Folio Vol. 36, Issue 16

2022

8.17

WATER HOGS sucked a big one this year

burying historical norms at prairie creek conservation cemetery

understanding the current affordable housing crisis

police, procedural

Popular Riverside coffee shop and cafe being uprooted

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VOL. 36, ISSUE 16

CO N T E N T S C OLUMN S

FE AT U RE S

4

8

34

Kale Boucher

Avondale cycle shop keeps on spinning

Molly Britt

Horoscopes

New Name, Same Mechanic Vincent Dalessio

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Weird, Wild Stuff Shelton Hull

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Understanding the Current Affordable Housing Crisis: An Alternative Perspective

16

In This Climate?!

Burying Historical Norms with Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery

The Eye Gallery

38

THUNDER FLOWER / emotional labor

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about her exhibition at Florida Mining Gallery

Police, Procedural Shelton Hull

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Shelton Hull

Rain Henderson

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31

Harry Moore

Popular Riverside coffee shop and cafe being

Film Reviews

36

David Jaffee

Rain Henderson & Joseph Guiffre

Folio Weed: Interesting Whites

Understanding Homelessness

A discussion with artist Morgan Goldsmith Kale Boucher

Water Hogs

The Urban Divide uprooted Kale Bouchers

F O L I O FA M I LY TERESA SPENCER general manager

JOHN M. PHILLIPS, ESQ. publisher

ROB NICHOLSON sales director

KERRY SPECKMAN copy editor

RAIN HENDERSON creative director

HARRY MOORE contributor

VINCENT DALESSIO staff writer/photographer

KALE BOUCHER contributor

CASEY ALIXANDRA account executive/contributor

JOSEPH GUIFFRE contributor

MOLLY BRITT account executive/contributor SHELTON HULL contributor

DREW ARNETT illustrator DAVID JAFFEE contributor

Behind the cover:

Water hog illustration by Drew Arnett

B

HER

HOR O

UC

SC

BY KALE

O

O

S PE

LEO

AQUARIUS

Happy return! You love being in the spotlight, so your birthday is going

Generosity should be at the center of your focus this month. Whether

to satisfy your need for attention. Creativity, playfulness and mental

financially or with your time, you’ll be in a sharing mood. This outward

clarity are headed your way. The last week of August will bring strength

manifestation of positivity will bring you new luck.

in connectivity; have deeper conversations with friends and grow your network.

PISCES Guard your energy and you’ll see increased confidence. You’re prone

VIRGO

to being flexible to others’ wishes, so make sure to prioritize yourself.

This month has brought about change and introspection for you, Virgo.

Be on the lookout for some subtle bit of information that could reshape

You’re feeling free, capable of taking on responsibilities, and content

your perspective.

seeing how your hard work has paid off. Don’t let your idealism run away from you; keep grounded through practicality. Your season is coming up

ARIES

on the 22nd.

Leo season has everyone feeling extra creative. Make sure to conserve your energy though. You’ll be busy this month between work, friends,

LIBRA

and likely a new love interest. Be mindful when making plans so you

Once you set boundaries and manage some tough conversations, you’ll

don’t get burnt out.

be free to focus on fun. The month will bring you great ideas, blossoming friendships, and the potential for a getaway. Be sure to emphasize

TAURUS

healthy communication though. Getting caught up in the excitement,

Embracing recent change, your life should achieve balance again. With a

you might say something you don’t mean.

new sense of routine, you’ll feel released from stress, able to daydream again. Write down any fleeting thoughts; they may guide you in the future.

SCORPIO You’re taking your time setting up groundwork for a life shift. You feel

GEMINI

ready for a new chapter, ready to establish some home and work life

Mars enters your sign on August 20. Take advantage of its assertive

balance. In speaking with your partner, you may learn something new and

power. Be ambitious. Others may perceive you as intimidating during this

establish a deeper connection. Devote the end of August to introspection

time. It’s up to you if you care or want to let them think what they think.

and avoid communicating until you’ve really thought something through.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll be feeling private and extra attuned to the spiritual. Reflect upon

You prefer straightforward, open communication. August may see you

your beliefs. Does your life and its supporting characters align with your

being spoken with exactly how you want. Ride that out and create more/

morals? If not, make those changes. You’ll have a much easier time

closer connections. Toward the end of the month you’ll be thinking about

moving about the world with integrity.

money. You may make some new career moves.

CAPRICORN Some seriousness is headed your way. Whether it’s making a major financial move or learning a secret. Try to achieve a balance between freeform creativity and caution in your daily life. Use the new moon at the end of the month to pursue new beginnings.

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CANCER

F O L I O W E E K LY

THE

MAIL

BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS BOUQUET to Jax Small Businesses

BRICKBAT to Non-voters

Four Jacksonville-based small businesses were recognized among

Anyone who is eligible to vote and can get to the polls—or a mailbox

the Best Small Companies to Work for in Florida by Florida Trend: Jimerson Birr, legal (No. 18); Wingard, advertising/PR/marketing (23);

to deposit their mail-in ballot into—but does not take advantage of their right to do so gets a brickbat. (See above for inspiration.)

Gunn Chamberlin, accounting (26); and Atlantic Logistics, transportation (34). Eligible companies were surveyed by a partner research firm in the areas of company policies and practices, and employees who chose to participate were asked about topics including corporate culture and communication, role satisfaction, work environment, pay and benefits, leadership and overall engagement.

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Photo by Just Stop Oil

Weird, Wild Stuff

Drunken rideshare drivers? Typical. Pro athletes using excessive

Words by Shelton Hull

on roofs, idiots trying to rob people, only to end up being robbed

force against the police? Boring. Planes landing on the highway, cars by their intended victim? None of that is particularly noteworthy,

One of the best things about the media these days is that there is

but this is…

no shortage of material, and the news cycle in 2022 has manifested some of the most daffy detritus ever documented by humans living or

July 2: A 50-year-old man took police on a super-slow-speed chase

dead, or both. Here, in this column, we offer you only the choicest AF

through Branford, just 85 miles southwest of Jax, a chase that

nubbins of news, and the hardest part of the job is simply deciding

continued into the river, where his shorts fell off. He tried to swim

what makes the cut.

away, but was eventually taken into custody, very carefully.

As you can imagine, the workflow of a particular task depends on

July 2: Climate activists representing Just Stop Oil literally glued

the nature of the task itself. In this case, as interesting items pop

their hands to the frame of Van Gogh’s 1889 painting “Peach Trees

up, I send them to myself on Facebook and then, as the deadline

In Blossom” at the Courtauld Gallery in London. It was the summer’s

approaches, I go back through them to see what stands out, what

second major glue-based political action, after actor James

patterns may form, or even what patterns I can create out of thin air,

Cromwell, whose face you will instantly recognize, glued himself to

just to advance the narrative. Sometimes, some things happen that

the counter of a Starbucks in midtown Manhattan, in protest of price

are truly, exceptionally weird in some fresh new way, but more often

increases for nut-milks.

it’s variations on themes, ironic juxtapositions, etc.

July 7: A glitch in the Doordash app allowed customers to briefly Despite our best efforts, it’s hard to describe this stuff succinctly

order food for free, and the internet abused it for all it was worth.

while still doing justice to the spirit of the story. We want it to be

One customer even exploited the glitch by adding a $21 million tip

funny, not mean. Many of these stories involve crimes, but hopefully

on their order. This didn’t work, but hundreds if not thousands of

nothing done with ill intent, no harm, no foul, etc. You will usually see

people did eat free that night, and there is no sign of retaliation by

four or five stories mentioned in each column, but that’s just a small

the DoorDash, which ate the losses on behalf of the restaurants. Of

percentage of what gets got each month, and man, it sucks having

course, they will probably be flagged and dealt with later.

to skip over some of this stuff. (It was even worse when I was hosting trivia nights earlier this year because that only encouraged me.)

July 8: Speaking of food, Orlando Sentinel featured one of my favorite new businesses: Sean Ferrarro of Madison Avenue Pizza in

Last month’s column was written on June 30, a week earlier than

Dunedin had the genius idea to start servicing water-sport aficionada

usual, owing to the July 4 holiday, and wasn’t that weird, too? The

using his own boat, selling to other boats, islands, sandbars and

column you’re reading now was written on Aug. 5. Here follows just

sometimes just random people swimming by. By making the pizzas

some of the many morsels of LOL fodder to accumulate in just the

at the restaurant in advance, he’s able to sell upwards of 50 pizzas

past month.

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a day—brilliant. He takes cash and/or debit cards, but accepts no

July 26: About $700,000 worth of jewelry, stolen from a safe, was

shells of any kind.

pilfered from a parked car downtown at the Doubletree lot, by a Major League Baseball star on a rehab gig with our Jumbo Shrimp.

July 9: I’ve never heard of the Children’s Museum of Northern

It was of many vehicles violated by the same prolific pilferer, whose

Nevada, but apparently it’s lit, fam. The janitor was arrested after

exploits were detailed just now, while writing the two sentences

police found a pistol, three handguns, an AK-47, a cache of ammo,

directly above. (Also, some dame was arrested for menacing people

knives and a taser in a storage room, along with weed tokes and a

with a pitchfork at a Publix in Clearwater, but that is positively

reefer bong. But even more alarming, they also found his wife, who

quotidian, by the lofty standards of #FloridaWoman, America’s true

was a manager there, along with their two toddlers; they had all

sweetheart.)

been living there after falling on hard times. The couple was fired, and that sucks, because they’ve given the place more publicity than

July 29: Everyone loves a good excuse to skip work, but an

it’s ever had.

18-year-old girl in Chicago had one of the worst ideas ever when she faked a mass-shooting threat (with anonymous texts, a fake

July 11: A tourist (of course he was American) cheated death after

Facebook account, etc.) in order to bypass her job working security

falling while taking a vacation selfie. That is always dangerous,

at Lollapalooza.

especially if you’re standing on the edge of goddam Mount Vesuvius, which he was, illegally. He dropped his phone into the crater, then

August 3: Alberto Nonino saw his promising track career curtailed,

went in for it, and fell even deeper. I don’t know if he found the

briefly, after finishing last in a 400-meter event in Cali, Colombia

phone, but I hope it was taken away.

(where they take sports even more seriously than we do in #Florida), because his penis kept falling out of his shorts, on national television.

July 25: A young boy in Moscow was playing chess against a robot but failed to move his hand fast enough, so the robot broke his

Please, bear in mind that this month’s selection is, in terms of both

finger. Also, a preacher in New York was robbed of $1 million in

sheer volume and utter lunacy, not at all unusual. But as summer

jewelry by armed robbers, while in the middle of a sermon, and the

2022 winds down, you can be absolutely certain that something will

whole thing went down on the church’s livestream.

happen that’s so crazy, it eclipses everything else we’ve seen this year. Let’s all cross our fingers and pray none of us are there to see it in person, whatever it is.

PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES

TOGETHER REPORT HATE CRIMES 1-800-CALL-FBI tips.fbi.gov 7

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New Name, Same Mechanic

Avondale cycle shop keeps on spinning Words & Photos by Vincent Dalessio Walking into Tucker Cycles in The Shoppes of Avondale, the first bike that caught my attention was a Reeb hardtail mountain bike painted a bright Jaguars teal. The frame design was a modern take on the setups mountain bike pioneers rode called “klunkers,” which were essentially souped-up beach cruisers with fat tires. The bike sported fat, knobby gumwall tires, a beautiful front suspension system and tall BMX-style handlebars; as OG as it gets, while keeping function and aesthetics at the forefront.

When I pointed it out to Holt Tucker, owner of the shop, he quickly replied, “Oh, that's my personal bike. You can take it out for a trail ride anytime just let me know.” That brief, genuine, off-the-cuff response exemplifies his intentions for opening Tucker Cycles in the first place: get more people riding proper bikes, make Jacksonville more bike friendly and create an inclusive and welcome space for people to come hang out regardless of whether they need work done on their bike.

“I like making an impact for the community. Making sure someone is taken care of and able to continue their daily life because they have their bike back. You come into a bike shop and a lot of the time it acts as a therapy session. Sometimes they don't know what they're looking for, but then they start opening up a little bit more to tell you more about what's going on and [why they're looking for a bike],” Tucker said. “You start building this relationship with a lot of these people, and it becomes a safe place for them. People feel like they can come and hang out here.”

Tucker’s shop was previously operated as an Open Road Bicycles franchise, which still has four locations around Jacksonville. But he felt independent ownership would allow him to better outfit the shop with what he feels best serves the Jax bike community.

“Now that I'm on my own, not much has changed. I pretty much was able to do really whatever I wanted with the franchise but still had to answer to the boss,” he said. “[All the locally owned bike shops] are trying to accomplish the same thing, and that is to get everybody on a bicycle…What separates this shop from others around the area is the knowledge, attitude and service.”

Holt started racing mountain bikes around 13 years old, about the same time he started informally working at Open Road, the shop he now owns and that bears his name. He would push brooms and

do tedious tasks around the shop just to pay for bike parts. He split time between Jacksonville and North Carolina, which has a booming mountain biking community. Officially, he worked for Open Road Bicycles for 16 years, 10 of which he was the franchise owner. Under Open Road Bicycles, he helped curate countless bike events, like mountain bike rides, fixed-gear races and long road rides.

To bolster mountain bike culture and community here in Jax, Holt has made donations to the Tillie K. Fowler Bike Trails like a public access bike repair kit at the trailhead. If you haven’t seen any of these around, Park Tool makes a free standing tower that features nearly every tool you would need to repair a bike—tethered to the tower so they can't be stolen or lost. Bike repair stations are great not only for the convenience of making quick adjustments to your bike before you hit the trails, but they also give people the opportunity to learn how to fix their own bikes, which, in turn, produces a more educated community.

Currently, Tucker Cycles carries Jamis mountain bikes and an assortment of e-bikes, but Tucker is looking to expand inventory to include more American-made bikes and bike parts, like that Reeb I was talking about earlier. His goal is to make these high-quality American-made bikes more accessible to our community because he feels as though non-mainstream bike builders back independent bike shops, whereas bigger brands tend to gloss over smaller accounts.

“You can go straight to any of these big box store’s websites, have it shipped to your house, and it shows up 95% complete. I get it and I understand it's the way everything is these days, but you miss interaction with people. You can read everything you want online and still get the wrong thing,” explained Holt.

If you’re looking to break into the world of mountain biking, or biking in general, head over to Tucker Cycles and have a chat with Holt.

He’ll be sure to set you off in the right direction.

"I like making an impact for the community."

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Understanding the Current Affordable Housing Crisis: An Alternative Perspective Words by David Jaffee Jacksonville, like many other communities across the country, is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. Over the past year, according to Redfin real estate brokerage firm, the average rent in Duval County has increased by 31%. Close to 50% of all Jacksonville renters are cost burdened (spending greater than 30% of income on rent). Jacksonville ranks consistently in the top 10 among major metropolitan areas on almost every measure of rising housing costs. When 60 Minutes devoted a segment to this issue earlier this year, they chose Jacksonville as the city to profile.

The conventional wisdom about the affordable housing crisis is it’s nothing more than the inevitable result of excess demand and insufficient supply. A seemingly natural market response generating rising housing costs.

In the case of Jacksonville, more specifically, the claim is that many people are moving to Florida into communities like Jacksonville for various quality of life considerations, and the increasing demand for housing is putting a strain on the existing housing stock. It all comes down to a simple matter of supply and demand and the mechanical laws of the market. A recent piece in the The Florida Times-Union summed up the housing crisis this way: “Low inventory, a flourishing housing market and exponential population growth have caused rental prices in the Sunshine State to explode.”

While this narrative may be consistent with the free market fantasy one learns in Economics 101, it conveniently omits one of the most 10 F O L I O W E E K L Y

significant factors responsible for both rising demand and prices—the role of institutional investors and private equity firms. There is nothing mysterious about large private corporate entities buying swaths of singlefamily homes (SFH) and multifamily apartments and bundling them into their investment portfolios. The SFHs are converted into rental properties and the multifamily apartments are managed as cash cows.

This is all part of a larger trend over the past 30-plus years known as “financialization” which converts various forms of property into asset class investment vehicles for wealthy investors. It is now the dominant ownership trend in the rental housing market. The acquired properties are converted into income generating assets organized to maximize profit and provide healthy returns for investors.

Once this factor is included in the analysis, the simple free market, supply and demand explanation offered in the mainstream media requires major revision.

For starters, one needs only consider the fact that over the past two years the percent of SFHs purchased by institutional investors in Jacksonville went from 12.04 in 2020 to 29.56 in 2022. In some communities (such as ZIP codes 32206, 32208, 32209) the percent is above 40%.

The consequences of this land grab should be clear. Realtors say firsttime home buyers are unable to compete with corporate firms offering above the asking price, financed with cash. As these potential home buyers see their repeated offers refused alongside an increasingly dwindling supply, many must settle for renting the SFH they had originally hoped to buy, now paying rent to the very institutional investors that have indirectly thwarted their dreams of home ownership.

So, yes, supply and demand factors are at work but not in the way typically described. Corporate investment firms are demanding and securing SFH properties at record rates, converting them to rental properties, thus constricting the available supply of SFHs for individual buyers.

STREAMING ON JAXMUSIC.ORG & THE WJCT APP

The larger argument that the affordability crisis is due to a shortage of housing supply generally is also difficult to sustain. Builders, developers and contractors represent powerful economic interests in Jacksonville and Florida as a whole. Apart from exclusionary zoning for SFHs, there are few restrictions on this sector of the local economy. Jacksonville is builder/development friendly. In a recent report and analysis by Up For Growth on “housing underproduction” (including data as recent as 2019), Jacksonville ranked 174th out of the 800 communities included in the study, with a surplus rather than deficit. And yet, Jacksonville is consistently ranked among the top 10 major metropolitan areas in rising rent and housing prices. Obviously, housing stock is an inadequate explanation. The question is not the total supply of housing but rather who owns and controls the housing stock, for what purpose and its affordability.

The escalating rents Jacksonville tenants are experiencing are not the product of some automatic market mechanism, as many assume. Rental rates are set, often arbitrarily, by corporate landlords who exploit the opportunity to maximize cash flow and provide the return on investment expected by their shareholder clients.

This is particularly clear in the multifamily apartment sector where tenants have seen, over the past two years, monthly rent increases of $300-$400. These increases often follow the acquisition of apartment complexes by private equity investment firms who then install apartment management companies to enforce the new lease conditions. As one management company promoted to institutional investors, “[we provide] acquisition assistance and due diligence services including unit by unit inspections, market surveys and cost analysis. Our team will focus on areas of income such as maximizing rents, ancillary income collections and utility charges.” In response to a complaint on the website about the sharp rise in rent on lease renewal, the same management company explained, “We have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that pricing for our homes is in line with market conditions.”

Market conditions, in this context, means what they can get away with in service to, and in meeting the expectations of, their corporate clients.

This is, again, where the rental housing market bears no resemblance to the abstract fictional market portrayed in economics textbooks. Housing is not a discretionary commodity that buyers can take or leave depending on price. Physical shelter is a human need, some would say a human right

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that people depend on for their physical, material and emotional security.

This distinctive feature of the housing “market” has not gone unnoticed by the institutional investors in their pitch to wealthy clients. Human dependence on physical shelter is a business opportunity to be exploited, as described here by a leading multifamily investment firm: “The premise behind the growth and popularity of the multifamily rental industry is simple—people need a place to live… the durable cash flow and appreciation that apartment properties provide have made this asset class the most attractive real estate investment… The expected inflation will only drive rents higher over the next couple of years…A typical scenario consists of renovating and upgrading dated apartment interiors and common areas, creating an opportunity to push rents.”

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The picture should be clear. Corporate landlords are beholden to their investor clients; the management firms are beholden to their corporate landlord clients; and at the bottom of the priority pyramid are the renters and tenants struggling to retain some semblance of housing stability.

The flawed market explanations for the affordable housing crisis will also generate equally flawed policy proposals. If one assumes the affordable housing problem is simply due to an insufficient supply of housing in relation to demand, the solution is to increase supply. If one also assumes that only the private sector can increase that housing supply, policies will be aimed at incentivizing private actors with subsidies and tax breaks to make it profitable to build more capacity. This is one reason why so many establishment and corporate figures embrace this simple market explanation; the policy implications favor their interests.

Once again, this assumption of a magical market solution is fallacious – that by simply increasing supply in relation to demand, housing costs will automatically decline. But the housing market is not a competitive market. The concentrated property ownership and pricing power fueled by the corporate landlord invasion will nullify any impact of increased supply. Further, there is no guarantee, and there should be no expectation, that housing builders and developers have any less interest in capturing profit opportunities than any other market players. The net result is public subsidies that further enrich property owners without expanding affordable housing options.

This brings me to the main and final point. There is no market solution to the affordable housing crisis. The market, as it operates in the real world, has created the crisis. Therefore, policy solutions must be aimed at insulating and protecting housing from market forces.

David Jaffee is a professor of sociology at the University of North Florida. He is currently directing the JAX Rental Housing Project in the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives at UNF. For more information, visit jaxrentalhousingproject.domains.unf. edu. Jaffee welcomes email communication from renters/tenants on their housing experiences in Duval County at djaffee@unf.edu.

Chart provided by David Jaffee 12 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Police, Procedural Words by Shelton Hull The race to succeed Mike Williams as leader of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was already looking to be one of the most interesting contests in an election season with no shortage of drama. Williams’ abrupt retirement, which he announced on June 2 and officially began just a week later, makes things vastly more complicated, which, in turn, makes things a lot more entertaining for you, the voter.

The first round in this incredibly weird election takes place Aug. 23.

The technical term is “Special First Election,” and gosh, isn’t that the case? It’s already too late to register to vote for that one, but you have until Oct. 11 to sign up for the final round, which takes place on Nov. 6, along with all the other statewide and national contests being contested this year. They’re calling that the “General Election,” but do not be confused. We’re not electing a general, we are electing a sheriff—although, in fairness, any difference between the two is negligible, in practice.

We have five candidates to choose from: Lakesha Burton, Wayne Clark, Tony Cummings, Ken Jefferson and T.K. Waters. Interim Sheriff (and former undersheriff) Pat Ivey is not running, and he’s made no public endorsement of any potential successor, although it’s presumed that Ivey and his predecessors all share in Governor Ron DeSantis’ endorsement of Waters, but outside endorsements seem to matter far less in this race than usual.

Although the sheriff’s office is technically non-political, the reality is that JSO is perceived as an adjunct of City Hall, not an independent entity. Reality also holds that law enforcement tends to sway to the right, politically-speaking, and the voters’ choices to lead our nation’s police departments usually reflect the sentiments of their officers, while reinforcing their values. With unsolved murders in Jacksonville stacking up faster than JEA affidavits, we’ve seen some parts of this city on a virtual war footing for years. The murder of George Floyd galvanized global frustration with police misconduct, and the deeply flawed responses to those protests only intensified the racial polarization in this country. That, coupled with seismic shifts in the larger political culture in America, has set the stage for probably the most interesting sheriff’s race since the pre-Jaguars era.

Let’s give quick credit to all these candidates on one point, quite clearly: They have proven themselves much more amenable to debating than their counterparts in other races around the city and the state. Perhaps this is a function of the generally increased scrutiny under which law enforcement finds itself across the board, in which case the debates can be framed as a nod toward transparency.

It also speaks to possible disparities in political power among blocs, and blocks, for that matter. They are all Black candidates, and many of these debates are taking place in traditionally Black spaces like churches and community centers, and that makes sense, because no one has more to gain—or lose—on the outcome of this particular 13

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election than the city’s Black community. Also, the fact that this is a

remained far more congenial and collaborative than their colleagues

competitive election, with no clear-cut frontrunner, means that most

in other contests across the area, and that in itself is a good sign.

of them are eager to embrace any opportunity to set themselves apart from the pack. Either way, good for them!

With the Blue Wave sweeping women to political prominence across the country, that dynamic has extended into law enforcement, with

There are a lot of questions worth asking about this race, but many

women now running departments in several key cities around

of them can’t be answered without a federal warrant. (That’s more

America. Accounts will differ, but approximately 4,000 women are

of a story for next year, maybe.) The issues our city faces, in terms

currently in charge of various law enforcement organizations in the

of crime and the prevention thereof, are not uniquely ours. Every

country—roughly 9%. That’s a bit less than the 12.6% of rank-and-

city is dealing with it in its own way, but you can be sure that any

file cops that are women, according to the FBI. Clay County Sheriff

useful solutions developed by cops here will be studied by their

Michelle Cook, herself a former JSO officer, is a notable example in

counterparts around the country. We have five people standing who

our community, and her remarkable political trajectory does bode

say they have those solutions. You will decide who gets the chance

quite well for Burton.

to implement them.

By contrast, minority representation has come much closer to parity, When Burton first declared, she seemed about as close to a lock

especially in the higher ranks. With the statues (mostly) gone, and

as any female candidate can in Florida, which is to say, that lasted

most of the names changed, Black activists can rhetorically claim

a few weeks. Her husband Greg’s work with Duval County Schools

this sheriff’s election as a symbolic victory for themselves, no matter

is considered an advantage, given the way those two systems have

who actually ends up winning. Jacksonville, to its credit, didn’t even

been forced together by our political leaders. Qualifications aside,

bother putting up any white people to run in this election. After the

just in terms of branding for the department, and the city, electing

last few years, you look around at guys like Williams and Lenny

Burton would be a visionary move. If Jacksonville elected women as

Curry, and they look ready to spend the next two years laying on the

mayor and sheriff, within a year of each other, in addition to all the

beach and betting on football. The machine punted, and who does

women mayors in the Beaches, that’s a huge story.

punt returns better than Black folks?

But, as we have seen, over and over in recent years, when faced

This election comes down to five candidates, all of whom have

with the possibility of a dynamic young female leader, the system

known and worked with each other for years. They bring a wide

responds by flooding the field with men to dilute their appeal and

range of diverse skills to the table; they’re all qualified for the job, but

scuttle their candidacy. This usually happens with Democrats, leaving

they all have vastly different visions of what the job actually is now

Republicans to pick the bones, but it does work both ways, most

and what it should be in the future. Cities all over the country are

notably with Audrey Moran’s run for mayor back in 2011. In Burton’s

having their own, very specific debates about the future of policing

case, this is not a function of some deep, ingrained misogynistic bent

in their communities, and the same is happening here. Advancing

within the system or a fear of change, as it more clearly is in the case

that dialogue will be job No. 1 for the next sheriff. There are a lot of

of Nikki Fried, who’s been subject to overtly gender-based attack in

bullets in Jacksonville, but none of them are magic bullets.

her campaign for governor.

All five candidates are putting forward a reasoned, deliberative, but still thoroughly orthodox vision of the job. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Better to stick with what kinda works than try a U-turn at cruising speed or whatever metaphor for rash revisionism suits your fancy. All five candidates were well along the way when Williams’ retirement basically forced all their timetables ahead six months.

Assuming the contest is not settled immediately, whoever wins in November will assume the position of sheriff for about four months before they must presumably defend their position all over again in the election that was already scheduled for 2023. T.K. Waters, as the only Republican competing against four Democrats for a traditionally red electorate, has the best statistical chance of winning, but if the runoff comes down to T.K. and a Democrat, a unified front can prevail. There is precedent, with Nat Glover in 1995 and ’99. One expects higher turnouts than usual for what is technically a municipal election haphazardly affixed to the midterms. These candidates have

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Executive Director of Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, Carlos Gonzalez 16 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Burying Historical Norms

to make room for the protected flora like live oaks, sparkleberry and hickories to grow, Gonzalez states as he casually plucks a blue flower and pops it in his mouth. “This is spiderwort, and it's actually edible,” he mentioned while crouching at the side of a wooded trail.

The three main principles for a natural burial are no embalming of bodies, no usage of grave liners and the use of biodegradable containers. Standards also call for digging about three and half feet during preparations for a burial site, as this is the optimal depth for allowing oxygen to reach the body and heat to radiate down into the body creating the environment needed for natural decomposition.

Words by Rain Henderson & Joseph Guiffre

They do all the work on the land by hand, as opposed to using

Photos by Rain Henderson & Praire Creek Conservation Cemetery

machinery (unless instructed otherwise by the Alachua Conservation Trust partners) to lessen the impact on the land and to preserve the

Winding through the live oak lined backroads a dozen miles

peaceful ambience. Families are able to provide material themselves

southeast of Gainesville, the bright Florida summer sun beats down.

such as a special quilt or bedsheet, or they can create their own

The light illuminates the old houses and chicken coops we pass,

caskets to provide something meaningful and also economical.

miles from the hustle and bustle. Finally we take a turn down a dirt road across from an idyllic cow pasture framed by tall symmetrical

Because PCCC is not a licensed funeral director, families can

palms. The shade of the woodlands is welcoming and so is the tall,

choose between two routes, either contracting a mortuary institution

smiling, plainly dressed man waiting at the gate.

or having a home funeral. With many funeral homes looking to capitalize on the deaths of loved ones, they don’t care about

Over the past two or three years people have been confronting

natural burials, but others have been receptive to the idea, and

their own mortality more than usual. “About three years ago, before

PCCC is actually helping a funeral home in Palm Coast with their first

the pandemic, we were doing, on average about 80 burials per

natural burial. When asked about the increase in interest in natural

year, now we're doing about 120 a year and it's just continually

burials, Gonzalez explained the interest has generally been shared

increasing,” explained Carlos Gonzalez, executive director of Prairie

through word of mouth and rising concern for the environment. Once

Creek Conservation Cemetery (PCCC).

someone attends a burial service, for example, they often share the experience with their friends, family or on social media. A lot of

PCCC is a non-profit, community cemetery nestled within Prairie

people are just googling “green burial” which has resulted in people

Creek Reserve, a protected conservation area near Gainesville. The

from around the world interested in PCCC’s services.

93-acre “living memorial” is licensed with the Green Burial Council and collaborates with Alachua Conservation Trust to manage, protect

The operators of PCCC not only pay special attention to the

and restore the land for all living things.

services they provide but also the natural setting in which they perform them. Each different habitat type is treated with its own

The cemetery opened in 2010 after welcoming conversations

considerations. Moving through the meadow habitat of the cemetery,

with the Alachua Conservation Trust and the community. Dr. Kathy

we were surrounded by black-eyed Susans, a native species that

Cantwell, a local physician and environmentalist, was the first to be

has flourished in the protected area now spreading and procreating

buried here after she expressed her desires of being buried in a

on its own. The elements of wind and dropping of birds have taken

natural way as she faced the end of her life.

over the effort once handled by planting and seeding, allowing the team to focus on different species that will help wildlife and insects.

As Gonzalez walked us through the natural landscape of the

Every morning the cemetery becomes a wildlife oasis, herds of deer,

cemetery, we passed through specially protected cypress wetlands,

turkeys and even a bobcat have been spotted making their way

large fields of native flowers and grassland, areas yet to be tended to

through the property. We took a peek into a gopher tortoise hole

and about 100 burial sites that blended in with the natural landscape.

to see if he was home as we tiptoed around flags designating the

The only forms of written memorialization allowed on the land are

plantings of new species such as native milkweed, small grasses and

very small, engraved, brass markers placed atop natural elements

other wildflowers. Because the cemetery's primary focus is on the

like pine straw to avoid movement of the soil. No weeding or

families, they don’t have too much time to collect data on just how

raking is done, leaving the land in the closest to its natural state

much they are improving the preserve but they hope to one day.

as possible. Prior to opening new burial spaces, the PCCC team

Gonzales sees potential for the nearby University of Florida to use

removes invasive trees that tend to fall apart due to heart rot and

PCCC as a site to study the environmental benefits of natural burial.

quick-growing nuisance trees, including laurels and sweetgums,

17

We planted ourselves within the flowers to grab some photos while

dig angeled graves in accommodation for people of Islam faith, digging

Gonzalez described his backstory and how he serendipitously fell into

the grave at a pitch with their eyes, their faces pointed toward Mecca.

his current role. After receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, the Portland native worked as a

The cemetery is currently at half capacity, performing 100 burials per acre

professional artist and an elementary school art teacher in Miami-Dade

(200 fewer than the Green Burial Council’s recommendation). They’ve

County, working at local plant nurseries and botanical gardens on the

gotten preliminary approval to expand the cemetery within the preserve

side. When his wife’s family made plans to retire and move to Gainesville,

itself, as well as possible talks of acquiring neighboring land not currently

they followed close behind with plans of buying a house and starting a

under conservation. The staff of Alachua Conservation Trust, who also

family.

allow the cemetery to work out of their nearby offices, are working to find places they can expand into, hoping to protect more land and to

“Not too many people were leaving that [art teacher] position, given it's

help more people achieve their loved ones’ dreams. Gonzalez sees this

like a coveted position of being an art teacher, something that is definitely

as a way to protect special ecosystems, stop developments and offer an

very limited, especially in a smaller city, in comparison to Miami,” he

alternative to conventional cemeteries that negatively impact waterways,

said. “There wasn't too much opportunity for me here. And so I was

wildlife and plant life.

working odd jobs. I eventually worked for the post office, and then started volunteering here.” His stepfather-in-law had volunteered to help dig a grave at PCCC, but when he got sick he asked Gonzalez to substitute for him: “Sure, sounds interesting,” he replied.

So there he was digging for a stranger with a group of other strangers, taking solace in the act of helping someone and creating a community unbiased by religion or ethnicity. Gonzalez became the mentee of the previous director who had plans to retire and eventually took over his position. Because of his unassuming background, Gonzalez comes at the process from a different perspective. He uses his experience in performance arts to form people’s experiences to be as impactful and meaningful as possible. PCCC works to create a place for gathering, reintroducing practices of the past when cemeteries were used for meetings of community leaders, plays and even concerts. People

Natural burials also work as an economically sound option making them

can gather around the notion of the circle of life clearly visible in the

available to the widest segment of the community. Burials at PCCC are

cemetery; it’s a reminder that nothing is ever permanent.

about $2,000, part of which goes to their endowment fund, a necessary part of keeping the land protected forever. They recently were able to

Cantwell's burial site had evidence of prior prescribed burns and was

provide their staff with health insurance, a big win, and have hopes of

visited by a fence lizard and some butterflies. Her site has also served as

adding to their three-person team. Fees for burials and help from donors

a landmark and safe space for the LGBTQ community, of which Cantwell

help take care of the land and provide native plantings to restore the

was a part. All different types of people, regardless of race, religion,

landscape. In the sandhill segment of the cemetery, we saw beautyberry

heritage, gender and sexual orientation are buried in the cemetery

trees and pawpaws that were used by Indigenous peoples and one that

changing some of the bad history associated with historical cemeteries,

we may end up relying on as temperatures continue to rise. PCCC’s

a lot of which are still segregated to this day. Cantwell’s cat is buried at

native plant program works with local nurseries that specialize in native

her feet facing east, the usual orientation of burials. Others have different

plants to plan the best time and best types of species to plant. The rule

preferences and prefer to see the sunset than the sunrise. PCCC also

of thumb for restoration practices in a particular region is to transplant

18 F O L I O W E E K L Y

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species from laterally zoned growers, so PCCC sources from the

to differ from the horrific past that cemeteries and funeral services

neighboring towns of Micanopy and Hawthorne.

have had for marginalized groups. Many organizations seen as environmental entities have a board composed primarily of white men, so it hasn’t been necessarily inviting to minority groups, a term Gonzalez doesn’t like to use.

Younger people are also starting to inquire about PCCC’s services as baby boomers retire and this makes Gonzales hopeful of change.

“I want those people, those young leaders that are coming in, to be looking out for everyone,” he said, “ rather than their stakeholders that have been there for forever.”

Gonzalez has had encounters with racist funeral directors and takes great joy in being able to connect with Latinx families. “Since they're engaging with me, someone that looks like them in this role, they actually ask me different questions than they would ask someone else. They would say to me in Spanish, while the funeral directors over there, ‘can I do this? can I do that?’ And I go, ‘yes, everyone can do that.’”

On the way into the cemetery, visitors pass a confederate flag hanging from a neighboring home. Gonzalez knows society isn’t all the way there yet, but he’s doing the work, with his own bare hands, to help the shift.

The cemetery is part of the Prairie Creek Preserve, meaning that recreational trails connect through it, allowing passive recreation through the landscape. Citizens come for picnics, a neighbor nearby rides her horse through the cemetery and others just casually walk through. Gonzales stated that once people realize they’ve entered a cemetery (there is no giant sign or super obvious markings), they are very respectful of it, honoring the space for what it is. The cemetery has had no real issues with the general public, wildlife or natural forces. Occasionally a grave may fill with water, but that’s just a natural part of how something can decompose. Natural burials don’t require any major modifications of the land, watershed or soil composition. In fact, Gonzalez has recognized brightening of colors and greater growth of trees atop the decomposing bodies in the ground. As he previously mentioned, PCCC doesn’t have all the resources they need for exact data collection, but they have some forms of partnership with UF bringing environmental studies interns to come out and volunteer. Gonzalez is mostly curious about the scientific effects on plant growth and the effects of cremation burials on the soil.

Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery is not only a leader in environmentally friendly practices but also in prompting a societal shift. They’ve had an increase in burials of Latinx and Black decedents and recently held a traditional Chinese burial. PCCC is working hard F O L I O W E E K LY

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8/11/22 9:45 AM

WATER HOGS

BY RAIN HENDERSON

The blue marble we know as Earth has an abundant amount of

happening around the globe. Here, we’re going to focus on the U.S.

water, 71% of its surface is covered in the wet stuff. Unfortunately

and more specifically Jacksonville.

for our very delicate species, 91% of that water is saline, frozen or inaccessible for practical use meaning it’s generally unusable.

Across the Western states below average snow cover, record-low

Scientists are working to change that, but in our political climate,

precipitation numbers and record-low water levels in the reservoirs

those innovations will not be introduced to the general public for a

are making the multi-year drought even more intense and extensive.

long time. For now we must rely on our planet’s own water cycle:

While the West is burning down, other states are dealing with record-

precipitation, collection, evaporation, condensation.

breaking flood damage. It makes one consider sophisticated ideas similar to those of Spongebob SquarePants’ best friend, Patrick Star,

Earth never wastes a single drop of water, and every drop on Earth

like, “We should take Bikini Bottom and push it somewhere else.”

now was here 4.6 billion years ago. In a perfect scenario this would

In our case Bikini Bottom would be water, and that’s actually what

leave us with an endless water supply, but Earth can’t do its job

California has been doing for years. It’s just not enough anymore.

when we treat it like sh*t, like filling the air with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide caused by fossil fuel emissions. The water that’s

In 1922 an agreement called the The Colorado River Compact was

replenished naturally doesn’t necessarily wind up where it came

enacted, which, in part, allowed for the construction of Hoover Dam

from and certainly not the same amount. The quality of some of

with the distribution of Colorado River split among seven states:

this water is also far from ideal. Acid rain: cool band name, uncool

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and

precipitation type.

Wyoming with California deriving more than 15% of its surface water supplies from the river. The Colorado River sprinkles the lawns,

A report by the Center of Sustainable Systems at the University of

quenches the thirst and fills the pools of 40 million people all the

Michigan found

while irrigating cropland that generates 15% of the country’s food.

total water use in the U.S was 322 billion gallons per day in 2015, 87% of which was freshwater,

But it’s not just the Western states having to borrow water. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Mississippi's lawsuit against Tennessee claiming they were stealing groundwater (freshwater) from the Middle Claiborne Aquifer, which sits below the Mississippi-

with the biggest withdrawals coming from two sources: 1)

Tennessee border. Mississippi believed they owned the water, but

thermoelectric power, which produces most of the electricity in

the court ruled the states must share. The suit was actually the first

the United States (just look for the giant smokestacks coughing up

time the Supreme Court ruled on an issue of groundwater.

pollution), a process that requires water to cool down the electricity, then uses more water to cool the water heated from the previous

California’s <The Desert Sun> published an opinion piece last month

cooling process before releasing it back the environment [insert

on diverting water from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River

confused emoji]; and 2) irrigation, which includes water used for

to help deter the effects of the drought. Readers weighed in on the

agricultural crops as well as landscaping, golf courses, parks, etc.

matter with some stating the diversion could help reduce flooding of

The actual percentage of water consumed in the thermoelectric

the Mississippi River basin and others writing comments like, “Think

power plants is only 3%; the rest is returned, at least partially, to

outside the drought, Bill” (Bill is the writer of the original op-ed).

the basin from which it was pulled. Irrigation, on the other hand,

The California water crisis has become such a big deal <The Late

isn’t as resourceful with half of the water used for agriculture lost to

Show With Stephen Colbert> did a Hollywood version of water hogs,

consumptive use, making it the largest loss of water. Of all 50 states,

outing Sylvester Stallone for using 12 million gallons of water in one

more than 50% of water withdrawals come from just 12—California,

year. Yikes!

Texas, Idaho, Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska and Florida.

About 70% of all rainfall returns to the atmosphere through Earth’s nifty water cycle, and in Florida around 13 inches soak into the

So far, none of the processes humans have invented to “treat

sandy soils and porous limestone bedrock that supply the aquifer

ourselves” have had a favorable effect on Earth. Climate change,

that keeps water flowing into our springs and works as the main

climate emergency, climate crisis, whatever you want to call it is

source of water withdrawal for the central and northeast part of the

22 F O L I O W E E K L Y

state. As I’m sure you could guess by the very positive tone of what you’ve read here so far, the aquifer hasn't been able to recover as well as it has in the past. <National Geographic> published a piece in 2020 detailing the facts of the loss of Florida’s water, including a 2018 study that revealed a 32% reduction in average spring flows between 1950 and 2010 with projections that only got worse.

Not to blame it on social media, but all those “I live where you vacation” posts during blizzards aren’t helping. Those people who took a break from shoveling heaps of snow out of their ass to smash “like” started moving here (or at least bought a second home here), forcing mass amounts of development on unsuitable land. The growing population contributes to the draining of Florida’s wetlands, as well as Florida’s freshwater, depleting our precious aquifer. This may be good news for those without a scuba license since air tanks are no longer needed to swim through the caves of Florida’s springs because they’re dried up. But when the water levels of the aquifer drop, the pressure that keeps the water flowing also drops creating a stagnant breeding ground for mosquitoes and algae and, most problematic, a greater chance of saltwater intrusion, that is, if they don’t completely run dry. Normally, the flow of fresh water of the aquifer keeps the saltwater below at bay, but with lowering

want to sweat 90% of their life either. But someone deserves the

1.

finger, mostly, the developers causing the destruction and also the

The Joneses used more than 6 million gallons of water last year at

levels of the freshwater paired with sea level rise, the results will be undrinkable water and devastating effects on the ecosystem.

We already know Mississippi isn’t going to let us borrow any water, and I don't want to point fingers at snowbirds or people who

residents themselves, which bring us to Northeast Florida’s Biggest Water Hogs.

Before we get to the unveiling, a quick note on how we obtained the information in this list: The water usage and associated addresses were obtained via a public record request to JEA. The owners’ names were obtained through an address search on the property appraiser website. A little Internet sleuthing produced some phone numbers (not all of which were necessarily correct, for the record) and other tidbits about the owners. Observations about the properties were based on site visits, where possible. There may or may not have been a giant corkboard, a ball of string and a thousand push pins involved.

So without further ado, here are the groundbreaking, or should we say “ground-draining” results:

GREGORY & TAMMY JONES 313 PONTE VEDRA BLVD Market value: $3,200,000 Lot size: 16,117 sqft water usage: 6,078,996 gallons

their $3 million beach home in Ponte Vedra. Greg is a very interesting guy; he started a successful business and has opened multiple nonprofit organizations that he donates his own money to. So he’s not only a water hog but also an LLC hog. Tammy is as interesting as any very religious person with nine children would be. Assuming the couple is religious, based on their founding of Cornerstone Evangelical Foundation, perhaps they are providing millions of baptisms a year, using up all that water to wash away millions of sins. Or based on their property’s multiple flood prone designations, maybe they are preparing to build an ark, flood the city and change the DNA of human life as we know it. My initial guess was landscaping, since that's a huge driver in water waste, but Greg and Tammy’s lawn appeared to be fake grass, and the backyard is basically sand given their proximity to the beach. Unfortunately, they did not answer the phone or the door so we may never know the specifics behind the immense amount of water needed to fuel this family.

23

2.

Dasan Realty 7645 GALVESTON AVE Market value: $81,746 Lot size: 9,919 sqft (Living area: 804 sqft) water usage: 4,182,068 gallons

3.

Pine Castle, Inc. 9385 RIVER PINE RD Market value: $431,048 Lot size: 3,076 sqft water usage: 3,621,068 gallons

Located in a seemingly low income area, this tiny house littered

Raising more eyebrows here. Three million gallons of water are

with playthings, trash and a mini dirt bike is using an unimaginable

being used at this property which is listed as the “primary site

amount of water. The house shares the lot with a shed, windows

address” for Pine Castle, Inc., a non-profit organization serving adults

covered in cardboard and a trailer. The backyard is a makeshift

with intellectual and developmental differences, though the actual

garden decorated with rolls of blue tarp and PVC pipes. We were

address of Pine Castle is 15 minutes away and the current owner of

met by a group of whispering children and a swift lock of the

the River Pine address shows as Keith L. Brown who doesn’t seem

door. The property is the “primary site” address of Dasan Realty

to be associated with Pine Castle. When contacting the residence, I

LLC, also assigned to another interesting little house on Freeman

was quickly hung up on. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom house is

Avenue according to the property appraiser site. In fact, a Google

made from energy-efficient face brick that requires little maintenance

search revealed the company has many other “site addresses”

surrounded by a meticulous planting of ferns and elephant ears and

but, interestingly, no company website. Daniel Saenz, who filed

fallen pine cones from the trees towering above. The rest of the yard

the Articles of Incorporation for Dasan Realty, LLC, in 2014, was

is a combination of sand and grass that doesn’t seem to require

previously a contractor who seemed to be buying and flipping

much water maintenance. Long showers, pumping AC and lots of

houses. I’m assuming he is the one fronting this huge water bill,

“number twos” might be the culprit here, but at least all the money

judging the book by its cover.

saved by their charitable tax exemptions pays for their obnoxious use of water.

4.

Pulte Homes Company LLC 10880 Kentworth Way Market value: $516,737 Lot size: 2,973 sqft water usage: 3,225,376 gallons

5.

JEA 8614 Reedy Branch Dr Market value: $0?

Lot size: 87,969 sqft water usage: 2,822,204 gallons

Miles of short, green grass, tall trees and ornamental flowers

Our fifth water hog is another type of HOA situation with the property

make up the retirement community Dell Webb eTown. The HOA

use described as “vacant governmental.” The Trulia description of

headquarters, established at this water hog’s address, has a huge

this property is very amusing: “9 bathrooms and approximately 252

pool and a hot tub shaded by newly planted, fully grown palm

sqft of floor space with a lot size of 2 acres.” Hidden pretty well in the

trees. Ripping off old people is like taking candy from a baby, but

trees of a neighborhood, the building looks to have JEA boxes lining

it’s possible the residents willingly pay a hefty wastewater bill just

the outer walls and the use description says “utility.” The assumption

to soak their already raisined skin in the warm, frothing waters of a

here is that the neighborhood has its own small powerhouse.

Jacuzzi. This water hog, as despicable as it is, actually makes sense,

Generally any sort of electrical “plant” has to run water through

since irrigation is an infamous water waster. (Also, the sales history

the systems to keep them cool which could account for the almost

on this building is very interesting. In 2019, it was bought for $100.)

three millions gallons being used here I guess. And nine bathrooms?

I, unfortunately, can’t say if that’s an accurate description, but that would definitely add thousands of gallons of water onto the bill. No matter what’s actually going on here, JEA needs to get their sh*t together. They just handed me this information like it was nothing! *Update* The Duval County Property Appraiser office lists both Reedy Creek and JEA at 8614 Reedy Branch Drive due to a shared driveway.

However, there are two different real estate numbers for JEA and Reedy Branch Plantation. The Reedy Branch Amenity Center has the only water meter for the property. Meter #68955186 shows daily consumption of over 10,000 CCF since January. JEA has a separate electric meter for the lift/ pump station on the back of the property taking up approximately 0.1 acre and is addressed in our billing system as 8614 Reedy Branch Dr. Apt LS01.

24 F O L I O W E E K L Y

It does not have a water meter.

6.

Dolores M Friedline 5552 S Milamar Dr Market value: $404,079 Lot size: 3,040 sqft water usage: 2,813,976 gallons

Easy Ways to reduce your total water usage: words by vincent dalessio

Dolores M. Friedline, small-time movie star, big-time water hog.

Residing behind a gated courtyard and tall trimmed hedges is Friedline, who starred in 1972’s The Brides Who Wore Blood as a pretty blonde who moves to Florida on the advice of a psychic and is later murdered on her wedding night by a vampire. Dolores shared her waterfront home with late husband, Rev. David P. Friedline. Today, the home is heavily protected by security cameras, easily dismissed by the site of the glorious home visually enlarged by the gazebo structure perfectly situated between foliage and crosses. The house is made up of two screened porches, a sun room, three bedrooms and two and half baths and includes a private dock. Looks like that movie psychic turned out to be at least half right: Ms. Friedline is living the dream in Florida. Unfortunately, her obnoxious water use might lead to the destruction of her beautiful Florida home—and being murdered on her wedding night by a vampire.

Landscaping Nationwide, landscaping irrigation accounts for nearly 9 billion gallons of water a day, and is the main reason why most of these people are listed here. But, your lawn doesn’t have to contribute to the total as much as some of these Water Hogs.

Prioritizing native plants in your yard over plush green grass and invasive flowering species will quickly reduce the amount of water needed for keeping your yard healthy as native plants rarely need more water than what nature provides.

Planting native is said to reduce lawn water usage by up to 60%.

Adding mulch to your gardens is a great way to lock moisture in the soil reducing transpiration of water therefore needing less water added to the system.

And turn your f*cking sprinklers off when it's raining. Keep your eyes on the weather: If it's been

7.

Carl R Spadaro 4439 Heaven Trees Rd Market value: $3,357,760

raining non-stop all day, I think your plants can do without the added irrigation.

Water collection

Lot size: 9,100 sqft

Not only is it legal to collect rainwater in Florida, but

water usage: 2,780,316 gallons

it's also incentivised through rebates and tax write

Surprisingly, the CEO of a company with its own “ecosophy” (translation: “a philosophy of ecological harmony or equilibrium”) landed on our water hog list. Spadaro is CEO of Earthcore, a manufacturer of eco-friendly products using volcanic stone from Iceland. Based on Spadaro’s water usage, he clearly does not practice ecosophy at home, which he probably didn’t mention when he presented at the Global Climate Summit in Copenhagen in 2007.

Fast forward to 2022, Spadaro lives in a seven-bedroom house on the water with the obligatory swimming pool and a boat. Given the six cars visible from the front of the gate (and who knows how many more in the three-car garage), water hogging seems like a family affair. Side note: Action News Jax did a very riveting story on Carl’s son in 2015: “Stefan Spadaro's friend had just caught a small shark

offs. Rain barrels require a very small investment upfront and are easy to install. Just stick it under a downspout off your roof gutter system and during a rainstorm, a 500-square-foot roof can fill a 50-gallon rain barrel in about an hour.

Porcelain Thrones Check your toilets. A leaky toilet can waste up to 100 gallons of water a day! Adding a 1-liter plastic bottle weighed down with pebbles to the tank of your toilet is an easy way to reduce over 5 gallons of water a day without harming the function of the porcelain throne. Every flush uses 5-7 gallons, so maybe think about peeing outside?

while fishing in the St. Johns River Friday evening when they had a spur-of-the-moment idea...shark selfie.” I bet the shark wouldn’t have been so nice if he knew the amount of water his family was hogging.

25

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26 F O L I O W E E K L Y

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7/21/22 11:50 AM

Folio Weed: Interesting Whites Words by Shelton Hull

The worst-case scenario, which I give about 50/50 odds to, is that DeSantis is reelected, and his party takes the commissioner of agriculture spot left behind by Fried. Given that medical marijuana

It’s been a summer of anniversaries, large and small, for people

has been her most noteworthy achievement and the base from

and institutions across Northeast Florida, as you may have noticed.

which she’s challenging him now, DeSantis can serve his existential

It’s the 200th anniversary of the city itself (which was founded on a

purpose of triggering liberals for sport, while also acting to preempt

Saturday, very on-brand), the 100th anniversary of the Garden Club,

any challenge to his hand-picked successor (my money’s on Casey).

the 50th anniversary of WJCT, the 25th for iconic local DJ Wes Reed

That would cost Florida billions, but based on his treatment of

and so much else. The same is true for Folio, celebrating its 35th

Disney, he probably doesn’t care.

anniversary this year. This past July 8 marked the 25th anniversary of my own debut in this illustrious local rag, some seven editors

Instead, my vote goes to Ryan Morales, an activist and pro DJ who

and maybe a million words ago. A big chunk of that consists of the

advocates for the full legalization of cannabis, but also proposes

column you’re reading right now. Aug. 18 marks exactly five years

even further. He’s almost like a Libertarian, except he’s actually

since the first installment was written.

pleasant and not the least bit insufferable. Florida Dems have some of the most interesting candidates this year that I’ve seen

What better way of celebrating the past than by looking ahead to

anywhere—shout-out to folks like Angie Nixon, Val Demings and

the future, right? Sure, let’s go with that. This issue was published

Aramis Ayala, all easy picks, in my view.

on Aug. 17, by which time early voting will have already begun in the state of Florida. The primary election transpires (and that

Probably my favorite Florida candidate of all, this year, is Rebekah

seems like a perfect word for it) on Tuesday, Aug. 23; Democrats

Jones, who is not in my district but can still have my vote anyway.

and Republicans will pick their nominees for a vast array of elected

Not only is she whip-smart, fiercely charismatic and utterly, almost

offices on the local and state levels. The general election happens

pathologically fearless, but she has the added advantage of running

on Nov. 6, and we’ll talk more about that in October, if you insist.

against, in my opinion, arguably the single-most despicable human

Today, let’s hone in and bone up (that sounds bad but it’s not) on

being to ever hold political office in the state of Florida—Rep. Matt

the primary because that’s where the juiciest action takes place

Gaetz (FL-01), the utter apogee of ass-clowns. If you know any of

(that also sounds bad but it’s not). The implications are curious for

the 800,000-plus residents of Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa

cannabisseurs in Florida, for a variety of reasons. Nikki Fried has

Rosa or Walton counties, please call them now and beg them, on

my full support, but to each their own. Personally, I think anyone

my behalf, to give that trust-fund troglodyte the Ol’ Yeller treatment

who votes against her is a stone cold fool and a likely liability going

now, while his people still have some plausible deniability in court.

forward, but as always, our system requires women to jump through extra hoops, but that’s a whole other discussion. (Also, vote for the millage rate increase!)

Assuming for a moment Fried runs the table, her ability to influence this matter is limited. Republicans are certain to retain control of the state legislature because Democrats essentially conceded that from the start. All 120 seats are up for grabs, but 30 seats feature candidates who are running unopposed, 25 of them being Republican. As governor, Fried would increase funding for the Office Of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), open up avenues to increase minority access to the industry, and maybe even torpedo the “vertical integration” model that has inhibited the growth of a market that, under Fried, would quickly enter the low ten figures, even if Congress and the White House maintain their current stance of abject cowardice on the issue.

27

Nope / Universal Pictures

28 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Film Reviews

his physicality. It would be in the best interests of both Kaluuya and

Words by Harry Moore

come. Meanwhile, Brandon Perea is a terrific find in what is only his

Peele to continue their fruitful creative collaboration for years to second credited performance following Netflix’s series The OA: As

Nope

Angel he brings a lot of the film’s humor out and gives a unique take

Jordan Peele has enjoyed one of the most unexpected second

on a well-worn character type. And Steven Yeun, who may be best

acts in the history of Hollywood; going from being a cult hero in

known for his part in the long-running zombie show The Walking

the sketch comedy scene to being arguably the most prominent

Dead gives a memorable supporting performance as a traumatized

mainstream auteur to emerge in American cinema in the last 20

former child actor, who is now the owner of a small amusement park

years, with Peele presenting himself as a kind of 21st century Rod

that neighbors the Haywoods’ ranch.

Serling, telling modern-day parables about our culture through a lens of horror and science fiction. With his latest film, Nope, Peele

Nope stands as another triumph for Jordan Peele and shows

looks to the skies to create thrills that are on the biggest scale he

that the scope of his filmmaking ability has yet to reach its limit.

has done yet as an adaptive alien being terrorizes a Californian

In a marketplace that is overloaded with reboots, sequels and

ranch run by a pair of disparate siblings, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and

superheroes, it is nothing short of a Hollywood miracle that a

Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer). With the help of the Ancient Aliens

filmmaker as creative and serendipitously minded as Peele is given

watching, electronics store employee Angel (Brandon Perea) and

the resources to tell his original story to audiences in a multiplex.

the committed cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott), the

In theaters now.

Haywoods set out to capture irrefutable, fame-making proof that aliens exist.

Thor: Love and Thunder This newest adventure for Marvel’s God of Thunder has the

Peele’s other films have generally operated on a smaller scale, with

unfortunate task of following up one of the most widely beloved

Get Out and Us taking cues from more intimate and character driven

MCU films to date in Thor: Ragnarok and also coming out at a time

horror/thriller movies, and while Nope does feature at least some of

where overexposure to Marvel stories may have reached its breaking

the more unsettling images to be seen in any major release in recent

point with six movies and seven TV series set in the universe being

years, Peele appears to be more interested in creating a full blown

released in 18 months. As a result, Thor: Love and Thunder has been

blockbuster with his latest effort. With this film, it seems that Peele

met with a critical lambasting that it may not entirely deserve on the

has taken a page from the early work of Steven Spielberg—with a hint

merits of the film itself.

of Close Encounters and a whole lot of Jaws being in Nope’s DNA. Once again, Peele has shown how adept he is at directing actors—a

Love and Thunder is a relatively middling entry to the MCU with

skill that was undoubtedly honed during his years of experience as

there being both more memorable and more forgettable films to

a working actor—drawing great, and often very funny, performances

come out of the franchise (not to mention within the Thor series

from his talented cast. Palmer is given her biggest stage yet to

itself). Taika Waititi, who recently won an Oscar for his film Jojo

show why she is such a highly regarded young talent from her time

Rabbit, brings his patented 10-jokes-a-minute style of humor to the

working on Nickelodeon and Broadway, and she doesn’t disappoint.

film, which Chris Hemsworth deftly performs. Since the success of

She is excellent as the free-spirited Emerald and clashes well with

Ragnarok, Hemsworth really found his voice in the part of Thor after

the steelier and work-oriented OJ. For a while now, Kaluuya has

struggling to make the character his own as quickly as many of

been one of the best actors of his generation, having been on a

his colleagues managed to do, making Love and Thunder a good

strong run giving compelling performances in several interesting

vehicle for him to show off his charm in the role. The film is also

films. After his breakout performance in Peele’s revered debut

notable for bringing back Natalie Portman as Jane, Thor’s long-

Get Out, Kaluuya has gone from strength to strength as an actor;

lost love interest who hasn’t appeared in an MCU project since

appearing in Black Panther, starring in the acclaimed drama Queen

2013’s Thor: The Dark World. Portman gives a reliably strong and

and Slim and stealing the show in Steve McQueen’s ensemble crime

surprisingly heartfelt performance.

thriller Widows—which was no mean feat, considering it starred Viola Davis and featured a host of excellent performers such as Robert

The film isn’t without its merits and is consistently entertaining even

Duvall, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson (among many others) in its

if all the jokes don’t land and the visuals are subpar for a movie of

sprawling cast. But Kaluuya’s success crescendoed with an Oscar

this scale; it just feels as though the Marvel machine is beginning to

win in 2021 for his captivating performance as Fred Hampton in

run on fumes and isn’t able to surprise anyone anymore or recapture

Judas and the Black Messiah, and he returns to the big screen to

its former glories. The next stop for Marvel is Ryan Coogler’s Black

give another great performance that is unique from what he has

Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is saddled with the tragic weight

already demonstrated. While not as showy or dialogue driven as

of continuing that saga following the passing of Black Panther’s

Palmer’s performance, Kaluuya’s is just as finely calibrated. We

original star Chadwick Boseman, and it remains to be seen whether

always know what OJ is thinking and feeling through Kaluuya’s on-

the studio’s grip on the industry is beginning to loosen.

screen presence, he is gifted at bringing the character to life with

In theaters now.

29

30 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Popular Riverside coffee shop and cafe being uprooted Words by Kale Boucher & Photos by Rain Henderson

increase instead, aware what they currently pay is below market value.

Southern Roots said they did not receive a counter or clear answer back.

If you’re tapped into Riverside happenings, you’ve probably come across

Instead, The Urban Division has shown the property to another potential

Instagram posts regarding Southern Roots and their probable relocation.

renter.

There’s been a lot of noise online, so we’re hoping to help clear up the facts and give a voice to all sides of the matter.

The Urban Division reports they have three letters of intent on the property that come from food and beverage and consumer services.

HERE’S THE RUNDOWN Communication between Southern Roots and The Urban Division is Mariah Goetz Salvat and her husband Juan Pablo “JP” Salvat, owners

unclear depending upon who you speak to. Southern Roots was told

of Southern Roots Filling Station, a local vegan coffee shop serving

last week the investor group will be closing on the property in 20 days.

breakfast and lunch, set up shop at their current King Street location in

The Salvats were also informed they would have 60 to 120 days after

2014. In 2016, they expanded into the space next door, doubling in size.

closing to leave.

At the time of the expansion, they signed a five-year lease.

PUBLIC RESPONSE Their landlord, Patricia Butts, passed away in August of last year, a few

On Aug. 1, 2022, Southern Roots informed their followers of their

months before their lease was up. The property was then transferred to

predicament via Instagram. They expressed their desire to keep the

her stepchildren. After Southern Roots’ lease ended in December 2021,

coffee shop open and their uncertainty in what the future holds. There

they continued to pay rent on a monthly basis to stepson Layton Butts.

was an outpouring of support. Five hundred plus comments expressed dismay and asked what the community can do to help.

The building was listed for sale with Colliers’ Urban Division group acting as the realtors. Southern Roots asked for a new lease and Colliers

Although Southern Roots didn’t name the realtors, the Internet is full of

advised against writing one while the building was up for sale. Outside

sleuths who quickly found The Urban Division page. Amidst a sudden

investors are under contract for the building currently.

wave of backlash, The Urban Division has limited their comments and made it so other profiles can’t tag them.

The Urban Division is acting on behalf of the future owners to find new renters as well. Southern Roots reached out, asking what rent would be

It seems The Urban Division has provided the public with a tangible

under the new owners. They were told $35/sqft which is a 400% increase

villain, a face to direct their anger. While rental rates skyrocket and

over what they are paying now. So the Salvats countered with a 200%

inflation is in high gear, the working class is feeling the pressure. This 31

135 W Monroe Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 | www.JamesWeldonJohnsonPark.org

32 F O L I O W E E K L Y

brokerage has been made into a symbol of corporate greed and

Mariah is concerned The Urban Division is “pioneering a Riverside

apathy toward locals.

movement.” As inflation makes it more difficult for small businesses to succeed, outside interests, via realtors such as The Urban Division,

The Urban Division’s response to criticism has rubbed many the

can step in and reshape the area to their own liking, potentially

wrong way. In a long winded post, they seek to distance themselves

unraveling years of community investment.

from any wrongdoing. They attempted to assert themselves as bystanders: “We are not the owners of the property, we are not the

When I asked what The Urban Division is looking for in a tenant that

buyers of the property.” A commenter disputes this perspective,

Southern Roots (a coffee shop offering breakfast and lunch) lacks,

framing The Urban Division as “active players in watching Jax

they wrote back “King Street is a pedestrian street—situated in a

become a city where the working class cannot afford to be in any

walkable neighborhood. It currently has a heavy bar and nightlife

longer.”

scene. I think a concept that activates the street during the day as well would be a benefit to all businesses. Could be a great restaurant

The Urban Division’s most controversial response took place on a

or bodega.” Their hope is for King Street to become more similar to

since deleted comment.

5 Points or Avondale.

One local wrote, “no surprise, good riddance to this establishment.

Clark wrote, “My brand as a broker has been to support local

Hoping for a decent real restaurant.”

and regional concepts in their growth. We sometimes encounter franchises in our market, but for the most part local and regional

To which The Urban Division responded, “Couldn’t agree more.

concepts are what we place.” He wishes the public to know their

Unfortunately they are in a lease for a bit. We are going to try and

team has worked with concepts in and around Riverside such as

work with them to figure out another location. The corner is too

Crane Ramen, Alewife, Hoptinger, Med Men and Folio.

special for what is currently there.”

From Mariah, JP and their supporters’ perspective, they represent The Urban Division claims: “‘The corner’ was in reference to One

the community. The Salvats are community members. They live

Bar and Lounge. This was never in reference to [Southern Roots

nearby; their children go to local schools. The family “only wants

Filling Station].”

what’s good for the neighborhood.” Southern Roots is founded upon community care. The coffee shop started at a farmer’s market. They

In a written conversation with Matthew Clark of The Urban Division,

emphasize use of local purveyors to support other businesses and

he expressed, “I have always supported the public forum for people’s

keep money within the community. Southern Roots works tirelessly

opinion to be expressed. I have never been at the opposite end of so

to ensure their employees make a living wage; they’re proud to say

much misinformation.” For example, Clark feels as though his group

they didn’t lay anyone off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

of realtors has been lumped in with outside investors. When in fact,

In asking Mariah what an ideal outcome to this situation would be,

he himself is a part of the community, having lived in Jacksonville

she mentioned her team first. Her first wish is to be able to keep

for 20 plus years and Riverside for six.

everyone employed.

LARGER IMPLICATIONS

This situation speaks to a divide in community opinion. Discourse

Southern Roots’ language about the situation hasn’t been angry

surrounding the development of Jacksonville neighborhoods will

or aggressive, but frustrated and distressed. The uncertainty

only amplify as our city grows. This growth can play out in difficult

they face has been emotional. Mariah told me, “We understand

and complicated ways.

business is business.” They don’t blame the previous or future landlords. While getting priced out of their location of eight years is

Many locals have asked what they can do to support Southern Roots.

obviously upsetting, she understands the realities of tenant/landlord

Mariah says to just stop by, order some food. She would also like to

relationships. What’s hard to swallow is the way The Urban Division

encourage the community to patronize other small businesses as

has treated Southern Roots and the implications this situation holds

well. “[It’s] not just supporting us,” she said. “This is on the horizon

for the Riverside community at large.

for others.”

Clark reportedly told JP his goal was to “elevate” the food on King Street, which the Salvats interpreted as a dig on their coffee shop.

Online, Jacksonville residents view The Urban Division’s commentary as abrasive and their lack of communication with a reliable tenant, just “bad business.” With Instagram comments calling to boycott whoever takes over the space, it seems The Urban Division’s response has exacerbated their PR nightmare.

33

Cassandra Barlow, serving the homeless 34 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Understanding Homelessness

Words by Molly Britt & Photo by A.W. "Al" Barlow In January 2020, an estimated 27,487 people in Florida were homeless on any given day, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As Jacksonville residents, we often come across individuals experiencing homelessness, especially Downtown, but what do we actually know about them and how did they get there?

Living at the beach and working downtown, I am quite used to running into makeshift beds on sidewalks and seeing people with their entire life shoved into a backpack. We exchange a quick “hi” or maybe I offer a small smile, and I am off to the next thing. I’ll think of how they’re doing a couple of times that day maybe, but how many of us ever take the time to understand what they are dealing with? How did this happen to them and was it avoidable? These questions run through my head quite often, so I took some time to educate myself.

A.W. “Al” Barlow is a local attorney and chairman of the Housing for the Homeless Campaign, aimed at finding permanent housing and assistance for the homeless. Barlow spends his days visiting homeless camps and those on the streets to try and assist them with their immediate needs.

“We give them clothing that people donate, feminine products for the women, things like that; those are their immediate needs. The campaign is to try to help them get some permanent housing that’s long-term,” said Barlow. One of the common themes Barlow notices among the homeless population is the impact of drastically increasing rents often raised with little notice, causing tenants to look toward the streets for shelter.

Barlow connected me with a temporary Sulzbacher Center resident, who wished to remain anonymous, to talk about his current situation. He was quick to say moving and rent expenses were large contributing factors to his being homeless. Whether it was shelters struggling to accommodate the newly homeless, especially at the height of the pandemic, or having to eat food that was barely edible, he found it hard to find appropriate shelter and accommodations when so many things were out of his control. It wasn’t until he was accepted at the Sulzbacher Center that he was able to get a hot meal and adequate assistance. Unfortunately, he’s

She found herself on the streets after the property where she lived fell under new ownership, and they immediately raised rent. Ms. Betty could no longer afford her home after years of residing there and had to resort to sleeping on sidewalks.

People experiencing homelessness constantly fight uncontrollable scenarios. Being homeless carries a stigma. The general public often compares them to addicts and are unwilling to offer help thinking they’ll use any money on their vices.

It’s time we drop the stigma and educate ourselves on how to better our community, and it starts with helping the homeless. Downtown Jacksonville constantly talks about “cleaning up downtown” and making it a place for people to want to visit and enjoy. Yes, that’s all good and well, but shouldn’t we be focusing on those who need help before building more attractions and hotels?

We should be helping people like William. He was put out on the streets a little while back after falling very sick. William was diagnosed with cancer and diabetes, among other issues, but was unable to take his medication any longer. He ended up homeless and pleaded with the community to offer assistance and permanent housing to people experiencing similar struggles. While the city does work toward offering “affordable” housing alternatives, people like Betty and William cannot even afford that. Shelters offer some help, but they aren’t always accommodating and oftentimes are not open during the day.

Those staying in shelters usually come in for a cot and a meal at night but have to leave first thing in the morning. Whether these shelters assist them or not, they are still put out on the streets each day. Barlow insists city parks should remain open and gates shouldn’t be closed to the homeless. This would allow them to still engage in social activities and have a somewhat normal day despite the horrors they face.

So the next time you see someone sleeping on the street or panhandling on the side of the road, try to understand they have been dealt cards we cannot imagine. We, as a community, need to work toward a better system for the homeless and those who no longer can afford day-to-day life. Let’s take a page from Barlow’s book and educate ourselves on their struggles and what we can do to help truly make Jacksonville a great city for all of its residents.

not alone in his struggles.

Ms. Betty, an elderly homeless woman, has been on the streets for over two years. Barlow would see her when he passed Jefferson Street sleeping on the sidewalk, rain or shine, in the heat or cold. Thanks to donations to the Housing for the Homeless Campaign, Barlow was able to give her a tent, sleeping bag and gift card to purchase essentials.

35

Handpicked, public submission gallery

Malique Pye

Zach Sawyer Zach Sawyer

Malique Pye

36 F O L I O W E E K L Y

Jay Stevens

Zach Sawyer

Malique Pye Erik Casey

Jay Stevens

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38 F O L I O W E E K L Y

THUNDER FLOWER / emotional labor

Goldsmith doesn’t seem to compartmentalize these subjects but

A discussion with artist Morgan Goldsmith

rather embody everything at once, exploring how things exist at

about her exhibition at Florida Mining Gallery

“the intersection of God, love, trauma, vulnerability, domesticity and

Words by Kale Boucher & Photos by Rain Henderson

motherhood.”

Creation is second nature to Naples-based artist Morgan Goldsmith.

Without a separate studio space, her art is a part of her home life. Her

Having grown up in a family of artists and builders, she feels drawn to repurpose the materials available to her to communicate her experiences through the physical construction and deconstruction of visual artwork. This mentality is sure to pass down to her own

supplies are often what she has on hand due to her role as a mother: stickers, crayons, chalk, and Elmer’s glue. With this knowledge, the audience may gain some insight as to what Goldsmith means when she “sees her monumental drawings as skins, absorbing her lived

children as she allows them to collaborate with her in this process.

experiences.”

A majority of Goldsmith’s pieces begin as blank paper scattered on

She intends for her work to feel performative, for the audience to

the floor or taped low on the wall—within little arm’s reach—inviting her children to create with her. She then combines and collages with

have an active and intimate role in witnessing her stories through this visual media. I was impressed by how alive her artwork, and the

a keen use of shape, space and texture.

space itself felt. It’s a shift from the more traditional regard toward

Goldsmith’s current exhibition at Florida Mining Gallery is an

edges must be perfectly level, wall mounts unseen, and the space

exploration of “the space between humanity and divinity,” as well as her difficulty with birth trauma, a common experience rarely discussed in the mainstream. According to the National Library of Medicine, “up to 45% of new mothers have reported experiencing birth trauma.” The contrast between the persistent messaging of birth being a wholly positive experience with this darker, more complicated reality is apparent in Goldsmith’s work. Bright colors, celebration of creation and the collaboration with her children

professional art. I’ve often felt like an intruder in galleries where contrived and stale. Such museums seem to try to erase life, freeze time. Goldsmith’s work, however, recognizes change. She wants viewers to see evidence of her process, not just a finished product.

In the middle of the gallery floor, a TV lies facing the ceiling. Video plays, recordings of Goldsmith’s habitation of the gallery itself where she made much of the artwork just before the show’s opening. She held open hours, inviting the public to take part in creating the

coexists with exploration of her difficulties and emotional isolation.

exhibition.

The title of the exhibition, “THUNDER FLOWER / emotional labor,”

To further encourage this kind of interaction with the series,

also speaks to this dichotomy. The phrase “thunder flower” is inspired by her son Leo, who titled an art show of his own by the name. At his sibling’s first birthday party, Leo hung up his drawings on the wall. He had each attendee pick a piece to take home. The name grew into something bigger within their family. “Emotional

the gallery is hosting more events open to the public. Be sure to check out the schedule on Florida Mining’s social media or floridamininggallery.com. “THUNDER FLOWER / emotional labor” runs through Aug. 31. I am in love with this exhibition and promise you won’t want to miss it.

labor” tells the story of the work Goldsmith endured to get back to her higher self post trauma.

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N O G A N K A O M G I M E M H O K H G H K E A N K I N G Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters M-I-K-E-H-O-G-A-N (for Duval County's Supervisor of Elections, Mike Hogan) to fill each row, column and box.

S L E E K

T A T E R

H O R S

T E E M

S M I P A S E N T R L D O O L A B E R E R I V N I T A

M Y R R H

G M K A H N E I O

DOWN 1 Predecessors to 3-Down 2 Landed 3 Successor to 1-Down 4 "Pay attention!"

5 Fancy Sushi tuna 6 Portend 7 Say 8 Bee contestant 9 Jax neighborhood that was home to Harriet Beecher Stowe 10 Ratio words 11 Abound 12 ___ d'oeuvres 14 Drink with the slogan "That's What I Like" 18 Sacred ceremonies 22 Apt name for a thief 24 Used a stopwatch 26 Bank job?

27 Gossipy gal 28 Board a JTA bus 29 Trig function 31 Senora Peron 32 Spud

33 Streamlined 36 Kind of boom 39 Jax neighborhood that was once the town of South Jacksonville 41 Positioned 44 Hippies' T-shirts 46 Gift of the Magi 49 Catch 51 West Point freshman 53 A sample? What's the sense?

55 London area 56 Declare 57 I-95 division 58 Jacksonville Chess Club piece 60 Antonym of feral 61 "Step ___!" (hurry) 62 Gumbo veggie 65 Western tribe

O A H E K I N G M

63 Reproductive organ 64 Jax neighborhood that includes the MOSH 66 Therefore 67 Schlep 68 Mideast leader 69 Lunch box cookies 70 ___ out a living 71 JIA posting

E I N M G O A K H

70

A H E I O M K N G

69

68

I G M K N A H O E

67

65

N K O H E G I M A

66

60

M N I G A H O E K

64

59

H E G O I K M A N

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ACROSS 1 Intuition Ale Works container 4 JU research spots 8 Jags' all-time leading receiver: Jimmy ___ 13 Film excerpt 15 Waffle House alternative 16 Old Toyota 17 Jax neighborhood that is the R of RAM 19 PC key 20 "Quit that!"

21 Noblemen's domains 23 Folio editor's mark 25 Tropical nut 26 Germ-free 30 Special Forces caps 34 Wide shoe size 35 Hefty wrestlers 37 UGA, to UF 38 Trevor Lawrence mistakes, briefly 40 Mexican moolah 42 "Nick at ___" 43 Mink's kin 45 Jeans material 47 Peg of the LPGA 48 Pucker-inducing element of some wines 50 Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens, e.g.

52 Publix section 54 Biceps exercise 55 Golden Corral offering 59 Playground retort

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K O A N M E G H I

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O K R A

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O N I T

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50

49

56

32

37

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48

30

T A M E

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31

22

29

39

12

25

35

38

11

P L E B E

28

34

10

19 21

27

9

16

18

23

55

8

15

20

26

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S I T U A T E D

17

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L A B S I H O P R S I D E E A I T T E T K E N I C S U M O S P E S O D E N T C I I N E A T C D B A R S O U Y T O T E E K E S

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5

V A T C L I P R I V E S T O P S H Y G I E E E I N T S S T O A T A N N M A R C O

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4

L A N E

3

A V E R

2

S O H O

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42 F O L I O W E E K L Y

ADULT ADVICE SHARI AND TERRY JAYMES

TERRY: First off, you couldn’t even commit to a compliment … “blah, blah, blah.”

SHARI: Danny, I’m all for keeping it brief but a <little> more information would go a long way. What is the reason you want to break up? Is she a slob? Does she snore?

Are you wanting some strange? Since we don’t have this information, we’ll have to make something up.

TERRY: And you don’t want us to make it up. We’re very creative. Since we don’t I really love your Gang of Two podcast. Thanks for all you do …

really know what’s going on, here’s a few things you can do: Move out while she’s

blah, blah, blah.

at work. Set your home on fire. Maybe even tell her you’ve been hired to go after Putin.

Here’s my problem. I’ve been living with my girlfriend for three years, and I really want to break up with her. What’s the best way

SHARI: Good stuff, Terry. Let’s assume she’s a reader of this article. She never

to approach this?

misses a Folio, and she reads it cover to cover. You could give us her first name, and we could announce it for you, right here in “Dear Dumbs.” She reads it, she

Thanks,

moves out, deed done. That’s if you’re trying to avoid face-to-face interaction.

Danny

TERRY: Perfect. OK, I think I have a responsibility here to at least give you a little

Jacksonville Beach

something. Whatever you do, do it with grace. We all know it’s not going to go well. But you have to be honest and understanding. There’s rent, shared expenses and feelings. But make no mistake about it: You’re going to be the bad guy in this situation. Don’t make it worse.

SHARI: Pull the Band-Aid off quick. She deserves that, even if she is a slob.

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44 F O L I O W E E K L Y