FOLIO
Jags’ New Togs
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny said the new black uniforms for the 2013 season are “sharp, fast and aggressive.” The uniforms, which are mostly black, with accents of teal and gold, were unveiled April 23 and modeled by several players. Jaguars owner Shad Khan and Nike Football and Vice President and Creative Director Todd Van Horne, said a military flair was added to the uniform with a Jaguars patch placed on the jersey, directly over the heart. Nike, which is the official uniform supplier of the NFL, said the new uniform is lighter, stronger and includes integrated lightweight padding. The new helmet color fades from gold to black in the front and features the new Jaguars logo on the sides.
A Flood of Spuds?
Potato farmers are cautiously optimistic for a successful crop as they begin harvesting potatoes in the Hastings area of St. Johns County, according to the St. Augustine Record. That’s good news for anyone who likes potato chips. Farmers in St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties produce about two-thirds of the potato crop in the state, with most of them going for chips and table stock, which are the whole potatoes sold at supermarkets. Farmer Danny Johns of Hastings said times have been difficult with four freezes, a hailstorm and the drought. “I’m waiting on the locusts,” he said.
Funding for Homeless Day Center
Wells Fargo contributed $70,000 in seed funding for the construction of the Jacksonville Day Resource Center for the homeless. The challenge grant was announced by Mayor Alvin Brown and Wells Fargo Regional President Scott Coble to encourage other businesses and community members to contribute to the center. The money will go toward an estimated $180,000 in construction costs. The JDRC is expected to open at the end of the summer at the annex of the City Rescue Mission as a one-year pilot project. The project had been scheduled to open in January, but the center needed more renovation work than expected. The center will be open three days a week and is the result of a collaboration among the Brown Administration, City Rescue Mission, Sulzbacher Center, Clara White Mission, Salvation Army, Trinity Rescue Mission and ICARE.
Former Prison Chief Released
James Crosby, former secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections who was sent to prison for taking kickbacks, is again a free man. He was released from prison April 17. His sentence was reduced last year because of his help in getting the Gainesville businessman he took kickbacks from convicted, The Florida Times-Union reported. In 2007, Crosby was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to taking $130,000 from American Institutional Services, a company which received a deal to sell snacks and sodas to visitors at state prisons. The company was formed by Eddie Dugger, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2012 and was sentenced to 26 months in prison. An associate of Dugger, Joseph Deese, received 15 months.
Green Cove Police Will Get a New Home
A combination police station and emergency operations center will be built in Green Cove Springs. The City Council voted 4-1 to accept the low bid of $3.9 million from Batson-Cook Construction of West Point, Ga., The Florida Times-Union reported. The council also voted to borrow $2.4 million to help fund the project. The 14,000-square foot structure is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Construction is projected to take 300 days. Police have operated in a 104-year-old renovated house since 1999; it was supposed to be a temporary facility.
Vexed About Seasonal Vendors
In somewhat the same argument used in Clay County about mobile vet clinics, the Nassau County Commission is discussing complaints that seasonal vendors are hurting local vendors. “We do have an obligation to protect the existing businesses, who pay taxes and employ people,” Commission Chairman Danny Leeper said April 17, the Fernandina News Leader reported. The issue centers around the temporary sale of plants in a Yulee shopping center. By law, vendors are required to apply for permits to operate 90 days in advance, but officials said it has not been enforced. Complaining was Mike Zaffaroni, owner of Fernandina Mulch and Stone, located nearby, who said the temporary sales facility was hurting his business. Leeper said he did not want to prohibit seasonal sales of Christmas trees and fireworks, but guidelines should be in place so seasonal businesses do not have an unfair advantage.
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