RESIDENTNEWS.NET | DECEMBER 2019, VOL. 13, ISSUE 12
FIERCELY LOCAL NEWS ... FIERCELY LOYAL READERS
RIVERSIDE . AVONDALE . ORTEGA . MURRAY HILL
Spectacular Christmas display lights up Venetia
Poverty-fighting avengers inspire record donations Kyle Enriquez and Bruce Musser rubbed shoulders with DESC’s four poverty-fighting avengers during the nonprofit’s first ever DESC DEFENDERS Superhero Challenge Gala in November. READ MORE, PAGE 33
Jack Wheeler’s music-and-Christmas-lights show will run Dec. 1-31 from 6-9 p.m. every evening at 4204 Garibaldi Avenue, on the corner of Garibaldi and Cellini Way. By Jennifer Edwards Resident Community News
Venetia resident Jack Wheeler, 13, has always loved ABC’s The Christmas Light Fight, which pits contestants against each other in a race to complete the best and most elaborate light display in pursuit of $50,000 and a trophy. That’s why his home now has
one of the most unique and methodically programmed displays around. “I’ve always loved watching these overthe-top Christmas displays, and I was like, ‘Mom, I want to do this.’ But she said, ‘No, the neighbors will hate it,’” recalled the James Weldon Johnson seventh grader. That’s why he saved all his birthday money when he was 11 – in order to overcome his
mother’s resistance and create his own elaborate display, which he has dubbed “Jack’s Christmas Lights Spectacular.” Now in its third year at the family home on the corner of Garibaldi Avenue and Cellini Way, the display has grown to more than 7,000 lights with two controllers, pulsing in perfect time with six different Christmas songs. Wheeler created the music program CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
Exotic ambience wows crowd
Enjoying the exotic allure of the Far East that pervaded the atmosphere of River Garden’s Night in Shanghai gala Nov. 16 at the Sawgrass Marriott were Ed Grenadier with Jody Brandenburg, Lorelei and Juan Carlos Figueroa and Ann Grenadier. READ MORE, PAGE 26
Angling to help marine conservation St. Johns Riverkeeper Executive Director Jimmy Orth joined Wes Southworth and Jim Orth at the Coastal Conservation Association Jacksonville’s annual banquet and auction Nov. 7. READ MORE, PAGE 24
Construction at 1661 brings improvements, irritation By Jennifer Edwards Resident Community News
Construction has entered its final phase at the condo and retail complex known as 1661 Riverside, and it’s bringing residents and merchants both pleasure and irritation. The construction includes major repairs to the mixed-use development, which was built in 2007 but suffered from water intrusion and needed complete window and door replacements. The project started in February of last year and will stretch into May of the coming year, said John G a l u p p o, R L H C o n s t r u c t i o n superintendent. The complex is girded by Margaret, May and Oak streets, and construction equipment currently sits in the spots in front of the retail storefronts on Margaret Street. Scaffolding covers the façade on that side from the second story up and parking is being directed to the parking garage on the same street. Construction has affected 90 condos and eight businesses in the development. Gunnel Humphreys, who owns Edge City in Five Points, has a condo on the Margaret Street side and said she is looking forward to the results of the construction and is not bothered too much by the fuss in the meantime. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Former Ambassador addresses Florida Forum
Laura Magevney and Kay Armstrong joined Bentley and Katherine Forrester in listening to Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley discuss her new book and other experiences she had working with President Donald Trump during the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Florida Forum lecture series Oct. 28. READ MORE PAGE 23
I N H O M E S BY D E C E M B E R 5 T H, 2 0 1 9
