Lights, water, music: Friendship Fountain to sparkle again on the Southbank
Friendship Fountain on the Southbank is set to reclaim its spotlight as it reopens after remodeling. We witnessed the mesmerizing spectacle of lights, dancing water, and music as workers tested the fountain in preparation for its grand reopening. Join the public on February 15 for the third Thursday Sip and Stroll event on the Southbank Riverwalk to celebrate this long-awaited attraction. Mayor Donna Deegan will mark the occasion by synchronizing the fountain with music. The final testing phase is almost complete, and the fences surrounding the fountain are being removed, allowing everyone to enjoy the magnificent view.
In Florida's Old South, a new political battleground emerges
“Black voters in this part of the state are critical to winning statewide,” said Adrianne Shropshire, the executive director of BlackPAC. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 40,000 registered voters in Duval County, and more than half of the county's Democrats are African American. That was not the case when Hillary Clinton lost in Duval County to Trump in 2016. The area has also been a proving ground for Trump's attempt to peel off some Black voters — especially Black men — from Democrats. In Duval County, she won by a margin of fewer than 3,000 votes.
Latest makeover could leave Friendship Fountain almost unrecognizable
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A city landmark is about to get another makeover. And this time, you may not recognize Friendship Fountain on Jacksonville's Southbank. A developer has just about finished the design work that calls for a major million-dollar upgrade of the fountain and surrounding park. For decades, Friendship Fountain has been an iconic spot in Jacksonville. But even after spending millions in 2011 for a major renovation, the fountain is still a puddle of its former self and is not working properly.
Hundreds walk in Jacksonville to make point about breast cancer
The Sisters Network of Northeast Florida is striving to educate the community about the higher death rate for African American breast cancer patients and try to change those statistics by encouraging women of color to get tested for breast cancer. Lena Jordan is a breast cancer survivor who took part in the event. She has been a breast cancer survivor for 19 years. Studies show that African American women are more likely to get breast cancer at a younger age and have twice the death rate from breast cancer than Caucasian women of the same age. And for women already fighting breast cancer, Jordan hopes to inspire them with a book she just released.
Friendship Fountain loses sparkle for 4th of July
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the city gets ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, much of the attention will be on downtown Jacksonville. But some longtime city landmarks have lost their luster. The Jacksonville Landing is now closed and Friendship Fountain on the Southbank needs work. When Friendship Fountain opened in 1965, it was reported to be one of the tallest and largest in the country. "You dont want to bring people here anymore because it doesnt work properly.In 2011, the city spent close to $3 million upgrading the fountain and adding the high-tech light fixtures.
Friendship Fountain losses sparkle for 4th of July
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the city gets ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, much of the attention will be on downtown Jacksonville. But some longtime city landmarks have lost their luster. The Jacksonville Landing is now closed and Friendship Fountain on the Southbank needs work. When Friendship Fountain opened in 1965, it was reported to be one of the tallest and largest in the country. "You dont want to bring people here anymore because it doesnt work properly.In 2011, the city spent close to $3 million upgrading the fountain and adding the high-tech light fixtures.