Jacksonville's Musician of the Year: Rebecca Zapen

Riverside can lay claim to many bests in Jacksonville and this year we can claim Jacksonville's best musician as well. Rebecca has toured the US and Europe and could recently be heard on Public Radio's "What Do You Know?" with Michale Feldman. She is an accomplished and recently placed second in the Bushman World Ukulele Video Contest.

For more on her award, visit the Florida Times-Union article. You can find out more about her on her own site. You can even hear some of her music. Give yourself a little treat for the holidays and take a listen!

Creative Partnerships: A Workshop on Wheels

Jan 15 2009
Walter Jones Historical Park
11964 Mandarin Road
8:30am - 4pm

This workshop on wheels will visit 5 Jacksonville Park partnerships to see successful partnerships in action. During the daylong event you will observe successful partnerships between local government and state and federal government for historic and nature preservation, as well as with national sports figures’ foundation utilizing public park facilities for academic and athletic incentive programs; discuss the development, value and promotion of successful partnerships; and identify opportunities within their programs/facilities for development of similar partnerships.

Registration payment must be received by January 8 to guarantee your place. Register online today.

For more info call (904) 268-0784.

Tis the Season…

…and just when you thought the season for giving was all over… its time to start thinking about giving back a little something to the environment. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Tossing them to the curb is the worst fate as decomposition is glacially slow due to the oxygen-poor environment. The City of Jacksonville offers a curbside "tree-cycling" program. We will turn ours into compost. Check out what some other cities are doing with their trees.

So after you have stripped your Christmas tree of its decorations and lights, you can set it out (unbagged) on your curb on your regular yard waste collection day, and the city will take care of it. If you don't have a regular yard waste collection day, check the city's web site for collection sites or call (904) 630-CITY.

Mall & Shopping Safety Part 5

ATM Safety

To protect yourself, handle your bank card with the same prudence you would cash or credit cards and keep it in a safe place. Memorize your PIN code so you won't have to write it on your card or a piece of paper, and carry it in your purse or wallet. And keep your PIN to yourself -- if others are nearby waiting to use the ATM, don't let them see which buttons you press.

More ATM advice:

Choose a bank with an ATM located in a highly visible, well-lighted area.

If you must withdraw money from an ATM after dark, have someone accompany you. Also, try not to make large cash withdrawals.

If you see anyone loitering near the machine who looks or acts suspicious, walk away.

Minimize time spent at the ATM by having your card in your hand and resisting the temptation to count the money after it has been dispensed.

While using an ATM, look around from time to time and be aware of what's going on around you. If anything suspicious happens, immediately cancel your transaction and leave.

Never leave your receipt in the machine. Also, keep your receipts so you can check them against your monthly bank statements.

Holiday Lights

If you haven't yet tackled your holiday lights, you only have a few more days before Luminaria! And if you need a little help "Manage My Home" has a few great holiday tips.

And if you haven't seen "Manage My Home" yet it is a great site that will help remind you to do those things around the house that we can overlook due to our busy schedules – things like changing batteries in your smoke detectors, changing the HVAC filter and cleaning your gutters, just to name a few. They also have a "Home Manager" where you can research and store product and appliance manuals, create a customized maintenance plan for your home and check the value of your home. Other great features are helpful "How-To" articles and a "Project Center". Take the pressure off! Go ahead and sign up. It's free!

And don't forget Luminaria is this Sunday! We have all your supplies available for sale at the RAP house this Saturday and Sunday starting at 1:30.

Mall & Shopping Safety Part 4

Parking Lot/Car Safety

As parking areas fill during the holiday season, shoppers are often forced to park far from mall exits, sometimes in poorly lighted areas. Now that there is less daylight, you're likely to find yourself entering the mall while the sun is up and leaving after dark, so make sure there are lights nearby before parking. Other parking tips:

Park as close to entrances and exits as you can. No one wants to circle the lot for an hour waiting for a good spot to open up, but give it a shot, at least for a few minutes.

If forced to the far reaches of a lot -- or even beyond the lot -- seek a spot that's well-lighted or near a well-traveled roadway. Stow your purchases in the trunk. When you're weighed down with packages, you may be tempted to throw them in the back seat and return to the mall to continue shopping.

If your purchases are in plain view, you may return to find your car windows smashed and your presents stolen. Save your most expensive purchases for last, so you can head straight home.

Have your keys ready when you approach your vehicle. Before entering, check that no one is hiding in the back seat.

Monthly Board Meeting

Wednesday, December 17, 2008
7:30pm
Call the RAP office for meeting location.

The Board of Directors meet the third Wednesday of each month. 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 plan to attend.

Household Hazardous Waste And E-Waste Mobile Collection Schedule Announced

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 4, 2008 – The City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Division will host six household hazardous waste and electronic waste (e-waste) mobile collection events throughout the city.

The 2008-2009 schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oceanway Park, 12215 Sago Ave.
0.5 miles north of 9A and Main Street (Highway 17)

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Ed Austin Regional Park, 3450 Monument Rd
0.4 miles from intersection of McCormick Rd and Monument Rd

Saturday, March 7, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Blue Cypress Park, 4012 University Blvd. N.
0.8 miles north of University Boulevard N. and Ft. Caroline Road

Saturday, March 14, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Crystal Springs Park, 9800 Crystal Springs Road
1.5 miles east of Chaffee Rd and Crystal Springs Rd intersection

Saturday, April 4, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mandarin Park, 14780 Mandarin Road
Go south on San Jose Boulevard toward Julington Creek. Turn right onto Westbury Road and left on Mandarin Road.

Saturday, April 25, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Atlantic Beach City Hall parking lot, 800 Seminole Road
Located 0.5 miles north of Atlantic Boulevard

PLEASE NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 (this weekend) but was postponed to the spring. Directional signage will be posted on the day of the event.

E-Waste
With the impending digital television transition (DTV) and the approaching holiday season, the division is also prepared to accept e-wastes as residents replace older televisions and other electronics.

Residents are encouraged to utilize a mobile collection or the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 2675 Commonwealth Ave., for the recycling of electronic wastes. The HHW Facility is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Types of waste which may be brought to one of the mobile events or to the HHW Facility include:

• Televisions*
• Computer monitors*
• Computer terminals
• CPUs
• Keyboards
• Printers
• Scanners
• Stereo equipment
• Radios
• VCRs
• DVDs
• Camcorders
• Desk and mobile phones
• Pagers
• Power tools
• Small kitchen appliances (i.e. microwaves, toaster ovens)
• Health and beauty appliances

*There is a limit of 3 Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and televisions per customer.
These items will be collected as part of normal garbage collection service if left at the curb. However, once these items enter the waste stream with normal garbage they cannot be recycled and are disposed of in the landfill. These items are only collected from residences. Businesses should check for available recycling centers to arrange for the recycling and/or disposal of any e-wastes.

Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous wastes cannot be collected curbside with regular trash. Residents may bring these items, however, to one of the scheduled mobile collection events or they may take items to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 2675 Commonwealth Ave.

Types of waste which may be brought to one of the mobile events or to the HHW Facility include:

• Paint
• Paint thinners and paint strippers
• Rechargeable batteries
• Photographic chemicals
• Thermometers and thermostats
• Drain cleaners
• Pool chemicals
• Aerosol cans
• Pesticides
• Antifreeze
• Fertilizer
• Acids
• Gun powder
• Ammunition and fireworks
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes, including CFL light bulbs

For more information or to arrange for special handling of unusual waste material, call (904) 630-CITY (2489) or visit www.coj.net keyword search hazardous waste. For more information on the national transition to digital television, visit www.coj.net key word search DTV.

Mall & Shopping Safety Part 3

Pickpockets and Purse Theft Preventions

Jostling through crowded malls while carrying your jacket, juggling countless bags and keeping your child from breaking anything you can't afford to buy makes you an attractive target to criminals looking to grab wallets, purses and your purchases. To stymie would-be thieves:

A man should carry his wallet in the front pocket of his pants, rather than in a back pocket or in his jacket. A woman should hold her purse close to her body, with the opening facing toward her; when walking with another person, the purse should be held between the two.

When you can, avoid using revolving doors -- particularly the automatic kind. A thief with good timing can grab a purse or package and make a quick getaway in the time it takes you to emerge.

Consolidate purchases into one or two large shopping bags so you can keep track of everything. Never leave your purchases unattended, even for a few minutes.

Consider using a special fanny pack designed to foil pickpockets

Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

December 10, 3pm
City Hall

For more information, call 630-1900 or e-mail Joel McEachin
in Strategic Planning Division.

Christmas in Avondale

December 5th • 5-9pm
The Historic Shoppes of Avondale
on St. Johns Avenue
Ring in the holidays and get an early start on your shopping at the 21st Annual Christmas in Avondale Festival. This event is free and sponsored by R.A.P. & The Avondale Merchant Association and includes entertainment and fun for the whole family.

Modern Masters ~ Live Art Auction

December 4, 2008 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm
R. Roberts Gallery

Featuring the original printmaking of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Pierre Matisse (Henri Matisse’s formidable grandson), Henri Matisse and Georges Braque—all master painters who experimented with various forms of cutting edge printmaking – LIVE AUCTION BROUGHT BY THE OFFICIAL, TIME HONORED & FULLY AUTHENTICATED MASTER-WORKS REPRESENTATIVES AFNA.

Mall & Shopping Safety Part 2

Shopping Cart Safety

It is estimated that about 21,600 children end up in the hospital each year after they've fallen -- or even leaped -- from shopping carts, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Children 5 years old and younger, particularly boys, are especially at risk. Shopping cart injuries include head and neck trauma, fractures, lacerations and damage to internal organs. Three children have died.

Part of the problem is that shopping carts can tip over easily because the wheel base is narrow. Adding to a cart's instability, children have a hard time sitting still.

Statistics compiled by the National Safe Kids Campaign show that 80 percent of parents leave their children unattended at least once during a shopping trip. The only way to keep children safe is to stay with the cart at all times. Even if you strap your child into the cart seat, he may still manage to tip the cart over. Just wiggling out of the harness or seat belt can quickly unbalance an already unstable load. To keep shopping carts from tipping over:

Place young children in the seat, not the basket.

If the cart comes equipped with a harness, use it. Otherwise, bring your own.

If you've got a child walking alongside you, make sure he does not try to climb inside the cart to join his brother or sister. You might want to pack a second child into a stroller or backpack -- it's cumbersome, but safer.

It's not a good idea to let a child push or steer the cart for you. He may not see or be seen by shoppers and could be struck or run over by other carts. Those miniature carts some stores supply for children to push pose the same problem, so stay close by and make sure your shopper-in-training follows the flow of traffic.