Today is Earth Day and everyone should participate in any Earth Day Events that you can. Go online to one of the many links below and read about the many Earth Day Celebrations and Activities around the world. What can you do to help save the Earth? Participate in GREEN Events and Earth Day activities is a great way to start. Some of the things that I have done and have read about include: Plant some trees, start a garden at home, recycle your bottles, cans and papers, set some rain barrels around the corners of your house to catch the rain and water your lawn and garden, start a compote pile to fertilize your garden, work from home when you can, carpool, walk your neighborhoods for exercise, combine your errands as much as you can, use cloth bags for carrying groceries and other shopping, sign up for electronic bill pay through you bank and creditors, subscribe to online magazines and newspapers, etc.
At the beach every year they hold a non-denominational sunrise service for Easter. This is a very nice way for families to gather at the beach and enjoy a nice Easter service and each others company. If you want to go check out the Jacksonville Beach City website for times and places of services: http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org/ Make sure you bookmark the page or add it to your favorites to keep up-to-date on all of the festivals and events this spring and summer. With gas prices going up so high we have to find events and places to go that don’t take a lot of time or gas to get there.
Here are some websites you might want to checkout for Earth Day:
http://www.earthday.org/ – Earth Day Organization
http://act.earthday.org/ – A Billion Acts of Green
http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/ – Family Earthday Ideas
http://network.earthday.net/ – Earth Day Network
http://www.earthdaybags.org/ – Earth Day Grocery Bags Project
We are all wanting to get ready for Spring. And in the Beaches Area that is no exception. The City of Jacksonville Beaches has posted their Schedule of Events for 2010. You can view them at their website: http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=422 This is a Printable Document for you to use to mark your family calendar with the up and coming events that you can participate and enjoy. Two notable events coming up for the Month of February include The Winter Beach Run on Valentine’s Day and the other is the Breast Cancer Run with Donna on February 21st. The Donna Run is a major event to benefit Breast Cancer Research. The run has it’s own website at: http://www.breastcancermarathon.com/ and is open to all comers. We have no idea what the weather is actually going to be like so be prepared for anything if you participate, watch and cheer or volunteer. If you are in the area you might want to avoid San Pablo Road between Beach Boulevard and JTB as well as 1st Street at the Beaches on that Day. The race will start and end at Mayo Clinic. There will be thousands of people there and is an area to be avoided unless you are participating in the event.
Happy New Year to all those in the Jacksonville Beaches area. If you haven’t visited our website in the last 10 days or so you missed the sight being down. We had a little financial snafu. Hopefully, that will not happen again.
We have finally updated the Retirement Community Page so check it out at: http://jacksonvillesbeaches.info/wordpress/beaches-services/jacksonville-beaches-retirement-communities/
If you are out and about tonight, PLEASE, PLEASE, keep safe, drink responsibly and arrive home safely. There are lots of things to do this weekend and you wouldn’t want to miss it. From the parade downtown today, to the bowl game there is lots to do. Yea, we are ringing out the old year and hoping that the new year will be much better!
Jacksonville Beaches Area has lots to do in October this year. Here are a few things that I have gathered from the www.experiencejax.com and www.jacksonvillebeach.org The Experiencejax website has events listed for all sides of town and allows you to specify a particular part of town as well as just FREE events. It is a good website to add to your bookmarks or favorites list. If you or your organization has an event that is coming up then email us and we will be happy to post it here at: jolene.macfadden@jacksonvillesbeaches.info. The ExperienceJax.com also allows you to add events as well.
Here are some of the events that I have found for October 2009:
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Title: Sawgrass Village Fall Art Festival 2009
Date: October 17, 2009
Time: All day
Location: Sawgrass Village Shopping Center
1300 Sawgrass Village Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32082
Cost: Free
Description: The Sawgrass Village Art Festival is one of the South’s premier juried art competitions, attracting fine artists locally, regionally and nationally and thousands of visitors. The festival will include first-class watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, drawings, clay, photography, wood, fiber, glass, graphics, metal, paper and mixed media fine arts, great food, fun and children’s activities.
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY
Fine Arts & Jewelry Artists Demo’s throughout weekend, Kids Korner- child crafts and face painting
What Time: Sat-Sun 10am-5pm,
Admission: FREE
Website: www.venuesplanning.com
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October 10, 2009
MAKING STRIDES AGAINST – BREAST CANCER WALK
Saturday 8 AM to 12 Noon
5 K beach walk, run or bike to celebrate life and breast cancer survivorship. Funds benefit the American Cancer Society’s programs of education, patient services, advocacy and research.
Location: Sea Walk Pavilion & Beach
For more info: 249-0022
www.cancer.org/stridesonline
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October 24, 2009
GNARLY CHARLEY SURF SERIES
Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Location: Beach – South of fishing pier
904-247-6763
www.gnarlycharleysurfseries.com
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October 24, 2009
OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK
Saturday 8 AM – 11 AM
Non-competitive 5K Walk to raise awareness and funds about suicide prevention
Location: Sea Walk Pavilion
(904) 891-4351
For more info: www.outofthedarkness.org
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Title: Hallo-WEE Party at Adventure Landing
Date: October 31, 2009
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Adventure Landing
1944 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32250
Cost: Free
Description: Join us on October 31st from 10am-2pm for A Not-So-Scary Celebration For Kids!
Everyone is invited to take advantage of our FREE festival of crafts, games, a bounce house, face painting, candy, dance performances and more! There will also be a costume contest at noon with great prizes being awarded for Scariest, Cutest and Most Original categories!
For children 12 & under, you can also puchase the Triple Threat Combo Special, which includes a Wacky Worm Rollercoaster ride, a ride of the Frog Hopper ride and a Mini Golf Game for only $5 per person
This event is a safe alternative to trick-or-treating!
Website www.adventurelanding.com/jaxbeach/events.html
CHEERS!
jolenemacinjax
admin
For anyone who was at the beaches this weekend there was lots to see and there will be lots more to see and do over the coming months. My family and I were there on Sunday to enjoy the sun and of course the annual parade. We try to go every year but only make it every few years or so. We love going to parades and want to share that we our children. There are not that many parades schedule any more and the beaches is one that you can be at the beach, feel the ocean breeze, watch all the beach people, and then enjoy the parade itself. Below you will find pictures of the parade from beginning to the end.
It was fun and loud and my grand daughter’s first time. There were clowns goofing off, pretty princesses waving from convertibles, military men and women marching, fire engines blaring, pirates cavorting, cannons booming, dancers dancing and one high school band marching. Apparently, this year’s theme was loosely based on the “Blues Brothers”. It was kind of ketchey but cute none the less. The biggest drawback as with any of the parades I have been able to see lately is there were not enough bands. I think the thing that makes a good parade is the marching bands from our local schools. I think that they should all participate in as many parades as possible to show off their stuff. It would be great if they were spaced out like three floats and then a band, three floats or organizations and a band etc.
And what can you say about the Shriners. They are loud and outrageous and always good in a parade. This year they were a little bit laid back. Maybe it’s just me but they didn’t have as many Shriners there as they usual have in parades and they are getting a little bit on the old side. Are there any new Shriners coming up in the ranks? Did the Jacksonville Beach Opening Parade not merit they usual contigent of Shriners in our area? And sadly, the ones that were there, the equipment looked to be getting a little ragged. This organization has been doing good in our area for all the years I can remember. They volunteer for a lot of things and I don’t know what all they do besides the Shriner’s Hospital for Children any more.
Take advantage of our natural resource this year. We may not be able to afford to go on big vacations this year but a quick weekend get-away to our local beaches may be a way to go. All you need is a little picnic, some sunscreen and a towel and you are all set. There are public access parking next to the beach up and down the First Coast. You can even catch the bus to the beach by taking the Atlantic Blvd or Beach Blvd Bus for $1.00 per person each way. If you have a couple of bucks for gas and the entrance fee you can go to one of the beach parks. Take some time and spend a few hours this weekend with your family.