Brics & Bouqs

Brick 

To Jury Duty Scammmers. Be aware:  Most often the scam caller pretends to be a law enforcement officer, state attorney, court official, or a deputy clerk saying that an individual failed to appear for jury duty or some other court obligation. Sometimes the callers are even sophisticated enough to use the name of an actual judge or public official. The Court, the Clerk’s Office and law enforcement officers do not call or email residents to request payment for missing jury duty or other court obligations. Any communication from their offices related to a legal matter will always be in writing. They will also never request payment via any sort of prepaid debit card or cryptocurrency. If unsure about a call you receive, you can always call the Clerk’s Office at (904) 255-2000 or report the call to JSO’s non-emergency line at (904) 630-0500.

Bouquet

To the mother who surrendered her unwanted newborn at Florida’s first baby box. Not a typical bouquet, right?  Unfortunately, due to recent changes in the abortion laws we will now be battling the issue of unwanted infants being dumped on doorsteps, placed in trash cans or dumpsters.  Or in most cases kept and likely neglected or abused as a result of being unwanted.   

What most don’t know is that the Florida Safe Haven law passed in 2000.  It provides an option for safely surrendering an infant without fear of prosecution. This law allows parents to surrender their newborn up to seven days old at a hospital or fire station. The baby has to be in good health and directly handed to someone, not dropped off.

Two years ago Florida had its first and only Safe Haven baby Box installed at Ocala’s Fire station.

A “baby box” is a safety device provided for under the state’s Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely and anonymously surrender their newborn if they are unable to care for it. Installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital, it has an exterior door that automatically locks upon placement of a newborn inside, and an interior door which allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building. This January the first newborn was placed in the box and was safely rescued as a result.