Deborah Gianoulis will be leading a protest against Senate Bill 6, also known as the Teacher Merit Pay bill, today, April 14, 2010 at Friendship Park starting at 4:00 PM ET followed by a march across the Main Street Bridge at 5:00 PM ET.
FirstCoast News Story Link
-Bob
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friendship Fountain Refurb Update
I sent an email to the Mayor on February 22, 2010 requesting any information on scheduling for the work that is to be done on the Fountain and Southbank riverwalk.
Today I received a reply from Ron Barton the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission as follows:
Hello Bob. We are still a 2-3 months away from any actual construction.
Just check bak with me via e-mail around May and I should have a
construction schedule updated and that can guide our start and progress.
Which I quickly replied to thanking him for the information and assuring him I would be checking back in May.
Later in the day I realized that the mail contained a Communication to Ron from the Mayor...
Ron, please respond on my behalf and copy me. Thanks.
Glad to see it appears I am off the freeze out list :)
Can't wait to get more information and will do my best to update images on the site once work commences...
-Bob
Today I received a reply from Ron Barton the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission as follows:
Hello Bob. We are still a 2-3 months away from any actual construction.
Just check bak with me via e-mail around May and I should have a
construction schedule updated and that can guide our start and progress.
Which I quickly replied to thanking him for the information and assuring him I would be checking back in May.
Later in the day I realized that the mail contained a Communication to Ron from the Mayor...
Ron, please respond on my behalf and copy me. Thanks.
Glad to see it appears I am off the freeze out list :)
Can't wait to get more information and will do my best to update images on the site once work commences...
-Bob
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Finally some love for Friendship Fountian
It was just announced that the Jacksonville City Council approved the Mayor's plans for Friendship Fountain...
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-09/story/jacksonville_council_oks_downtown_projects
I cannot wait to see what actually gets done!
-Bob
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-09/story/jacksonville_council_oks_downtown_projects
I cannot wait to see what actually gets done!
-Bob
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Will 2010 be the Year? Finally...
Well after 2009 which started off with really horrible news regarding Friendship Fountain as far as I am concerned it seems 2010 is starting off with at least some positive remarks, now the question is will we see any real action?
Ron Littlepage Jan 5, 2010
Jacksonville's to-do list for 2010 includes Jaguars, economy"
Dec 18, 2009
Jacksonville can revitalize its core with minimal investment
Letters to the Editor Times Union Jan 3, 2010
Friendship Park: Make the fountain spectacular
Only time will tell and these "Impending Plans" for Friendship Fountain really are pretty vague...
Renovations Coming to Friendship Fountain
From a personal perspective if the City does nothing more then repairs the Fountain so that all three rings work again that would be a huge step in the right direction. Talk about sad, the shots of the Northbank from the Southbank through what is left running of the Fountain during the lone Televised home game this year...
-Bob
Ron Littlepage Jan 5, 2010
Jacksonville's to-do list for 2010 includes Jaguars, economy"
Dec 18, 2009
Jacksonville can revitalize its core with minimal investment
Letters to the Editor Times Union Jan 3, 2010
Friendship Park: Make the fountain spectacular
Only time will tell and these "Impending Plans" for Friendship Fountain really are pretty vague...
Renovations Coming to Friendship Fountain
From a personal perspective if the City does nothing more then repairs the Fountain so that all three rings work again that would be a huge step in the right direction. Talk about sad, the shots of the Northbank from the Southbank through what is left running of the Fountain during the lone Televised home game this year...
-Bob
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Taylor Hardwick In discussions with City of Jax?
Andy Johnson, a great Friend of Friendship Fountain brought this nugget to my attention yesterday by email.
"From the Financial News and Daily Record:
Architect Taylor Hardwick, who designed the Haydon Burns Library and Friendship Fountain, is working with the mayor’s office on the restoration of the fountain."
The article can be viewed here, it is just a snippet...
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php
It appears they Typo'd the Companies name that uses the Fountain Image on one of it's pages, the Company is Grohe Plumbing (Not Grone)
http://www.groheactive.co.uk/t/25_17829.html
I sent an email to an address listed for Taylor Hardwick asking if any additional information may be available, so if I get anymore I will post it as soon as I get it.
Here's hoping there is still hope for Friendship Fountain...
Bob
"From the Financial News and Daily Record:
Architect Taylor Hardwick, who designed the Haydon Burns Library and Friendship Fountain, is working with the mayor’s office on the restoration of the fountain."
The article can be viewed here, it is just a snippet...
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php
It appears they Typo'd the Companies name that uses the Fountain Image on one of it's pages, the Company is Grohe Plumbing (Not Grone)
http://www.groheactive.co.uk/t/25_17829.html
I sent an email to an address listed for Taylor Hardwick asking if any additional information may be available, so if I get anymore I will post it as soon as I get it.
Here's hoping there is still hope for Friendship Fountain...
Bob
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
City Spin? Bought Air Time? CBS and FOX has the exact same story?
I received an email from Matt Saffer, Fox 30 News, today asking me to call in regards to a story they were planning regarding Friendship Fountain, which I did.
He asked if I had any comment regarding new City plans for the Fountain. I probably went on a bit of a rant regarding what the city has said and done in the past and mentioned the 3 Million RFP the city issued in 2006 and other instances where the city indicated the Fountain needed to be replaced...
RFP: http://www.jaxfountain.com/FountainProject/P1010040.JPG
Susy Wiles: "It can't be done at any kind of a reasonable cost," said Mayor's Office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/9771462/detail.html
Move Kids Kampus to the site of Friendship Fountain:
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/03/06/story7.html
Matt also asked if I could possibly be available for an interview which I had to indicate I could not as far as on Camera and then he asked if I could possibly be available for a phone Interview which I indicated I could and provided my number...
No Call.
So I am watching TV tonight and catch the tail end of a Fountain piece on Fox and then while switching back and forth I find another piece on CBS news. I see only a mention that the City has 8 proposals for "revitlizing" the Fountain... Hmmm I seem to remember the City received 7 proposals in 2006? Are these the same?
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050606/ner_21783751.shtml
The stories as I found and captured them, in the event they are altered...
TV30: http://www.fox30online.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=26aa92ac-622d-44a0-b3ef-9051efc162ca
TV 47: http://www.cbs47.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=26aa92ac-622d-44a0-b3ef-9051efc162ca
WOW I just realized that after the domain name both URLs are identical... AS are the stories...
http://jaxfountain.com/FoxNewsStory.gif
http://jaxfountain.com/TV47Story.gif
I guess I am the only one in town that didn't realize that FOX and CBS Local news was one... I mean I know that NBC and ABC are basically one but FOX and CBS?
Anyway for what it is worth it certainly appears to me that these two stories are 1: Identical, 2: written by the Mayors Office. and 3: 8 proposals when we had 7 in 2006... Maybe they aren't really new?... maybe just some new Spin?
Folks in these Economical Times lets just FIX the Fountain so when the next Blimp Shot is taken it looks impressive... Come on that is still the preferred shot to showcase Jacksonville for each home game even with only the outer ring running...
That is my take, what is yours?
-Bob
He asked if I had any comment regarding new City plans for the Fountain. I probably went on a bit of a rant regarding what the city has said and done in the past and mentioned the 3 Million RFP the city issued in 2006 and other instances where the city indicated the Fountain needed to be replaced...
RFP: http://www.jaxfountain.com/FountainProject/P1010040.JPG
Susy Wiles: "It can't be done at any kind of a reasonable cost," said Mayor's Office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/9771462/detail.html
Move Kids Kampus to the site of Friendship Fountain:
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/03/06/story7.html
Matt also asked if I could possibly be available for an interview which I had to indicate I could not as far as on Camera and then he asked if I could possibly be available for a phone Interview which I indicated I could and provided my number...
No Call.
So I am watching TV tonight and catch the tail end of a Fountain piece on Fox and then while switching back and forth I find another piece on CBS news. I see only a mention that the City has 8 proposals for "revitlizing" the Fountain... Hmmm I seem to remember the City received 7 proposals in 2006? Are these the same?
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050606/ner_21783751.shtml
The stories as I found and captured them, in the event they are altered...
TV30: http://www.fox30online.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=26aa92ac-622d-44a0-b3ef-9051efc162ca
TV 47: http://www.cbs47.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=26aa92ac-622d-44a0-b3ef-9051efc162ca
WOW I just realized that after the domain name both URLs are identical... AS are the stories...
http://jaxfountain.com/FoxNewsStory.gif
http://jaxfountain.com/TV47Story.gif
I guess I am the only one in town that didn't realize that FOX and CBS Local news was one... I mean I know that NBC and ABC are basically one but FOX and CBS?
Anyway for what it is worth it certainly appears to me that these two stories are 1: Identical, 2: written by the Mayors Office. and 3: 8 proposals when we had 7 in 2006... Maybe they aren't really new?... maybe just some new Spin?
Folks in these Economical Times lets just FIX the Fountain so when the next Blimp Shot is taken it looks impressive... Come on that is still the preferred shot to showcase Jacksonville for each home game even with only the outer ring running...
That is my take, what is yours?
-Bob
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Here come the Rumblings again :(
Talk about coincidence, while watching the Game this past Sunday and seeing a Blimp shot of the Fountain (first one I remember seeing since the Super Bowl) with only the outer rings going (as that is all that is still functional) I said to my wife...
"That just makes me so sad, that beautiful Fountain at 1/3 of it's normal abilities because the Administration is waiting for that part to break so they have all the excuses they need to rip the Fountain Out..."
Then a true Friend of Friendship Fountain brought something to my attention in the last few days...
A story regarding Public Input regarding the Future of Metro Park published in the Jax Daily Record, the full story may be accessed at the following link:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=51089
However the following quote got our attention...
Ok so where do you suppose Kids Kampus could go? Hmmmmm Hey I know lets tear down Friendship Fountain and stuff it there...
We have heard that refrain before and it would not surprise me if another attempt isn't made as the Current Administration has made it clear that any attempt to repair the Fountain just isn't in their plans...
Again I also have to wonder where any funds for anything other then purely needed maintenance would come from, I mean we are seeing increased fees for services previously covered by taxes, the economy is in the Tank and we are talking about what would most likely be another multi "zillion" dollar project...
One question I would love to see any answer to...
What maintenance on existing Parks, Riverwalks and Fountains is being done? ANY?
The last time I was at the Southbank Riverwalk I was shocked at the condition and I have read of possible serious issues with portions of the Northbank Riverwalk.
Now to be honest it has been some time since I was able to venture downtown (well truth be told it breaks my heart when I see the Fountain) and possibly some of these issues have been addressed?
Maybe some folks out there can use the upload link and provide some up to date images of any problems with the Parks and Riverwalks and we can start a Peyton Wall of Shame...
That is my take, what is yours?
-Bob
Ps... On a personal note Our 2008 Halloween decorations can be seen at the below link:
http://wolfstalks.net/Gallery/LakeshoreHalloween
"That just makes me so sad, that beautiful Fountain at 1/3 of it's normal abilities because the Administration is waiting for that part to break so they have all the excuses they need to rip the Fountain Out..."
Then a true Friend of Friendship Fountain brought something to my attention in the last few days...
A story regarding Public Input regarding the Future of Metro Park published in the Jax Daily Record, the full story may be accessed at the following link:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=51089
However the following quote got our attention...
"evaluating the feasibility of expanding Metropolitan Park into the space occupied by Kids Kampus and possibly the WJCT property, both of which could be accommodated in another location off the riverfront."
Ok so where do you suppose Kids Kampus could go? Hmmmmm Hey I know lets tear down Friendship Fountain and stuff it there...
We have heard that refrain before and it would not surprise me if another attempt isn't made as the Current Administration has made it clear that any attempt to repair the Fountain just isn't in their plans...
Again I also have to wonder where any funds for anything other then purely needed maintenance would come from, I mean we are seeing increased fees for services previously covered by taxes, the economy is in the Tank and we are talking about what would most likely be another multi "zillion" dollar project...
One question I would love to see any answer to...
What maintenance on existing Parks, Riverwalks and Fountains is being done? ANY?
The last time I was at the Southbank Riverwalk I was shocked at the condition and I have read of possible serious issues with portions of the Northbank Riverwalk.
Now to be honest it has been some time since I was able to venture downtown (well truth be told it breaks my heart when I see the Fountain) and possibly some of these issues have been addressed?
Maybe some folks out there can use the upload link and provide some up to date images of any problems with the Parks and Riverwalks and we can start a Peyton Wall of Shame...
That is my take, what is yours?
-Bob
Ps... On a personal note Our 2008 Halloween decorations can be seen at the below link:
http://wolfstalks.net/Gallery/LakeshoreHalloween
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