As a reminder, our Q2 neighborhood meeting is Monday, April 23rd.

Come on out and meet your neighbors.  We also have 2 guest speakers on the agenda:

·         Northshore Neighborhood Updates

·         Home Affordable Refinanace Program (HARP)

§  Guest speaker Greg Seabaugh, Regions Bank

·         Dandeneau Contracting, Inc.

§  Specializing in Historic Restoration and Millwork

Saturday March 3rd – 8 AM til ????

12 Neighbors with lots of stuff for sale.

Click on the Link for Directions.  See you there!

http://g.co/maps/h2r35

Greenscape 2012 was a huge success for North Shore.  A big thank you to the volunteers who put in their time (meeting at 6 AM no less!) to help load the trees and then spend hours planting them all around our neighborhood.  I’d also like to thank the donors who helped make it possible to add nearly 50 trees.

A big thank you to Ray Beeson for taking the lead on Greenscape and literally knocking on doors to make sure we get the maximum trees planted.  Al & Josh graciously donated their vehicles to the cause… hauling trees and mulch.  Jim Green, Trent Tuttle and myself joined in on planting A LOT of trees.

Til Next Year…..

Michael Swain

North Shore Neighborhood Association

The North Shore Tree Czar

Loaded Up, Ready to Go

These Guys Work Real Cheap!

Our Volunteers Slinging Mulch!

17th St. Johns River Celebration Annual Cleanup
Saturday, March 17th, 2012
8 – 11:30 a.m.

Join other volunteers and neighbors to collect litter and debris
from multiple sites across North Shore.

North Shore Park, Rolliston Park, Signet Park, East & West end of 71st ST

Site captains will be at North Shore park to register volunteers
and provide trash bags, gloves and tickets.
Tickets may be redeemed for refreshments and t-shirts from
Noon – 2 p.m. at Riverside Arts Market – Parking at Fidelity Bank
While supplies last.

Riverside Arts Market: Riverwalk under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge from Noon -2 pm

www.riversideartsmarket.com
Students can receive community service hour certificates.
Scouts may earn badges for two volunteer hours at the cleanup.
While supplies last.
Advance registration is not required. Register at the cleanup site.
Volunteers 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

]]> http://northshorejax.com/wp/?feed=rss2&p=173 0 http://northshorejax.com/wp/?p=168 http://northshorejax.com/wp/?p=168#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:31:54 +0000 admin http://northshorejax.com/wp/?p=168 Neighbors,

• Do you want to keep North Shore an attractive place to live?
• Do you want to lower you energy bills?
•  Increase your property value?

Storms in the last few years have taken a toll on our trees! Plus we are eliminating those older trees that threaten our homes. This is understandable – but we need to think about the loss of a wonderful street-scape and shady canopy that defines our neighborhood.  Over the next 10 years, we will lose another 50-60% of our tree canopy.

 Let’s keep our neighborhood future headed in the right direction by taking some action now!  Let’s start replanting!

 The North Shore Neighborhood Association would like your participation in a continuous replanting effort.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like a tree planted,  please contact Ray Beeson

Most trees just $10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Improvements begin on US 17 at the Trout River

Jacksonville – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) this week started a $5.6 million improvement project along US 17 at the bridge over the Trout River.

The project involves resurfacing US 17 on both sides of the Trout River Bridge. Trout River Drive will be closed underneath the bridge with a cul-de-sac provided on each side of the bridge. Additional parking around the cul-de-sac near a city park will also be constructed. The road is being closed due to low clearance problems which have resulted in damages to the bridge and utilities.

The bridge will be widened by two feet, five inches on each side. The nine inch barrier separating traffic from the sidewalk will be raised to two feet, nine inches. The railing between the sidewalk and river will be raised from three feet to three feet, six inches and will be replaced with a pedestrian picket railing. Bike lanes will be constructed next to the northbound and southbound lanes on the bridge. New bridge lighting along the roadway will also be installed.

The bridge navigational lighting will be replaced as well as the water level fender system which helps protect the structure from boat crashes.

The length of the project on US 17 is 2,863 feet, including the 1,458-foot-long bridge which was built in 1958.

The project should finish in the fall of 2013. The construction contract specifies 715 days to complete the work and allows additional time for holidays, weather delays and unforeseen field conditions.

No lane closings are allowed between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekdays.

A fishing pier next to the bridge will still be accessible to the public and will not be impacted by construction activities.

Superior Construction Co. of Jacksonville is the contractor on the job. The project is being managed for the FDOT by the Jacksonville office of KCCS, Inc.

For more information on this project call the FDOT Public Information Office at 800-207-8236.

www.dot.state.fl.us

Consistent, Predictable, Repeatable

Vanessa is offering any of these bread delicacies:

“Candy Cane” Bread (braided red pepper and spinach feta – pic attached)
Focaccia
Challah
Naan
White
Olive Oil
Olive
French
Pain d’epi
Pesto

for $4.  It gets better.

Not only do you get to indulge yourself in homemade, locally and lovingly made bread…but the proceeds go to the North Shore Neighborhood Association so that we can continue doing our good work.

Don’t be shy, email Vanessa vanessa@beson4.com and tell her what you want.  If it’s not on the list, she might just give it a try.

(a hooded creature in the grass)

(trimming up some trees)

(plastic, plastic and more plastic)

I’m still not sure it’s street legal, but heavy equipment was required for our next stop at 67th & Vermillion.   Did some trimming, edging, and trash pickup at the triangle.  We then moved over and did a number on the vacant home that was in serious need of TLC.

(Watch it if you see this guy…..he means business!)

Hows that for gettin’ down to business?

Way to go!

I am writing in regards to an initiative, being led by outdoor enthusiast Tom Ingram, with a goal of increasing access to the St. John’s river via city-owned properties.  With minor changes to these sites, access for smaller watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, windsurfers, and kite boards can be provided at minimal build-out cost to the city.  Bringing this type of access to North Shore has some real benefits.

To begin with, one of North Shore’s greatest assets is our waterfront. We have an opportunity to capitalize on this asset by promoting river access to specific recreational activities at North Shore park.  Providing river access within our community fits nicely into our marketing strategy designed to drive demand for housing in our neighborhood.  The aforementioned activities are popular with active adults and by becoming a destination for this type of recreation, we distinguish our neighborhood as a great place to live and play!

Secondly, the more people drawn to the park to utilize it as a recreational resource, the less desirable North Shore park becomes for people with ill intent.  Utilization for the right reasons is a key driver to revitalizing our park.  The goal is not to increase traffic at the park, it’s to draw the right people into the park for positive reasons.

It is up to all of us to develop a well thought out and cooperative plan for our neighborhood and parks.  I hope you’ll agree this is a positive, progressive and innovative strategy to take a step towards improving our neighborhood.

This initiative is only an idea at this point, and much planning and funding talks are yet to come.  I just wanted to take the time to share some positive news for our community.  Your comments and feedback are welcome.

Sincerely,

Michael Swain
North Shore Neighborhood Association
mswain@northshorejax.com