First Coast Gears: Cars & Coffee, Big George show

Submitted by Bill Bortzfield, First Coast News Digital Director

Friday, December 14th, 2012, 9:24pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A dreary day couldn't keep car and motorcyclist enthusiasts away from the 4th Annual Big George Car and Bike Show last Saturday. The annual event honored the life and memory of George Wolfe, a guy that loved hot rods, bikes, loud music, food and being surrounded by folks having fun.

Held at Adamec Harley-Davidson on Baymeadows, music was provided by Rip Currents while local car clubs brought along their rides.

Among the modern classics was Oscar Toledo's 2010 Dodge Challenger, which he's customized with a Christian motif. "Well my Challenger, I use it as a way to get people to know God and to give them Bibles for those that don't have any. Not just for adults but also for kids," said Toledo.

The engine bay features a dress-up kit that Toledo purchased online. He then had a Middleburg fireman paint it with crosses.

Other custom touches include a custom hidden headlights grille, LED lighting throughout and a monster sound system.

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Retired JEA workers feel entitled to pay raise

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Monday, December 10th, 2012, 8:23pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After 20 years with JEA, Albert Fason retired in January 2012.

"JEA was a good company to work for," said Fason. "But I think what's happening is the JEA is a corporation and corporations do not give up anything."

Fason said while he was working, there was a dispute between the JEA and the City over who had the authority to implement a contract with a 3 percent raise.

"Our CEO (Jim) Dickenson tried to convince them that JEA employees should get the raise. It didn't work out so they denied the raise," he said.

But it was not over. The five unions representing JEA employees filed an unfair labor practice charge and in October 2012, it was settled. JEA had the right to implement the contract, not the city.

"The JEA paid all current employees a 3 percent pay raise for the fiscal year 2012 starting October 1, 2011 through October 1, 2012," said Fason.

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28 pedestrians, 9 bicyclists killed in Jax in 2012

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Monday, December 10th, 2012, 7:56pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This year, 28 pedestrians and nine bicyclists have been killed in Jacksonville. Last week, a teenager was hit at a Mandarin crosswalk and shedding light on how often pedestrians become victims of traffic accidents.

18-year-old Savanah Sappington suffered a scare when she was hit last week while crossing San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin on her bike. She's recovering from two broken ribs, a broken clavicle, and two fractures on her cheek, but is also sending out a warning to fellow pedestrians.

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Teen hit at crosswalk on bike warns pedestrians

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Monday, December 10th, 2012, 6:53pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A teenager hit by a car while crossing the street in Mandarin last week is now recovering and wants to warn other pedestrians about the dangerous intersection.

"Right now, I'm just focusing on healing more than anything cause I need to get better so I can go on with my life," said 18-year-old Savanah Sappington, who was hit at a crosswalk December 4th.

Sappington is a senior at Mandarin High School. Last week, she was on her way to a hair salon on San Jose Boulevard to find out about getting her hair dyed. She wants to find a job soon and make a good impression. But she never made it to the salon.

The teen said she pushed the crosswalk button on Loretto Road at the intersection of San Jose Boulevard and didn't have enough time to reach the other side.

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Blue Bell ice cream truck overturns on I-295

Submitted by Amanda Zitzman, Traffic Anchor/Reporter

Monday, December 10th, 2012, 11:37am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Blue Bell ice cream truck overturned early Monday morning shutting down Interstate 295 southbound near San Jose Boulevard.

The truck was driving southbound on I-295 in the center lane as traffic was slowing due to a traffic crash that had already occurred in that area. The single-vehicle accident involved an overturned SUV in the left lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A third vehicle crossed over two lanes from the left lane into the right lane in front of the Blue Bell ice cream truck, according to FHP. At this point, troopers don't have any information on this third vehicle, but said the ice cream truck turned right to avoid that vehicle, entered the right emergency lane, and then overcorrected to enter the right lane. That caused it to turn over onto its left side.

When the truck finally stopped it was blocking the left and center lanes.

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Enter to Win: Discover New Fantasyland and make Disney memories all year long!

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Friday, December 7th, 2012, 1:01am

Enter to Win: Discover New Fantasyland and make Disney memories all year long!

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Enter for a chance to discover new Fantasyland and make Disney memories all year long!

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Neighbors tired of looking at foreclosed eyesore

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, December 6th, 2012, 8:02pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In a Beauclerc neighborhood where the lawns are manicured and the homes well-decorated, the neighbors don't like the house across the street.

"We've watched the condition of the property deteriorate," said David Harril.

"Nothing has been done to the property," said Chris Harril.

The house is another foreclosure tragedy, but neighbors ask 'does it have to look like this?'

"No one is taking responsibility to either keep it up or keep it safe," said David Harril.

The Harril family is afraid that the now-ugly piece of property could become a place for squatters.

"We're concerned that somebody might come in and start using it for purposes we do not want in our neighborhood," he said.

But their immediate concern is the danger it poses to the community. The fence has collapsed and the public is exposed to a nasty looking swimming pool.

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