The Green Erth Bistro recently opened on Hendricks Avenue. Many of you probably read the Times-Union article quoting the proprietor of the Green Erth Bistro calling that stretch of Hendricks the “ghetto” of San Marco. Controversy aside, the owners are extremely kind people who cook great food.

And now for the good news. if you are out of work or looking for additional work, the Green Erth Bistro is hiring. If you need a job, stop in at 1520 Hendricks Avenue.

Have you eaten at the Green Erth Bistro yet? What did you think?

TAG has announced a new repeat customer incentive. If you choose to dine at TAG on a Saturday and present your receipt from a previous meal at TAG, you can save 20% off your bill. To qualify, your bill must be at least $10.00. So next time you dine at TAG make sure your get your receipt and remember to hold onto it. So spending money at TAG could save you money the next time you come in.

TAG also offers wine specials on Thursday nights with wine by the glass for $4. Thursday night is Affair in the Square in San Marco with shops open late and bars and restaurants offering various specialties. TAG is a yummy place to start off a Thursday night in San Marco.

Real Estate Agent Test Drive is hosting a blood drive this afternoon. From 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., they will be hosting a blood drive with the help of the Blood Alliance. The blood drive will be held in the parking lot of Real Estate Agent Test Drive at 1671 Atlantic Boulevard. All donors will be entered in a drawing for gift cards from San Marco businesses. With the holidays approaching, the Blood Alliance is in need of blood donations. Stop by before 6:00 today!

One of our favorite place to find the best shirts and jeans, Rosie True, is offering a 50% sale on the entire store. All sales items are final. Everything is on sale: shoes, accessories, clothes. The sale is on now. So if things are 50% off is it ok to buy double? I think that adds up.

If you can’t take advantage of the sale, you can enter to win a $1,000 make-over from the Rosie True Girls. Every moth they will pick a winner for a full hair, make-up and style make-over. Nominate a friend, relative, co-worker, neighbor and see the Rosie True transformation. Rosie True plans to continue the monthly make-overs until they have styled all of Jacksonville. Sort of like fashion’s answer to the Better Jacksonville Plan. Join the fashion revolution.

From the owners of the Southern Grill comes The Q. Breakfast, lunch and dinner BBQ style. Think of all your southern favorites: biscuits and gravy, corn nuggets, ribs, pulled pork and add a choice of sauces and traditional sides like blacked eyed peas. The Q is located on San Marco Boulevard, across from OE&S in what used to be the San Marco Grille. San Marco’s The Q is the first in a plan to franchise around the city. The service is prompt, the food is great, and t-shirts are already in the restaurant available for purchase. The Q is also available to cater your next event. Just be sure to bring plenty of napkins.

Local folk band, Meridian, is back to headline Saturdays in the Square at a new time. This Saturday, June 26th, Meridian will perform a free concert at 5:00 p.m. in Balis Park. Balis Park is the gazebo in the center of San Marco Square. Bring friends and family, all ages are welcome at this free concert. Enjoy the melodic sounds of Meridian and before strolling through the Square for some shopping or a bite to eat. Meridian is an acoustic folk band made up of talented musicians with extensive experience in folk music. If you missed Meridian’s concert in May, you don’t want to miss this one! Get out and enjoy the sunny weather and a pre-dinner concert.

Saturdays in the Square are a series of ongoing free community activities presented by San Marco Preservation Society.

Last week, San Marco lost a dear friend and longtime resident, Barbara Puckett. The San Marco Preservation Society was in the process of establishing the first ever lifetime achievement award in honor of all of Barbara’s contributions to our amazing neighborhood. The lifetime achievement award was presented in memoriam to Barbara Puckett with her family accepting the award on her behalf.

The San Marco Preservation Society Lifetime Achievement Award read as follows:
Barbara Denmark Puckett was the heart of this community for the majority of her life.  She is truly a “native”, growing up on West Cove Lane and later returning in the 1970’s to raise her family at the corner of West Cove and River Oaks.

Our neighborhood flourished under the nurturing leadership of our own “Steel Magnolia”.  Barbara’s involvement in San Marco Preservation Society spans more than three decades. She was San Marco Preservation Society Membership Chair from 1986 until 1990.  She grew this organization from double digits to over 400 strong in a few short years.  She cleverly divided the neighborhood into color-coded zones with block captains and memorable zone parties.  Very few people could say “no” to Barbara!  She proudly publicized the beauty of the neighborhood as Beautification Chair and connected our neighborhood with the San Marco business community as Merchant Liaison.  Even after the honor of Director Emeritus was bestowed on Barbara in 1995, she relentlessly researched neighborhood history as the SMPS Historian.  Certainly, it was not uncommon to find Barbara digging around the city archives in the old library and later delving into online resources investigating old public records and photos.

Barbara Puckett will be remembered as a catalyst to the success of this incredible neighborhood.  All of us are daily beneficiaries of her dedication, her tenaciousness, her sense of beauty and her sincere love of San Marco.  Indeed, Barbara served all of us, mentored many of us and will remain forever in our hearts and we, in her debt.

Greetings to all in beautiful San Marco. I’d like to update everyone on a few projects in the neighborhood.

Most pressing on the agenda is the oft-delayed San Marco Boulevard Streetscape Project that was to have started by now. As I mentioned in my Councilman’s Corner a few months ago, due to bidding and awarding issues, the project had to be delayed. At this writing we still do not have a construction start date set. We are very cognizant, however, of the concerns the San Marco Merchant Association has in regards to possible disruption of their business during the holiday season, and our project and construction managers will do their best to accommodate them when the time comes. The two-year project will be done in eight, two-block sections, starting at either the Naldo Avenue end or the Prudential Drive end. The start location of the project will be determined just prior to the start of construction. As a reminder, there will be one pre-construction meeting for residents and merchants prior to the start date, with notices going out to all affected parties.

One project that is in the works is the beautification of the Hendricks Medians. I secured funding to plant trees in approximately 29 medians running south from Dunsford Road to University Boulevard. This project will also include removal of existing trees that are dead or in poor health, and the replacement of topsoil. Due to recently added DOT regulations, the project start date is yet to be determined, however, it shouldn’t be too long.

We have a few park projects in the works. The F.E.C. Park walking path construction should be starting soon. Documents and plans are being reviewed and finalized. Once started, construction should last about 45 days. The Granada neighborhood has been very active in securing new, ADA-accessible playground equipment for Granada Park. The contract has been executed and installation should commence soon. Due to failing health, a Landon Park water oak will be taken down and a live oak will be planted in its place. With the diligence and hard work of the San Marco Preservation Society, Lillian Davin Park on River Oaks Road will have new tree lights installed in a few months. For our dog walkers out there, two dog stations have been added in the neighborhood. One at Greenridge Road Park on San Jose Blvd. and one at the Colonial Manor Lake (Duck Pond) Park. As a reminder to all, we do have a City-enforced leash law, so please try to keep your pets secure for the safety and comfort of all.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding these or any other issues affecting San Marco, please feel free to give my office a call at 630-1382. In addition, 630-CITY is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to report any nuisance property, traffic, park, or garbage pick-up issues. This service is also available on-line through City Services at coj.net.

Thanks to all of you for being such great neighbors and caring so much for our fabulous San Marco neighborhood.  Take care and see you soon.

Affair in the Square is getting all dressed up tonight. This week only, local boutiques will host a fashion show at Square One. Don’t miss all the latest summer trends from all your favorite local shops. Tickets can be purchased in advance at participating boutiques or at the door. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. Be there or be square.

Marks Gray P.A., located in the Stein Mart Building on Riverplace Boulevard, has been recognized by one of the top legal publications in the state. Eight of Marks Gray’s twenty-six lawyers were named to Florida Super Lawyers® magazine as some of the top attorneys in Florida for 2010. A remarkable accomplishment considering that only five percent of lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers.

Marks Gray attorneys honored include:
Victor M. Halbach
Gerald W. Weedon (this year is Mr. Weedon’s 5th consecutive year on the list)
Nicholas V. Pulignano, Jr.
William M. Corley
Jeptha F. Barbour
Allison H. Hauser
Susan S. Erdelyi
Marianne Lloyd Aho

Additionally, four Marks Gray attorneys, Giselle Carson, Paul E. Bueker, Stella J. Lane and Meagan L. Logan, were named to the magazine’s Rising Stars list for 2010.

Firm president, Jerry Weedon had this to say, “To have almost half of Marks Gray’s attorneys named to the 2010 Florida Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists is tremendous. I believe it is a testament to the dedicated and successful group of people we have working here.”