Riverside: Resident January 2026

COMMUNITY NEWS

RIVERSIDE | AVONDALE | ORTEGA | MURRAY HILL FIERCELY LOCAL NEWS ... FIERCELY LOYAL READERS | RESIDENTNEWS.NET | JANUARY 2026 | VOL. 19, ISSUE 1

What ’s Next

Our neighborhoods thrive because they continue evolving – embracing the future while honoring the past – and this year is no exception.

As we kickoff the new year, Resident News reflects on projects, plans and other amenities taking shape throughout our community that are poised to transform the fabric of our area for locals and visitors alike.

Jacksonville’s 78th annual Boat Show sets sail Jan. 23 to 25 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

The three-day event features new watercraft, leading vendors and educational seminars.

Sanctuary Sees Record Participation in Holiday Event Members of the community gathered at the Sanctuary on 8th Street for the organization’s annual Target Christmas Shopping Trip.

Eighty children participated, each receiving $150 to purchase holiday gifts for themselves and their families while shopping alongside volunteer chaperones.

The event marked a record year with increased spending funds and 76 volunteers, made possible through the generosity of donors and community supporters.

Willowbranch Park

The new year is bringing a major update to Willowbranch Park and its surrounding areas as crews break ground on the world-class labyrinth at Peace Memorial Park and plans progress for a new playground at Willowbranch Library.

The Riverside Duck Pond

Ortega Master Plan

Residents can expect work to begin on the long-awaited updates to the Riverside Duck Pond, revitalizing an underused public space and transforming it into a neighborhood gem.

Ortega residents await more updates for the changes coming to Ortega Village as demolition looms for a pair of bungalows on Corinthian Avenue and Greg Carter places the Carter's Pharmacy building and neighboring parcel on the market.

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The new Memorial Garden honoring Florida’s World War I fallen was unviled at a Dec. 21 dedication ceremony hosted by the Memorial Park Association.

Luminaria festivities followed for an evening marked by tradition and history for all to enjoy.

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PUBLISHERS Seth H. Williams seth@residentnews.net Pamela Bradford Williams pamela@residentnews.net SALES DIRECTOR Debra McGregor debra@residentnews.net ART DIRECTOR Jason Lindstrum GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Chris Gildersleeve Tricia Steele JOURNALIST/ DIGITAL EDITOR Michele Leivas michele@residentnews.net CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susanna Barton Susan D. Brandenburg Julie Kerns Garmendia Fabrizio Gowdy Peggy Harrell Jennings Jennifer Jensen Holly Tishfield Lauren K. Weedon Joe Wilhelm, Jr. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Matt Culpepper Quintez Simmons DISTRIBUTION Luis Perdomo

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The Resident is a monthly newspaper mailed to homeowners in Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Murray Hill, San Marco, San Jose and St. Nicholas. For advertising information, please call 904.388.8839. Editorial submissions are welcome, but subject to editing at the publisher’s discretion.

Facts and statements expressed in the editorial content are not necessarily those of The Resident. All content is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, copied or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. ©2025.

RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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JANUARY 2026

Publishers Note Happy New Year.

'

There is something special about the start of a new year, and 2026 already feels full of possibility.

We are excited to share that the newest edition of Circles Social Datebook & Charity Register is now available, highlighting the people and organizations who quietly and consistently make our city a better place.

Beyond the pages of Circles, there is a real sense of momentum across our neighborhoods. On both sides of the river, new businesses are opening, familiar spaces are being reimagined, and projects we have been talking about for months are finally taking shape. It is energizing to watch our community continue to grow while still holding on to the character that makes it feel like home.

What inspires us most, though, is what we see every day as we report the news. Neighbors helping neighbors. Local leaders stepping up. People doing good simply because it is the right thing to do. Those moments, big and small, are the heartbeat of the Resident Community News and the reason we love what we do.

As we look ahead, we are excited for what 2026 has in store and grateful to be part of these neighborhoods.

Thank you for welcoming us into your homes and mailboxes, and for continuing to support local journalism that celebrates community, connection, and kindness.

Here’s to a wonderful 2026!

Seth and Pamela Williams

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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JANUARY 2026

Incentives Package Advances Pearl Square Development

Plans illustrate an activation of the Porter House Mansion, showcasing the blend of history and rebirth in the urban core.

By Fabrizio Gowdy The effort to reshape Downtown Jacksonville took another step forward as Gateway Jax announced a new incentive package, approved by the Downtown Investment Authority on Dec. 17, for Pearl Square’s N7 block.

The package includes a $21.41 million Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) Grant and a $28.25 million Completion Grant, both of which will be disbursed upon the building’s completion.

“The N7 development represents a monumental step forward in the revitalization of our urban core,” said DIA CEO Colin Tarbert. “This project will bring hundreds of new residents to Downtown and deliver a transformative retail amenity with the inclusion of a full-service grocer at the heart of Downtown – something the community has long needed. Through our partnership with Gateway Jax, Pearl Square

will play a critical role in strengthening Downtown’s livability, walkability, and long-term economic vitality.”

The N7 block of Pearl Square will feature a 15-story high rise with 259 multifamily units, 37,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and 450 parking spaces. A 32,000-square-foot Publix grocery store will anchor the retail portion of N7, which Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll said is critical to driving foot traffic, attracting retailers and ensuring the district’s success.

“It all creates a spin wheel effect, whereby new retail brings in new investment and residential, and then that new investment and new residential base brings in additional retail and amenities,” said Moll. “It’s a virtuous cycle that has been proven in other markets to be attributed to larger-scale, grocery-anchored projects.”

The N7 development is expected to

Renderings reflect the vision for the N7 Block which features a 15-story high rise and a ground floor, Publix-anchored retail experience.

break ground this year. This approved incentives package is the latest in a series of developments as this transformational project continues to take shape.

In November, construction crews broke ground on a parking garage that will serve the emerging Pearl Square neighborhood.

The structure is adjacent to the historic Ambassador Hotel, which is scheduled for restoration work in early 2026.

Bounded by Duval, Union, Clay and Laura streets, Pearl Square is envisioned as a dense, walkable district that blends housing, retail, offices and public space. Gateway Jax says the long-term plan represents more than $2 billion in investment over the next decade.

“Pearl Square will be Jacksonville’s first true urban, walkable neighborhood,” said Moll. “A place where someone can live, work, shop, dine, exercise, relax and do just about anything else, all within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from the heart of the neighborhood.”

The garage groundbreaking follows a series of milestones across the site. At 515 Pearl Street, crews recently “topped out” the 205-unit building, meaning construction reached its highest point.

Windows and roofing are now in place, sealing the structure from the elements.

The project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2026.

At 425 Beaver Street, foundation work has finished, and vertical construction is

underway. The building will eventually house 286 units and 17,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, with estimated completion in late 2027.

Meanwhile, site clearing has begun at 440 Beaver Street, with plans for 537 units (including 143 apartment hotel units) and 49,000 square feet of retail and restaurants to be completed by early 2028.

At full buildout, Pearl Square is expected to include more than 1,250 residential units, 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, a 110-key hotel, 100,000 square feet of office space, more than 3,000 parking spaces, and new parks and open areas. A curbless festival street is planned to accommodate outdoor dining and community events.

Gateway Jax has not yet announced additional tenants beyond Publix, but Moll said more announcements are expected in the months ahead. For now, he is focused on advancing construction across multiple parcels, with completion dates stretching from 2026 through 2028.

“The local enthusiasm for Pearl Square is mirrored in the conversations we’re having with prospective partners and tenants across the country,” Moll shared in a press release.

The development represents one of the most significant urban revitalization efforts in Jacksonville’s history, aiming to transform Downtown into a destination for living, working and leisure.

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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JANUARY 2026

Florida Legislators Moving Property Tax Relief Toward November Ballot Constitutional amendment would require approval from 60% of voters

By Joe Wilhelm, Jr. The Florida House of Representatives has heard Governor Ron DeSantis’ pleas for eliminating property taxes in the state and it has developed proposals to provide tax relief to Florida citizens. The House is currently deliberating which proposal(s) will be sent to the Senate to be voted on for inclusion on the November 2026 ballot.

Florida Speaker of the House Daniel Perez created the Select Committee on Property Taxes in May and charged it with examining the property tax policy of the State of Florida and creating innovative policy solutions to reduce the financial burden on homeowners.

These eight different approaches all have three things in common: They only apply to homestead properties, do not affect the property taxes levied by school districts and prohibit local governments from reducing funding for law enforcement services below a specified base year.

“We, as an organization, don’t have an official stance right now (on property tax relief proposals) as the legislature decides what path it will take,” said Randy Reaves, president of the Jacksonville Lodge 5-30 Fraternal Order of Police.

“What we can say is that the governor’s office and this legislature have taken care

It doesn’t mean that the others won’t catch up, it just means that one is the farthest – Wyman Duggan ahead right now.

District 12 State Rep.

“Approximately 300 days ago, the governor said he wanted to eliminate property taxes and since that day he hasn’t come up with any plan of his own or specifics of his own,” said District 12 State Rep. Wyman Duggan. “We in the House, in response to the governor’s statements, but also from feedback we are getting from taxpayers who like the idea of reducing or eliminating property taxes, we developed this menu of eight different approaches.”

of law enforcement ever since they have been there. We are confident that they will do that again.”

Consideration by the House To be considered by the full House of Representatives for approval, a bill needs approval from three committees.

The Select Committee on Property Taxes approved eight pieces of property tax relief legislation. They advanced to

the State Affairs Committee, on which Duggan serves, and which approved four of those bills.

The legislation included: • HJR-201: elimination of nonschool property tax for Homestead properties; • HJR-205: elimination of nonschool property tax for Homestead properties for persons age 65 or older; • CS/HJR-209: property insurance relief Homestead exemption of non-school property tax; and • HJR-211: accrued Save-OurHomes property tax benefit for non-school property tax.

The third committee was Ways and Means, and it selected CS/HJR-209 for review. The bill proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to provide an additional $200,000 reduction to a homeowner’s homestead exemption from non-school taxes if they have comprehensive property insurance.

Currently, the homestead exemption can reduce the taxable value of a home by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes. The second $25,000 applies only to non-school taxes for assessed values between $50,000 and $75,000.

The bill focuses on the second portion of the reduction that does not affect school district taxes. “(CS/HJR-209) will be eligible to be considered on the floor by the full House in session starting January 13,” said

according to the Revenue Estimating Conference of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

On a Local Level Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is working with a budget that experienced a 1/8 mil rollback after a contentious budget process, and she is not in favor of the current path of the State Legislature.

“Property taxes make up more than half of Jacksonville’s revenue, and they barely cover police and fire costs as it is. It would be fiscally irresponsible to eliminate this revenue source, and it would put public safety in jeopardy,” said Deegan. “Many of the options being discussed to replace property taxes would make city funding dependent on the state of the economy, which could be catastrophic during recessions.”

While all of the proposals include language to ensure funding for law enforcement, there aren’t any protections for fire departments, but Duggan explained municipalities have tools outside of ad valorem revenue to fund public safety services.

Under Florida law, local governments can implement, essentially, an impact fee to pay for fire services,” said Duggan.

“So cities have options that aren’t affected by this legislation.”

Despite this safety net for public safety services, the Ways and Means Committee approved an amendment to CS/HJR209 to add “firefighters and other first responders” to the section that previously prohibited a reduction in funding for only

Property taxes make up more than half of Jacksonville’s revenue, and they barely cover – Donna Deegan, police and fire costs as it is.

Mayor

Start the year off with a new tradition.

Duggan. “It doesn’t mean that the others won’t catch up, it just means that one is the farthest ahead right now.”

All eight proposals aim to provide relief to taxpayers, but all eight also come at a cost. The bill in the lead to make it on to the Nov. ballot –CS/HJR-209 –is estimated to cost the state $6.6 billion in revenue beginning in FY 2027-28 and a negative recurring impact of $8.6 billion on local non-school property tax revenues,

law enforcement. The amendment was approved without objection.

Opening day of the regular session of the Florida House of Representatives is January 13. If it approves a bill, it will be sent to the Florida Senate for consideration. If the Senate approves the bill, then it will be added to the November ballot. The proposed amendment will need approval from 60% of voters to amend the Florida Constitution.

VISIT WWW.RESIDENTNEWS.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL EIGHT APPROACHES MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE.

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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JANUARY 2026

“Abundant Waters” has beautified the JEA pump station beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge.

A Celebration of Art, Community and the St. Johns River

By Michele Leivas The year ended on a high note for Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) as it celebrated the unveiling of the new Patrick Maxcy mural at the Riverside Arts Market.

Representatives from RAP, RAM, JEA and other project and city stakeholders spoke at the Dec. 12 unveiling ceremony.

“Abundant Waters” is a 17-by-90-foot mural that stretches across the walls of the JEA pump station and depicts wildlife, flora and fauna connected to the St. Johns River, which serves as the backdrop to the weekly open-air market beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge.

Maxcy, a Northeast Florida artist,

spent more than 100 hours bringing the mural to life. At the ceremony, he said this work is the first piece he’s created in the region he is from and, as such, holds special significance to him.

“I really was excited to paint this,” Maxcy said. “Not just having something close to home, but in a place that actually I come with my family, coming to the skate park, coming to the Riverside Arts Market on Saturdays. It’s great to be part of that community and then see something that I worked on.”

Adding an interactive element to his work, Maxcy noted that he placed

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10 hidden hearts throughout the mural.

Maxcy explained that he has a longstanding tradition of placing hidden objects in his work – his initials or other elements – but the hearts began as a heartfelt nod to his wife to show her she was part of his work as well.

“I hope it makes people come out and see [the mural] more and find them with their kids,” Maxcy added.

The mural was funded by Haskell, the PNC Foundation and the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board.

Haymaker Coffee Co. also contributed to the fund by donating a percentage of its sales over a period last year. Maxcy was selected from a pool of 70 artist applicants following a seven-week call for artists.

RAP Creative Placemaking Specialist Kandice Clark led the project and said this mural furthers RAP’s placemaking goals.

“One of RAP’s major goals is to make sure – it’s very simple, but it’s very important – that we make this place a better place for not only the people who live here, but also the people who love it here, and today’s unveiling is a true reflection of that mission.”

Artist Patrick Maxcy and RAP Creating Placemaking Specialist Kandice Clark post before a section of “Abundant Waters” at the Dec. 12 mural unveiling.

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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JANUARY 2026

Victor Dover to Speak at 2026 Great Cities Symposium Scenic Jacksonville will kick off the new year by welcoming Victor Dover as the speaker for the sixth annual Great Cities Symposium.

Dover, a nationally recognized leader in street, city and neighborhood design, is principal-in-charge and co-founder of Dover, Kohl and Partners. Scenic Jacksonville Executive Director Nancy Powell said she looks forward to hearing his insight on New Urbanism. This movement focuses on creating walkable, sustainable communities with mixed land uses, pedestrian-friendly designs, and transitoriented development.

“He’s kind of an expert in these things, and that’s what we’re interested in hearing about – his experiences,” said Powell.

“He works all over the country. He is based

in Florida, but has done neighborhood and town plannings all over the country.”

This annual speaker program has hosted speakers from across the country, most recently the Bloomberg Fellow and former CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership, Carol Colleta. In previous years, Scenic Jacksonville has hosted former Procter and Gamble CEO AG Lafley and former mayors Bob Buckhorn (Tampa), Ron Littlefield (Chattanooga) and Joe Riley (Charleston). Powell said the insight and inspiration attendees have gleaned from these speakers has had a significant influence on the evolution of Jacksonville’s green spaces.

“I think that what you’re seeing on the riverfront today is part of what some of our previous speakers have focused on,”

Powell said. “Bob Buckhorn was a very popular speaker in 2022 and Mayor Deegan came to that as a candidate and she, I think, embraced a lot of what Mayor Buckhorn was talking about as far as their riverwalk and their riverfront and how it’s really brought people downtown.”

In addition to the Great Cities Symposium, Scenic Jacksonville has also launched Scenic Visions, which last year focused on Mayport Village. Powell said the organization created Scenic Visions as a complement to the symposium, with a focus on the neighborhood level rather than the symposium’s big-picture vision.

“We really have enjoyed having these two programs in the community that are adding value to the conversation of how Jacksonville can grow in the best way,” she said.

Dover, Kohl & Partners Co-Founder and Principal-in-Charge Victor Dover will speak at the 2026 Great Cities Symposium.

The 2026 Great Cities Symposium is presented by Gateway Jax. It will be held at the Garden Club of Jacksonville on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

CareSpot Urgent Care Planned for Roosevelt Marketplace

Healthcare and Transit Leaders Convene at 2025 Transportation Summit

The City of Jacksonville is reviewing a tenant build-out permit for a CareSpot Urgent Care at Roosevelt Marketplace.

Ascension St. Vincent’s sponsors the 2025 Collaborative Transportation Think Tank Summit.

CareSpot Urgent Care plans to open a new location in the Fairfax neighborhood at Roosevelt Marketplace.

The City of Jacksonville is currently reviewing a permit for a tenant build-out for a total interior build-out of vacant tenant space in the building adjacent to Jersey Mike’s Subs and Mattress Firm on Roosevelt Boulevard. The address listed on the permit is 4461 Beverly Avenue. According to the permit, the build-out is for 2,890 square feet and will cost $700,000. According to JaxEpics, the permit was returned for corrections on Dec. 17. The applicant has until Jan. 6 to resubmit it or the permit will be denied.

CareSpot Urgent Care has existing locations in the surrounding area, including San Marco, Arlington, and on the North-, South-, and West sides of Jacksonville, though it has many other locations throughout the state of Florida. Its website lists this new location – at 4461 Beverly Avenue – as “coming soon,” though no opening date is listed.

This is the second tenant to move into the expanded Roosevelt Marketplace, which added on to its existing footprint in 2024 after demolishing two existing structures.

Victra, a Verizon authorized retailer, opened a Verizon store in the extended shopping center late last year.

Ascension St. Vincent’s participated in and sponsored The Strategic Institute for Sustainable and Innovative Transportation Solutions’ 2025 Collaborative Transportation Think Tank Summit last month.

Held on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Florida Blue campus, the event featured panel and roundtable discussions, keynote speeches, and interactive innovation labs designed to showcase best practices, develop scalable solutions, and strengthen partnerships to improve transportation systems that, in turn, reduce access barriers to healthcare.

A team from Ascension St. Vincent’s shared information about its mobile health unit, which travels to provide medical care to thousands of people across five counties.

The SISI Founder and Executive Director, Terry Spicer, led the event. Summit guest speakers and roundtable facilitators included JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., Florida Blue Market President Darnell Smith, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Director of Research Operations Monica Albertie, Mayo Clinic Operations Administrator Doug Murrell, Jr., Office of the Mayor’s Health Programs Executive Director Lynn Sherman, HCD Consulting, LLC Chief Well-Being Officer Dr. Atiya Abdelmalik and Humana Referral Coordinator and two-time breast cancer survivor Carrie Hall.

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JANUARY 2026

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

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From Grass Lot to Gathering Place

Riverfront Plaza Opens Downtown Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan joined other city officials in the Dec. 5 ribbon cutting for Riverfront Plaza.

Residents take in the view from atop the playground, where a raised photo-taking platform offers sweeping views of Downtown backdrops. Families explore the new riverfront playground.

By Fabrizio Gowdy For the second time in as many weeks, city officials wielded oversized golden scissors, and a blue ribbon fluttered to the ground Dec. 5 as Riverfront Plaza became the latest riverfront park to open to the public formally.

The park’s soft opening was on Nov. 29 for the annual Light Boat Parade and City tree lighting, which drew 33,000 people to the riverfront, according to Daryl Joseph, the City’s director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. At the Dec. 5 ribbon cutting, the park’s elevated playground was opened for the first time.

Before the ribbon cutting, Mayor Donna Deegan took the podium to highlight the role public parks play in ensuring Jacksonville’s affordability and quality of life for families.

“Our downtown park system is providing plenty of free,

family fun … we’ll continue to program and activate these parks so residents can enjoy the St. Johns River without making a dent in their already stretched pocketbooks,” said Deegan.

Lori Boyer, the recently retired CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, credited Deegan’s administration and former Mayor Lenny Curry for making Riverfront Plaza a priority.

In his remarks, At-Large Group 4 City Councilman Matt Carlucci stated that, along with Shipyards West and Metropolitan Park, Riverfront Plaza would eventually form one of America’s preeminent networks of downtown riverfront parks. He also expressed his hope that Jacksonville would soon shed for good its past reputation as a city of renderings.

“Those renderings are a reality,” said Carlucci.

Riverfront Plaza has been a long time coming, with plans in the works ever since the Jacksonville Landing was torn down in 2019. After a period as an empty grassy lot, construction began on the new park in July 2023.

Riverfront Plaza’s ribbon cutting was preceded the previous week by RiversEdge Park on the Southbank, which Joseph said has already been utilized by 20,000 people. Joseph also touted the 600,000 people who visited Friendship Fountain in the first year since it was revamped.

The Dec. 5 ceremony marked the completion of the first phase of construction. Phase 2 will include a beer garden, rain garden, fountain, and a bike and pedestrian connection to the Main Street Bridge. The second phase is expected to break ground in early 2026 and be completed in 2027.

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

SIDEWALK

SOUNDOFF

By Lauren K. Weedon

As the new year begins and our Resident neighborhoods buzz with change, Resident News hit the streets to find out what’s on people’s minds. Neighbors shared their reflections on the past year, the themes they believe defined it, and what they are ready to leave behind. They also weighed in on a playful neighborhood debate between Five Points Funk and Southbank Sleek. Their voices paint a lively portrait of a community looking ahead with energy and optimism.

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

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JANUARY 2026

The Questions: 1

2

3

If you were mayor for one day, what is one change you would implement in the neighborhoods?

If last year had a title, what would you call it?

What’s one thing you’d like to leave behind in 2025?

4

Poll: Five Points Funk vs. Southbank Sleek

Michelle Cox 1

Homelessness

2 Fly By Day

Sebastian Bennoon

More community groups so people can come together.

2 A Rollercoaster of Highs and Lows 3 Division 4 Five Points Funk

3 Government shutdown 4 5 Points Funk

1

Amelia Morton 1 Add more botanical gardens, for more green

and more flowers

2 Kindness Matters

Janice Tillo Revitalize downtown to bring more young people to live and work in the area.

Add a supermarket, a Target, more retail and housing so more young people would want to live there.

2 Becoming a Nana. I’m overjoyed!

3 Anxiety and stress – and 24/7 news!

4 Southbank Sleek

3 Electronics

4 5 Points Funk

1

Michael Phillips 1

Make neighborhoods more walkable

2 Unpredictable

3 People not caring for one another 4 Southbank Sleek

Angela Hampton

Adriana Ramos

Change parking to timed, metered.

2 New Beginnings 3 Extremely hot weather 4 5 Points Funk

1 Traffic

1

2 Big Hot Mess 3 All the hate

4 Southbank Sleek

JANUARY 2026

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

Devon Cooper

Ben Moore

1

Create accessibility for small businesses, provide support for loans, counseling, how to run a business.

2 Year of the Now 3 Anxiety 4 5 Points Funk

1

Adam Potts

Olga Malosh

Create an epicenter downtown where people could gather and spend the whole evening on a main drag like in other major cities. Provide incentives for businesses to create this new space.

2 Intentional 3 Mayhem and chaos 4 5 Points Funk

1

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No cars so we could walk in the streets. I’d like to do that once a month in Avondale!

2 A Year of Settling In 3 Government shutdown 4 5 Points Funk

Make the neighborhood more bike friendly and speed up the re-opening of the Riverwalk connecting Riverside and Downtown 2 Uncertainty 3 Divisiveness 4 5 Points Funk

1

Em Spitler

Jeremy Morton I would have an event for people to come together and talk to each other, with the goal they would hear and understand each other.

2 The Need for Togetherness 3 Divisiveness and polarization 4 5 Points Funk

I’d have a community yard sale where everyone could empty out their garages, walk around and shop. It would be a big block party!

2 Year of the Rabbit 3 Oversharing 4 5 Points Funk

Rebecca Dodd

Archie Staley

1 Teachers get a raise.

1

1

1

Not a thing! Of all the places I have lived, San Marco is by far my favorite.

2 Strength and Determination 3 The small stuff – it doesn’t matter.

4 Southbank Sleek

2 Next Chapters. A lot of change

going on this year.

3 Worry and fear. Let’s just be brave.

4 Southbank Sleek

Poll Results - Across the River (Friendly) Rivalry: Southbank Sleek: 5 | 5 Points Funk: 10

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Creating a meaningful giving plan should complement your asset strategies and reflect your passions. That way, your money goes where it can have the impact that matters most to you — and who you’re giving to.

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THE PEACEMAKING CHURCH

January 11–February 22 at 10 a.m.

February 1–March 29 at 10 a.m.

What is marriage about? Why did God create it in the first place? How do we learn to communicate better, love better, laugh more, and grow closer? Whether you’ve been married for 5 months or 50 years, this is the class for you. Join Rev. Billy and Charla Cerveny (and special guests) in the chapel to dive into these questions. We’ll laugh, look at scripture, learn, and connect with other couples.

See you soon!

Whenever two or more people are gathered, conflict will inevitably happen. But when God’s people share a common vocabulary and common practices of peacemaking, our families, friendships, and community life can become all that God desires them to be. Join The Rev. Charlie Holt in Leatherbury Hall for a hope-filled, real-life conversation about how the Gospel transforms everyday conflict into an opportunity to glorify God, love others well, and grow in maturity.

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So if you’re interested in giving with intent, we’d love to offer you a complimentary session. Let’s connect.

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R E S I D E N T

JANUARY 2026

C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

& DeFoor Joins List of Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders Among Florida 500 Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of North Florida Land Trust, has been named one of Florida’s most influential business leaders by Florida Trend.

As it does each year, Florida Trend selects 500 people for its “Florida 500” list. For the second year, DeFoor was listed among the top executives in the philanthropy/nonprofit category.

The Florida 500 list features more than 60 business categories, including law, education, agriculture and real estate, among others.

DeFoor has been at the helm of NFLT since 2022, during which time NFLT has conserved roughly 13,000 acres. Once the State closes on a conservation easement this year, another 76,000

acres will be coming to the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) wildlife corridor as well.

“I am honored even to be nominated for this prestigious list and am greatly appreciative that Florida Trend has chosen me for inclusion,” said DeFoor. “Conservation in Florida is so important; it is now or never. The greatest threat to conservation in Florida is the rapid and inexorable growth of our state. In two generations, we have grown from smaller than Mississippi to larger than New York. It is now or never to conserve what we can. I am proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing our work to protect Florida’s natural spaces.”

White Appointed as Nemours Children’s Interventional Radiology Division Chief

Allison DeFoor

New Book Celebrates NFLT’s Quarter-Century of Protecting Natural Spaces

Dr. Stacy A. White Jr. has been appointed division chief for Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville’s interventional radiology.

Dr. Stacy A. White Jr. “Dr. White’s expertise, combined with his passion for delivering outstanding patient care, makes him the ideal leader to drive innovation and excellence in our radiology services,” said Andrew Stec, MD, MBA, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. “His vision for enhancing collaboration across specialties and expanding our interventional radiology capabilities will undoubtedly benefit our patients and families.”

White has been with Nemours Children’s for five years. In this new leadership role, White will work to strengthen collaboration across specialties, streamline workflows for improved access to interventional radiology services and expand inpatient consultation services.

He is an American Board of Radiology subspecialist in pediatric radiology and is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Just moved into your

New Home?

“Keeping North Florida Wild” can be purchased online at the NFLT website.

Start fresh with clean air. Dust, dander, and even mold from previous owners may still be lingering in your ducts. A professional cleaning — and optional UV protection — ensures your family breathes easier from day one.

North Florida Land Trust has released a new book chronicling 25 years of land conservation accomplishments.

Through a collection of essays and photographs, “Keeping North Florida Wild” reflects NFLT’s successes and milestones, highlighting the people, places, priorities and partnerships that have furthered the nonprofit’s mission of preserving and protecting North Florida’s invaluable natural beauty.

“This book gives people a way to visualize our accomplishments and impact as well as understand the significant role conservation has in Florida. It showcases why we must continue our mission to preserve these important natural spaces, because it truly is now or never,” said NFLT President and CEO Allison DeFoor. “I think our team did an incredible job, and I especially want to thank Sarah Hande, our communications officer, who took the lead on putting this book together. She really did a wonderful job, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.”

“Keeping North Florida Wild” can be purchased at www.nflt.org.

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Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth Through February 15, 2026

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Andrew Wyeth at Kuerner Farm: The Eye of the Earth is co-organized by the Brandywine Museum of Art and the Reynolda Museum of American Art. Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917 – 2009), Cornflowers (detail), 1986, watercolor, Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, B2244. ©️ 2025 Wyeth Foundation for American Art/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

BUS I N ESS PROFI L E

Quality Service, Lasting Protection

Bob Lyle, Owner Shine On Mobile Detailing continues to expand its services, offering its clientele a robust detailing experience that lives up to its name.

With his recent certification as a System X Ceramic Protection installer, Shine On Owner Bob Lyle can now offer added protection for clients’ vehicles with this top-of-the-line, protective ceramic coating. This coating, Lyle explained, can be applied to a vehicle’s body, windows, rims, wheels, headlights – even interior vinyl, leather or cloth.

“I’ve focused on the body and windows, mostly for now, but the products are really fantastic,” Lyle said. “And it comes in two-year protection, six-year protection and 10-year-slash-lifetime protection, which is pretty amazing.”

Lyle added that System X Ceramic Protection is validated with CARFAX, which, in turn adds value to the vehicle.

We offer exclusive rates for that hub as well as specials. It’s worthwhile for everyone: It’s a better price than they – Bob Lyle normally get.

JANUARY 2026

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RESIDENTNEWS.NET

Movers & Shakers | 15

Healthy Habits Are in the DNA at Five Points’ New Coffee Spot The owners behind It’s In The DNA Coffee are bringing a health-conscious coffee shop to the Five Points community.

Adriana and Dalonte Henderson knew Five Points was the perfect spot after operating in a shared space in Mount Dora.

“There’s a lot of freespirited people out here,” Delonte said. “We break tradition and there’s a lot of tradition being broken here.”

Their café caters to customers who enjoy a healthier lifestyle or are looking for plant-based menu offerings as well as those who want to know how and why a business chooses its products.

They only source clean, locally roasted coffee and use clean and natural ingredients in their smoothies and energy drinks.

A unique offering is their ice drip coffee, which uses an eight-hour Japanese cold brew method. Quantities are limited Owner Adriana Henderson with her daughter Serenity who will be working because it only produces a in the front of the house at the coffee shop. small batch each time.

“It’s very strong, but really smooth,” Adriana said. “It’s black coffee on a higher level.”

They also offer coffee drinks influenced by breakfast items, such as apple strudel – perfect for satisfying sweet tooth cravings without all the calories, Adriana said – and their menu also features food items like crepes, sandwiches and açai bowls.

The café itself is warm and inviting with couches, bar seating and tables for customers, surrounded by lush greenery from Rae of Sunshine Tropicals, which is available to purchase. Adriana said they hope to partner with other local artists and small businesses as well.

“It’s about creating a very comfortable, natural environment,” Adriana said.

It’s In The DNA Coffee is located at 2105 Park Street and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Owner

Shine On has also created maintenance packages, in addition to its existing detailing offerings.

As the team at Shine On steps into the new year, Lyle said he is looking for potential “hubs” at on-site locations. Interested parties can reach out to Lyle about establishing a regular day and time for Shine On to come to a specific location. Establishing a hub for a local business or organization can also unlock special pricing.

“We offer exclusive rates for that hub as well as specials,” Lyle said. “It’s worthwhile for everyone: It’s a better price than they normally get.”

Looking ahead, Lyle hopes to establish some of these hubs at area golf courses or country clubs.

In December, Lyle said Shine On traveled to Palm Coast as a sponsor for the US Amateur Tour Major Championship.

“It’s nice to help out the guys that are golfing that day, as well as potential customers,” Lyle said.

Shine On Mobile Detailing will travel within a 30-mile radius.

To book your appointment, or for more information about available services, add-ons, or to read reviews, visit Shine On Mobile Detailing at www.shineonmd.com, call (904) 201-9390, or email info@shineonmd.com.

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Movers & Shakers |

RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

Daily’s Gives $5.2M Boost to Children’s Health Education

|

JANUARY 2026

Nemours Appoints Twombley as Chair of Pediatrics

Nemours Children’s Health President and CEO Dr. Lawrence Moss and Daily’s Foundation President and CEO Aubrey Edge

The Daily’s Foundation has donated $5.2 million for the creation of a world-class conference center at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville’s downtown location.

With this gift, the Daily’s Foundation Pavilion’s first floor will be redeveloped into a multipurpose conference center with collaborative space for meetings and dedicated facilities for community engagement, professional collaboration and education.

“The Daily’s Foundation’s gift helps Nemours to advance our academic mission.

It creates a collaborative hub for healthcare professionals and community partners to develop approaches to improve the lives of children and families in Northeast Florida and beyond,” said Nemours Children’s Health President and CEO R. Lawrence Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP. “Daily’s support underscores the power of community-driven partnerships in shaping a brighter future for the children we serve.”

This donation continues a longstanding partnership between the two institutions.

The Daily’s Foundation has donated more than $10 million since 2019 to elevate children’s healthcare in Northeast Florida.

“This gift affirms our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and families in our community,” said Aubrey Edge, president and CEO of Daily’s. “We are honored to continue our partnership with Nemours Children’s Health and to support the development of a world-class conference center in Jacksonville that will enhance education, foster innovation, and strengthen their outstanding programs and clinicians. The Daily’s Foundation is proud to stand alongside Nemours Children’s Health in shaping a healthier future for our community.”

Dr. Katherine Twombley, FAAP, FAST, has been appointed chair of the pediatrics department at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville.

In this new role, Twombley will assist in determining the strategic direction for clinical growth and partnerships throughout the region, Katherine Twombley while collaborating with department heads to focus on clinical outcomes and promote continuous improvements in safety and quality.

“Dr. Twombley’s distinguished career in pediatric nephrology and her dedication to advancing care through research and education will be instrumental in shaping the future of pediatric health across the region,” said Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Andrew Stec, MD, MBA. “Her appointment as Chair of Pediatrics marks a significant step in our commitment to patient-centered care, clinical excellence and innovation.”

Twombley is a distinguished nephrologist with a medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed a fellowship in pediatric nephrology at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and, before that, an internship at Miami Children’s Hospital (now known as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital).

Terry Family Foundation Gifts $25K to Support Red Kettle Campaign The Terry Family Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida to support its annual Red Kettle Campaign.

A significant and impactful gift in and of itself, this grant also unlocks additional funding through the 4:1 Challenge from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, which multiplies community donations and increases the power of each dollar donated during the holiday season.

“The Terry Family Foundation has shown extraordinary commitment to strengthening our community,” said Major Keath Biggers, area commander for The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida. “Their $25,000 grant not only supports our mission but also helps unlock additional funding through the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds 4:1 Challenge.

This gift will transform lives, especially for families facing hardship during the holiday season and beyond.”

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign has served as the nonprofit’s most important fundraiser since it was launched in 1891.

Patrick Barry to Chair Mayor’s TV Advisory Commission San Marco resident Patrick Barry will serve as the next chair of Mayor Donna Deegan’s advisory commission on television, motion picture and commercial production.

Barry brings more than 20 years of experience in the film production industry, with a strong reputation for elevating stories that showcase Northeast Florida’s character and history. His repertoire includes narrative features, documentaries and commercial

Patrick Barry

collaborations with nationally recognized brands like Gatorade, NASCAR, Nike and more.

Jacksonville served as the backdrop for his 2013 indie film “Veer!,” following a down-on-hisluck skateboarder as he attempted to rebuild his life.

In this new role, Barry will leverage that experience to draw more narrative film and commercial productions to the Bold City as well as promote it as a filming destination while also

working to strengthen incentive programs aimed at retaining talent and supporting sustainable industry growth.

“I’m honored to serve as chair and excited to continue contributing to Jacksonville’s creative future,” said Barry. “This city has been my home and my creative base for over 20 years.

There’s so much potential here, and I’m looking forward to helping the industry grow in a way that benefits local filmmaking artists.”

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I’m definitely a hands-on guy who loves problem-solving. While I prefer old-school systems, I’m always learning, even from tech support calls. I still enjoy the variety this job brings and believe being a true A/C tech means mastering multiple trades and earning customer trust.

Looking back, I’d choose this path again without hesitation—it’s a career that’s challenged and fulfilled me.

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JANUARY 2026

New Partnership Brings Medical Residents Into Skilled Nursing Care

Marquis Health Consulting Services Regional Director of Market Development Pam Montemurno posts with members of the inaugural medical residents cohort rounding at Riverside Post Acute.

Riverside Post Acute and Ascension St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency Program have announced a new partnership to allow second- and third-year medical residents to round at the Riverside nursing facility.

Dr. Ravish Narvel, a medical director affiliated with Ascension St. Vincent’s, will direct this geriatric rounding program. The inaugural cohort consists of 29 medical residents; they will break into small groups for the program’s multi-week rotation.

“Riverside patients are delighting in having the Ascension St. Vincent’s clinicians – many of whom are the age of their grandchildren or even greatgrandchildren – round,” said Marquis Heath Consulting Services Regional Director of Market Development Pam Montemurno. “They highly skilled medical residents have a tremendous level of compassion and are leaning from the patients, as well, as they listen to their stories.”

Hensley Tapped to Lead Ticketing Strategy at Sporting JAX

Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX) has appointed Tim Hensley as its new vice president of ticket sales and services, overseeing all sales, revenue functions and service for the club’s professional teams.

Tim Hensley Hensley will report directly to the club’s president and CEO, spearheading a ticketing and service strategy that aims to “accelerate attendance, drive revenue and deliver an exceptional fan experience across all Sporting JAX properties.”

Hensley joins Sporting JAX from the United Soccer League, where he served as senior director of ticketing for USL’s Club Performance Group. Before his time at USL, he also held various leadership roles with Nashville, S.C. “Tim brings unmatched experience in ticketing strategy, sales leadership and fan engagement,” said Sporting JAX President and CEO Steve Livingstone. “His work across MLS and USL has made him one of the most respected executives in our industry, and his commitment to excellence will be invaluable as we continue building a top-tier professional soccer club in Northeast Florida. Tim’s expertise, leadership and character make him a tremendous addition to our team, and we are excited to welcome him to the Sporting JAX family.”

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For the first time, the Duval County Farm Bureau brought home the prestigious Apex Award for its category at the 2026 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

The 84th annual state meeting took place in Daytona Beach on Oct. 27 to 29. According to Duval County Farm Bureau President Greg Tison, the Apex Award is the highest honor given by the state bureau in recognition of a county farm bureau “that goes above and beyond their programs and events throughout the year by exhibiting the highest levels of innovation and effective use of [its] resources.”

Tison accepted the award on behalf of the Duval County Farm Bureau with humility and a little bit of shock, he recalled.

“We go through our routine year after year after year, and you know, it never crosses our mind that we’re doing something a little more above and beyond what we’ve done that year before that would throw us into this category to win this award,” Tison later said. “…But it’s nice to be recognized.”

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

When Style Meets Service

Movers & Shakers | 19

Helping Families Cope with Loss

Independent stylist Michelle Lineberger is the First Coast 2025 Leader of Impact winner, according to the American Heart Association.

Lineberger, along with her Impact Team, raised nearly $23,000 during a seven-week competition that launched Sept. 18.

Ultimately, the campaign raised more than $61,000 to further AHA’s mission, services and programming.

Lineberger raised the most funds among five local competitors, including Ed Roberts of Mile One Michelle with American Heart Association Impact Leadership, LLC/Bozard Campaigns Director Mallory Sealey Ford, Mia Howell of Synergy Lifestyle Center, Reid Parry of Auld and White Constructors, and Tori Tocco of JetSet Pilates Jax Beach.

“In just seven weeks, Michelle and her fellow First Coast Leaders of Impact nominees have made a profound difference for cardiovascular health,” said Caitlin Brunell, executive director for the American Heart Association, First Coast. “These individuals are forging a lasting legacy, and their efforts are creating a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.”

Ehas Named 2025 Trail Champion Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas is Rails to Trails Conservancy’s 2025 Trail Champion.

This national recognition is given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary commitment to the Rails-toTrails movement.

Ehas was selected for her efforts to foster and model a community-driven approach, built on public-private partnerships, to bring the Emerald Trail to life here in Jacksonville.

“Kay Ehas is modeling an approach to trail development that seamlessly brings Kay Ehas together residents, regional leaders and private investment in partnership,” said Rails to Trails Conservancy President Ryan Chao. “Her leadership is building more than infrastructure. It’s building social capital and civic participation that will make the trail network successful and will endure long after this project is complete.”

Since the Jacksonville City Council adopted its master plan in 2019, the Emerald Trail has continued to take shape, with its first completed link, the LaVilla Link, opening in May 2024. The complete 30-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail is expected to be completed in the next nine years.

H NC pm U BR m - 3 ly 11a Dai

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Host Committee Members Caryn Carreiro, Denise Ott and Teresa Stuebben with Inheritance of Hope Senior Regional Manager Renee Johnson and Host Committee Members Kimberly Waterhouse and Leigh Gunn.

Guests raised more than $15,000 at a launch fundraising event to introduce Inheritance of Hope to the Northeast Florida community.

Renee Lipko Johnson hosted the event at Group 4 Design on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The luncheon was held in memory of Johnson’s mother, Beth Lipko, who passed away in 2017, with event committee members Caryn Carreiro, Denise Ott, Teresa Stuebben, Kimberly Waterhouse and Leigh Gunn. At the event, San Marco resident Erin Thomas spoke of her experience with the organization and its programs following the passing of her husband.

Johnson, senior regional manager for Inheritance of Hope, said the Jacksonville chapter hopes to transform this October event into an annual one as it continues to raise awareness of the Inheritance of Hope mission.

Founded in 2007, Inheritance of Hope is devoted to providing support and services for young families facing the loss of a parent. It has programs across the country, including one here in Jacksonville.

“It can be very isolating for families, and especially for children,” Johnson said. “They may not know anyone in their direct circle of people who has a sick parent or has lost a parent, and so for them to get to meet other kids and get to meet other people who just get it can be a life-changing experience for them to know that they’re not alone.”

Honoring Hearts of Compassion at The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida Area Commander Maj. Candice Biggers joins Mrs. Cecilia Bryant, Dr. Richard Lipsey and The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida Area Commander Maj. Keath Biggers

In recognition of Dr. Richard Lipsey and Mrs. Cecilia Bryant’s longtime support of the organization and their continued generosity, The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida dedicated the Crest and Shield Terrace at its new Area Command Office on Monroe Street in their honor.

Over the years, Lipsey and Bryant’s matching gifts have generated more than $2 million.

“We’re excited to honor them, as their financial support has, and will continue to enable The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida to do the most good, to the most people in the most need,” said Maj. Keath Biggers, Area Commander. “Their gifts have enabled us to provide housing to the homeless; food for the hungry; and other emergency assistance to thousands of families and individuals. We are most grateful for their hearts of compassion, which made these emergency services possible.”

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20 25

RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

A year in reflection

Aspire Church San Marco’s steeple underwent a restoration addressing leaks DOWNSTREAM VIEW and other issues

By Fabrizio Gowdy

Moments That Brought Us Together 2025 was a year packed with anniversaries and milestones across San Marco, which celebrated its centennial last year. The festivities culminated in October with a Centennial Soirée at the historic Swisher Estate on River Road, where more than 250 partygoers were transported back to the early 1900s during the once-in-acentury celebration.

“On behalf of the San Marco Preservation Society, I want to share what a joy it has been to help lead the way in commemorating 100 years of shared history,” said SMPS Executive Director Sheri Webber. “It is our sincere hope that San Marco’s residents, supporters, visitors and businesses have felt loved and appreciated in 2025.”

Down the road, Granada residents also celebrated a centennial of their own throughout the year with a park cleanup, a neighborhood run and summer socials. Also in Miramar, the Point La Vista Civic Association celebrated its subdivision’s 60th anniversary with a sunset cocktail party.

And at the corner of San Jose and University, Cliff’s Barber Shop turned 50 in April. The shop is still operated by one of its original owners, San Jose resident James Edwards.

Meanwhile, Southside Methodist Church celebrated its 75th anniversary with campus improvements, and the San Marco Library also marked 75 years with a special time capsule sealing event in November that drew more than 400 visitors.

“The most memorable and enchanting piece of it all was the photos and collection of time capsule items,” reflected Library Supervisor Ryan Merkel. “In those items, everyone seemed to reflect that there’s something worth cherishing and celebrating in all the many micro, tiny positive changes we make towards each other, over time, that make the world a little more hopeful.”

It was also a year of bittersweet final gatherings. In

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JANUARY 2026

The Willowbranch Creek Stabilization project advanced as engineers plan updates to the park waterway.

UPSTREAM VIEW

WILLOWBRANCH CREEK STABILIZATION

CREEK SECTIONS

A new year full of progress, growth and newsworthy moments lies ahead for Jacksonville. But before we look ahead, here is a look back at the top stories and meaningful moments that shaped and impacted our Resident communities in 2025.

RESIDENTNEWS.NET

April, Julia Landon College Preparatory School welcomed back members of the Landon High School Alumni Association, which gifted an electronic message board to the school as its final official act. With the last class graduating in 1965 and the alumni association’s board members approaching their 90s, it was a final show of support and gratitude for the school that shaped them during their formative years.

On a similar note, the Robert E. Lee class of 1954 also gathered for its final official reunion in March, with about two dozen alumni of the original graduating class of 372 in attendance. Former classmates shared fond memories and stories at the 70th anniversary event, held a few months later than initially planned due to Hurricane Helene.

In April, Riverside Avondale Preservation held its 51st annual Home Tour, featuring 12 historic homes and perfect weather. That was followed in May by the fifth annual Yarden tour – both drew lots of visitors from around town.

Progress and Preservation From historic steeples to creek beds and pedestrianfriendly streets, 2025 was a year of transformation across Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods – a year when preservation met progress in ways both practical and poetic.

In Five Points, the former Sun-Ray Cinema building reopened as a live music venue called FIVE, managed by Marathon Live. The venue hosted its first shows in May, welcoming BoyWithUke and Kameron Marlowe.

But that wasn’t the only historic movie theater that found new life in 2025. The former San Marco Theater reopened as Electric Dough Pizza Co., a craft-casual restaurant led

by Chef Tom Gray. With its original film projector still on display and a marquee that nods to its cinematic past, the space now serves Roman-style pizzas and cocktails.

“Seeing the building come to life, filled with families gathering, friends connecting, San Marco neighbors and visitors from afar, is so rewarding,” said Gray.

The restoration of one of San Marco’s tallest structures also turned heads this year. Aspire Church’s steeple underwent a significant renovation in February as part of the church’s broader Bridge Initiative. The project marked the

beginning of a multi-phase campaign to ensure the 86-yearold facility remains a beacon for future generations.

Meanwhile, the Park Street Road Diet in Brooklyn was completed in July, converting four lanes into two and adding wider sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly features. The $11 million project, years in the making, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from city officials and neighborhood advocates.

Protecting and revitalizing the city’s waterways was a central theme last year. The Willowbranch Creek Stabilization Project made progress, with city engineers and Riverside Avondale Preservation hosting public meetings to share updates. The plan includes replacing the cement bulkhead with a Geobag Stabilized Slope to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and restore the creek’s natural flow.

Students from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville joined the effort to enhance local waterways by building artificial oyster habitats – known as POSH structures – at Christopher Creek, designed to support oyster populations and improve water quality. That same spirit of stewardship was on display in July as volunteers with St. Johns Riverkeeper removed tires, Styrofoam, and other debris from the Northbank near McCoys Creek, reinforcing the message that Jacksonville’s waterways are not just scenic backdrops but also vital natural resources.

Also on the river, there was cause for celebration at St. Johns River Park in April as the pirate ship playground opened to the public with a ribbon cutting and Easter Eggstravaganza event. That was followed later in the year by two more long-awaited ribbon cuttings at RiversEdge Park and Riverfront Plaza.

People and Purpose 2025 was also a year defined by compassion, creativity and community leadership. Volunteers, nonprofits and everyday citizens stepped up to serve Jacksonville’s most pressing needs and to celebrate the institutions that make the city stronger.

It was a massive year for the Jacksonville Symphony, which received a record-breaking $15 million anonymous donation – the largest in its 75-year history – followed CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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RESIDENT COMMUNITY NEWS

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City and community stakeholders join Mayor Donna Deegan at the ribbon cutting marking the completion of the Park Street Road Diet.

The Electric Dough Pizza Co. team celebrated the restaurant's grand opening in the transformed San Marco Theatre space.

Happy New

by a $3 million gift from the Terry Family Foundation. These contributions will help expand the Symphony’s reach and deepen its impact, supporting new works and musicians.

“This monumental support empowers us to elevate our performances, commission bold new works and expand access so that symphonic music enriches every corner of Jacksonville,” said Jacksonville Symphony President and CEO Steven B. Libman.

The First Coast Heart Ball also broke records last year, drawing nearly 600 attendees and raising $1.5 million at its March gala. The event introduced a new “Four Chambers” segment, spotlighting volunteers whose work embodies the American Heart Association’s pillars of equitable health, knowledge, discovery and advocacy.

In Springfield, Rethreaded marked its 14th anniversary with an evening of shopping and giving, raising $80,000 to support survivors of human trafficking.

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Resident Community News Group joins San Marco history as it contributes to the San Marco Library time capsule.

Founder Kristin Keen reminded guests that healing is possible when communities choose to live with purpose.

Downtown, the historic St. John’s Cathedral launched a wellbeing initiative to address growing needs in the community, offering free wellness resources to the public, including cancer, caregiver, and divorce support groups, meditation and walking groups and oneon-one coaching.

“There’s no barrier to take part in our services we provide – we meet people where they are,” said Dr. Paige H. Hakimian, who sits on the church’s Center for Wellbeing Leadership Board.

And in San Jose, 17-year-old twins Joshua and Jackson Bork organized a charity golf tournament to benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where they spent nearly 100 days in the NICU as premature infants. Their younger sister Jordan joined the effort, helping coordinate sponsors and participants for the inaugural event.

James Garrett Edwards and his father, James Edwards, one of the original two owners of Cliff’s Barber Shop.

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Fifteen Years in the Spotlight

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JANUARY 2026

Stepping Up for Support

Jasmin Smith finishes the One-Mile Fun Run. Noah DuCasse completes the 5K.

Carlos Cosme finishes the Nemours Children’s Run and Walk 5K.

Hundreds of athletes gathered at Nemours Children’s Health for the third annual Nemours Children’s Health Run and Walk, Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Offering both a One-Mile Fun Run and a 5K, this pre-Thanksgiving event had something for athletes of all skill levels, with a scenic course along the St. Johns River and through the San Marco neighborhood. The Runner’s Village featured music by DJ Vic Micolucci, sponsor booths and a Kids Zone for younger participants to enjoy.

Proceeds from the day will go to the Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville Compassionate Care Fund.

KIPP JAX welcomes the community to help celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Resilience Grants Awarded The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida awarded $841,000 in Resilience Fund grants to 18 nonprofit organizations across the region. The funding was made possible by a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, supplemented by Foundation resources, to support nonprofit stability and basic-needs services.

Tim Groover with KIPP Foundation CEO Shavar Jeffries and Board Chair Dr. Timothy Groover

KIPP JAX CEO Dr. Melissa Fullmore and Derek Fullmore

Flora Maran with Margaret Colon SEE THE COMPLETE LIST OF GRANT RECIPIENTS AT WWW.RESIDENTNEWS.NET.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools celebrated its 15th anniversary in red carpet style at Lights, Camera, KIPP: A Red Carpet Celebration of 15 Years of Impact at the Ritz Theatre and Museum on Thursday, Nov. 20.

More than 280 guests enjoyed the premier screening of Kennetic Productions’ “The First Class – 15 Years of KIPP Jacksonville” at the anniversary event. KIPP Jax CEO Dr. Melissa Fullmore delivered remarks to attendees at the event, followed by a keynote speech from KIPP Foundation CEO Shavar Jeffries. Guests also enjoyed curated food stations, private museum tours and live music.

The evening raised more than $132,000 for KIPP Jacksonville. These proceeds will support the Talent Innovation Fund to attract, develop and retain educators for Jacksonville students.

Community Angels in Action

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s Metro Offices purchases holiday gifts for Family Support Services’ Be an Angel campaign. From left, Kayla Garza, Leigh Ann Luttrell, Heather Cosgrove, Kimberly Waterhouse, Sandy Hume, Cat Keiter, Josh Cohen, Norma Albano, Allison Steilberg, and Rochelle Locket.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s Metro Offices of Avondale/Ortega and San Marco/San Jose brought extra holiday magic to First Coast children in foster care by participating in the Be an Angel holiday drive.

This is the fifth consecutive year these offices have participated in this initiative, which is led by Family Support Services of Duval and Nassau Counties. Realtors and employees collected and purchased gifts for 50 children in foster care, selecting items from their wish lists or making monetary donations so these children would receive holiday gifts.

“Every child deserves to feel loved at the holidays,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Realtor Kimberly Waterhouse, who led the firm’s participation. “This is more than buying gifts. It’s ensuring that a child feels the magic of Christmas and knows their community cares about them. It is our pleasure to bring smiles, love and laughter to their day.”

Photo by Mark Krancer

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urned to The Shoppes of Avondale on Friday, Dec. 5. corridor, enjoying live music, food and drink, venturing etting some holiday shopping done at the same time. om Santa Claus. for more than 30 years, and each year, the community erished it truly is.

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27

Volunteers Power TEDxJacksonville’s 2026 “On the Edge” Conference

By Fabrizio Gowdy With the annual TEDxJacksonville conference on the horizon, a team of local volunteers is working tirelessly to make this year’s event possible.

The independently organized conference, licensed by TED, has been a fixture in Jacksonville since 2012. What began as TEDxRiversideAvondale has grown into a marquee event drawing hundreds of attendees each year.

“It’s so rare that people take the time to give themselves permission to be curious and to sit down, not look at their phones, and process somebody trying to give the talk of their lives on stage,” said TEDx Co-Organizer and Executive Producer Jeanmarie Grimsley.

Grimsley lives in Avondale and joined TEDx in 2012, during its inaugural year. She now heads the team of about 20 local volunteers who put on the annual event. “[We] believe it’s really important that Jacksonville is an engaged, curious and inspired city,” said Grimsley.

San Marco resident Ron Hubbard is the co-organizer, license holder and creative director. He is responsible for reviewing more than 200 speaker applications and selecting 10 to 12 topics that ultimately make the stage.

“We look for ideas we think will resonate with our audience based on things happening in our city and around the world,” said Hubbard.

Keagan Anfuso lives in Fairfax and serves as a video producer and marketing director.

She says it’s easy to overlook the immense amount of preparation it takes to pull off a TEDx event, from the complex speaker selection process to securing funding.

“Attendees only see the end result – a single day of talks, performances and experiences,” said Anfuso. “But that final moment represents an entire year of planning, designing, testing, failing, fixing and trying again.”

A Theme That Reflects the Times The theme for this year’s event is “On the Edge,” which originated during a retreat for TEDx volunteers.

“We all kind of acknowledged that we felt like things were really changing fast, and we were kind of on edge about what that change represented,” said Grimsley. “We wanted to lean into some pretty sizable things that are happening and try to bring a little courage and little curiosity to that exploration.”

The 2026 program will explore the future of work in an era of rapid technological change, examine ethical Susanna Barton is one of the 12 speakers participating in the questions around extending rights to artificial intelligence and the natural world, 2026 TedxJacksonville Conference. and confront the hidden costs of global supply chains, including issues of modern slavery and consumer responsibility. The 2026 lineup features several Jacksonville locals sharing their stories and vision, among them Susanna Barton and Dr. Jeffrey Levenson.

Barton, a mindful aging strategist and published author, will speak about reframing aging as a design challenge. Her talk will offer practical strategies for families approaching later life with dignity and intention.

“I look forward to sharing my thoughts on reframing aging as a design challenge and hope it will resonate with the community as much as the other speakers’ talks have inspired me,” said Barton, who called it an honor to be selected to speak.

Levenson, whose practice is located in Riverside, will share insights from his nonprofit Gift of Sight, which has restored vision to thousands. His work – including a viral collaboration with YouTuber MrBeast – spotlights what’s possible when a community refuses to accept preventable blindness.

Additional speakers include Josh Gellers, PhD, Ron Griswell and CJ Goulding, Andrew Hilger, Svetlana Makarova, Bonnie Nixon, PhD, Isaiah Oliver, Christa Sylla, Travis Williams and Dr. Jade Wu.

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Dr. Jeffrey Levenson joins the lineup of inspirational and motivational speakers at “On the Edge.”

Maintaining Audience Engagement Central to the mission of TEDx is deepening audience members’ engagement with one another and the theme. To facilitate this, past conferences have featured interactive activities and experiences, such as smoothie bikes powered by pedaling and campsite installations complete with s’mores and solar eclipse viewings.

“Jacksonville is a very spread-out city and sometimes communities can be siloed,” said Hubbard. “I like to think that TEDx provides an opportunity to bring these various communities and creative ideas together under one roof where we can spark new connections, inspiring ideas, engaging discussions, and be a catalyst for positive change.”

Shrinking attention spans are also shaping the event. The time limit for TEDx talks used to be no longer than 18 minutes, but it has been reduced to 12 minutes after studies showed that 12 minutes is about the maximum capacity nowadays.

“Uninterrupted presentation – of thought, of ideas, of potential solutions – is rare now,” said Anfuso. “Long-form, layered, nuanced communication is becoming endangered. TEDx is an active pushback against that trend. It asks people to sit still, listen fully and engage deeply with a concept instead of reducing it to a 15-second sound bite.”

TEDxJacksonville will be held Jan. 17 at the University of North Florida’s Lazzara Theater. Tickets are available at tedxjacksonville.com. They cost $125 for general admission and $59 for students and include the full-day conference with lunch, plus the post-show AfterGlow party with food.

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Starting the Year in Color

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JANUARY 2026

By Peggy Harrell Jennings

The bustling beauty of the holiday season has passed. Mr. Scrooge has learned his lessons, and so we wish a warm and heartfelt Happy New Year to all.

In these quiet moments of the new year, we can reflect on the art that surrounds us – in our neighborhoods, churches, galleries – and find inspiration in it. Art empowers us, inspires us and challenges us, and the Jacksonville art community has plenty of opportunities to immerse ourselves in that creativity and beauty, from the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens to the Riverside Arts Market to MOCA Jacksonville and beyond, there is no shortage of local institutions and community events to celebrate and revel in art.

Add another dimension to your art experience by creating something yourself: Try something new. Express yourself and nurture that sense of beauty within your soul. Let’s step forward boldly and thoughtfully, challenging ourselves along the way. Write that book, sing that song, paint, sculpt, weave the tapestry of the new, and leave the old behind.

Here’s to a year filled with color, creativity and the beautiful surprises that only art can bring.

Sophia Williams with Peggy Harrell Jennings at the San Marco Art Festival

Art Ventures Marks 35 Years with 90k in Grants for the Arts

Stark and 14 other grant recipients were recognized at a Dec. 10 event marking Art Ventures’ 35th anniversary. The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida hosted the celebration at the Haskell Building, the Jacksonville History Center’s event space.

“I was absolutely thrilled and honored to be recognized this way,” said Stark.

“Like Ann Baker, I’ve tried to do my part in giving back to the community. By focusing my art on our ‘wild backyard,’ I hope to create awareness and appreciation for these important spaces that give us a sense of Courtenay Wilson, co-founder of Art Ventures, Kathy Stark, the 2025 Ann McDonald Baker Art Ventures Award winner, and Holly place and identity.”

Keris, J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Chief Curator at the Cummer Museum at the office of The Community Foundation.

Along with the award, Stark received a $20,000 unrestricted grant. This is the 11th year Art Ventures has bestowed this accolade upon an artist in recognition of the vision it shows and the distinction it brings to the Northeast Florida region.

Each of the 14 recipients received a $5,000 grant to help further their careers.

Art Ventures was established in 1990.

Since then, it has awarded $1.6 million to more than 260 artists and 150 arts organizations.

VISIT WWW.RESIDENTNEWS.NET TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH ARTIST AND THEIR PROJECTS.

Visit The

USS Orleck

The USS Orleck will be CLOSED January 1st for the New Year.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE FOLLOWING HOURS:

Wed-Fri 9 am-3 pm • Sat 9 am-4 pm • Sun 10 am-4 pm • Mon & Tues CLOSED

FREE Admission for

Active Duty In Uniform & Kids under 5

Join Our Crew with a Membership Last visitors on board 30 minutes before closing.

Weather such as summer heat, storms, lightning can affect tour times. in the NEW YEAR! By becoming a member of the USS Orleck family, you are not just gaining exclusive access to this historic destroyer; you are also playing a vital role in preserving and enhancing the Jacksonville Naval Museum for generations to come. Enjoy additional tour opportunities that allow you to dive deeper into the ship’s storied past, meet fellow history enthusiasts, and engage in special member-only events. Your membership directly supports the expansion of exhibits and educational programs, ensuring that the legacy of naval service continues to inspire and educate. Join us today and immerse yourself in a living piece of history while making a meaningful impact on our community.

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Local and Regional Artists Bring Color and Creativity to Balis Park

At the Cathedral

Dean Kate Through the heartbeat Moorehead Carrollof our sacred worship, we

invitestogether you to experience bring people of

“A profound Window into Our Faith” difference to serve God,Our to love and The Bible, Church, learn from another.

The Gift of one Reason and

Carol Madow, Nate Setzer and Lauren Setzer with Mark Diamond

Jymika Chance and Adrienne Brown

Regan Foote and George Foote

As they have for 27 years, artists once again filled San Marco’s Balis Park for the San Marco Art Festival.

This post-Thanksgiving tradition took place on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29 and 30, featuring more than 30 artists across a variety of media, including ceramics, photography, painting, contemporary pop art, and more.

Harry McCormick’s artwork was featured on festival posters and collateral as the 2025 San Marco Art Festival poster contest winner. Guests enjoyed a day of art and community, some getting a jump on holiday shopping, others adding to their own collections and others still simply enjoying a day out in the Square.

Adie, Amanda and Scarlett Mathis

Our Community in Christ January 11, 18, 25 and February 8 at 9:00am in Taliaferro Hall

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Oldenburg Returns Home for ‘Left Behind’

“High Tide” (2023), molds of Feeding Frenzy, metal, clay, lollipop sticks, tiki wall, generic acetaminophen, leather, linen and resin.

Jacksonville-born artist Whitney Oldenburg returned to her old stomping grounds to celebrate the opening of “Whitney Oldenburg: left behind” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA).

This exhibition is the first institutional survey of her work, featuring 23 sculptures and 19 drawings that “explor[e] the complex relationship between humans and objects in contemporary culture.” An opening celebration and preview event was held on Thursday, Nov. 20. The exhibition will remain on view until April 19, 2026.

Through incorporated personal belongings, repurposed consumer items, and craft materials, Oldenburg’s sculptures investigate the psychological and emotional responses associated with material possessions, challenging viewers to “reflect on the complex interplay between material possessions, social dynamics and our shared humanity.”

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RESIDENTNEWS.NET

Currently Reading: “The Everlasting”

by Alix E. Harrow Currently Listening To: “Mistborn”

by Brandon Sanderson

In the Company of Books

Reading books may be a solitary activity (for the most part), but loving books is something else entirely.

Books, and the love readers have for them, bring people together in a way that is difficult to describe but beautiful to watch.

They have served as the foundation for some of the most important friendships in my life.

Twelve years ago, an acquaintance posted a photo of “Something Borrowed”

by Emily Giffin, which I had read and absolutely loved. A simple comment left on that post has led to one of the best and most important friendships in my life. An idle comment by a former coworker that she enjoyed reading launched another lifelong friendship that, in turn, connected me with two others without whom my life would be much duller and my TBR (To Be Read) list would be much shorter. Our mutual love of books transformed a fellow military spouse into a friend I could reach out to any time, day or night, and who, while she lived here, loved exploring all the indie bookstores in our Resident communities with me.

Put two book nerds in a room together, and that shared love of books will create,

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if not a lifelong bond that supersedes distance and the chaos of life, at least an engaging conversation full of “Oh, that book destroyed me, you’ve got to read it.”

My evening at a Silent Book Club Jacksonville meeting reminded me once again of the power of that shared love of books and reading.

Hosted at Happy Medium Books Café on Tuesday, Dec. 2, the meeting welcomed nearly 30 readers. Some came alone, others came with friends, and others still spotted friends already there when they arrived. But what I immediately noticed was that, unless they wanted to be, nobody was really alone.

Everybody was chatting and mingling during the 30-minute social session, browsing through the books or getting their snack or beverage orders.

Adriana Serrano, founder of the Jacksonville chapter of this global

rs

JANUARY 2026

Guests stack their current reads for a photo op at the end of the Dec. 2 meeting.

community. Still, readers don’t often have the chance to meet other book lovers out “in the wild” unless they’re at a specific literary event. These meetups provide connection and camaraderie in a low-pressure setting, where you can chat with the person at your table if you’re in the mood – or you can sit with your coffee, and your book, and absolutely no one will judge you for it.

Dr. Adia Griffin and Stephanie McLaughlin with Silent Book Club Jacksonville Founder Adriana Serrano and Caitlyn Simonds

Guests enjoy an hour of silent reading at each Silent Book Club meeting.

community of readers, said she has formed friendships with people she met at Silent Book Club meetings and enjoys watching those bonds grow among others.

“This really creates a community,” Serrano said. “People follow each other [on social media], they go meet up after our meetings. Sometimes I’ll have certain people who are very shy, and then suddenly they’re like Chatty Cathy with somebody new. And it’s so great because they wouldn’t normally have that conversation or meet somebody in that way if they were at home, reading on the couch.”

Silent Book Club Jacksonville meets several times each month at rotating locations. Guests can socialize (if they choose) for the first half hour of the meeting, followed by an hour of silent reading.

As a wife and mother of two who works full-time, I can say unequivocally that 60 minutes of uninterrupted, quiet reading time was absolutely divine.

With its network of excellent public libraries and incredible indie bookstores, Jacksonville has a strong literary

I will be attending more Silent Book Club meetings moving forward, though I will try to refrain from buying books at every event hosted at a bookstore – I came to Happy Medium with one book to read and, somehow, left with three more that now have to find a home on my TBR cart at home. I regret nothing.

What are you reading? Where are your favorite reading spots? Who are your favorite local authors? “Between the Lines” is a new monthly column for Resident News where we will discuss and explore all things bookish and bookish-adjacent within our Resident communities.

Michele Leivas firmly believes that reading books and buying books are two completely different hobbies.

She loves thrillers, fantasy and historical fiction. She is currently in her romantasy era and, along with the rest of the Sarah J. Maas fandom, is anxiously awaiting more information on the sixth ACOTAR book.

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A Resolution for Peace(making)

Reverend Charlie Holt leads service at St. Mark’s.

Families and friends gather for a meal at the church.

Pancakes are served hot for a breakfast event.

By Fabrizio Gowdy As the calendar turns to a new year and resolutions are jotted down, Rev. Charlie Holt of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Ortega is inviting the community to consider a different kind of resolution: strengthening relationships through the practice of peacemaking.

Beginning Feb. 1, Holt will lead an eight‑week Sunday morning study titled “Learning About Peacemaking,” centered on Ken Sande’s book “The Peacemaker.”

The program will meet weekly at 10 a.m. and is open to all, regardless of St. Mark’s membership. Participants will receive a copy of Sande’s book at no cost. Holt emphasizes that the sessions are not simply a book club – they incorporate scripture as well, particularly the Gospel.

“My teaching will be about taking very practical principles and tools from the scriptures and unpacking those, making them applicable to everyday life,” he explained.

Holt said Matthew 5:9, where Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God,” is foundational to the program.

Conflict is a Human Experience Holt describes conflict as a universal reality that all people must overcome.

“If you are human, you experience conflict in one

form or another,” he said. “We tend to have typical responses to it – ones that makes us want to flee and to absent ourselves from the relationship, or if we’re more of a fighter, we might argue and get into more aggressive arguments with people.”

The study will explore how Christian principles can help people move beyond fight-or-flight responses. Holt calls this “relational architecture” – learning the skills to navigate disagreements constructively. That includes practical lessons on how to apologize sincerely, how to forgive more deeply and how to negotiate substantive issues like money, schedules, or responsibilities without letting personal tensions overwhelm.

“If we’re saying sorry, but we use ‘ifs,’ ‘buts’ and ‘ands,’ we negate everything that we’re saying in our apology, because we’re making the excuse in the midst of the apology,” said Holt. “And the same with learning how to forgive people. A lot of people offer cheap forgiveness to each other, where we say we’re good, but we really haven’t gone to the depth of what forgiveness really looks like.”

As a certified Christian conflict coach and mediator, Holt has extensive experience in helping individuals, families, churches and businesses navigate and resolve complex issues. One of his most significant efforts was in Lake Mary following the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin.

During that time, he joined a group of pastors engaged in community‑wide peacemaking efforts.

He’s been ordained for 30 years, returning to Jacksonville two and a half years ago to lead St. Mark’s.

Intentional Timing The timing of this new program is intentional. A new year often brings reflection and resolutions, and Holt sees peacemaking as a resolution that can ripple outward.

“Getting back to church is often one of those resolutions, but a great resolution would be to work on your relationships that you have with people in your life, whether that’s your spouse or your children or your co-workers, and addressing places where we might have conflict,” he said.

Holt encourages participants to attend as many program sessions as possible, but stresses that each session can provide valuable tools.

While much of the program focuses on personal relationships, Holt also emphasizes the role of community.

Sometimes conflicts require a third party, and the study will introduce concepts of mediation and coaching.

He says the overall mission of his peacemaking program is to strengthen healthy families and communities.

In a season when resolutions often fade, Holt hopes this one will endure.

RAP’S RAP ’S MOST SIGNIFICANT PLACEMAKING PROJECT OF 2025 IS HERE! ’ 90Artist Patrick Maxcy’s 90-foot mural ""Abundant Waters,” ,” featuring a St.. Johns River seascape of native species,, is complete and ready to dazzle your eyes under the Fuller Warren Bridge,, home of the Riverside Arts Market..

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Thank you to our incredible community partners for making art a priority in Jacksonville.

Learn more about Riverside Avondale Preservation and our work in the community at riversideavondale.org

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JANUARY 2026

Where Design Meets Purpose

Dr. Jila Mahajan and Richard Leyton

Karen and Erin Wolfson

Erich and Samantha Geisler with Matt and Sarah Hummer, Caroline Jett-Sun, Erin Wolfson, Lauren Goebertus and Katie Wendell

Sharon Barber with Todd and Kate Sager, Katie and Erol Bell

Dan Alexander with Nan Ellen Nelson

“The Art of Home” was the theme of The Women’s Board’s 2025 First Coast Design Show, blending design, style and philanthropy to support Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

An invite-only Designer Preview Party kicked off this year’s weekend-long event on Thursday, Dec. 4, before the doors opened the following day to all ticket holders. Friday evening, Dec. 5, also welcomed guests to the Opening Night Gala.

The weekend offered a full schedule of guest lectures, immersive experiences, panel

Bruce and Susan Smathers with Sandy and Bill Bond

discussions, and more, culminating in the beloved Children’s Fashion Show, with a theme of “Hometown,” celebrating the Bold City we call home.

Sarah Allen, Mollie Peterson and Kate Sager chaired the 2025 First Coast Design Show. This year’s proceeds went toward an outdoor space for the Behavioral Health Unit at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

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Operation New Uniform holds its ribbon cutting ceremony for its new facilities on Southside Boulevard.

John Bear with Kenyon Sutton

Robert and Dani Hernandez with Kristy Possert

Bill Hickey with Chris Budihas

Jake Ammon with Lisa Schuman

A New Home for Veterans, a Bigger Future for Service The year ended on a high note for Operation New Uniform, which celebrated the ribbon cutting for its new offices on Southside Boulevard on Friday, Dec. 5.

Guests enjoyed coffee and small bites as they toured the new facility before the Friday morning ribbon cutting. ONU Co-Founder and CEO Michele McManamon shared remarks and ONU Programs Manager and U.S. Navy Veteran Rich Possert led those in attendance in a blessing and the Pledge of Allegiance before the ribbon was cut.

The organization moved from little more than 2,000 square feet to nearly 7,000 square feet in this new space. Its larger training room will allow ONU to expand its

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classes to 20 participants, effectively reaching more active-duty service members and veterans and empowering them as they step into the next chapter following their military retirement.

Since its founding 11 years ago, ONU has served more than 800 veterans, and McManamon said it plans to serve thousands more. This new, larger facility is the next step in achieving that goal.

“It’s huge,” said McManamon. “I can’t explain what it means; it just means that we have a home that people feel comfortable coming to.”

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34 FOLKS

MEET Alexandria enjoys horseback riding in Northwest Jacksonville.

Alexandria and Jordan hiking with his two sons.

By Fabrizio Gowdy Eight years ago, Alexandria Rudnick moved to the neighborhood sight unseen.

Originally from Jupiter, she’d just spent a decade after college working across the

everything here,” said Rudnick. “It’s got historic elements, it’s got the beach, it’s got Downtown.”

She accepted a teaching job in

Every time I walk around the neighborhood, I think, ‘I love it here.’ I don’t want to leave.

– Alexandria Rudnick country with nonprofit Teach for America.

She decided to return to Florida, but knew she wanted to settle in North Florida, drawn by its rich history and character.

“I love that you get a little bit of

Jacksonville and landed near the confluence of Riverside and Avondale after asking around for walkable neighborhoods. Locals pointed her toward Park and King, and she took a leap – renting a carriage house

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is designed to give young people both technical skills and confidence, helping them see themselves as capable of thriving in professional environments.

Rudnick also holds a master’s degree in history. She works with 904ward and co-chairs the Duval Community Remembrance Project, which partners with the Montgomery, Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative to commemorate victims of racial violence.

“I really feel passionately about history and history education,” she said. “When I realized that that work was happening locally, I reached out to get involved.”

When she’s not working or volunteering her time, Rudnick can be found walking her dog through the park, grabbing ice cream at Screaming Cat, or riding horses on her friend’s property in Northwest Jacksonville.

Rudnick is engaged to be married in the spring to her fiancé; their first date was at Fishweir Brewing in Murray Hill.

Along with her fiancé’s two sons, they enjoy camping adventures and trying new neighborhood restaurants. Rudnick says those everyday rhythms – walking to Boone Park or simply cooking dinner – are what make life in Riverside and Avondale feel so special.

“Every time I walk around the neighborhood, I think, ‘I love it here.’

I don’t want to leave,” Rudnick said.

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apartment without ever stepping foot inside.

After a few years of living in the mother-in-law suite, she bought the entire home when the owners decided to move. She lives very close to Willowbranch Park, which she says feels like an “extension of her home.” That proximity sparked her involvement with Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP).

She joined the parks committee, then the board, and will become RAP’s board chair in 2026.

Her passion for public spaces is mirrored by her commitment to public education. She cites her grandfather, a teacher, as a personal inspiration of hers. Rudnick is the executive director of Genesys Works, a national nonprofit that launched its Jacksonville chapter in 2025. The program partners with Duval County Public Schools to prepare high school students for college and careers.

“Students leave school early and go to internships for half a day,” Rudnick explains. “It’s pretty in-depth, a lot to manage, but we really love it because it can make a really big difference in a student’s life.”

The first cohort of students began in June and now includes students working 20 hours a week in professional settings across the city. Rudnick says the program

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Photo: SPAR

Saving a Gateway to Historic Springfield

SPAR Executive Director Michael Haskins stands center with District 7 City Councilmember Jimmy Peluso, joined by other city and community stakeholders, at the Dec. 8 press conference announcing SPAR’s acquisition of the Drew Mansion.

By Michele Leivas Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) has acquired the historic Drew Mansion at 245 West 3rd Street with plans to bring the derelict building back to life.

SPAR announced this acquisition on Dec. 8, joined by City Councilmembers Jimmy Peluso and Chris Miller as well as other city and community stakeholders. SPAR also announced the launch of its Drew Rehabilitation Fund to support this approximately $1.5 million project.

SPAR Executive Director Michael Haskins said the nonprofit is uniquely positioned to take on this rehabilitation project and to resurrect the neglected building, which has become a source of blight and crime in the community. “[Drew Mansion] coming into SPAR’s hands does two things: One, as a nonprofit, we’re able to access grant funding to help rehabilitate it, which is money that for-profit companies wouldn’t be able to access,” Haskins said. “….The second thing is that that property is a landmark in the neighborhood, and one of the gateway entrances to Springfield, and so turning it from a source of blight and an example of demolition by neglect into a functioning, productive community space is going to be a huge asset for the community.”

SPAR plans to transform the building’s first floor into a “community living room” with a bistro or café and archive, giving the public access to the historic building and transforming it into a gathering spot for residents to enjoy.

The second and third floors will house office spaces that will serve as a small-business incubator.

“A small business incubator is going to provide lowrent office space to business owners who are interested in investing in the neighborhood and want to try out their business model to ensure that it’s going to work before they sign a longer-term lease on commercial corridors like Main Street, Eighth Street,” Haskins said.

The Karpeles Grand, another one of Springfield’s

historic buildings, recently underwent its own renovation, reopening last year as an event space that hosted the second annual Bold City Ball. Haskins said he hopes the rehabilitations for these two historic buildings show paths forward for structures still in need of restoration.

“As Springfield has been revitalized, property owners have rehabilitated the easiest properties first and the harder cases are what’s left,” Haskins said. “So, showing paths forward for some of these more difficult cases is really important to continue that investment and to complete the revitalization of Springfield.”

The Drew Mansion had been included on the Jacksonville History Center’s list of endangered historic buildings for several years, running the risk of demolition by neglect. JHC CEO Dr. Alan Bliss applauded SPAR’s efforts to preserve the building and remove it from the endangered buildings list.

“This marks a breakthrough in efforts to rescue that distressed historic building from decline, and we stand in solidarity with SPAR and the City of Jacksonville in finding the resources that will be necessary to move ahead,” Bliss wrote in an e-mail. “We also strongly encourage and support SPAR's innovative approach to this preservation challenge. If successful, other historic properties may become candidates for similarly creative interventions in which a nonprofit stakeholder like SPAR takes an ownership position.”

Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission Member and former Demolition By Neglect Task Force Chair William Hoff said he hopes SPAR’s acquisition and proposed rehabilitation of the Drew Mansion serve as an example for other at-risk historic properties.

“Getting it in the hands of an organization that is willing and able to preserve it, at least, and hopefully renovate it, it’s a great example of what is possible,

not just for this particular property, but for other properties,” Hoff said. “That’s what I would hope to see, personally, is that this be used as a road map of how to get our significant historic properties out of danger from demolition by neglect and into the hands of an entity that will appropriately care for them.”

Haskins noted that SPAR has already been working with several community and city partners, including the Mayor’s Office, during the acquisition process, with local businesses Atlantic Engineering Services, Avant Construction Group and JAA Architecture offering pro

A rendering depicts what the Drew Mansion could look like following its rehabilitation.

bono services to evaluate the building in order to ensure the project’s viability.

SPAR will be seeking grant funding for this project at the city, state and national levels and is seeking donors to fulfill grant-matching requirements. More information is available at sparcouncil.org/drew_fund.

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By Lauren K. Weedon

Empowering Survivors Through Local Philanthropy We step into the new year with Human Trafficking Awareness Month to inform and educate the community on the realities of this pervasive threat that exists in communities throughout the state, the country and the world.

An annual report published in June 2025 by The University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Lab reported that there were an estimated 200,000 victims of sex trafficking in Florida in 2024 and an estimated 540,000 victims of labor trafficking and/or labor exploitation during that same year.

Human trafficking is a very real threat to our communities. Still, in this month’s “Charity Chat,” we choose to lift up the survivors, championing their strength and courage, and the organizations that walk beside them as they rebuild their lives, find their voices and step back into their power and agency.

justice system assistance and resources for education, employment, and housing.

Zala, a survivor, was set to be released from juvenile detention, but had nowhere to go, if it weren’t for See the Girl.

“I only had one Croc, a pair of joggers and a shirt, and was facing the idea of being homeless,” she said. “I met Brandy with See the Girl, and instead, she gave me the ideas of somewhere to sleep, something for my stomach, and something on my back.”

A collaborative team of clinicians, survivor advocates, and regional advocates guides survivors, helping them navigate challenges with people they can trust, who share lived experiences and connect them with community resources to achieve their goals. By tailoring support to each girl, Open Doors empowers survivors on their journey toward healing and long-term independence.

“Brandy has been a great help over the past three years and has progressed with

The Rethreaded shop features items made by survivors.

Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center With a focus on advocacy, the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, commonly known as See the Girl, promotes systemic change, addressing the policies and societal structures that leave young women vulnerable to exploitation. Through public education, policy advocacy, and survivorcentered initiatives, the Center works to prevent trafficking by reforming systems that often perpetuate further harm by criminalizing girls who are unfairly trapped.

The See the Girl: Open Doors program supports survivors of commercial sexual exploitation ages 10 to 24 through a survivor-informed, traumacentered approach. The program offers comprehensive services including mental health counseling, emotional support,

me,” said Zala. “It has been a long journey, but we have done so much in our time together. Every month, I am completing a goal I set for myself, so I come up with another goal. She holds me accountable, but she also takes care of me and loves me, like a mother. My biological mother barely did that for me. All the people at See the Girl are great people with great hearts.”

Anyone can make a referral to the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center through its website at www.seethegirl.org/referral/.

All services are provided at no charge.

“Victims are getting even younger, crime is ever evolving, and needs are growing,” said Vice President of Development and Communications Stacy Ellison. “Financial support is the best way the community can help and gives us flexibility to meet needs as they arise.”

Rethreaded’s mission is to help trafficking survivors achieve economic independence.

Her Song Her Song begins its work by building trusting relationships with young women in jails and prisons, ensuring that, upon release, they have a safe and supportive place to start rebuilding their lives.

Founded in 2013, Her Song opened its first safe house in 2017 and merged with the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2020. Today, the organization operates three safe houses in Jacksonville, with a fourth set to open early this year, expanding its reach to help even more survivors.

“The common thread between survivors of human trafficking is trauma,” said Community Engagement Coordinator Mindy Cederquist. “It may start in childhood or adolescence, trauma endured and not dealt with, a young woman is vulnerable, and the situation can snowball.

She’s in survival mode – it’s the only thing presented to her, and she gets trapped.”

Her Song’s housing program is designed in three phases, each tailored to meet survivors where they are in their healing journey. Phase one, lasting six to nine months, focuses on intensive therapy, case management and providing a stable, nurturing environment where young women can begin to experience a sense of normalcy and security. In phase two, residents are empowered to prepare for the future – taking classes, applying for jobs and gaining the tools and confidence needed for self-sufficiency. Finally, phase three offers transitional housing as an optional safety net, allowing graduates to step fully into independence while knowing support remains available if needed.

Through this structured, compassionate approach, Her Song not only provides safety but also fosters long-term healing, resilience and hope, helping survivors reclaim control over their lives and look toward a brighter future.

To make a financial donation or purchase items from their wish list, visit www.hersong.org/getinvolved.

Her Song will be hosting an informational session at the Church of Eleven22 Baymeadows Campus on Jan. 21 from 10:00

– 11:30 a.m. Contact Mindy at mindyc@ hersong.org or 904-574-7403 for details.

Rethreaded Rethreaded is a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking achieve economic independence. Through skill-based employment programs, survivors are trained in production, inventory, sales, marketing and finance, transforming trauma into craftsmanship and financial stability.

“If you give women access to a new community and economic empowerment, they will reclaim their lives,” said Founder and CEO Kristin Keen.

Rethreaded provides a safe space for survivors to learn, grow, and work while staying focused on their healing process, with plenty of compassionate support.

Their boutique line of survivor-made products offers the community a tangible way to support these life-changing programs. For example, the Rethreaded Grace Scarf represents the promise of a new beginning. It’s the very first product a survivor learns to create when she starts at Rethreaded, marking the start of her journey toward healing and rebuilding her life.

Shop Rethreaded’s online store at shop. rethreaded.com or visit its brick-and-mortar store at 515 E. 9th Street in Springfield, also known as its Campus of Hope.

Rethreaded offers a hands-on volunteer opportunity every Thursday, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at this campus, where volunteers help prepare upcycled materials for use in their manufacturing program. Visit rethreaded.com/volunteer to learn more.

Visit the Resident News website to view a list of organizations working to prevent human trafficking and support survivors in Northeast Florida. “Now I know, this situation doesn’t last forever,” said Zala. “Anything people can give, whether it’s to donate clothes, hygiene items, or school supplies, it is so helpful.”

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and residents are encouraged to show solidarity by wearing blue on Jan. 11 for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

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A Slam-Dunk Start to the Florida Forum

Rachael Bunnell with Paige and Justin Terry

Stephanie Verlander and Beth Langley

Grace Wallace, Caitlin Clark and Jane Magevney

Courtney Harris, Amy Ruth and Donna Orender with Allegra Jaros, Brian Pieninck and Andi Williams

Deborah Gervin and Sharon Lucie with Sharon Pentaleri and Beverley Brooke

The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital kicked off its 2025-26 Florida Forum Speaker Series on Wednesday, Oct. 29, with professional basketball player Caitlin Clark.

Clark became the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie ever to record a triple-double and is a two-time recipient of the Naismith Award. She also leads the Caitlin Clark Foundation, which empowers youth through sports, education and nutrition.

The Florida Forum continues next month at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, with Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian author, politician and historian, on Feb. 3, and again on March 31 with world-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés.

Proceeds from this annual speaker series benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

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THANK YOU NOTES 38 FROM MY EMPTY NEST PERCH

By Susanna Barton

Cheers to another New Year in the neighborhood! It’s time to raise a club-pour glass of Chardonnay and reflect on all the opportunities we have to be grateful for our Resident Community.

I’ve been writing about gratitude in this column space for nearly (more than?) two years now, and it just occurred to me that I’ve never really gotten into the nitty gritty about HOW to be grateful. We all know we SHOULD be grateful and that it’s socially acceptable and nice to share our thanks.

When someone buys us a bauble from Underwoods or treats us to dinner somewhere bougie in the Shoppes of Avondale or San Marco Square, for example, we know writing a thank you note is non-negotiable. It’s Manners 101, end of story.

I also think most of us know there’s something magical and rewarding about saying thank you, which is why we feel compelled to offer it when something great comes our way. But making good on our gratitude is a practice – it requires our time, dedication and thought.

To be expert grati-sticians, we have to make being thankful a priority and a habit.

You can never say thank you enough – there’s no cap on gratitude.

Why? Because gratitude does not come naturally.

We are not inherent appreciators. And that’s why many folks smarter than I have devised helpful strategies for flexing this strength. These ideas include everything from keeping gratitude journals or lists to leading correspondence or conversations with words of thanks.

We’ll get to all that in two seconds. But before we jump in, let’s make sure we’re in the right mindset to achieve gratitude greatness. Either mentally or physically, transport yourself to one – or all – of the following peaceful, inspiring, humanity-connecting spots in our neighborhood: • One of our many neighborhood, pocket, riverfront, urban or hidden parks; • Our sidewalks and roadways, where you can walk or cycle and remember that you are part

of a loving community of humans; • Your front porch or stoop; • Your yard, where you can take stock of the beautiful trees and surrounding nature; • A neighborhood café, restaurant or bar that brings together neighbors and friends;

• Pray your gratitude: Making thankfulness the first priority in your prayers can really shoot you down a rabbit hole of goodness. Start with gratitude before you go asking for new miracles. Because, actually, the miracle is in the gratefulness and the graciousness that it always yields.

Investing in acts of gratitude isn’t only good for others; it makes you a healthier, better and more amazing person.

• A boat or kayak that helps bring perspective of how our waterways define the community; • A church, temple, club, faith-home or meeting place that fills your soul; • The places that define your youth – the homes of friends and families, your school, practice fields, or courts.

Now that you’re somewhere inspiring, consider a few practices you might adopt to better hone your gratitude-o-meter: • Keep a gratitude journal: Buy an actual notebook or book and keep it somewhere handy. Before you go to bed each night, or whenever it feels right, write down a few things that happened to you that day that made you feel super grateful. The simple act of even accounting for the good can help put your day and life in perspective big time.

• Create a gratitude jar: The concept is the same as above, but may be a more visible, tangible practice. Keep some colored paper around and challenge yourself to write down something for which you are grateful every day.

• Dedicate yourself to writing thank you notes: This is a cheap and easy way to get the thankfulness job done. Buy yourself some stationery and commit yourself to the practice of writing and mailing a short note of gratitude to anyone who has been generous to you. And if you have horrible penmanship and are just not a note person, for the LOVE, send a text or an email as soon as you receive a gift of any kind. It’s too easy to communicate thankfulness these days; not doing so makes you look like a real a-hole, sorry.

• Begin any note, presentation, talk, letter, email, text or correspondence of any kind with a note of thanks – and if you don’t start with it, make sure you end on it, or both: You can never say thank you enough and it is always a message wellreceived. Over-use it. There’s no cap on gratitude.

• Look a vendor, service provider, store worker, colleague, or professional in the eye and thank them after any exchange: Forgetting to do so may cause someone to think you’re, well, an a-hole.

These rituals may sound like silly practices, but they are well worth your time and energy. Investing in acts of gratitude is not only good for others; it also makes you a healthier, better and more amazing person. No, really! A recent Harvard study published in the “Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry” showed a direct correlation between gratitude and emotional, physical and social well-being. Demonstrating gratitude can help us live longer and happier! These are the facts!

So, as we launch into 2025, make sure you take stock in all the good coming your way – and share your thanks.

Our community will be a better place if you do. Thank you for reading!

Susanna Barton is thankful for her family, framily and friends, and thinks thank you note-writing is an important practice. A Granada resident, Barton has written professionally for The Jacksonville Business Journal, The Resident, Jacksonville University and The Bolles School. She currently manages an online community called Grand Plans, which encourages healthy conversations about aging and preparing for it on www.mygrandplans.com.

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Animal

40 HOUSE

By Julie Kerns Garmendia Like teens everywhere, typical Jacksonville high school students stay busy.

Their days pass by in a blur of homework deadlines, exams, sports, clubs, dates and after-school jobs. However, there are some especially motivated teens whose concern and care for homeless animals is a model of selfless community service. They inspire hope for a future of more comprehensive, humane animal welfare through their actions and public outreach for homeless animals in shelters or struggling to survive outdoors.

Ella LeMieux, a junior at Samuel W. Wolfson School for Advanced Studies, and 19-year-old Sejla Hotilovacare among this next generation of local animal welfare activists.

Ella LeMieux Ella LeMieux is a founding member of the Wolfson Paw Society, currently serving as club treasurer and communications manager. Junior Sarah Robinson created the club and serves as president.

Their other animal-loving friends quickly joined in: Amari Cox, social media manager, Lnyah McElroy, and Natalie Shepard, co-vice presidents. Mr. Akovi Adjevi Neglokpe, Wolfson’s music teacher and choral director, is the club’s sponsor.

The club meets biweekly in the chorus room after school, and interested students are welcome to join.

The club officers and student members have made it their mission to connect with and support existing community nonprofit organizations to aid local pet owners and animals in need. They plan to host inschool pet food drives, craft sustainable pet toys from scrap materials and volunteer at local shelters.

“We collect donated pet food at school and deliver that to animal shelters and to EveryPet,” said Lynah McElroy, who plans a career in veterinary medicine.

Above all, these Wolfson Paw Society teens hope to inspire greater community awareness and publicize the needs of homeless dogs and cats caged in shelters awaiting foster or adoption, or that struggle to survive outdoors.

They remind readers of the critical need for pet owners to spay and neuter their animals – the only solution to prevent continuous litters of unwanted dogs and cats.

Sejla Hotilovac The first impression of Hotilovac is how hard it is to believe she is a recent high school graduate, given her eloquent explanation and deep understanding of Jacksonville’s homeless-animal crisis. Then,

Wolfson Paw Society members and their pets: Brownie and Buddy with owner Natalie Shepard; Manny with owner Ella LeMieux and Lynah McElroy with her dog Franklin.

when she shares her story – at 13 years old, she learned about and began safely trapping stray cats for spay and neuter surgeries – it is astonishing what she has already accomplished in her young life as a rescuer.

Hotilovac’s involvement began in 2019 when she and her mother noticed the large number of apparently stray outdoor cats that were steadily birthing litters of kittens in the Baymeadows area. It was difficult for mother and daughter to comprehend how this had happened and why no one seemed concerned or motivated to address the situation.

“We saw cats and kittens everywhere, living outdoors, not spayed or neutered – no notched ears, the universal sign of a spayed/neutered cat – around The Grove at Deerwood and the Elliot Baymeadows apartment complexes,” Hotilovac said. “It was shocking and caused us to investigate what we could do.”

Their investigation led to the beginning of their TNR – trap, neuter and release –days, carefully and humanely trapping and transporting these cats, many of which were too feral, skittish, or frightened to allow humans to handle them, to be spayed or neutered in surgery, their ears tipped as well to signify they were now unable to reproduce. When possible, cats were adopted or fostered; otherwise, they were safely returned to their neighborhood.

“Over time, those approximately 100 cats were all spayed and neutered. Their population gradually dropped down to about a dozen as reproduction stopped and they lived out their natural lives,” Hotilovac said.

Hotilovac estimates she has trapped more than 400 cats to date and found loving homes for at least 100.

The overwhelming need to manage the outdoor cat population, and Hotilovac’s success in doing so, led her on a path

to partner with her in ongoing large-scale TNR efforts.

Hotilovac’s close friends, Hannah and Magda, also trap and help her transport.

The young rescuers urge citizens – even those who dislike cats – to be kind to trappers, who are sometimes cursed or worse. Hotilovac’s firm belief is that all cats deserve a chance to live safely and that TNR helps rescuers successfully manage outdoor cats, which are often able to find adoptive homes through socialization.

Sejla Hotilovac’s mentor, Summer Crabtree, with trapped kitty.

that continues today: She actively traps, rescues, and socializes ferals for adoption when possible and reports suspected abuse.

Hotilovac thanks and credits her friend and mentor local, longtime trapper, foster, and Jacksonville paralegal Summer Crabtree. for teaching her to trap and for continuing

Getting Involved Local animal shelters offer free orientation to volunteers upon registration, whether online or in person. Trapping outdoor or feral cats is a special skill that experienced rescuers can easily teach, often borrowing proper traps from EveryPet, which collects a refundable deposit when a trap is issued for a TNR. Traps can also be bought online or at hardware and farm supply stores.

Volunteer cat rescuers and trappers should only enter private property with the permission of the property or business owner. Informational videos are available online for readers interested in learning how to trap.

The Duval County Animal Care and Protective Services should be contacted if there is an animal in distress or if there are suspected cases of abuse or injury. An animal code enforcement officer will be dispatched to investigate and address the situation. Reports can be made by calling (904) 630-2489 during business hours; after hours, call Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500. Reports can also be submitted via email (jaxpets@ coj.net) or online at jacksonville.gov/ departments/neighborhoods/animal-careprotective-services.

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The Way

41 WE WERE

Pete and Sandy enjoy traveling. Sandy is shown here enjoying lunch in Key West.

Pete Dalton

Pete enjoys flying his plane after acquiring his pilot’s license years ago.

By Fabrizio Gowdy From his upbringing in Kent, Ohio to his later years building a billion-dollar real estate brokerage, Pete Dalton has never been afraid to take risks and bet on himself.

Dalton’s journey from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt was facilitated by the U.S. Navy. In 1966, while in college, a friend with a poor draft number convinced him to drop out and enlist. Asked if his family was supportive of his decision, Dalton chuckled.

“Not particularly,” said Dalton.

Dalton was stationed at Cecil Field and served four years, including a Vietnam cruise on the “USS Kitty Hawk” and a Mediterranean cruise aboard the “USS Saratoga,” both aircraft carriers. He worked as a fire control technician, maintaining radar and weapon systems for aircrafts.

“We worked 12-hour days, pretty much seven days a week,” said Dalton.

One of his most vivid memories came during the tense Pueblo Incident of 1968, when North Korea captured an American spy ship. Dalton and his shipmates were ordered to sail at flank speed from Hong Kong to waters off North Korea, where he and the nuclear weapons loading team stood on deck through the night, waiting for word from Washington.

When his service ended, Dalton planned to attend Tulane University. But a quirk of timing changed his life. The Navy offered a 90-day early release, but Dalton needed 93 days to start the fall semester. Denied the extra three days, he enrolled at Jacksonville University instead. He initially

studied accounting but soon had a change of heart.

“If you graduated with an accounting degree, you made about $7,500 a year, and I thought I could do better than that without going to school,” said Dalton He dropped out of college a second time and turned to real estate, first buying houses as a landlord, then earning

Back then, Jacksonville was a big town. Now it’s a small city. Almost everything has changed – from Downtown to the suburbs, the football team, the restaurants.

– Pete Dalton

Founder, Vanguard Realty; Coldwell Banker Vanguard franchisee

his license and joining a firm on Cassat Avenue.

That decision launched a career spanning half a century.

Dalton founded Vanguard Realty, eventually becoming the Coldwell Banker franchisee in Jacksonville. Today, Coldwell Banker Vanguard operates 10 offices, including eight in Jacksonville, and sells about a billion dollars in real estate annually.

It was through work that Dalton both met his wife Sandy and got his pilot’s license. Sandy was working for another real estate company when he attempted to hire her; she turned him down, but the two eventually started dating.

Sandy wanted to get married, but Dalton dragged his feet, and finally she got fed up: Dalton came home one day to find her and all her possessions gone; she had up and left without even leaving a note. Distraught, Dalton decided he was going to get his pilot’s license so he could take girls to

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the Bahamas. Except that didn’t happen.

“After getting my license, I never took a girl to the Bahamas. However, I did chase that girl down, and I married her 40 years ago,” said Dalton of how he finally married his wife.

His pilot’s license came in handy when Dalton bought real estate offices in the Florida Keys. Aside from flying his Aerostar, his other hobbies include cycling about 100 miles a week and traveling. Dalton and his wife have visited most European countries, with Italy a favorite, and often spend time in New Orleans and Key West. He says they are “situational travelers” who just enjoy soaking up the culture rather than visiting sightseeing destinations.

“I’ve seen enough castles and churches,” said Dalton.

“We just sort of find someplace we're comfortable with and spend some time there.”

Home is in Venetia, where Dalton and his wife live in a distinctive courtyard-style house. Ironically, he discovered it during an open house – a practice he had long dismissed as a waste of time.

Looking back, Dalton contrasts the Jacksonville of today with the city he first came to in the early 1970s.

“Back then, Jacksonville was a big town. Now it’s a small city,” he said. “Almost everything has changed – from Downtown to the suburbs, the football team, the restaurants.”

As for his hometown of Kent, Dalton remembers the small-town rhythms of his youth – burning leaves in the fall, hayrides, ice skating, newspaper routes – but doesn’t regret leaving.

“Small towns look nice in Norman Rockwell covers on the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ …[but] they sort of get stale,” explained Dalton. “I prefer to be where there’s more activity.

Jacksonville is vibrant.”

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Junior RESIDENTS

St. Paul’s Celebrates the Season

The Greaves Family

A STREAMing Success

Before heading off for Thanksgiving break, Assumption Catholic School families gathered for Family STREAM Night.

Families enjoyed a meal together before diving into activities exploring science, technology, reading/religion, engineering, art and math. The evening provided quality time for families as they learned, discovered, and created.

Teachers Tina Amico and Peter Zahner organized the event.

Students, families and faculty from St. Paul’s Catholic School celebrated the season during Christmas in Avondale. Students created handmade ornaments and helped decorate the Community Christmas Tree at St. Johns and Ingleside. National Junior Honor Society members also staffed a gift-wrapping and crafts booth during the evening festivities.

Student event volunteers Olivia Amico, Emma Markman and Averie Turner with Emma Spears, Ava Meriwether and, Emma Sasser

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Bishop Kenny Girls Cross-Country Dominates with Championship Sweep

Olivia Jansen, Emily McEnany, Cami Giles, Alexandra Lumpkin, Jillie Jakab, Olivia Lumpkin, Lexi Wilson, Addison Evans, Rebecca McEnany, Taylor Lawhon, Ava McEnany and Gracie McEnany

The Bishop Kenny girls’ cross-country team ended their season with an impressive championship sweep, bringing home district, regional and state titles.

This is the third consecutive year they’ve won the state championship; their 32 points edged out both The Bolles School and Episcopal School of Jacksonville.

Crusaders Taylor Lawhon, Camila Giles, Alexis Wilson and Olivia Lumpkin all finished inside the top 10, with Lawhon also finishing as the state runner-up. Jillian Jakab helped secure five Bishop Kenny runners in the top 11 overall.

Remarking on the team’s outstanding performance this year, Head Coach Jackie Hardin commented, “Each one is always so special, and these girls amazed me every time they stepped up to the line.”

Photo: Darnell Bennett Photography

DA Students Shine as YoungArts Honorees

Ean Bricknell

Eiana Claire Nova

Jayden Giselle Register

Leila Warren

Rory Ames

Spencer Carnochan

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and the Developing Arts Foundation are celebrating six students who have been selected as 2026 YoungArts honorees.

Each year, YoungArts selects its honorees from a pool of thousands of applicants following an extensive, discipline-specific review process across 10 artistic categories, including jazz, dance, theatre, writing, classical music and visual arts, among others.

The Douglas Anderson 2026 YoungArts honorees are: • Eiana Claire Nova – Dance / Hip-Hop, Winner with Distinction • Ean Bricknell – Jazz / Trombone, Winner • Jayden Giselle Register – Theatre / Spoken, Winner with Distinction • Spencer Carnochan – Jazz / Sax / Tenor, Winner • Rory Ames – Jazz / Piano, Winner • Leila Warren – Classical Music / Violin, Winner Nova and Register are among the 10 students from Florida to receive the YoungArts’ highest distinction as YoungArts Winners with Distinction. They will take part in National YoungArts Week in Miami this month.

The Episcopal experience means learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our graduates Seek Understanding as lifelong learners; Develop a Sense of Self earned through challenge; Live with Honor and Purpose, choosing to lead, do good, and serve others; and Pursue a Life of Faith, in a way meaningful to them while respecting the dignity of every human being.

Across our Four Pillars — Academics, Athletics, Fine Arts, and Spiritual Life — Episcopal students find their passions while shaping who, not what, they will become.

Visit ESJ.org To Explore Your Future

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Learning on Location

Bolles Athletes Commit to Top Universities

Third graders from Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s St. Mark’s Campus pose on the porch of The Merrill House Museum.

Naeem Burroughs, JJ Sparks and Bolles Football Head Coach Matt Toblin with Corbyn Fordham and Simeon Caldwell

Third graders from Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s St. Mark’s Campus were able to connect lessons to real life during a school field trip to some of Jacksonville’s historic communities.

Led by St. Mark’s Campus third-grade teacher and Jacksonville history expert Drew Haramis, the field trip took students through Avondale, Riverside, Springfield, and Downtown, visiting places linked to their recent history lessons.

Some of their stops included The Merrill House Museum, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Watchtower and the Old City Cemetery, concluding with a tour of City Hall led

by Brooks Dame, executive assistant to District 7 City Councilmember Jimmy Peluso.

Four student-athletes from The Bolles School took the next step toward their academic and athletic futures at a college commitment ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Bolles Football Head Coach Matt Toblin welcomes families and friends to the Davis Gym on the San Jose Campus to the ceremony, where they celebrated the following student-athletes: • Naeem Burroughs, Clemson University • Corbyn Fordham, Florida State University • Simeon Caldwell, Ohio State University • JJ Sparks, University of Miami The Bolles School is planning two additional college commitment ceremonies in February and April.

Delivering Holiday Cheer Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s American Sign Language classes brought holiday magic to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind by fulfilling holiday wish lists for more than six FSDB students through the FSDB Holiday Angel Tree program.

Led by Episcopal American Sign Language Club President and junior Quinn Camerlengo and other ASL Club leaders, students in ASL classes 1, 2 and 3 delivered gifts to students during their annual Dec. 4 field trip to FSDB in St. Augustine.

Their day there included a full ASL musical performance of “The Elf” by the FSDB Deaf High School Dance Troupes.

This service project is part of the ASL Club and ASL Honor Society’s continued outreach to support and serve the Deaf community throughout the year.

Students from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville ASL Club and ASL classes bring holiday magic to students at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind through its Holiday Angel Tree program.

Limitless Opportunities Opportunity is more than access—it’s skillfully guided growth.

Our faculty and staff are masters of creating a culture where students thrive and achieve excellence. Here, opportunity lives in every corner: in classrooms, on stages, in labs, on fields and in studios. Students are immersed in academics, the fine arts, athletics and activities that expand their opportunities today, so more things are possible tomorrow.

Bolles.org Pre-K through Grade 12, Day & Boarding School

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Laces, Lights and Lots of Smiles

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First Coast STEAM Goes Red Inspires Future Female Innovators

Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville Charities’ premier event lit up hearts, faces and joy as it kicked off the holiday season.

Light Up the House 5K and Block Party, hosted by VyStar Credit Union, took place on Saturday, Nov. 15, celebrating the organization’s “closest supporters, donors, volunteers and families who have made [its] House at 824 Children’s Way what it is today.” Younger participants could enjoy a Kids Fun Run around the block while more seasoned guests dashed off on the Light Up the House 5K, but everyone enjoyed the block party that lit up the night with community joy and magic.

Photos: American Heart Association

Dolly Smrtic, Mykayla Swift, Dr. Kelli Tice, Jessica Saliba and Tammy Meyers-LaPlace at the 2025 First Coast STEAM Goes Red event.

The American Heart Association welcomed nearly 150 girls from LaVilla School of the Arts, Tiger Academy and Young Men’s and Women’s Leadership Academy to Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Deerwood Campus on Student and mentor practice Hands-Only CPR at the Nov. 7 for its 2025 First Coast STEAM 2025 First Coast STEAM Goes Red event.

Goes Red event.

STEM Goes Red is an AHA-led initiative, part of the “Go Red for Women” movement, launched in 2017 to address the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and inspire the next generation of female innovators. The First Coast added the “A” for architecture – another field in which women are typically underrepresented.

Attendees heard from local female leaders in STEAM careers, went on tours, experienced interactive expo tables and participated in breakout sessions with local businesses, including CSX, Brooks Rehabilitation, Fickling Construction, HCA Florida Healthcare and more.

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In Memoriam

Alfred Miller III

Remembered for his fierce love of family and unwavering faith November 6, 1942 – December 9, 2025

Alfred “Fred” Miller III passed away on Dec. 9, 2025, at the age of 83.

Fred was born and raised in Jacksonville. He attended Robert E. Lee High School, where he met Mandy Harby, the love of his life. He graduated in 1960 and married Mandy five years later.

Fred left Jacksonville to attend the University of the South. He majored in English, lettered in swimming, became a member of Phi Delta Theta and was a volunteer firefighter. Fred maintained and cherished friendships made in these youthful years of life, some of them staying strong up until his final days. Doug Milne was a lifelong friend of Fred’s and said the impact Fred had on him and others will not be forgotten.

“I have lost a great friend of more than 70 years, but the effect he had on me and many others won’t be lost,” said Doug. “He was a man of many talents with intelligence, wit, ambition, athletic skill and old fashioned thoughtfulness. He never took himself too seriously and was a classic example of a follower of the Golden Rule, a person of rare quality who made things better just by being himself.”

After college, Fred applied his entrepreneurial spirit to every venture he pursued, from his time with Miller Press, his family’s printing business, to the advertising and marketing firm of which he was a founding partner, to his residential real estate company, the Fred Miller Group.

on their time together as she recalled their 30th anniversary, celebrated last March.

“There was no big event, just a quiet visit with him at Riverside Post Acute and a chat about how it didn’t seem possible that 30 years could fly by so quickly,” Carol said. “The thing is that 30 years isn’t nearly long enough. But we managed to squeeze a lot into these past three decades. We loved doing life together: spending time with family and friends, going to Sunday school and church, traveling to the mountains of WNC, back and forth to the beach constantly, an amazing trip to the British Isles. Just spending as much time together as we possibly could.

We counted every day as a blessing, and we were always so thankful to be together.”

– Carol Watson Miller His lifelong love, Mary Ann Harby (Mandy), predeceased Fred, passing on Dec. 9, 1985.

Wholly devoted to his faith, Fred worked with He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Carol Eastern European Seminary – a calling he accepted in 1989 – during which he smuggled Bibles and Christian Watson Miller; his sons Alfred Miller IV (Ted and Mary Claire), Nathan Earl Miller (Kat) and Matthew literature behind the Iron Curtain and participated in Davidson Miller (Leah); seven grandchildren: Alfred clandestine prayer groups. He was a steadfast member V (Quinn), Mary Elizabeth (Mandy), Evelyn Elizabeth of Ortega’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

(Evelyn), Ann Genevra (Annie), Hannah Louise Fred was an avid outdoorsman, finding happiness (Hannah), Jackson Earl (Jackson) and Thaddeus in nature and in time spent camping, fishing, hunting, Hardy (Thad); his sister, Judith Frame (Judi) and her or driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway. husband, Gene, of Hendersonville, North Carolina; six Fred loved fiercely, finding ceaseless joy in time nieces and nephews; and 13 great-nieces and nephews. spent with those he cherished, especially his wife, children, and grandchildren. His wife, Carol, reflected A successful and thriving businessman, Fred was equally devoted to his community, volunteering with several organizations, including the 200 Club of Jacksonville, The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida, NEFAR, Meninak, Evergreen Cemetery Association, Evergreen Funeral Home, St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, YMCA and Timuquana Country Club, among others.

He was also a founding member of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The thing is that 30 years isn’t nearly long enough. But we managed to squeeze a lot into these past three decades.

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