Jacksonville's Southside Info Blog

When I was going to FCCJ South Campus I would almost always stop at the Dunkin Donuts on Beach Boulevard between 9A and the campus. There coffee was always fresh and most of the time so were all of their donuts. When they closed the store last year I was VERY disappointed. But I notice before Christmas that they were just renovating the store! I haven’t been in the area recently but plan on going by this week to see what progress they have made. The store is conveniently located next to a strip mall with a red light so you can get back onto Beach Boulevard without taking your life in your hands. And All of the UNF Students can get their easily by taking the North Entrance Road turn right on Central Parkway and left onto Beach Boulevard.

There is something about a fresh cup of coffee and a fresh glazed donut that just sets you up for learning. It gives you a sugar rush and a caffeine buzz that is for sure. No, it is not good for you and yes, the prices can be a little steep but they are much less than a Starbucks coffee and Starbucks doesn’t have those melt-in-your mouth donuts either! Dunkin Donuts is a Franchise business and your service, shopping experience and the bakers are all controlled by the local owner. Sadly, the franchising rights to the Jacksonville Florida area are sold out so we have to depend on the current owners to make our dining experience exceptional. For the most part most of the shops that I have been to (and I have been to quite a few) are pretty good. It is usually all in the timing of when you go to get the freshest donuts. When this stored closed I had to go to the end of JTB (J. Turner Butler Boulevard) and Phillips Highway to get my Dunkin Coffee Fix and they only sell Bowties in the mornings and only in limited quantities but they are open 24 hours a day. I also go to the Dunkin Donuts at the beach on Beach Boulevard next the the Rainbow Car Wash but they are only open from 4:00am to 11:00pm.

Dunkin’ Donuts at
11657 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246

There are many great places to go on Jacksonville Florida’s Southside area. Here are a few that I have can recommend:

San Marco Theater
1996 San Marco Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 396-4845
http://sanmarcotheatre.com/
This is a lovely old theater that serves beer and wine as well as a food menu sandwiches and Quesadillas as well as the usual of hotdogs, chips, popcorn and more. The Theater has undergone a variety of changes over the years but it has maintained an intimate atmosphere and has very interesting architecture. The prices are fairly reasonable as far as going out goes and well worth the trip. The rent out the theater for group events during the say. The San Marco area is great little place to walk up and down the shops either before or after the show. During the holidays the lights and decorations look a little old-fashioned.

Another great place to go for an afternoon of fun for the family is MOSH. The Museum of Science and History is located on the Southbank next to Friendship Fountain. The Museum is still reasonably priced and fun with next exhibits every month. They, of course, have information available on the web:

MOSH
1025 Museum Circle
Jacksonville, Fl 32207
(904) 396-6674
http://www.themosh.org/home.html

We have updated the Retirement Community page with a listing of the Nursing Homes located on Jacksonville, Florida’s Southside Area.

Walking in a natural setting has been proven to reduce stress. And now-a-days we need all the stress reductions ideas that are FREE as we can get. One of those is walking in one of the many parks around town. I was just reading about one that I’m going to check out called the Castaway Island Preserve. It is located on San Pablo Road between Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard. That is on the eastern portion of the Jacksonville Southside Area but it looks to be worth the drive. Here are the particulars:

Castaway Island Preserve
2885 San Pablo Road South
Jacksonville, FL 32224

“The preserve is along the western shore of the Intracoastal Waterway and is adjacent to an intricate salt
marsh ecosystem. Visitors to the preserve will find themselves surrounded by the natural beauty of northeast
Florida. They may stroll along the park’s nature trails, enjoy a picnic with family and friends at one of several
picnic areas, get up close and personal with marshland wildlife from the wooden boardwalk or take in the breathtaking view from the park’s observation platform overlooking the waterway. Other amenities include a 3,000 square foot education center, floating canoe/kayak launch and information kiosk.”

Amenities offered at this park:
7 Benches
1 Canoe/Kayak Launch
50 Car Parking
4 Grills
10 Picnic Tables
1 Restrooms
0.3 Trails Paved (Miles)
1 Wildlife Observation Posts
Yes Drinking Fountain
Yes Perimeter Site Fencing
Yes Security Lighting
Yes Visitor/Interpretive Center

Another Place You might want to try would be the Forestry Tower Park. It is on the corner of Beach Boulevard and Forest Boulevards:

“Forestry Park offers six acres of fun for families and friends looking for a quiet place to picnic or bring the
children for playtime. Visitors to this neighborhood park may relax on one of its 18 benches or grill up some tasty treats on one of the two grills available for cooking out.

Forestry Tower Park Amenities:
18 benches
1 bike rack
2 grills
1 picnic shelter
7 picnic tables
14 parking spaces for automobiles
1 paved trail (0.5 miles)
3 playscape areas

5 trash receptacles

For those who live on the Southside of Jacksonville you may have seen the orange man selling his oranges each year. His location has changed a couple of times over the years but with a call list and collecting email addresses of loyal customers we all seem to find him each year. This is a family owned business and their grove is located in Palatka. They sell satsumas, navel oranges and pink grapefruits each year. Depending on the amount of rain we get and when the first cold snap comes you can be assured of some delicious fruit just not how much will be available. According to the son who has taken over most of the business they will be at 5669 St Augustine Road from November to January next year. They only charge $7 a large brown grocery bag or $4 a small one and you mix and match or cram your bag(s) full with each kind. They are there Monday thru Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 10 to 2. You can call 904-733-6105 For directions.

Oranges grown in Florida sometimes do not look like much but the package does not tell you whats inside. The satsumas are a little small this year but they are still very sweet. The navel oranges are still a little green looking but are still very good and very juicy. The Red Grapefruit should be ready in the next two weeks. My mom always says one of the best things to keep the cold and flu season from getting you is to eat oranges everyday. As with any produce make sure you wash them before you peel or slice them.

Cheers!

OrangeManLocation

Take me out to the old ball game! Yes, baseball is a spring sport but for most of the Little Leagues in the Jacksonville Florida Area they have a Fall season as well. Granted, the Fall season is shorter and has already started but it is not too late to participate or even to go to some games. You can watch the games for free at any of the parks that are sponsored by each of the leagues. The Southside Youth Athletic League has their own website and it is updated with the game schedule for each of the teams. If you have children who would like to participate with a team sport then visit their website and they will have applications, information on how much and which park they play out of. In Jacksonville, we don’t have much in the way of sports for the elementary school age children. These athletic leagues gives youngsters a start in a team sport. For those without children you can always volunteer or even sponsor a team. Get involved this year and sponsors a child, a team or a league in your area!

http://www.syaajax.org/

For those who have children or would like to volunteer to help children you should look into the Boy and Girl Scouts of America organization. This is a great way for your children to learn about our environment, volunteerism and to have fun while doing. The Boys and Girls Councils of North Florida have lots of information on how to join and look forward to having your child become a boy or girl scout. The adults can also volunteer to help teach their children new skills that will serve them well as adults. For those who don’t have children or their children are grown it is a great opportunity to share you life learning skills with those who need it the most. Each fall the Boys and Girls Scouts starts their drive for new recruits. It is not too late just call your local council and they will be happy to help. There is a small yearly fee for each child and there will be uniform costs but each troop has various rules and some can help with some of the costs. So CALL TODAY!

FOR those who are already in a local troop and want to send me your link I will be happy to post it here. Just send me a message at: jolene.macfadden@jacksonvillessouthside.info or become a subscriber and post a comment to this blog.

Here is some general information about each group and their contact information:

National Website:

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/ For Girl Scouts

http://scouting.org/for Boy Scouts

LOCAL INFORMATION:

Boy Scouts of America
North Florida Council
521 Edgewood Ave S
Jacksonville, FL 32205
904.388.0591
800.232.0845 Toll Free
904.387.4148 Fax
jana.metzger@scouting.org
http://www.nfcscouting.org

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc.
Jacksonville Service Center
1000 Shearer Street
Jacksonville, FL 32205-6055
(904) 388-4653
(800) 347-2688 – Local Toll Free Phone
Fax: (904) 384-1542
Email: info@girlscouts-gateway.org
Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-gateway.org
http://www.facebook.com/gsgcfl ON FACEBOOK

Youth Programs

BOYS
Tiger Cubs is a year-round family- and home-centered program that encourages the ethical decision-making skills for first-grade (or 7-year-old) boys. These boys participate in the program with their adult partners. The program emphasizes shared leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding.

Cub Scouts is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills for boys in the second through fifth grade (or who are 8, 9, and 10 years old). Activities emphasize character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

Boy Scouts is a year-round program that develops ethical decision-making skills for young men ages 11 to 18. Activities emphasize responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities.

GIRLS
* Girl Scout Daisy, grades K-1
Girl Scout Daisies meet in groups of five to 10 with two or more adult leaders in a nurturing, inclusive environment. They go on trips, learn about nature and science, and explore the arts and their communities. Girl Scout Daisies can also earn Learning Petals and receive participation patches.

* Girl Scout Brownie, grades 2-3
Girl Scouts Brownies work together in groups, earn Girl Scout Brownie Try-Its, and explore their community. Friendship, fun, and age-appropriate activities begin at the Girl Scout Brownie meeting and move out to the community and wider world.

* Girl Scout Junior, grades 4-5
Girl Scout Juniors earn badges and discover what girl power is all about through new activities and by learning to take charge of their own plans. They gain self-confidence as they explore the world in partnership with their troop/group leaders.

* Girl Scout Cadette, grades 6-8; * Girl Scout Senior, grades 9-10; * Girl Scout Ambassador, grades 11-12

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors participate in Girl Scouting in many ways. Under the guidance of a trained adult advisor, girls mix and match activities and resources to suit their needs while giving back to their communities. They connect with each other and build self-esteem and confidence in their skills as they work on a range of projects and gain life experiences.

FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Venturing is a year round program for young adults, men and women, between the ages of 14 (having completed the eighth grade) and 20. Its purpose is to provide positive experiences to help youth mature and to prepare them to become responsible adults.

Learning For Life Consists of Three Different Programs. For more information on any of the Learning For Life Programs, contact Ben Butler at 904.388.0591, or benjamin.butler@scouting.org.

Exploring is a worksite-based program for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years old. Exploring units have a focus on a career field, such as law enforcement, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation, engineering, or the like, and are sponsored by a government or business entity.

Character Education is a series of school-based programs designed to support schools and educational organizations in helping youth with character education, life skills, building self-esteem, and developing ethical decision-making skills.

Classroom Scouting is a school based program conducted in partnership with the Girl Scouts. The program is for children with physical, emotional and mental exceptionalities.

JOIN TODAY!
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If you live on the Southside or ever have gone down Beach Boulevard you will have seen the big Orange Dinosaur on the Southside of the road between Southside Boulevard and Forest Boulevard. Some years ago there was a Goofy Golf place there but when hard times hit and people stopped going to places like that for family fun the park was torn down and later a shopping center was built. There was a lot of controversy about the Dinosaur as the builders wanted to tear it down as well. The community revolting and gathered enough followers and donations to have the dinosaur restored. It is a silly thing to leave in front of a shopping center but REX has been there for a lot of years and people still use him as a direction finder as well as to preserve something that was in the way of progress.

For all of us who like seeing the big orange guy as we travel up and down Beach Boulevard there is a facebook page for you to check out! If you haven’t joined facebook yet don’t worry it only takes a few minutes and it is FREE! (Well so far anyway). So, sign up and add this page to your profile. You will be joining the over 14,000 fans to chat, post your own Rex story and much more.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacksonville-FL/REXFANS/102287413883#/pages/Jacksonville-FL/REXFANS/102287413883

For those of us who are looking for some free entertainment and services our local library is the best place to start. They have free books, movies, music, ebooks and sponsor free programs for the kids and adults. Every month you can watch a movie with your kids, participate in a book discussion, have your young ones read to or learn a new skill or craft. They also offer free internet services and study rooms for those who want access to the research materials and need wireless internet. You can even vote early as most of the branches for whatever election is upcoming. All this is offered to Duval County residents for the price of signing a form and showing your id to get your very own library card!

Each of the Branches of our libraries has a monthly calendar of events for you to view or print so you won’t miss a single one. They do ask that you turn off your cellphones when entering and respect all the patrons by being quiet as possible in the common areas and let your younger kids go into the enclosed kids area when they are being a little boisterous.

San Marco Branch
(904) 858-2907
1513 LaSalle St 32207
Hours:
• Mon – Tue: 12 noon – 9 p.m.
• Wed – Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sun: CLOSED

San Marco Library

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Pablo Creek Regional
(904) 992-7101
13295 Beach Blvd 32246
Hours:
• Mon – Thurs: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Fri & Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sun: CLOSED

Pablo Creek Library

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Southeast Regional
(904) 996-0325
10599 Deerwood Park Blvd 32256
Hours:
• Mon – Thu: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Fri & Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sun: CLOSED

SouthEast Library

We have updated two of the pages on the website. The first page is the Government Services page. We have added post offices, fire stations and the information that there is no police substation located within the southside area zip codes. We have also created a PDF file with pictures of the Southside Area Fire Stations. You can download those by clicking here!

We have also updated the Utilities page with a listing of the Jacksonville Area Local TV and Radio Stations. They are in a jpg format and shrunk up to fit on this page you can also download the bigger file by clicking on the links below:

Jacksonville Area TV Stations

Jacksonville Area Radio Stations

We will be adding more information to the pages and hopefully finally get around to posting new reviews of events happening around town as well as review of restaurants, parks, and other businesses around the southside area. If you would like to participate or have a review a place, service, etc then please post a comment or email me at: jolene.macfadden@jacksonvillessouthside.info

We hope you are enjoying our blog.  Now that the holidays are over hopefully we will have more time to add some new and exciting content for all of those who live, work and/or play in Jacksonville, Florida’s Southside Area.  We will be traveling around the different areas, taking pictures, interviewing the locals, and posting to the blog.  We are still working towards getting all the different resources for our neighbors on the different pages.  We apologize for the updates taking so long.

We will start things off by promoting one the new businesses serving the Southside Area in Anderson Air Systems, LLC.  They have a website now and is run by uncle.  He is just getting started in this business on his own but has worked in the Air Conditioning & Heating field for a very long time.  So check out the website and if you need a new Heating & Air Conditioning system installed or repaired I would recommend him.  He has been servicing our Heating & Air Conditioner for over 15 years.

If you know of any repair or service businesse that you would recommend then by all means please make a comment.  We would all appreciate a recommendation for services and repairs to save money and/or time and to feel like we can trust them to do the job right and quickly the first time.  However, please make sure you would actually recommend them to your friends and relatives as we are striving to make this blog a reliable source of information!