V for Victim
Sutter
Victory
Despite being victims of a cruel theft, cancer patients and their supporters at V for Victory prove there is more good than bad in the world as the Jacksonville community and beyond rally behind them to replace hundreds of stolen LEGO sets destined for the recovering cancer patients. READ MORE ON PAGE 46
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FIERCELY LOCAL NEWS ... FIERCELY LOYAL READERS | RESIDENTNEWS.NET | FEBRUARY 2024 | VOL. 17, ISSUE 2
JSO Increases Presence in Ortega St. Mark’s Episcopal Church donates space for a new Stop Station
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Jacksonville has partnered with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) to assist law enforcement in Ortega and surrounding communities of Avondale and Westside. The church donated space in its Grace House resource center for JSO to use as a field office called a “Stop Station” located adjacent to both the church and the St. Mark’s campus of the Episcopal School of Jacksonville. “Sheriff [T.K.] Waters and I are very appreciative of St. Mark’s providing space in this facility for our officers,” said Eric Redgate, JSO Assistant Chief, Patrol Division, District 4. “The Stop Station gives our officers a quiet, comfortable office space to take a break in the field so they can return phone calls, write their reports and do other paperwork requirements without having to go back to the substation on Blanding Boulevard.”
Financing Woes A project 10 years in the making, the resurrection of the Laura Street Trio will have to wait a little longer; the project’s financing remains in limbo as parties go back to the table for a redevelopment agreement.
PRSRT STD
Bishop Kenny senior Bridget Sutter was honored with the Gator Bowl Charities Award of Excellence Scholarship. She was selected based on her scholastic record, community service, sports participation, leadership, extracurricular activities and written essay. Sutter is a BK Student Ambassador, a member of multiple school organizations, runs cross country and track and maintains a 4.48 grade point average. The award includes a one-time gift of $2,500, which Sutter hopes to use at University of Florida or Notre Dame University as she majors in economics.
Rev. Charlie Holt, Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, with Rebecca Sale, Rebekah Hagan and JSO Assistant Chief Eric D. Redgate
Rev. Charlie Holt, Rector of St. Mark’s, said, “It’s a win-win for everyone. Helping the people of this community is a big part of our mission, and we’re glad to do it.” Local families, especially parents with children enrolled in the school, initiated the Stop Station idea to get a more visible police presence in the community and near the school for the safety of the children and the community. “We are so pleased to have a JSO Stop Station on the St. Mark’s campus,” Rebecca Sale said. “As a parent and a neighbor, it gives us tremendous peace of mind.” Fellow parent and neighbor Rebekah Hagan said, “The day in and day out sacrifice of these brave men and women in our community does not go unnoticed.”
Sally Barnett with Patrick Emmet, DeDe Petri and Susan Smathers
Centennial Gala Raises funds for Memorial Park Keeping Calm and Clean Association
READ MORE ON PAGE 6
US POSTAGE PAID STUART, FL PERMIT NO.300
Bridget Sutter
Soluna Yoga + Spa hosted three local Girl Scouts troops – Troops 2076, 62040 and 2149 – for a one-hour yoga class on Jan. 21 taught by owner Dori Thomsen, vice president of the 5 Points Merchants Association (FPMA), in gratitude for their sisterhood and service. The yoga class was followed by a group trash clean-up around the 5 Points area. The activities intended to focus on the Girl Scouts’ January theme of happiness, which participants sought to create through yoga, fitness, self-care and service to the community.
The area’s most prolific advocates for the preservation, maintenance and restoration of Memorial Park were on hand to celebrate the last 100 years of recognizing ‘The Florida Fallen.’ Sally Barnett joined Memorial Park Association Board President Patrick Emmet, DeDe Petri and Susan Smathers as they enjoyed a celebratory gala, a first of its kind for the Memorial Park Association. The event took place at the Timuquana Country Club, Jan. 20. READ MORE ON PAGE 24
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