Save Our Libraries
We keep reading about the various facilities and services that are being closed due to budget problems. You really need to contact your local councilman, the major and anyone else you can to keep our public libraries open and free to the public. You can donate material to your local library. Each branch has information about these closings that are coming up and what we can do to keep them from happening. If you haven’t visited a local library then take a little time to check out what is currently being offered there.
Not only can you check out books to read, you can check out DVD movies, get a book on DVD to listen to in your car, use their computers to research on the web, type a letter, send emails or utilize one of their study rooms for homeschooling or tutoring. They also have meeting rooms that you can use for your local club meetings. They offer free wireless internet access for those with laptops. You can ask for help in researching a variety of different subjects or just sit in a chair and read a good book. Each of our libraries have a variety of different events each month and posts them on the web. Yes, they are now offering a lot of services online for their patrons but there is nothing like going to the local library and talking to a librarian about all the things you are trying to find out or getting a suggestion on something need to read about.
Bethesda Park
We took a little day trip over the the Bethesda Park and Lodge. This is the only park in Jacksonville that has actual cabins you can rent and at a very reasonable rate. The Lodge part of the name is not what you think it means. They have about 3 double cabins with screened porches and air conditioning. The “Lodge” part is this large building you can rent out that has kitchen and bathroom facilities as well as air conditioning and heat. There are picnic tables outside of the lodge and a barbeque grill. The park is a sanctioned fish management area that allows fishing as well as small boats and canoes on the pond. They have wooden walks and 3 or 4 covered decks that you can fish from. There are limits to what you can fish and there is sign before the walkway area that tells you what they are. Remember this is a fresh spring pond and has catfish, trout and pan fish in stock. Florida requires anyone over 16 to have a fishing license. To find out what the costs are you can go to the Florida State Fish and Wildlife Commissions website.
Sadly, we didn’t catch anything last week. I guess we got a late start. We did enjoy some peace and quiet for a couple of hours. You can still hear the cars rushing by on I-295 though. If you have the time check out this park with you kids.
We took some pictures while we were there. Hope you enjoy them!
Pope Duval Fish Management
I know that I keep posting about parks in the Jacksonville Area but that is probably the only FREE thing still available to the general public. And these parks are a resource for us to use to spend time with our family and friends located close to home. The State of Florida has another park on the Northside called the Pope Duval Fish Management Area located at 13500 Beaver Street Jacksonville FL
My family and I ran across this park while we were cruising around on the Northside looking for new places to picnic and go fishing. This 400 acre park is well worth the drive for those who like to do a quiet spot of fishing or just relaxing in the woods. As with any park the best times to go is during the week if you want to stay out of the crowd. There are several little ponds to fish in with picnic tables, Bar B Q grills, and hiking trails with elevated wooden walkways. We didn’t get a chance to explore the whole area as they haven’t grated most of the dirt roads yet and it started to rain while we were there. We have included some pictures below for you to see what the park looks like and some of the things available for you and your family to enjoy.
Police Athletic League
The Jacksonville Northside Area Police Athletic League is co-sponsoring a event tomorrow. There is to be a motorcycle ride for the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Athletic League. To participate or sponsor a rider go to the website link below and purchase tickets. The event goes rain or shine. So if you want to sponsor a rider or have sponsors to ride you can drop in at one the locations below or go online and purchase them.
Light The City Charity Motorcycle Ride
When: Friday, October 2, 2009
Check In: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Begins: Ride Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Adamec of Jacksonville
Ride Starts at Adamec of Jacksonville
8909 Baymeadows Road
Check in between 4:30 and 6:30.
Ride leaves at 7:00pm
Tickets are required for admittance.
Helmets are required / no Flashers.
Event is rain or shine & non refundable.
For more information please contact:
Robbie Freitas at 904-251-5934.
Tickets Available at:
FOP 5530 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, FL (904)398-7010
Also at the following Adamec locations:
8909 Baymeadows Road – (904)493-1931
1520 Wells Road – (904)215-1931
10399 Atlantic Blvd – (904)641-3735
The Jacksonville Police Athletic League mission states: In an effort to reduce juvenile crime and instill positive values, character and leadership skills, PAL provides safe activities for the youth of Jacksonville. Our athletic and educational programs emphasize positive interaction with law enforcement officers and other adult role models.
Their motto is: filling playgrounds. not prisons…for more than 35 years.
Check out their websites and their programs online at: www.jaxpal.com
Become a Scout
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@jacksonvillesnorthside.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!
admin
- Gunshots fired on North Jacksonville street February 4, 2012Multiple shots were traded Friday night on Fernway Street near Norwood Avenue, but no one was hit in the spray of bullets, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Bullet casings littered the North Jacksonville street following the 8 p.m. shooting as police interviewed a number of people, said detective M.E. Pichardo. “We are still talking to a victim […]Dan Scanlan
- No danger from suspicious package at Jacksonville airport cargo terminal February 2, 2012Suspicions about a package found at Jacksonville International Airport's Fed Ex cargo terminal Thursday were unfounded and it was returned to the company after a bomb squad inspection. No flights or other operations at the airport were disrupted apart from the closing of the cargo facility and surrounding businesses on Pecan Park Road in the southeast p […]Dana Treen
- RealSense income tax prep comes to Jacksonville's Main Library February 1, 2012The RealSense Prosperity Campaign, a United Way of North Florida initiative to help train taxpayers to prepare and file their own income tax returns, brings its BeeHive/MyFreeTaxes program to the Jacksonville Public Library’s main branch from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through April 11. read more […]Dan Scanlan