nkang was drafted with offensive lineman Andrew Carnahan (not shown) in the Jaguars’ final two picks in the seventh round. Photo courtesy of Jaguars News Room.

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It’s time to buy those season tickets so you can tailgate and cheer on Jacksonville’s NFL team. You can purchase them on the Web. There’s clear information about seating and prices.

Most of us fans are hoping the Jags will take Tennessee down when our Jax team travels to Nashville on November 11. Last year’s Titan victory means we’re out for payback.

All 86 team members report for football duty on July 27. The first practice session will take place on Saturday, July 28 at 10:15 a.m. on the practice fields northwest of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Training camp will be open to the public for viewing through August 9. Training camp will feature 20 practice sessions over two weeks before the start of the Jaguars’ preseason on August 11. There is no admission charge for training camp, and parking will be available in the parking lots surrounding the stadium.

Complete details are available on the Jaguar Web site.

Literacy Pros needs tutors; training session announced

Literacy Pros of Jacksonville, Inc. will hold a Tutor Training Workshop at First Presbyterian Church, 118 East Monroe Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The workshop will be held Monday, July 16, Wednesday July 18, Monday, July 23 and Wednesday, July 25, 2007 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Literacy Pros trains tutors to work with adult non-readers in the community.

Please contact Literacy Pros of Jacksonville at 358-7323 or attend the first workshop session to sign up. To learn more about the volunteer organization, visit the Web site.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, NFL Jaguars, football, training camp, Jaguars tickets, tailgating, adult literacy

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.

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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