November 2011

Found 11 blog entries for November 2011.

Machine Gun Kelly

By: Alan Aptheker

The history of the Ortega includes a number of interesting characters, some more dubious than others: Famed botanist William Bartram; highwayman and cattle rustler Daniel McGirtt; and Don Juan McQueen, who attempted to establish a plantation on his 1791 Ortega land grant, but was forced to leave due to attacks by Georgians from the north and French armies to the south.  Gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife were rumored to be the mysterious couple who abruptly left their rented Ortega Grand Avenue home hours before a midnight police raid in 1933.

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By: Alan Aptheker

No Winter Wonderland in Jacksonville?  Bah . . . Humbug

You have several options. One could be the 5th annual Winter Wonderland  ice skating and snow spectacular at  the St. Augustine Amphitheatre 1340 A1A South, Nov. 26 through Jan. 1. It features North Florida’s first outdoor skating rink and various winter attractions including a Blizzard Bounce House and obstacle course, Elf Village, a S’mores pit, visits with Santa, the Frost Kingdom Express Train, reindeer games, sleigh rides and other winter-themed fun. Hours are 5 to 10 pm Monday through Friday, and 2 pm to 10 pm Saturday and Sunday, beginning Nov. 26. (School holiday hours, Dec. 17 through Dec. 30 are 2 pm to 10 pm).  Continued after the break.

Or, you could head over

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Hollywood East

By: Alan Aptheker

In the early 1900s, Jacksonville was home to more than 30 movie studios. At that time, movie makers needed natural sunlight—and lots of it—to make films. The industry was centered in New York and New Jersey, and their gray, overcast winters meant a virtual shut-down for months at a time. The Jacksonville studios churned out hundreds of silent films until filmmakers discovered Southern California, and the rest is Hollywood history.

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By: Alan Aptheker

QR = Quick Response, and  it’s Quickly Catching On

Remember “Call us now!”  Well here we are at “Scan me!”  The QR Code is clearly beyond the early adopter stage.  QR codes have that “it” factor today in real estate. You’re a real estate consumer,  and if you were interested in learning more about a house for sale, and the flyer box is empty, or there is no on-site information (flyer boxes are becoming more rare, by the way)., scan it, and see what you get. Many consumers are carrying the internet on their smart phones, so why not use it? Another great example of great use of a QR code -- you walk into an open house, you’re greeted by the realtor, and you want to look around and get a feel for the place. The property brochure on

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Intuition Ale Works One Year AnniversaryOne of Jacksonville's great hometown brewery's celebrates their one year anniversary celebration November 19th. Intuition Ale Works in Riverside will begin releasing a new beer every day starting Tuesday November 15th and on Saturday the 19th they will have TWENTY new brews on tap. 

Saturday November 19th will not only have 20 new beers to try but also some great food vendors will be on site including Corner Taco, Monroe's-On-The-Go, SunKissed Dogs and John's grab and go. 

Hope to see you there.

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Opration Christmas Child Mandarin Jacksonville FL   By: Alan Aptheker  Christmas is less than 60 days away, so there is little time to waste for Mandarin residents, (or those across the city) who want to contribute to Operation Christmas Child (OCC).  OCC asks contributors to fill shoe boxes with gifts for children overseas who are suffering from disease, famine, war, terrorism, and natural disaster. During National Collection week, November 14 and November 21, two designated Mandarin locations will serve as collection points.    Operation Christmas Child is part of the larger International Christian Relief Organization's Samaritan's Purse. Since 1993, OCC has collected and hand delivered more than 86 million shoe boxes to needy kids in 130 countries. Last year, 8.2 million shoe…
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Lisa Hoke Art Exhibition Jacksonville Beach   At the artist Lisa Hoke exhibit reception last Friday night, art lovers were transfixed by the work of Lisa Hoke, American artist whose work must be seen in person to truly be appreciated.   Blazing color, thousands of bits and pieces of true Americana come together in her work, Love American Style. The centerpiece of the exhibit, which had its preview at a private reception Friday evening, November 11, was assembled on site at the J. Johnson Gallery in Jacksonville Beach. The work is a monumental mosaic of thousands of paper and plastic classic American memorabilia. Hoke's installations are site-specific, and Love American Style consumes the entire west wall of the gallery, comprised of the mundane cardboard and plastic packaging of…
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Foreclosure Freakenomics
By: Alan Aptheker  The number of delinquent mortgage borrowers that missed one to three payments climbed in the first half of the 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association  (MBA).   However, foreclosures have slowed, because the number of loans that are delinquent more than 90 days has declined. hence, more borrowers are paying late for a shorter period of time, and getting back on track with their payments within a three month period.   Why is this happening?  It's a result of cash poor homeowners getting hit with a one time, unexpected medical bill, or the non-existent holiday bonus or annual raise that simply did not come. Maybe a temporary cut in work hours is to blame. The MBA found that mortgage loans that are one…
1,595 Views, 0 Comments

Florida State College in Jacksonville - Communications

Florida State College at Jacksonville located in Baymeadows area plans to start three more bachelor's degree programs this year in addition to the seven already in place, extending the reach of the 45-year-old institution into the community. Once the school gains approval from the state, FSCJ will offer bachelor's degrees in business administration, behavioral sciences and converged communications, starting first quarter 2012...   Of the three, Converged Communications is one of the newest disciplines out there. It teaches communications in the new media/digital age, with the merger of the ever expanding avenues of news delivery, including print, broadcast, internet and social media.   FSCJ currently offers seven bachelor's degrees --…
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William Sheffield Park Jacksonville FL

Construction has begun on phase 1 of William Sheffield Park on New Berlin Road adjacent to New Berlin Elementary.  The park master plan was released in 2006 but ground has just been broke on this ambitious project that will eventually have tennis, soccer, baseball, football as well as an indoor swimming pool. There are also two ponds that will have fishing and canoing. This will give the Northside a world class park.

9 new townhomes are still available from Ryland in the Villages of Northwoods townhomes located across the street from the new park. There are also several resale homes available in this community as well. Prices range from $106,000 to $151,000 for the model home. Ryland expects all construction to be complete in this 160 unit

5,332 Views, 0 Comments

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