• Physicians at St. Vincent’s Medical Center are taking steps towards reducing some of the anxiety many women experience when diagnosed with breast cancer by creating a multidisciplinary breast clinic where they can both visit doctors and discuss treatment options in one appointment. According to St. Vincent’s radiation oncologist Dr. Ryan Perkins, the clinic will hopefully streamline the process of diagnosis and treatment for patients and allow them to get options and information at one time instead of over weeks or months. To schedule an appointment at the clinic, call 308-7411.
• The Meninak Club of Jacksonville is currently accepting applications for its annual Charity Project award. The $30,000 grant is awarded to a Duval County-area charitable organization that serves underprivileged or handicapped children and must be used for capital improvements. The winner will be announced Sept. 17. The deadline to submit applications is July 16. For an application, call 745-3393.
• Armor Bearer, Inc. and Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew are teaming to host a football mini-camp June 6-8 at Andrew Jackson High. The camp is for kids age 6-14 and culminates with the “Future Leader’s Luncheon” at noon on June 8. In addition to football, the kids will learn about the importance of education, personal safety, Internet safety, bike and seat belt safety. Those sessions will be taught by members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
• Learn to Read Jacksonville recently received a $12,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. According to Learn to Read Executive Director Heather Corey the money will be used to buy new computer workstations and software for the adult literacy organization’s computer lab.
• Police and Fire Pension Fund Executive Director John Keane used most of the front of his recent newsletter to explain to members how the property tax issue statewide may affect the pensions of local police officers and firefighters. “All of the news from the State Capitol is BAD NEWS,” wrote Keane, who also told his members their money is safe. “All pension benefits you have earned are safe, don’t believe otherwise.”
“The essence of our effort to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each an equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become different—to realize whatever unique potential of body, mind and spirit he or she possesses.”
– John Fischer, former Dean of the Teachers College at Columbia University