The Riverside Children's Art Center gets a new dierector

Amanda Wojda has been hired as the new director for the Riverside Children's Art Center located at 2841 Riverside Ave. It is a ministry of the Riverside Avenue Christian Church.

Stop by and meet her after the 8:30 & 10:50 service on April 6.

Wodja previously worked for The Idea Village, a New Orleans-based marketing firm involved in revitalizing the city's cultural scene after Hurricane Katrina; and for the Wings Domestic Violence Shelter in Indianapolis, where she created an arts, reading and writing program for youths.

"Since moving here," Wodja said in a news release, "I feel increasingly led to dedicating myself to the growth of urban Jacksonville. I want to help kids ... discover their purpose."

The Arts Center offers classes, workshops and camps throughout the year. They are currently accepting enrollees for summer camp.

For more information on programs offered at the arts center call 389-1751 or visit their website.

Riverside Fine Art Series

The Spring Organ Series continues with Nathan Laube on March 30 at 3:00 pm at Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.

And don't forget that the Riverside Fine Arts Association puts on many great events in the district as well. Check out their calendar and mark yours!

New Restaurant to Open in Avondale this Summer

Jon Insetta, the owner of one of downtown Jacksonville's favorite restaurant, Chew, is planning to open a French-American eatery, dubbed Restaurant Orsay, at the old Crush location on Park Street. He is planning to renovate the location but will keep the "organic" decor of wood and brick. The restaurant will be divided into two rooms: The front will be an intimate area, while the back will have a more casual atmosphere. The front dining room will open first with seating for 60 following some cosmetic renovations. The hardwood pine framing and architecture will remain, but the bar will be reconfigured to allow for a full liquor menu instead of just beer and wine. The second phase will feature seating for another 60 to 90 patrons and will be a little more hip and up-to-date, but still rustic, warm and inviting.

Insetta said that the menu is still being finalized, but to expect French country-style meals with simple ingredients. In addition to traditional French dishes like steak tartar and old Crush favorites like the homemade fries and mussels, Restaurant Orsay will also feature a raw bar of oysters, shrimp, clams, lobster and crab. The renovations also include a remodeled wine cellar and tasting table for a 200-bottle wine list.

New Riverside Trolley — RIDE FREE!

The new Riverside Trolley service is set to begin running Monday, May 5, 2008 and you can ride for free. The first two weeks (May 5 –May 16) are free to get you used to the plan and get you hooked.

The service is brought to you by the JTA
• to reduce traffic congestion and addresses parking issues
• to connect restaurants, shops and businesses
• to support future Riverside area development
• to address interest from major employers and employees along Riverside Avenue

Features
• operates Monday -Friday from 10:45 am to 2:30 pm
• arrives every 10 minutes
• low cash fare of $.50 each way
• Seniors 60 years or older ride Free

The service comes courtesy of a grant by the FDOT and will fund the service for the first year. We need to have a minimum of ten passengers per hour to keep the service running. That shouldn't be too hard!

Monthly Board Meeting for RAP

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 – 7:30pm – RAP House

The Board of Directors meet March 19 at the RAP house located at 2623 Herschel Street. This is our first meeting with all the new board members. We have a lot to discuss. New committees will be forming and we will be dicussing the some of the regular issues as well including zoning issues, quality of life issues facing the district, fundraising issues, the ongoing restoration of the Buckland House, zoning and transportation issues will be among the topics discussed.

This meeting is open to all RAP members as are the committees. So if you have an interest in helping out in the district, please paln to attend

COMMUNITY MEETING

School Board Vice Chairman, Tommy Hazouri, District VII, will host a community meeting for parents, business representatives and community members. Please join him, Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals and other board members to discuss and learn more about strategies being implemented to produce the best schools in America.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6 p.m. Robert E. Lee High School 1200 McDuff Avenue, South 904.381.3930

This could be a very important meeting about the future of Robert E. Lee High School. The school is important to the neighborhood. It was built in the late '20s. Please try to attend.

Important Zoning Overlay Community Meeting

On March 20, Councilman Michael Corrigan will be hosting a meeting to hear your concerns regarding the new zoning overlay bill that the city of Jacksonville plans to implement in our district and surrounding areas. This affects all of you.

The community meeting will be held on Thursday, March 20 at St. Paul's Catholic Church at 6:00 pm. Councilman Corrigan will conduct the meeting. The consultants will be there also. The format will be questions and open discussion about the issues. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND.

Friends of the Public Library with Dr. Wayne Wood

On Wednesday, April 2 at 11:30am, our very own Dr. Wayne Wood is being honored by Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library. Please make an effort to attend.
The event is being held at the San Jose Country Club at 7529 San Jose Boulevard. Admission is $25.

Please RSVP by March 28 to BOOKtique at 630-2304 or e-mail sfutch@coj.net.

Wayne's books will be available for purchase.

The Art of the St. Johns River

A new exhibit featuring art of the St. Johns River previewed at ArtWalk last night. The opening will take place March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Main Public Library downtown.

The show features the artwork of 125 students from the Douglas Anderson School for the Art and contrasts their contemporary responses to the beauty, recreational, ecological and economical facets of the St. Johns River to the works by master painters from The Cummer’s Permanent Collection.

For more information, visit the Florida Humanities Council events page. The show is sponsored by the Cummer and will move to the Cummer on Tuesday, March 25 from 6-8pm. So, if you don't want to travel downtown, wait a week and you won't have to leave the district!

First Fridays In 5 Points

Each month the shops in Five Points give you a little extra incentive to go shopping. Not that you need more incentive to head to Five Points. From a wine tasting at Riverside Liquors to an art demonstration by Brittni Wood at Violet, Five Points is the place to be March 7th from 6-9pm. Come for the music. Stay for dinner. And don't forget the shopping! Check out the JaxCAL site for some of the special offers from some of your favorite shops like Edge City, Anomaly, Nicotine, Raglands and Bogda Gallery.