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FEBRUARY 2023, VOL. 16, ISSUE 02
JACKSONVILLE’S GUIDE TO PHILANTHROPY — THE EVENTS, PEOPLE, COMPANIES AND PLACES THAT DEFINE OUR CHARITABLE CITY. VISIT CIRCLESCHARITYREGISTER.COM FOR MORE DETAILS...
Darkness and Light A beacon of hate unites a community and reveals the darkness of politics BY LINDSEY GAST
Resident Community News
Greenscape co-founders named 2022 Outstanding Tree Advocates for the state of Florida
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID STUART, FL PERMIT NO.300
Susan Fisher Davis and the late Ann Baker co-founded Greenscape in 1975 after becoming concerned about the lack of trees being saved or incorporated into fast-developing Jacksonville. They raised private funds to plant 200 trees in the city’s downtown, where the tree canopy had been almost entirely replaced with concrete. Finding enthusiastic public interest, they continued funding tree plantings in parks, schools and roadways all over the region. Today, Greenscape is credited with adding over 350,000 trees to the urban tree canopy. It is the oldest nonprofit tree advocacy organization in the state and the second oldest in the country. Groups like it are now found in every major city. “Susan and Ann were smart, savvy women who didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” said Executive Director Lisa Grubba. “They were years ahead of their time and so many of their early ideas are still relevant today. They got people together — citizens, elected officials, city managers — and got them thinking about and excited about our tree canopy. We owe a lot to their vision and hard work.” Davis and Baker were chosen by the council “in recognition of exceptional vision, leadership, and contributions to urban forestry activities and programs.” Though she passed away in 2011, Baker’s daughter, Sally Baker Lee, is still an active board member of Greenscape and her other children continue to support the work as well. Grandson-in-law, Luke O’Steen, has recently served on the board. Davis, though now retired, also continues her interest in and support of Greenscape’s work.
District 5 City Council member LeAnna Cumber led a press conference at CSX headquarters Jan. 19.
A beam of light momentarily turned downtown into a beacon of darkness, as antisemitic actors projected a cross and swastika across the face of the CSX building on Jan. 14. But the actors’ intended goal of hate appeared to have had the opposite effect, as the city of Jacksonville immediately rallied behind its Jewish brothers and sisters, passing an emergency bill at the Jan. 24 city council meeting. The legislation, originally penned by Council Member LeAnna Cumber, prohibits messages from being projected onto a building without the owner’s approval and consent. Regardless of the content, the light violators could be charged with a seconddegree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days of jail time and a $2,000 fine. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
REROUTING…
Finding your location on the new City Council district map
Jacksonville’s Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan says roughly 200,000 voters will soon be receiving updated voter registration cards reflecting their new City Council and school board districts, as well as their new voting precinct locations for the upcoming March election, following the court order in the ongoing redistricting lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville. SEE PAGE 14
A stroke of brilliance Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside has completed its 1,000th WATCHMAN procedure. WATCHMAN is designed to reduce the risk of stroke in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation by closing off the left atrial appendage, where most stroke-causing blood clots are formed. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, rapid heartbeat that can make patients more likely to have a stroke. “Some patients have frequent falls and are at high risk of injuring their head, leading to a bleed in the brain. Others have bleeding or suffer from side effects from blood thinners,” said interventional cardiologist Dr. Samer Garas, who performed the 1,000th WATCHMAN procedure. “We are always looking for new treatment options for our heart patients and WATCHMAN provides some patients with that additional option.”
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