Resident: Riverside September 2023

9/11: Never Forgotten, Forever in Our Hearts. COMMUNITY NEWS

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1954 REUNION 23

The Lee High School Class of 1954 will be celebrating its 69th class reunion with a luncheon at Timuquana Country Club at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 23. Fellow 1954 classmates interested in attending the luncheon or requesting additional information should contact Marlene Goodwin at (904) 384-1001. SEPTEMBER 2023

VOL. 16, ISSUE 09

The Start of Something Great United Way of Northeast Florida, celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, recently announced its Stein Fellowship Class of 2024. Founded by philanthropists David and Linda Stein, the Stein Fellowship is a unique yearlong immersive leadership and mentorship experience for young professionals ages 21 to 40. Recipients were selected based on demonstrated commitment to philanthropy, love for Northeast Florida and passion for community progress. The Stein Fellowship Class of 2024, pictured above, includes: Front row: Shaneta Oliver, Brandie Stallings, Alexandra Reinhardt and Jessica Nguyen-Smith; second row: Dominique Moore, Hannah Oberholtzer, Chanice Howard and Sutton Fisher; third row: Eustachius Roberts, Will Clancy, Daniela Fletes and Rodericka Johnson; and back row: Lawrence Luksha, Conrad Jennings and Griffin McDowell.

5 Points Merchants

When David and I founded the Stein Fellowship in 2007, it was with the hope of building a multi-generational program of leadership and mentorship. I look forward to seeing our Class of 2024 continue to grow and thrive on their journey in –Linda Stein serving others.

STEP UP, STEP IN

Area leaders help formulate ideas for cohesion, strength and beautification BY MICHELE LEIVAS

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Jacksonville’s 5 Points District is known for its close-knit community of shopkeepers and its eclectic, bohemian collection of restaurants, bars, boutiques and other businesses. In recent months, however, it has also garnered a reputation as the go-to spot for late-night partiers leaving trash and other waste in their wake. Frustrated with this and other problems facing their community, the shopkeepers of 5 Points have revived the 5 Points Merchants Association to address these issues and work towards solutions. At a merchants’ breakfast hosted by Riverside Presbyterian Church on Monday, Aug. 20, the new leadership for the association emerged with Stephen Ezell of Raindogs as

I N H O M ES BY S E PT E M B E R 5 , 2 0 2 3

The motivational man Zig Ziglar once said, "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." We've captured a glimpse of Jacksonville's future greatness through these fabulous first-day-ofschool photos. READ MORE ON PAGE 32

president. Joining him as vice president is Dori Thomsen of Saluna Yoga + Spa. Nancy Darlow from the Margaret Street UPS Store will serve as secretary, and Mixed Fillings Pie Shop’s Natasha Burton will be treasurer. Matthew Clark, senior vice president at Colliers International Jacksonville, spearheaded efforts to revive the merchants association, which has gone through several iterations spanning decades. This new version will involve both business owners and property owners. Clark called last month’s merchants’ breakfast “ground zero” for the new merchants association. The merchants discussed various paths they’d like to explore to restore their community, from beautification plans to designing and installing neighborhood banners – a collaborative project with Wingard Design + Communications and Riverside

Avondale Preservation – to establishing and hosting regular community events. District 7 Council Member Jimmy Peluso was also in attendance at the breakfast and shared news about two requests he’d put in for the city’s upcoming budget, both for the maximum allowable amount of $100,000. One request was $100,000 for trash cans in commercial corridors. The second, he said, could be used as a “microgrant program” available to neighborhood and merchant associations throughout the city. “My goal is to use some of that money specifically for landscaping, security and maintenance of the area,” he said. Pending approval by the city council, the new budget will take effect Oct. 1. The Resident News will provide a more in-depth look at some of the problems the 5 Points Merchants Association hopes to resolve in the coming issue.

SOARING

Support

Will and Suzanne Burke, along with Dorothy Flack and Irene Farwell, earned their wings as supporters of Angelwood’s Aug. 19 Soaring Possibilities fundraiser. READ MORE ON PAGE 24

No Phones, No Problems A new campaign is driving people to ditch cell phones for children under 13. Find out why, along with other tips for shaping good digital citizens. S AY Y E S T O W A I T I N G F O R T H E S M A R T P H O N E The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone.