Folio Vol. 36, Issue 18

Vincent Dalessio

CONTENTS

COLUMNS

4

Horoscopes

Folio Staff

6

Weird, Wild Stuff

Shelton Hull

10

Legal Advice

How to buy insurance

John M. Phillips

36

In This Climate?!

Air potato leaf beetles photo essay

Rain Henderson

28

Film Reviews

Harry Moore

37

Folio Weed: Worst Case Scenarios

Shelton Hull

FEATURES

8

A Tangible Glimpse at Society

By way of hands not thumbs

Rain Henderson

13

Visualizing Energy

A profile on professional artist Mobarick Abdullah III

Molly Britt

14

A Place in the Sun

How the Inflation Reduction Act will reach Florida’s communities

Rain Henderson

16

1904 Breathes Fire into Downtown Nightlife Vision Video at 1904 Music Hall

Ambar Ramirez

22

Service Animals

A deep dive into the rules and regulations of service animals, what is really allowed?

Molly Britt

FOLIO STAFF

TERESA SPENCER general manager

ROB NICHOLSON sales director

RAIN HENDERSON creative director

VINCENT DALESSIO staff writer/photographer

MOLLY BRITT account executive/contributor

CASEY ALIXANDRA account executive/contributor

SHELTON HULL contributor

2 4

Fishing Florida's Flood Tides with Cowford Conservation

Vincent Dalessio 30

Gogh This Way

A ten-year art career turned into centuries of fame

Carmen Macri

31

5 Reasons You Should Shop Local

Ambar Ramirez

32

Trade of the Timeless Custom bikes at Alleyway Kustoms Jordan Hoover

35 Beach Buddies

Casey Alixandra

35

Naked and Not Ashamed: Nude Recreation in Jax

Teresa Spencer

AMBAR RAMIREZ multi-media creative

CARMEN MACRI intern

JOHN M. PHILLIPS, ESQ. publisher

KERRY SPECKMAN copy editor

HARRY MOORE contributor

DREW ARNETT illustrator

Behind the cover: Rami Ashouri uses a push pole to navigate the skiff through shallow creeks in the spartina marsh.

ARIES

Slow your roll, Aries! Focus on eating better and getting some rest. A special connection may be headed your way after the 22nd. Consider making it a lasting relationship. Go see a movie at the theater; you will be happy you did.

TAURUS

Have some fun. You deserve it. Money opportunities will be headed your way, but you may incur some unexpected expenses, so don’t spend it all as quickly as it comes in. Take a walk or hike; you need some nature time.

GEMINI

Stop offending people already! Your recent energy has been unpredictable and a bit on the wild side. Take a step back and consider things before you make decisions that could affect you in a negative way. On the bright side, you will find some extra cash you thought you lost.

CANCER

Get out and whoop it up. Treat yourself to some time with loved ones and consider upgrading your kitchen with some new recipes to break bread with those you care about. The memories will last a lifetime if you have a dinner party.

LEO

Big snags are in the works for you this month. Step back and evaluate your path. You may have it in your mind you are right and deserve something you desire, but you need to think again. Timing is everything. Sleep on it!

VIRGO

Carry gratitude this month. The bigger picture is coming together but don’t rush it. Put your nose to the grindstone and you will reap the rewards. Have a cheeseburger or if you’re vegan, a mushroom veggie burger. You need protein this month.

LIBRA

Let your imagination go wild. You need a refreshed outlook on life, and no better way to start than to dream up your goals. You are about to get recognized for your talents but not how you think. Display your vision on social media; you may go viral.

SCORPIO

Legal battles could be in the works for you. Try to avoid the hard route; an easier path can be laid if you stop being so stubborn. Speaking of laid, make sure to set aside some time for some bedroom frolicking. If you don’t have a partner, go out on the town and meet one.

SAGITTARIUS

You will be misunderstood this month. Make sure you clearly define everything as it will lead you to finishing some unfinished business. Go dancing with friends. You will feel the positive vibes you have been missing lately if you do.

CAPRICORN

Get organized, Cappy. It’s also time to start a fitness kick. You will encounter some obstacles in your personal life and at work, but don’t get frustrated—think big, prepare and prevail! You will get through this like you always do, and it’s short-lived so that’s good. Go sing karaoke and have fun.

AQUARIUS

Throw a cocktail party. You will not regret it. An old flame may come back around. Be cautious as this may start a power struggle that leads to nothing but a headache. Check off one thing from your bucket list this month; it will make you feel invigorated.

PIECES

You will be especially creative this month. Share those ideas with everyone around you. Someone you never thought you could count on surprises you, like a blessing in disguise. Take them along for the ride when a streak of luck comes your way. Also, take them to Waffle House to celebrate.

BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS

The Jacksonville Jaguars – For bringing on new head coach Doug Pederson. Unlike his predecessor, so far, he has been drama free. His background is spectacular considering he has won two super bowls in his coaching career already. And he seems to be bringing new energy to the fans and team. GO JAGS!

Flagler County Police Department – for arresting the two men from Jacksonville that were linked to several stolen vehicles and catalytic converters recently. Apparently the two are facing a number of charges including cocaine and fentanyl possession as a result of being arrested after fleeing a traffic stop.

To the thieves stealing trucks and trailers from area business! We hope you get arrested quickly! With that said… Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? (We couldn’t resist using this lyric as the band “Inner circle” is coming to town and we love them and their song)

Wild

Weird Stuff

Words by Shelton Hull

Last month’s column had more stories than usual, and the readers seemed to enjoy the breezy pace, even more than usual, so that will be our default going forward. That’s good news for all of us, because there is plenty of material this month, as always, so let’s jump right in!

July 22: Climate change activists picked a silly way to promote their cause when three members of Ultima Generazione (Italian for “last generation,” in case you care) glued their grubby palms to “Primavera,” painted by Sandro Botticelli and currently on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Was it effective? Nope. I’d have known nothing about this, if I weren’t following Cat Power on Instagram— that’s Cat Power, the singer, not the wrestler, though I do follow both.

July 29: Managers of a Chick-fil-A in Hendersonville, North Carolina, had a novel solution to their worker shortage, offering free food in exchange for volunteers to work the drive-thru. Great gig for any stoners in the area, but of course activists were bored, so the kerfuffle tanked their plans, and the offer was quickly rescinded. Five sandwiches, for an hour’s work? Why not?

July 30: We can all agree that domestic violence is no laughing matter—unless you’re Chris Rock, and hopefully you aren’t, because that guy sucks, though not nearly as much as the jackass who shot his wife in Dallas. We’re only laughing at him today because he failed. The bullet he fired went through her neck, then ricocheted off a wall and back into his leg, where it severed his femoral artery, causing him to bleed out, on the spot. Good!

Aug. 1: The National Museum of Engineering Science and Innovation in Koto Ward, Tokyo was the site of the most exciting thing to happen in table tennis since that deepfake Nokia ad where Bruce Lee played pingpong with nunchucks. Even the master of Jeet Kune Do would face stiff resistance from Forpheus, a robot built by Omron Corporation. It handily housed two grown men in competition, using A.I. (not the basketball player) to read facial expressions and bodily movements. No word if the robot is capable of transforming into anything else, but knowing the Japanese, I would say probably.

Aug. 4: #Florida enters the chat, as three men are arrested on conspiracy to steal roughly $1.3 million in seafood from a company called NETUNO, a seafood importer based in Ft. Lauderdale. The interesting part is that, for this plan to work, you would need a fairly

large network of buyers already in place to buy the stuff immediately. Posing as buyers for a grocery store chain, they drove away with five truckloads of product in June and July before arousing suspicion with the sixth. The unnamed chain was clearly doing so much business that no one noticed for months. Maybe that’s why crab legs cost so damn much right now! Supply chain issues, my ass.

Aug. 4: A Brink’s truck driver in Pasadena took one of the most expensive naps ever when he awoke to discover that 22 bags of jewelry had been stolen from his vehicle, with an estimated value of $10–$100 million. His colleague was getting lunch, while he got some sleep, and the thieves got the booty—not like that, weirdo, but they probably could have, if they’d wanted to. I’m sure his boss has something similar in mind.

Aug. 13: Yomiuri Shinbun reported that the world’s first Metaverse School of Engineering will open this Sept. 23 at—where else?-—the University of Tokyo. It will be a virtual reality space where people can attend lectures, take classes and presumably even bully each other, regardless of where they are. Funny, yes, but it also creates opportunities for people to transcend physical and economic limitations to achieve their dreams, which is always great. They hope to attract upwards of 100,000 students, with a strong emphasis on attracting women.

Aug. 21: Hilliard’s own Fisher Monds came within just 19 votes of winning the 2022 USA Mullet Championship in the Teen Division. But he still took home nearly 3,200 votes, which is a lot more votes than most folks from Hilliard ever get, for anything. There was just no overcoming Wisconsin, which won in all three categories, dominating the mullet game the way the Soviets dominated women’s gymnastics in the 1970s. I’m expecting a future scandal.

Sept. 1: As usual, I was in the middle of writing this very column when news of the most special kind broke in Memphis, where an 18-wheeler hit a wall on Interstate 55, leaving the highway covered in—wait for it—Alfredo sauce. Now, this is not to be confused with the truck that spilled a literal ton of tomatoes all over I-80 in Vacaville, California two days earlier. Given the choice, I’d rather be dealing with the tomatoes because it’s just like the kids say: “Dairy products in the sun? That is never any fun!” Indeed…

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR EVENTS

By Rain Henderson

How to Buy Insurance LEGAL ADVICE

Words by John M. Phillips

We are all taught things in kindergarten that apply throughout life. Use kind words. Share with others. Try your best. As we progress through school these lessons compound. We learn reading, writing and arithmetic skills. More lessons come with age, such as the importance of wearing sunscreen, especially here in Florida.

However, I have never seen a single lesson given about the importance of insurance. The gecko doesn't tell us. Jake doesn't pass that information along. And the camel is so excited it is hump day that, well, he doesn't take the time to explain what everything means either.

The insurance we buy generally comes in three major forms: life insurance, homeowners/renters insurance and automobile insurance. Here are some tips on each:

Life Insurance

It’s all too easy to think "nothing will happen." But too many families end up financially destroyed when a wage earner unexpectedly dies. Some are even forced into crowdfunding campaigns to pay basic funeral expenses. It is a tragedy on top of a tragedy.

There are many options for life insurance. You can get locked-in low premiums by starting plans while young and healthy. Or, if you wait until later in life, you may pay exorbitant monthly fees while carriers bet on how long you will live. Some policies work as investments. You can purchase plans with premiums that are fully refundable at the end of the policy term or payout the policy limits if you die before the term ends. There are so many variables, it’s hard to summarize these in a single page.

The thumbnail rule on adequate life insurance is about 7 to 10 times annual income. This certainly varies by age, dependents and one's needs to provide for family after passing. Young parents with small children certainly have more needs than senior citizens with no dependents.

Homeowners Coverage

Homeowner / renter insurance consists of two partscoverage of your home and/or its contents and liability coverage. Many people forget about the second part, but it’s the most significant aspect of homeowner / renter insurance protection.

For home and contents coverage, in the event of a loss, you need enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding at current construction costs and replacing your personal belongings. It does not include the cost of the land. Flood coverage is often separate and dependent on your assigned flood zone.

Many don't realize it, but this same policy covers you against claims and lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage which you or a family member may cause. It may also pay for damage caused by pets. If you trip someone in public, a garage shelf falls on a neighbor or your gun accidentally goes off hitting someone in the foot, this is the first source of funds lawyers look to. For the insured, it pays for both the fees and costs of the lawyer defending you in court and any damages a court rules you must pay.

How much is enough? Net worth and the amount of risks you take are factors. Most people live in homes reflective of their income, but that isn't always enough. For renters, many only think about the contents and don’t think about losses to the homeowner’s property.

For this type of insurance, policy limits in the range of 3 to 5 times household income is fairly common. Many carriers insure for less and less these days by adding exclusions so it’s very important to comparison shop.

Automobile Insurance

Many people use the expression, “full coverage'' when describing their auto coverage. The expression itself is misleading. "Full coverage” simply means your policy is the absolute minimum required by Florida law. However, being compliant with Florida law may actually leave you feeling empty of coverage. Florida only requires $10,000 in property damage insurance for damages you cause to someone else and Personal Injury Protection or “PIP,” which is also known as a nofault benefit. PIP pays up to the first $10,000 of your medical bills, minus a deductible.

PIP coverage is why you see commercials with guys like “Doc Tony” and “Ask Gary.” They are essentially chiropractors who treat and bill PIP policies. It’s why the guy with the cowboy-ish hat tells you not to go to the hospital - because hospital bills burn through the money guys like this want. Making matters worse, these “doctors” have become referral services that pick lawyers based on who sends them cases. It’s important that you pick your own lawyer. You don’t want to leave decisions like these up to those involved in pay for play or based on who is golfing buddies with who. As a lawyer

who has handled these cases on both sides for over two decades, if you are significantly injured, it looks far better if your first stop is the hospital and not a commercialized PIP mill.

It’s shocking that under Florida law a motorist is not required to have any insurance for injuries caused to another person. That's scary. Why? Because car accidents are one of the most common sources of injuries. If the average person has the average insurance policy, he or she essentially has little to no insurance to cover a victim’s hospital bills, medical recovery, lost wages and more.

Our neighbors to the north in Georgia require a minimum of $25,000 in “bodily injury” or BI coverage. That’s what protects you from liability from injuring another person. Florida doesn’t require it. Last year, the Florida legislature tried to pass a law requiring this type of coverage; only to have it vetoed by Governor DeSantis. Why? The answer is simple - Money.

Wrecks are happening at higher speeds with greater frequency. As distracted driving goes up, the rates of injury have skyrocketed. My firm has had a brain injury victim, an amputee and a father who can no longer work discover there was $10,000 or less in insurance available. Families are destroyed and left with little recourse after a mere accident. In those instances, people learn they should have had one other type of automobile insurance called uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage.

If you only do one thing after reading this article, let it be to check your policy for uninsured /underinsured coverage (sometimes listed as UM/UIM). It’s the most important type of insurance because it protects you in a state filled with reckless, underinsured drivers. It stands on top of an at-fault party's injury coverage, which is too often $0 to $10,000. It is optional and not a great source of income for the insurance industry, so you may not have been offered this type of coverage. However, it is vitally important. Even the smallest permanent injury can lead to $50,000 or more in medical bills. Carrying UM/UM at a minimum of $50,000 per vehicle, which can "stack" for each vehicle, is a safe minimum. As a rule of thumb. 3 to 5 times income isn't a bad guideline.

Be safe out there.

Visualizing Energy

A profile on professional artist Mobarick Abdullah III

Words by Molly Britt

As a young boy, Mobarick Abdullah III got a set of crayons from his mother. He was so excited, he used them to draw all over her white walls. “I didn’t get in trouble for it, so I knew at that point I probably had a journey in the art world,” said Abdullah.

Abdullah, a professional artist, has been showcasing his art work since high school, where he would use music events at school held as a way of advertising his artwork. He has always been into color and expression, using them as a way of visualizing energy.

“I try to make it like a party, a gathering. I use a lot of energy in my art,” said Abdullah. That is clearly shown in his work, such as his piece “Benjamins,” in which a $100 bill is covered in all kinds of colors, like yellow, green, blue and red.

His journey as an artist, like many others, has been awesome, terrifying and inspiring. It is a challenging profession that Abdullah wouldn’t trade for anything. He enjoys the challenges, staying continuously inspired in an effort to move people with his work, all while staying true to himself. While he wishes to stay away from the competitive side of the art world, he acknowledges the difficulty of having to charge higher rates for his pieces as a way of pricing

his efforts put into the paintings. He would rather everyone get to enjoy the art, as they would with music where everyone can just “jam” together.

There are many benefits to being a professional artist, but Abdullah really enjoys the way he can make his audience smile. “Someone just purchased one of my paintings and said when they walk by the painting every day it makes them smile,” said Abdullah, adding comments like her are the highest form of a compliment he can receive. The idea of creating something out of nothing and inspiring people with that makes him feel like a “superhero,” and he doesn’t take it lightly. He respects everything he takes part in inside the art world. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who all work toward the same goal, inspiring others, is what inspires him as an artist.

When he’s not painting and selling his colorful and energetic artwork, Abdullah is traveling with his wife, Pascale, experiencing all kinds of adventures and finding new art all over. They enjoy filming their experiences for their YouTube channel, Art of Adventure With Pascale and Mo. Any chance he can take to find inspiration and produce smiles, Abdullah takes.

A Place in the Sun

Low-Energy Costs

Words by Rain Henderson

On Aug. 18, a substantial piece of legislation was signed into law, the Inflation Reduction Act (aka the IRA Bill) or, as President Biden called it: “the biggest step forward on climate ever.” as The bill invests $370 billion in spending and tax credits aiming to reduce health costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise taxes on corporations.

The U.S. is finally taking a legitimate swing in the fight against climate change. Though it didn’t meet original expectations, it’s putting us on course to reduce our own pollution which is good for every living creature on Earth. Ecologist and UNF biology professor Adam Rosenblatt noted, “My hope is it will build momentum for future climate legislation that's even more aggressive.” Rosenblatt is confident we will see the effects of the new climate legislation in Florida where the biggest threats are extreme heat, increased flooding and more powerful hurricanes. A huge budget for new clean energy initiatives tackle the root of the problem, greenhouse gasses. Though he believes legislation often isn’t enough on its own, leaning more toward extensive societal change, which he says, will make it easier for folks to put their climate-friendly foot forward.

Spending of this size and nature is hard to follow. And unfortunately, Jacksonville’s first chief resilience officer, whose job is to design resilient solutions to solve environmental solutions while providing opportunities for the community, respectfully declined comment on the matter.

Judging by DeSantis’ response to the passing of the legislation— saying that it would be used to target those who the "government doesn't like"—he’s skeptical. But Logan Cross, chairman of the Northeast Florida chapter of the Sierra Club, stated, “The financial opportunities provided by the legislation will be too enticing to resist even for conservative leaning business leaders and politicians.” Biden has laid out some specific improvements in Florida succeeding the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Florida already has a solar tax credit, which works like a coupon for 30% off your home solar installation, backed and funded by the federal government. JEA uses a “net metering system” meaning customers will only be charged for net usage: the total difference between the electricity the panels produce and the electricity they use. Those who cultivate more electricity than they’ve used will send electricity back into the city’s power grid resulting in a credit toward future bills. Adding solar panels to your house also increases your home's value, but you won’t see an increase in property tax because solar panels are 100% property tax exempt. In addition to this, solar panels and related equipment are exempt from sales tax in Florida. Jacksonville residents are also able to take out a property assessed clean energy (PACE) loan to pay for their solar panel installation. As mentioned, this is what we already have in place. With the addition of the IRA Bill, Florida residents will receive rebates covering 50-100% of the cost of installing new electric appliances, including super-efficient heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, and ovens, making millions of low- and moderate-income households eligible for rebates. Floridians will also receive rebates for households to make repairs and improvements in single-family and multi-family homes to increase energy efficiency. Adding onto the already existing solar tax credit, there will be an additional bonus credit of 20% for projects at affordable housing properties and 10% for projects in low-income communities. Biden will also be sending out grants to help state and local governments adopt the latest building energy codes, which would save the average new homeowner in Florida 11.7% on their utility bills—$225 annually.

Jobs, Small Businesses and Electric Vehicles

The Inflation Reduction Act will bring an estimated $62.7 billion of investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to Florida between now and 2030. These credits include bonuses for businesses that pay a prevailing wage so that Florida workers earn a good paycheck while they build the clean energy future in America. The IRA also works to boost U.S. manufacturing of clean energy and transportation technologies. Small businesses make up 99.8% of all businesses in Florida, with Jacksonville ranked as number two for best small business city in the U.S. The IRA will provide commercial building owners a tax credit up to $5 per square foot to support energy efficiency improvements that will lower utility bills. Tax credits will also be provided upon the purchase of clean trucks and vans for

How the Inflation Reduction Act will reach Florida’s communities

Clean electricity credits

Agricultural Conservation

Wind and Solar Tax Credits Clean Manufacturing Nuclear energy credits

Green energy credits

commercial fleets. Middle class Americans will receive upfront discounts on new and used electric vehicles, Florida recently submitted a state plan for using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build electric vehicle charging stations along highways.

Rural Opportunities and Resilient Communities

Florida has 47,500 farms, and in 2017, Duval was the sixth highest-valued agriculture producer, raking in about $9 million. Electric co-ops will for the first time be eligible for direct-pay clean energy tax credits through the IRA, and this legislation dedicates investments for rural electric cooperatives, nonprofit electric utilities owned by its members/customers to provide electricity to areas of rural America that investor-owned utilities refused to serve due to cost concerns. In Florida, tens of thousands of people live in affordable housing units that are eligible for upgrades like flood-proofing and storm resistance, as well as clean energy and electrification. A new Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program includes support for transportation projects and planning to protect against flooding and extreme heat. The Inflation Reduction Act also invests in programs focused on preventing wildfires and tree planting projects that help protect communities from extreme heat.

To continue to push these initiatives into our communities, we must vote for political candidates who take climate issues seriously and aren't taking money from the fossil fuel industry, especially at the local and state levels. We can also support smaller, local campaigns like Renew Jax, that seeks renewable energy and the decommissioning of JEA’s Northside plant. Spearheaded by Logan Cross,, Renew Jax seeks to leverage the position of the JEA Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Stakeholder Group, a public process where planners work with other interested parties to identify and prepare energy options tocreate a timetable to decommission the Northside plant that has notoriously high emissions (and sits on fragile marshlands near the entrance to the St. Johns River) and commit to 100% renewable energy by 2050 — 30% by 2030. When asked what the community can do, Cross explained, “Residents who support a transition from fossil fuel dependence and a reduction in Jacksonville’s contribution to global warming should let regional decision makers know you support such a transition. These decision-makers include JEA’s board of directors, JEA leaders, City Council Members, and the mayor. They can do this by sending messages through mail, email, and text messages. They can also express their support for clean energy alternatives through letters to the editor, guest columnists, and blog posts.”

Ten years ago, residents would need to make it clear they are willing to accept higher electricity rates to pay for the transition to clean energy sources, but this is no longer the case,” Cross said. “They just need to let decision-makers know it is important for the city and its municipal energy utility to commit to transitioning to clean energy sources.”

NEW MUSIC TO LOVE.

Streaming on JAXMUSIC.ORG & the WJCT app SCAN HERE. LISTEN NOW.

The Independent 89.9 HD4 is

in part by

GOTH IS NOT DEAD

Vision Video at 1904 Music Hall

Words and photos by Ambar Ramirez

It is 9:45 on a Saturday night, and I am making my way to the 1904 Music Hall Downtown. Every fourth Saturday of the month, 1904 Music Hall puts on a Goth Night, and tonight, Aug. 28, the goth-pop band Vision Video is scheduled to play.

As soon as I walk in, I am transported to an underground punk concert one would imagine seeing in the late ’80s. The usual purposefully-graffitied walls covered with black sheets, and people dressed in all black with thick platform shoes.

Right at 10:30, the lights dim on the stage and a crowd starts to gather as people make their way from the bar to the dancefloor. Before the band is even on stage, the crowd cheers in anticipation.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Athens, Georgia band, but instantly from seeing the band's commitment to the theme, which included wearing fishnet stockings and bold black eyeliner, I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed.

The lead singer Dusty Gannon, also known as “Goth Dad” on Tiktok, is the source of inspiration for the band's past album and for their newest album set for release in October. Gannon was a soldier in Afghanistan as well as a paramedic and firefighter during the pandemic. He draws inspiration from his own personal experiences of dealing with mortality but also through the experiences of the band’s fans who are referred to as “Baby Bats.”

The music and energy were captivating. I couldn’t take my eyes off the band as they performed songs similar to classics from The Cure or Joy Division. The crowd was just as nostalgic, throwing up devil-horn signs and middle fingers every time Gannon dedicated a song to someone who has done the LGBTQ+ community wrong. (Highlighting that punk is not just a music genre but a powerful movement, a way for people to get their point across in bold ways.)

Before ending the show, Vision Video played one more song for the energetic crowd, noting that this has been the best show and audience they have played for so far.

1904 Music Hall breathes fire into Downtown nightlife

Words by Ambar Ramirez

If you’re from Jacksonville, there’s a good chance you have gone to a show at 1904 Music Hall. And when you were buying tickets, you most likely didin’t know it was going be at one of the oldest buildings in downtown Jacksonville.

The building was originally built in 1904, one of the first structures to be established after Jacksonville’s Great Fire of 1901. It was mainly a place for commercial businesses, a furniture manufacturing company, a retail store and office space, then a tobacco shop for about 20 years. It wasn’t until 2011 that Jason Hunnicutt and two partners would purchase the building.

Still working day jobs, Hunnicutt recalls he and his friends, who were all musicians, wanting to create another space where they and musicians from other cities could perform.

“It was one of those kinds of, like, you know, three friends open a bar kind of story,” Hunnicutt said. “If it makes money that's great, but we were just getting it to have fun.”

They found 1904 by luck with the previous owner stating that they could do whatever they wanted to the space as long as they paid rent. They immediately got to work and unlocked the energy that was in there before, exposing the 120-year-old original brick walls and wood-paneled ceiling.

After six months of renovations and DIY projects, 1904 Music Hall opened in March 2012.

“We lost money the first two years, so, of course, we still had to keep our day jobs,” Hunnicutt said. “But the cool thing was we kind of made a little niche in the music scene, bringing in some bands that weren’t really coming to Jacksonville.”

While this business venture started out as a side gig for Hunnicutt and his two partners, the main focus was creating an entertainment venue and bringing people from around the city to see a show Downtown. After working hard for three years to make a name for themselves in the music scene, 1904 Music Hall started bringing in enough revenue that Hunnicutt was able to quit his day job and work at the room more often.

“We kind of really wanted to be a blank canvas for any artist to come in, whether it was a hip-hop artist, a rock band, metal, jazz, polka,” Hunnicutt said. “The vibe is very inviting and can be applied to, like, you know, a ton of different varieties of shows and events.”

But making the 1904 Music Hall profitable wasn’t where the story of three guys opening up a bar would end. In 2020, Hunnicutt and his team decided to expand on their business ventures and opened up Spliff’s Gastropub and, more recently, acquired Ocean Street Tacos and Underbelly.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, live musical performances came to a sudden halt affecting not only the music industry but venues like 1904 Music Hall which thrived off ticket sales and customers spending money at the bar. Hunnicutt recalls almost having to sell the venue. Luckily, they had Spliff’s to lean on and bring money in when 1904 couldn’t.

“It sucked real bad,” Hunnicutt said. “We struggled like every business and particularly [like] everybody in this industry,” Hunnicutt said. “Since we had that business [Spliff’s] to kind of pivot on, we were able to keep a lot of the employees and transfer them over,”

Once the CDC guidelines became a little more lenient and the quarantine was lifted, 1904 still had to look toward more creative ventures like hosting painting classes with local artists and throwback movie nights to keep the business afloat since bands still weren’t touring.

Despite that bump in the road, 1904 Music Hall is still a strong force in Downtown’s music scene and continuously provides unique shows, as well as ongoing monthly and yearly events. More than just an entertainment venue, 1904 has become a place for people to make memories at weddings, charity fundraisers, birthday parties and even corporate events.

While this venue has seen its fair share of unfortunate fires, the greatest fire of all still burns bright within the shows and crowds that 1904 Music Hall brings Downtown.

Artie

Kimberly Beasley, Vocalist

Social media has one thing to say: fast fashion is out, and secondhand apparel is in. Gen Z has quickly shifted the stigma of shopping at thrift stores and turning this once hushed secret into one of fashion’s biggest trends. Influencers from around the world have made names for themselves by sharing their entirely thrifted wardrobes under the hashtag #thrifthaul.

Words and photos by Carmen Macri

Thrifting and resale retail have become virtual now with websites and apps like Depop. Buying secondhand has become more accessible to people who don’t have hours to waste sifting through racks and racks of clothing. This also created a huge business opportunity for individuals who have an eye for prize pieces and a knack for styling clothes.

Locally, Kiley Davis has taken Jacksonville by storm with her virtual storefront, Keeks Vintage. In the beginning, Keeks Vintage was a way for Davis to share her fashion with friends, but her Depop shop took flight and now has 23,000 followers, a five-star rating and that all-important blue check. “I grew up thrifting. My parents couldn't afford to take me to places like the Town Center to buy brand-new clothes, so they would take me to Goodwill. I would pick out a few pairs of jeans and that was that,” said Davis.

About seven years ago Davis realized she could be making serious money off her thrifted finds. It all started with a pair of $6 Levi’s that didn’t fit quite right. “They were so cute, and I felt like someone else might like them. So, I listed them on Depop for $55,” Davis said. “I styled them with cute shoes and a top and they sold that day. I thought it was crazy that I could make money doing this.”

At first, Depop was a side hustle throughout college. It took a while for her storefront to grow into what it is now. She claims the one thing that grew her platform was consistency. Davis explained the time-consuming process of looking for merchandise to resell. “Sometimes it takes the

entire day. I’ll go from like nine in the morning to six o’clock at night,” she explained. “It takes hours because you don’t want to miss anything, you know?” That one aisle could be the one.” And when it comes to knowing what people want, there was a lot of trial and error. Keeping up with fashion trends was a huge part of keeping her storefront relevant.

Fast forward seven years, Keeks Vintage is co-hosting bikini fashion shows and doing monthly pop-up shops and has made dozens of vintage connections across the country. In July 2022, Davis presented the first of many Keeks Vintage fashion shows at Surfer the Bar and the turnout was massive. People were shoulder to shoulder trying to get a good look at the girls in their vintage suits.

“I definitely feel like [the fashion show] put me on the map locally. My sales have always been primarily online with people buying from anywhere and everywhere. After the show, I gained a lot more local customers which is awesome. Sold out of all the suits featured in the fashion show, and it brought a lot more attention to Keeks in general,” Davis said.

Because Davis was selling her vintage clothes predominately online, she made connections with other vintage vendors across the country. Instead of people listing their finds online themselves, they come Davis directly now, sending her photos of their finds and their selling prices. “One lady in California bought a storage unit, kind of like <Storage Wars>, and didn’t know what was inside. The unit was stacked to the top with boxes of brand-new vintage bikinis,” she said. “We went through them on Facetime, and I got 150 brand-new suits for a great deal… They all sold that summer.”

Davis believes that bundle of bikinis is how she made a name for herself. She has a strong passion for upcycling her vintage bikinis, so that quickly became her niche and even being crowned the “vintage bikini dealer” of Depop.

“Fast fashion is not sustainable,” Davis explained. “Some people don’t realize how bad it [fast fashion] is for the environment.” With millions of articles of clothing ending up landfills every year, she figured there had to be a better way: “Why not thrift them to resell them?”

The fashion industry is the third largest polluter, emitting 10% of global greenhouse emissions and releasing 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year due, in part, to the growing demand for fast fashion. Thrifting keeps clothes out of landfills and reduces carbon and chemical pollution that is caused by clothing production.

The questions is: Is thrifting the solution to fast fashion? Could resale retail be Earth’s knight in shining armor?

Check out Keeks Vintage on Depop (@Kiley_Davis) and Instagram (@ Keeks.Vintage).

Service Animals

A deep dive into the rules and regulations of service animals, what is really allowed?

Words by Molly Britt

An estimated 500,000 service dogs are aiding those with disabilities in the United States, but do we really know everything we can about service animals?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.” This means a dog must be trained to take certain actions when assistance is needed by the owner. This could be a service dog alerting their owner who has diabetes that their blood sugar is too high or low or a service dog detecting the onset of a seizure and keeping their owner safe. They are well-trained animals and separate from emotional support animals. Service animals consist of only dogs and miniature horses with exceptions.

Service animals seem to face a stigma now and again, usually resulting from owners putting fake “service dog” vests on their pets to appear they are real service animals and bringing them inside stores and restaurants, which is illegal in most cases. But here’s the thing, real service animals are not “pets.” So, what does that mean for the service animals who underwent over 18 months of training costing over $10,000 not to mention the owners who waited up to three years for their service animal just to be told they aren’t allowed in an ice cream parlor? It means we need to learn what really is and isn’t allowed.

First and most important, service animals are allowed to accompany an individual with disabilities in all areas of public accommodation with the person and their service animal entitled to full and equal accommodation. As long as the animal is under the control of the owner and does not create a direct threat to the safety or health of others, they cannot be prohibited from entry. If a situation like this arises, however, it is legal to require the animal to be escorted outside. Otherwise, denying or interfering with admittance or the rights of an individual with a disability is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Service animals are not required to be registered with any agency or organization, according to the ADA and Florida law. If an employee wants to determine if the animal is a service animal, they are only legally allowed to ask if the animal accompanying the individual is required due to a disability and what work or tasks the animal is trained to perform. Should they ask any other questions, they are in violation of the ADA.

Unfortunately, landlords. apartment managers, etc., who do not understand the law often refuse to allow service animals to live on their property. According to Florida statutes, service animals can be denied entrance their presence fundamentally changes the nature of the business or causes danger to those receiving services, like the sterile environment of an operating room, certain exhibits at zoos

Photo from Wallygator Facebook page

that could disrupt the environment of other animals or in a swimming pool. Note that these are very specific exclusions. They are made to be that way. A restaurant? They’re allowed. A kitchen and buffet? Allowed. Ice cream shop? Allowed.

Recently, a local woman was denied access to Cold Stone Creamery because of her service dog. Porsha Kennon went to visit the Beach Boulevard ice cream shop with her service dog and was told her dog wasn’t allowed in, but she kept going back. On Kennon’s third visit, the owner asked for her name and phone number even after Kennon advised the owner the dog was a service dog. Kennon feels it is everyone’s right to advocate and stand up for themselves; however, this has happened many times in the past ending in lawsuits.

In 2021 the U.S. attorney’s office settled a dispute between the ADA and Cedar Rapids Convenience Store after an allegation was made that the Iowa store denied service to an individual with disabilities due to their service dog. The company was made to adopt nondiscrimination policies and train its employees on the ADA rights.

In Connecticut, Brookside Bar and Grill in Haddam was under fire for allegedly asking a patron to show identification for their service animal, even asking her to leave on another occasion. Identification is not required in many states nor can it be requested by anyone of a public entity. In Tennessee, a similar incident occurred at a hotel, resulting in the individual having to sleep in their car, humiliated and distressed.

It's not just small businesses that suffer from not training staff properly and wind up facing discrimination charges. A Hobby Lobby store in Kansas allegedly fired a store clerk suffering from PTSD

(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among other impairments, after not allowing her service dog to accompany her at work. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the clerk was told the dog was a safety hazard and not allowed inside while she was working. Because she could not be accompanied by her service dog, she did not show up for her shift and was fired.

According to the ADA, employers are required to accommodate those with disabilities unless it would cause “undue hardship” on the employer, meaning significant difficulty or expense caused by the presence of a service animal. This is solely a case-by-case basis.

Service animals are trained to keep those with disabilities safe and able to function independently in day-to-day life. They are not merely pets they want to travel with or take shopping for comfort. We are taught not to disturb service animals or service animals in training when we see them out, so why should we disturb them by kicking them out when unnecessary—and potentially illegal. To those store owners who love to boast “all are welcome” at their place of business, make it so for service dogs too.

Also, you know what else is against the law in Florida? Representing an animal as a qualified service animal when it isn’t. This is also a second degree misdemeanor and can result in 30 hours of community service.

If you or someone you know has been discriminated against due to their disability or wishes to learn more, visit ADA.gov or call 800514-0301.

Flood Tides

Fishing flood tides with Cowford Conservation

Words and photos by Vincent Dalessio

We ran the skiff only 30 minutes away from the boat ramp before Rami hopped on the poling platform and began pushing us through the labyrinth of spartina marsh creeks. Evan, posted on the front deck, fly rod in hand, scanned the grass flats for any sign of the targeted species, Sciaenops ocellatus, aka redfish. This was no regular day fishing the creeks, though, but an unusually early flood tide for the season, and I was sharing a boat with two of the most dialed fishermen from the area.

Evan Tucker and Rami Ashouri of Cowford Conservation are two local anglers on the frontline fighting for conservation and representation of our local waterways. Jacksonville fishing is in a pickle for both recreationation anglers and commercial guides who earn a living on the water. The St. Johns River has been on the brink of environmental catastrophe with countless issues contributing to a tumultuous outlook for the future health of the waterway.

“There's really no organization in Northeast Florida that we feel adequately represents the interest of hunters and anglers of this area. We represent outdoors people in Northeast Florida as it relates to conservation, ” explained Ashouri.

Cowford Conservation is stewarding and responsibly taking care of our natural resources for the benefit of hunters and anglers in Northeast Florida, while still preserving Old Florida's outdoor heritage. Currently, their top priority is the removal of the Ocklawaha Dam, but their long-term focus is on issues like irresponsible development of the St. Johns River and industrial expansion.

Part of the issue surrounding the health of local fisheries has to do with the popularity of fishing in Jacksonville. Some believe overfishing and irresponsible fishing practices to be the major negative contributing factor, but it's quite the opposite. Localism and “protecting” a favorite fishing spot has made it so only a few can regularly access sensitive areas. This lack of access makes conservation attempts feel futile as there’s minimal support drawn from the relatively small, outdoorsmen community locally. Cowford Conservation believes increasing fishing traffic and helping curate the idea of Jacksonville being a destination fishery could have major impacts on conservation attempts in the future.

“I think it's important to have people coming here to fish regardless of what the situation is. If there's not enough interest in having the resource available, then there's not going to be enough interest in protecting the resource. And it's a catch-22, of course, because nobody wants to have more pressure in their favorite fishing spots,” Ashouri explained. “On the flip side, the more people use it, the more people there are to voice their concerns when there is an outside threat. I think with the way things are going in our state, and in our area, we’re gonna need additional voices and whether that brings more pressure to your spot is becoming less relevant.”

As advocates for local sportsmen and waterways, Cowford Conservation has been making waves nationally through the Cowford Redfish Tournament, an annual event highlighting the resources and beauty of the area. Plus, proceeds from the tournament are donated to local nonprofits like St. Johns Riverkeeper. October will be the third installation of the tournament which has not only brought anglers from places as far as Colorado to the area, but also caught the attention of major players in the fishing industry. The tournament focuses on bringing attention to the area’s flood tide fishing, and that's exactly what we set out for: a true flood tide experience.

In Florida, flood tides are unique to Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Due to the way tides are funneled along the Atlantic Bight, Northeast Florida experiences extremely large tidal ranges, at least in comparison to the rest of Florida. For example, the Gulfcoast’s average tidal range is one to two feet whereas Jacksonville averages around four feet or more. Other states along the eastern seaboard experience flood tides, but nowhere else in Florida boasts the ability to float your boat where it shouldn't be: deep in the usually dry spartina grass flats. During these flood tides, water “floods” shallow creeks covering the grass flats that fragment the water freely flowing through the marsh. The extra couple inches of water blanketing the spartina allows water-bound predators, like redfish and sheepshead, to slither their bodies into the flat to hunt crustaceans like fiddler crabs and snails.

Flood tides create a food buffet for game fish while also creating a unique opportunity for anglers to catch these fish. When these fish push onto the flats to feed, oftentimes the only indicator of their presence is sighting a red tail poking out of the water. These fish have mouths on the bottoms of their head, so when they’re feeding they’re forced to lift their tails out of the shallow water in order to get their mouths down into the mud and grass. As Tucker claims, “Flood tide fishing is as close as you’ll get to hunting while on the water.”

We ran Evan’s boat this evening, an Orvis and Hell’s Bay collaboration that produced one of the most capable skiffs I've ever stepped foot on: a perfectly dry ride (my camera says thanks) and the ability to float in mere inches of water despite a giant outboard mounted on the transom (it cruises over 40mph with a solo sailor). As luck would have it, Evan won the $50,000 boat on a $50 raffle ticket. (I’m truly honored to have actually met someone who won one of those raffles.)

With Rami on the poling platform and Evan on the bow, we worked our way through the seemingly homogenous waterway, but these guys knew exactly where the fish would be. The first flat we pulled up on was one that neither had fished before, but Evan found the spot while surveying the area via airplane. Rami perfectly nestled the bow into the spartina grass, and Evan was quick to point out our first tailing fish of the evening, which ended up being the only one that made it to the boat.

“Somebody that might have lived two generations prior to us goes out this spot, there were 1,000 fish there, right? And they could only catch 20 of them or whatever. So 20 fish was a fantastic day. And then the next generations, there might only be 800 fish or 700 fish or 600 fish, but they can still only catch 20… And it's not until that next generation, that way down the road, all of a sudden, they're not catching 20 fish, because there's not 20 fish there to catch. And all of a sudden, now they notice it, but it's been in decline for five generations,” said Ashouri. “The next generation thinks that [catching] 10 fish is a great day, and the next generation thinks that five fish is a great day. And so I think that's what we're seeing here. You know, there's plenty of people that say, ‘Well, I still had

an awesome day. I mean, I caught 15 red fish today.’ Well, your grandfather might have said, well, I used to catch 50 in that same spot. And so it's hard to see it all the time, because you got spots, and you see plenty of bait. But is that the same situation as what was in the past? Is that the canary in the coal mine?”

Small Screen Reviews

Words by Harry More

Better Call Saul

Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould managed to accomplish the nearly impossible feat of making a prequel to one of the most beloved and acclaimed television series of the last 20 years with Breaking Bad. The crime drama set in Albuquerque not only matches the quality of that show but also deepens the audience’s connection to many of the supporting characters who inhabited Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) world. Set years before the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul follows the corner-cutting Jimmy McGill’s (Bob Odenkirk) devolution into becoming the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman who helped build Heisenberg’s crystal meth empire.

McGill’s fall from grace into the criminal underworld is played more as a human tragedy, as we see how his strained relationship with his successful lawyer and brother Chuck (Michael McKean) pushed him down a road of self-fulfilling prophecy into becoming the ne’er-do-well his sibling had always viewed him as, contrasting the descent of Walter White which was spurned by pride and bruised ego. Odenkirk plays the character through internal emotions, a sharp contrast to Cranston’s larger-than-life, theatrical performance as Walter.

Odenkirk is a revelation in this series. In Breaking Bad he was brought in to bring some comedic levity to the intense proceedings having made a

name for himself as a sketch comedian on Saturday Night Live and HBO’s groundbreaking Mr. Show . In Better Call Saul , however, he is simply heartbreaking, playing the character with deep sadness hidden behind the brash and charismatic alter ego he would embody in the Breaking Bad timeline. It is a phenomenal leading performance that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other small screen greats like James Gandolfini, Jon Hamm and, of course, Bryan Cranston.

Better Call Saul brought back many of the supporting cast from the original series, including Jonathan Banks who does exemplary work as Mike Ehrmantraut, a former police officer now working as a fixer for the cartels helping them hide bodies and keep the cash flow coming.

Banks, who was a long-time character actor appearing in small roles in an array of film and television projects ranging from Beverly Hills Cop and Gremlins to CSI and Two and a Half Men, earned a lot of acclaim and recognition later on in his career for his work in Breaking Bad; and he goes go even deeper into the role of Mike in Better Call Saul, expanding on his backstory and world view, and adds shade to his Breaking Bad performance. Also returning is the villainous Gustavo Fring, played with such menace by Giancarlo Esposito that he has become Hollywood’s current go-to actor when in need of a compelling villain. Again, Esposito draws out more from the character in this prequel series, making Gus almost sympathetic by comparison to some of the other evil men in this cartel-run underworld.

As for new characters, Michael Mando shines as Nacho Varga, a young man who gets caught too deep between the warring cartel factions. As the series’ spiritual successor to Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, Mando plays the part with immense vulnerability, always forcing the audience to root for him even as he makes all the wrong choices. As Howard Hamlin, Chuck’s business partner, Patrick Fabian does a remarkable job of turning one of the series’ least likeable characters into its most sympathetic one throughout the show. While Tony Dalton manages to steal every scene as Lalo Salamanca, the charming but ruthless head of the Salamanca crime family. It is the type of tightrope walking villain performance where you love the character and can’t take your eyes off the screen when he is on, even as he commits the most despicable acts possible. But arguably, the series’ most valuable player is Rhea Seehorn as Jimmy’s partner and love interest Kim Wexler. Also coming from a comedy background having appeared on NBC’s Whitney, Seehorn makes Kim into the most decent person in the show, causing her moral descent alongside Jimmy to be all the more devastating. Seehorn is excellent throughout the show but especially in the final season when all her questionable actions catch up with her. She is sure to be up for many great roles in the future.

Better Call Saul is something of a miracle: It manages to live up to the high expectations thrown onto it after the universal acclaim of Breaking Bad yet still carves out its own identity. It is a far deeper show than anyone could have anticipated. Instead of only seeing Saul as a wacky lawyer, viewers were given a series about regret and the consequences of our decisions. It is among the best shows of the past decade and pushes Gould and Gilligan into a class of their own as dramatic writers.

House of the Dragon

Game of Thrones’ final season landed with a thud back in 2019. The once meticulously written series became laced with plot contrivances; the dialogue floundered from poetic wit to an abundance of Marvel-esque punchlines; and many characters betrayed their well-established motives in favor of uncharacteristic decision-making. Many had written off any hope of returning to George R.R. Martin’s world, but with House of the Dragon, HBO’s first spinoff of their blockbuster series, showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik have accomplished the unthinkable and made Westeros compelling again. Set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones , House of the Dragon follows the ruling Targaryen family, the ancestors of Daenerys, exploring their familial quarrels and showing how they reigned over the Seven Kingdoms through the power of their fire-breathing dragons.

While Game of Thrones followed multiple warring families, House of the Dragon is focused solely on the Targaryens, which makes the scope of the story feel smaller but allows for characters to have more time to breathe and be fleshed out early in the series. At the center of the show is the young Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), daughter of King Viserys (Paddy Considine), who has been promised to be the heir to the iron throne despite it being decided that only a male can be the ruler of Westeros. Much of the early episodes have dealt with the push and pull between the princess and her father and the question of whether she will be able to fulfill her father’s promise. Both actors are excellent in their roles and feel like naturals in this world. Elsewhere is the King’s deceitful and untrustworthy brother Daemon (Matt Smith), who is both compelling and easily hateable at the same time.

The show’s production values are of the highest order. Unfortunately, the filming was not done on exterior locations as Game of Thrones’ globetrotting production was, which sometimes causes a lack of immersion that the original show was so great at creating. But so far, the writing has been much sharper than in the final couple of seasons of Game of Thrones . The characters and performances are engaging, and the plot is compelling, making me look forward to Sunday nights as Thrones once did at its height. It is early days in this series, but there is much promise here.

OLLIE UPTON/HBO

Gogh This Way

Words and photos by Carmen Macri

The Beyond Van Gogh immersive art experience has made its way to Jacksonville and empowers you to take a stroll through Van Gogh's mind.

Alluring paintings are brought to life with floor-to-ceiling projections. Engrossing me into Starry Night as the painting dances around the room. A sense of serenity washes over as I wander into the painting itself. Its almost if my feet had a mind of their own; I couldnt help but whirl around alongside it.

I had the opportunity of chatting with Fanny Curtat, the art historian with the Van Gogh experience, and she shared her profound affection for all things Van Gogh.

“There's a reason Starry Night is one of the most famous pieces in the world,” Curtat explained. “When you look at Starry Night, people remember this rumbling tumbling sky more than anything else. They remember these colors, these rich blues fighting with these orangey yellows. There's something really really powerful about the way Vincent used colors and movement to really express something that is beyond reality. It is a perfect example as to why Van Gogh is such a good fit for these experiences.”

Beyond Van Gogh delivers a brand-new way to experience art with rolling skies and blinking eyes. It allows a firsthand glimps into the movement and emotion he portrays in his paintings. The once still trees now sway in the wind. The stagnant seas have crashing waves. And the flower buds bloom high and low.

This is undoubtedly the way Van Gogh’s work deserves to be seen.

A ten-year art career turned into centuries of fame

IT

Local Local

5 Unique Local Shops

ONE COOL SHOP

Located in the corner of a small plaza in Avondale, this local shop sells items that are locally sourced or hand-made by the owners themselves. Whether you are looking to permanently spice up your home or decorate for the spooky season with unique pieces, this local shop is definitely worth the visit.

4070 Herschel St #5, Jacksonville, FL 32210 https://www.facebook.com/onecoolshop

5 POINTS VINTAGE

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SHOP LOCAL

Words by Ambar Ramirez

1Decreases your environmental impact (carbon footprint)

If you’re an avid online shopper, it may come as a surprise to find out that shipping produces one billion metric tons of C02 yearly. It may also be a surprise to know that industrial pollution is responsible for about 50% of pollution in the United States. When you shop locally, there is less traveling by car, less resource depletion, and less habitat loss.

Supports your local community and local economy

It is estimated that for every $100 spent at local shops, $48 is restituted to the local economy. That is 68% of your money being circulated locally versus only 48% of your money staying local when you buy through a chain. If that isn’t a kicker, according to a Huff Post article, if every US family were to spend $10 a month at a local business, $9.3 billion would go directly back into the local economy.

Creates more jobs

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses have created 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years. Small business employees also make up 99.7% of all US employees so supporting local shops is supporting people that are most likely your neighbors, friends, and family.

Supports innovation

Small businesses and local shops have to stand out and be unique with the products they sell to have any hopes of running a successful business. By shopping locally, you are supporting creativity and innovation within your community.

Quality and unique products

Quality over quantity, always! This point is simple and probably could go without being said but local shops mostly sell handmade or locally sourced items and give the best customer service. Providing an overall qualitative and real shopping experience versus what one might experience when shopping at large retailers or online.

Located in 5 points, this local vintage store sells a range of locally sourced items from different vendors. Old VCR movies, playboy magazines, a wide range of vintage clothes, and hand-made accessories are just a few things you can find at this unique shop.

1046 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 https://www.facebook.com/fivepointsvintage/

MIDNIGHT SUN

Right across from 5 Points Vintage, you’ll find another local gem, Midnight Sun. With respect to the 21+ years of travel to Bali, Nepal, India, and Thailand the owners of Midnight Sun work with local vendors to sell distinct items. Along with a range of eclectic accessories, clothing, and home decor, one can also find crystals, incense, and spiritual books at this one-of-a-kind store.

1055 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 https://midnightsunimports.net/

SAN MARCO BOOKSTORE

This one is for my book lovers and those that are looking to be transported back in time. This local bookstore was originally built and established in 1972. Though it has seen its fair share of family owners and renovations, this shop has always offered unique items when it comes to literature. From leather-bound vintage books to modern paperbacks, this local bookstore also offers themed matchbooks and playing cards. 1971 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207

https://www.sanmarcobooksandmore.com/

ATLANTIC BEACH ARTS MARKET

This local shop located right off of Mayport road is home to over 90 local artists. The shop offers a range of hand-made products like wall art, jewelry, and gifts as well as locally sourced vintage items. Whether you live by the beach or are in the area, this is a great spot to support the local community.

1805 Mayport Road Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 https://atlanticbeachartsmarket.com/

Trade of the Timeless

Alcorn grabs a container of wax and grease remover to clean his glasses as we sit down. He's been operating out of the current space for four years now, taking a typical car service building and tailoring it to his needs. A climate-controlled room is used to tape off the next paint job and store show bikes and sewing machines for custom seats/leather work, the walls lined with repurposed log cabin wood and scattered photos, trophies and keepsakes from various bike shows. Shelves behind him, lined with Sign Painter and House of Kolor cans — behind the wall the workshop where bikes come to life, followed by the paint booth. The shop operates as an appointmentonly location, and appointments are determined based on prior phone calls, where your specific needs are spoken about in detail.

"We build a handful of custom bikes a year, one-off custom bikes and then we do custom paint. All the other services that we do … wheel building or seats or metal fabrication that goes along with it, at this point … it's only offered on our bikes, you know, because I got to be careful,” Alcorn said. “I'll get some guy with a trike like — ‘Hey. Hey, man, I want you to build this [laughing.] The idea is to get people to come to you for your style. So you gotta start telling people — No."

Obviously, there's a long road that’s brought Alleyway to where it is today. A 1969 Ironhead Sportster Harley became the segue into a life of building custom bikes. The name Alleyway Kustoms stems from where Alcorn started to modify and paint his earliest works. At that point, it was just a hobby done with friends in a dirt alleyway behind a series of apartment buildings Alcorns’ grandfather owned in Jax Beach. He credits all the organization of his shop to his wife, who influenced him to take on this passion as a potential business.

Tucked into a rich forest of stray cats, deeply embedded in a section of one of the blue-collar working belts of Jacksonville, lives a tall red building with bay doors halfway open. Inside the hum of an air compressor powers a wall vacuum, paint fumes funneling through a filtration system in one room of the trade-enriched building. The main shop area is littered with motorcycle-related items that have spanned the test of time, engines from the 1940s, hand-built frames, tools, machinery, springer forks glimmering from beneath their covers, everything awaiting their turn to be of use. A current project that sits atop the bike lift awaiting its organs of power is the center of the conversation. A phone alarm suddenly chimes its interruption, mid-sentence: "Time to paint."

James "Fish" Alcorn disregards his current thought as he pulls his gas mask on and steps into his paint booth.

This is the tune of integral attention Alleyway Kustoms was built for with every minuscule detail planned out. Twenty-six years ago, Alcorn got his first Harley Davidson and it's been a love affair ever since. As I approached his shop for the first time, beyond the handwritten "shop closed to public" sign on the door, I’m waved onto the scene. A gas tank sits on the table, hand-drawn flames taped off for a layer of paint, punk rock playing in the background and a shop cat named Boots — her collarbell ringing a greeting.

Words and photos by Jordan Hoover

The name “Alleyway” once used as a clothing brand in cahoots with the band Kings of Hell, which Alcorn co-founded, then transformed into what we know today as a nationally-recognized custom bike conglomerate.

In 2018, Alcorn attended the Brush Masters Getaway, a so-called informal paint school, as he puts it. Made possible by “Mister Oz,” the gathering was Alcorn’s first in-town experience with top-level painters—and he had a notebook with eight pages of questions ready to further his knowledge of paint. Before that, all skills were learned with the help of local friends. “I worked out of a shop with Mike Wilson off of Beach Boulevard, and this guy would work there at night for extra money. He delivered organs for the Mayo Clinic during the day … and would come check out what we were doing and kind of give us pointers and stuff.” It’s all been hands-on learning for Alcorn since the beginning, seeking out a certain level of outcome he expects these days.

Like many stories these days, there is of course a COVID-19 relation somewhere. In 2020 Alcorn entered the People’s Champ Competition, affiliated with the infamous Born Free Bike Show in California. Three thousand people entered the contest via Internet submissions in hopes of being 1 of the 25 selected. After making the cut of 25, Alcorn made it through several rounds of Internet-based voting, eventually earning a spot in the final six and the chance to bring his bike to California for the show, where the final in-person vote happens. Unfortunately, the world shut down prior to the event, and after being pushed back a year, the contest reset with a new slew of hungry builders. Alcorn was offered a space to showcase his bike at the show that following year but missed his chance at taking home the People’s Champ Award, reminiscing on how that build still kick-started his career into the mainstream world of choppers. “Man, I did so many interviews and podcasts that year I feel like I didn’t even have time to work,” he said while pointing to a cover photo of the contest bike on Cycle Source magazine behind him.

Alcorn is still innovating, planning the next build and aspiring to become one of the invited builders for the actual Born Free Show, noting that a win there would be the most prestigious to him. Winning Born Free as a bike builder sets you on a path of notoriety, including a trip to show your bike at the world-renowned Moon Eyes show in Yokohama Japan, a true builders’ paradise. Alcorn makes note of other bike shows he enjoys being a part of like the Congregation show in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as the Central Florida Wheels of Steel show in Lakeland. These are some of the opportunities (besides obvious Bike Week shows in Daytona) for Jacksonvillians to get out there and see some of the work that Alleyway Kustoms produces.

You can also do a Google search for Alleyway Kustoms’s one-of-akind masterpieces, built right here in Jacksonville, or follow them on Instagram @alleywaykustoms or Facebook (/alleyway.kustoms.35).

“Knees in the breeze.”

its eye or to stick your hand in its gills and rip it out. It will give you enough time to get away and onto the shore by the time it realizes

“Just be cautious. If you see a fin, get out,” said Kazhuro. “It’s not worth messing around,”

Air potato leaf beetle skeletonizing air potato leaves.

Invasive exotic plants hurt ecosystems by displacing native plants and animals. Many, such as air potato, have been introduced as landscape plants and have gotten out of control. It is now illegal to plant air potato, but the plant spreads quickly on its own. Air potato leaf beetles help in the fight against the air potato plant in a number of ways.

You can get the beetles on UF's website but since it has been so succesful they will be changing the program soon.

Folio Weed Worst-Case Scenarios

Words by Shelton Hull

Last month’s column was all about my recommendations for people to vote for in the Aug. 23 Florida primaries with an eye toward our shared goal of continuing to build the state’s medical marijuana industry, hopefully even allowing for full recreational use, eventually. Well, let’s just say that pretty much all those people lost, meaning any ambitions we had along those lines are officially out the door, maybe forever. We had 29% turnout in Duval County, and mostly Republican, in a majority Democratic county, where Dems had much more on the line—utterly disgraceful, but we are pathologically incapable of shame.

DeSantis was, in my opinion, basically gifted reelection when state Dems conspired to freeze out Nikki Fried, allowing their personal issues with her to overshadow their supposed actual objective, which was to keep “that guy” out of the White House. With Fried out and Wilton Simpson presumably a lock to replace her as agriculture commissioner, we’ll be lucky if DeSantis allows the status quo to prevail in 2023 and beyond, or whether he acts quickly to put a check on an industry that really does him no favors, but which can’t be bothered to do themselves any favors, either. Maybe he’ll opt against being petty and retaliatory, for the first time in his life, but optimism has no place in Florida politics.

Within days of Fried’s defeat, DeSantis began making noise about increased fees for marijuana companies to do business in Florida when most of us were hoping for the opposite. “I would charge them an arm and a leg,” he said, and he probably will. This will certainly tamp down the entrepreneurial spirit and bring a dead stop to any dreams of a vastly expanded industry, but it’s a fitting punishment for the major dispensary chains. Like any good cartel, they have moved heaven and earth to ensure that Florida’s cannabis industry has remained under the control of a handful of large corporations, which have actively colluded to block any and all efforts toward full decriminalization of the plant.

This basically puts our state’s nearly 500 dispensaries in league with DeSantis. Of course, they won’t say this publicly, any more than Florida Dems would admit female candidates are better off not even bothering to run for governor. Sometimes they’re just playing dumb, but then sometimes they’re actually dumb. The difference is immaterial, as relates to this subject. The dispensary chains failed to properly support his biggest challenger, Fried, who is also the woman who made them all rich. And then, as soon as they had

served their purpose (which was specifically <not> to serve hers), the governor immediately declared his plans to screw them blue—bluer than the famous Blue Wave, which officially no longer exists.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health just imposed a strict 24,500 mg limit on the total THC content of smokable marijuana (which does not include vapes) that can be purchased by patients or prescribed by doctors every 70 days. They also imposed a limit of 2.5 ounces of flower, every 35 days, which would be like saying you’re only allowed to drink one case of beer per month. Why did they do this? Because they can, and what of it? We have no power to stop them, and any leverage we had was just given away.

So, since cannabisseurs in Florida are clearly not interested in being serious, let’s spend the rest of this column on fun and games, while such things are still available. Let’s start in St. Augustine, where you can always find interesting Back to School deals, especially this year, thanks to their local Cheba Hut. Have you heard of them before? Nor had I, until Kerry Speckman (who of course would know) told me. Cheba Hut is a cannabis-themed sandwich shop founded in Tempe, Arizona in 1998. Much like Jimmy Johns, Cheba Hut was born as a gimmick to appeal to college kids—specifically, the kids at Arizona State.

Fast-forward about 24 years, and Cheba Hut has over 1,200 employees working at nearly 50 locations across the country, two of which are in Florida–one in East Orlando and the other on Anastasia Boulevard. Aesthetics always matter in the restaurant business, especially when a particular aesthetic is central to its branding. And when it comes to branding, these folks have it down to a science. Each sandwich is named after a different, classic strain of marijuana, some of which haven’t been heard from in years: Thai Stick, Kali Mist, Jamaican Red, Acapulco Gold, White Widow, AK-47, G-13, Pakalolo. (They also sell Kool-Aid!)

How’s the food? I have no idea. The bread is housemade, but the ingredients seem like pretty standard sub shop fare, although the veggie sub menu does show some serious creativity. One would naturally assume that sandwiches made for stoners, by stoners, are a gimmick that is almost impossible to screw up. But, of course, this is Florida, and we are very good at screwing up things that are seemingly impossible to screw up: the 2022 election, for example, which we will thankfully never have to talk about again.

Naked and Not Ashamed: Nude Recreation in Jax

Words by Teresa Spencer

After last issue’s article about the growing sport of pickleball, we heard a rumor about nude pickleball becoming the next big recreational sporting trend in Northeast Florida. After a little research, we learned nude pickleball, along with a whole lot of other clothing-optional activities, is true but not necessarily in Jacksonville.

Bottom line (pardon the pun), we discovered there is just about every kind of sport available for those that like to bare their bums for more than just sun, including but certainly not limited to volleyball (beach and water), tennis, horseshoes, horseback riding, dancing, nature hiking and running. Nude sports aren’t a new thing as the first real nudist outing in America occurred in 1929. It wasn’t so easy for nude enthusiasts at the time, though, as legal troubles came into play as the public acceptance of nudism was slow to develop. It wasn’t until the 1970s that attitudes began to change. In 1972 the California Supreme Court declared that “nudity” was not itself illegal unless accompanied by “lewdness” opening the door for future pro-nudist legislation and for more nudists to strut their stuff. Fast forward to 2022 and times have certainly changed. Today there are parks, beaches, resorts, casinos, cruises and clubs all over the country dedicated to naturism (which has become the preferred term for nudism). Folks who participate claim being nude around others promotes positive body image, boosts self-esteem and gives a sense of freedom. Hence, a belief that it is good and healthy to wear no clothes is considered being a naturist.

In 2014 a petition was launched to create a clothing-optional area in Jacksonville Beach, but it didn’t get far, as the Jacksonville Beach mayor at the time made it clear that wasn’t happening on his watch. Another attempt, which garnered more than 2,500 signatures, was made for a quarter-mile section of Hanna Park to be designated clothing-optional, but local politicians were quick to shut that idea down too.

Not having a legally-designated areas hasn’t stopped local naturists from enjoying their freedoms, however. Jacksonville is the home to First Coast Naturists and the Northeast Florida Naturists. Both include members from various walks of life, income levels, races, creeds and religious beliefs. To be clear, neither of these organizations is a swingers group. Rather, they vow to practice non-sexual, ethical nudism at club events and offer gardening, bowling, swimming, dancing, camping and even naked karaoke.

Until Jacksonville leaders get their butts out of the sand and designate a clothing-optional beach, anyone looking to sunbathe buck naked on the soft sands of Florida’s coastline can check out Playalinda Beach near Titusville, Haulover Beach in Ft. Lauderdale and Blind Creek Beach in Port St. Lucie. Just remember to follow nude beach etiquette like not parking your blanket directly next to another person. And for the love of Poseidon, please don’t run down the beach sans clothes (for obvious reasons). Also, bring a friend and avoid any type of sexual activity—no smooches with your partner even. It should go without saying, but, don’t gawk. Respect the environment and keep it clean. NO PHOTOS PLEASE! If you’re more of a private resort type of person, there are three in Northeast Florida you can frolic around in your birthday suit. Hidden River in Macclenny, Sunny Sands in Pierson and the Suwannee Valley Resort in White Springs. They have a slew of recreation activities, as well, except for pickleball. But we figure that’s only a matter of time.

A final note: Folio is not suggesting you go out in public naked. Seriously, we have enough Florida men (and women) doing that already. Plus, it’s also against the law to frolic in the buff in unapproved areas. (FYI, an indecent exposure charge is punishable up to a year in jail.) In other words, keep your birthday suits where they belong—in private or legally designated spaces.

DECEMBER

VULCANO

BENOIT

DIRTY DOZEN

COLLINS

FEBRUARY

4 DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD

9 STEP AFRIKA!

STEP AFRIKA! FOR SCHOOLS

16 THE TEMPTATONS AND THE FOUR TOPS

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE

MANIA- THE ABBA TRIBUTE

JUSTIN WILLMAN

HARRIET TUBMAN AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Fla. National Guard rank

Beach shoe

Jags' new coach...and an anagram of 23-Across and 10and 39-Down

part

Facts, briefly

Guesstimate phrase

Kind of exam

Bearded Pig rotisserie rods

WJAX military series

Queue

Indian coin

Subside

College official

Go on a spree

Spelunker

first on

Court

Brief summary

tip for a puzzle solver?

on a Magic scoreboard

kin

Louie

of

31 Medicinal plants

32 Religious doctrine

JSO traffic stopper, at times

Dictionary entry

"Welcome" site

New geeky yoga position?

Hankering

In sum

Meat package letters

Jumbo Shrimp minor league level

Cause to stumble

Starting strategy

Atlantic Beach Mayor Glasser

Marsh bird

Frequently

Beat, but barely

Spooky sounding Great Lake

Center of Tampa's area code

TV pioneer

Spanish ayes

Soon-to-be JU grads

Jags help

that used to

Miracle and

Fond du ___, Wis.

Johns River slithery

run!"

Coast HS

Sol

My wife of 12 years had an old boyfriend reach out to her on Facebook. They exchanged pleasantries and got caught up on one another's lives. I had and still have zero problem with that. However, I think the conversation is still going and that it may be at a level I’m not comfortable with.

I need to know if I should say something. I resist because I don’t want to look like a jealous husband. But my gut tells me something is going on.

“Chris” Atlantic Beach

SHARI AND TERRY

TERRY: Oh, the powers of social media.

SHARI: Well, “Chris,” you’ve come to the right place. This just recently happened to us. An old boyfriend of mine found me in hopes of reuniting.

TERRY: Oh, that’s right. Hey, you gotta shoot your shot. But I think you handled it well. Or did you? LOL

SHARI: Ha! Yes, I sent him packing.

TERRY: Yes. You told me all about it, which on one hand I appreciated and on the other hand, I wanted to send him packing the “Terry way.”

SHARI: In your case, “Chris,” my guess is that your gut is right and that there is still some form of communication going on.

TERRY: And that puts “Chris” in a tough position. To give it too much attention you look like you’re jealous and worst of all, it looks like you don’t trust your wife to do the right thing.

SHARI: I think if you calmly approach her and tell her if she’s still in communication that it makes you feel uncomfortable. You won’t look jealous, you just look like a husband.

TERRY: Yes, you need to talk to her about it “Chris.” Plus you need to see her face when you do. You’ll be able to tell if she’s full of crap by her body language.

SHARI: That or she has to poop.

TERRY: Let’s stay focused here. My man’s heart is breaking.

SHARI: Yes, it has to be dealt with.

TERRY: I wish we could help you more. But the truth is that your wife has to either cease communication with him because she wants to or become another social media statistic.