• The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at St. Vincent’s Healthcare has been approved for full accreditation by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The center now qualifies for additional funding from the national organization and will have access to the latest research and treatments in addition to the nationwide cystic fibrosis patient database. According to St. Vincent’s spokesperson Erik Kaldor, the local center currently serves 27 patients in North Florida who no longer have to go to Tampa or Gainesville for treatment.
• Today’s the day: According to the Americans for Tax Reform, a self-described “non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases,” the average Florida taxpayer has had to work 194 days – until July 13 – to pay off his or her share of government spending this year. Last year’s debt-free day fell on July 11.
• Florida’s state budget for FY 2007-08 included $33 million to expand and improve local parks, with $475,000 earmarked for North Florida. The Reddie Point Preserve in Arlington has been funded for picnic facilities, an exercise trail, a fishing pier and dock and parking. Archie Dickinson Park, also in Arlington, will get a playground, a skate park, basketball and tennis courts, parking and restrooms. Emmanuel Williams Memorial Park in Baldwin is budgeted for a playground and picnic pavilion.
• The Jacksonville Suns awarded Sam Perry, a recent graduate of Fletcher High School, the inaugural Bragan Award for the Most Outstanding High School Baseball Player in North Florida. He was chosen by a panel of experts who are familiar with local high school baseball and finalized by Suns President Peter Bragan, Jr. Perry will receive the award at Saturday’s game against the Birmingham Barons and he will continue to play baseball at the University of North Florida.
• The Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership will host the second annual Northeast Florida Regional Roundtable on Economic Development. The event is designed to bring together stakeholders, political officials and economic development practitioners from northeast Florida. The event is from 8 a.m.-Noon July 20 at the St. Johns County Convention Center at The World Golf Village. The keynote speaker is Bob Farley, president of economic development for AngelouEconomics.
• Regional artist Sarah Crooks Flaire will be teaching an art class “Modernism in Nature: Mixed Media on Paper” from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. For more information or if you are interested in attending and want to register please call 355-0630.
“Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has to take the place of the victim and on his behalf demand atonement or grant forgiveness; it is the one crime in which society has a direct interest.”
– W.H. Auden