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November 2011.pdfn o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 v o l . 7 n o . 1 1 C i t y o f A t l A n t i C b e A C h n e w s l e t t e r november 2011 Nov 8 Code Enforcement Board / 6 pm Nov 11 CITY OFFICES CLOSED / Veteran’s Day Nov 14 City Commission Meeting / 6 pm Swearing In Ceremony Nov 15 Community Development Board / 6 pm Nov 17 Pension Board / 6:30 pm Nov 24-25 CITY OFFICES CLOSED Nov 28 City Commission Meeting / 6 pm deCember 2011 Dec 6 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee / 6 pm Dec 12 City Commission Meeting / 6 pm Dec 23 & 26 CITY OFFICES CLOSED Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise indicated. * These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd. november 2011 Nov 2 Mid-Week Market / Bull Park / 4-7 pm Nov 9 Mid-Week Market / Bull Park / 3-6 pm Nov 16 Mid-Week Market / Bull Park / 3-6 pm Nov 17 Holiday Artisans’ Faire / Adele Grage / 5-9 pm Nov 19 MarshFest / Dutton Island / 10 am-3 pm Nov 20 Songwriters’ Concert / Adele Grage /6-8 pm Nov 23 Mid-Week Market / Bull Park / 3-6 pm Nov 30 Mid-Week Market / Bull Park / 3-6 pm deCember 2011 Dec 3 Holiday Celebration – Town Center Dec 18 Songwriters’ Concert / Adele Grage / 6-8 pm Dec 15 North Beaches Art Walk Town Center & Adele Grage / 5-9 pm Reception for the Artist / Adele Grage / 6-8 pm for the latest information, visit www.coab.us/events or www.coab.us/recreation “Like” us on facebook! Begin Your Holiday Shopping Early This Year As the holiday shopping season quickly approaches, keep in mind that we have wonderful local shopping opportunities if you are inclined to look for special gifts in a pleasant and calmer environment rather than fight the traffic, crowds and madness of the malls and big box stores. Our Town Center has many wonderful small shops and will once again be a colorful and festive holiday scene unique to any other in the Jacksonville area. North Beaches Art Walk on Thursday, November 17th, 5-9pm will be the perfect opportunity to enjoy the area and find special gift items at local shops and from Art Walk participants. Our retailers and restaurants need your support. On November 17th, the Adele Grage Cultural Center will host the annual Holiday Artisans’ Faire, the largest North Beaches Art Walk exhibit. This one night only event will feature 15 exceptional artists displaying their unique and exceptional gifts for the holiday season. City offiCiAls Mike Borno, Mayor Carolyn Woods, Commissioner John Fletcher, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Hanson, City Manager Jonathan Daugherty, Commissioner Alan Jensen, City Attorney Paul Parsons, Commissioner Donna Bartle, City Clerk www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800 November 2011 Nov 2 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm Nov 9 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm Nov 16 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm Nov 17 Holiday Artisans’ Faire – Adele Grage 5-9 pm Nov 19 MarshFest – Dutton Island Preserve 10am – 3pm Nov 20 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm Nov 23 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm Nov 30 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm December 2011 Dec 3 Holiday Celebration – Town Center Dec 18 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm Dec 15 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele Grage 5-9 pm Reception for the Artist – Adele Grage 6-8 pm For the latest information, visit www.coab.us/events or www.coab.us/recreation “Like” us on facebook! Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting The Beaches Town Center along with the Cities of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are sponsoring a holiday kick-off celebration on Saturday, December 3rd. The festivities will begin at 3 pm with a bike parade through Town Center. Everyone is invited to decorate their bikes and join in the fun. There will be many activities to keep the little ones busy including music, dance performances, face painting, arts and crafts for all ages and carriage rides. The Mayors of both cities will light the community tree and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by sleigh at 6 pm for the tree lighting and visit with the kids. For more information, go to www.beachestowncenter.com. Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting The Beaches Town Center along with the Cities of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are sponsoring a holiday kick-off celebration on Saturday, December 3rd. The festivities will begin at 3:00 pm with a bike parade through Town Center. Everyone is invited to decorate their bikes and join in the fun. There will be many activities to keep the little ones busy including music, dance performances, face painting, arts and crafts for all ages and carriage rides. The Mayors of both cities will light the community tree and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by sleigh at 6 pm for the tree lighting and visit with the kids. For more information, go to www.beachestowncenter.com. Holiday Hours For City Offices City Offices will be closed on Friday, November 11th for Veterans Day and on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th for the Thanksgiving holiday. You may have noticed contractors doing utility work in your neighborhood recently. Most of these have been repairing or replacing water and sewer lines. Repairs to our utilities have been ongoing for many years, although the availability of several federal and state grants has allowed us to do a few more projects than usual. Why do we spend money on things that appear to be working? The reasons are a bit different for water and sewer lines. Years ago, iron was the material of choice for water mains, but many of those lines have rusted to a point where they are leaking water which wastes a valuable resource that we should protect. In some cases, they have rusted so badly that it restricts the flow and may discolor your water. We often put in larger lines than those being replaced to increase the flow for fire protection. Most older sewer lines were made of clay. The problem with clay is that it cracks easily. During dry times, wastewater can leak out and create an unwanted source of pollution. The problem is just as bad in rainy times or when the water table is above the sewer line causing storm water to leak in. Too much leakage into the sewer lines can create sewer overflows or flood out the wastewater treatment plants resulting in poorly treated sewage being discharged into our waterways. Because of this work, Atlantic Beach has not had any overflows because of rain storms in recent years and has greatly reduced the amount of rainwater that has gotten to the treatment plants. Unlike the old cast iron water mains, it is usually easier to put in liners for the sewer lines instead of replacing them. Lining creates a fiberglass-type coating on the inside of the pipes which should last for another 50 years. One big advantage in lining is that there is a lot less digging and less disruption to the neighborhoods. Besides saving money on emergency repairs from street cave-ins, these projects can reduce the cost to build and maintain water and wastewater plants. We don’t need larger water plants if we can reduce loss before it gets to your house and we don’t need larger wastewater plants if we can keep from having to treat a lot of rainwater. This in turn keeps your monthly utility bills lower. So if you see City contractors in your neighbor blocking streets or making noise, please pardon the inconvenience and understand that it is a necessary part of running your water and sewer systems properly. — Mayor Borno New Free App Helps to Keep Our Beaches Clean The beach is our natural playground, but visitors sometimes forget to pick up their trash. Fishermen may leave discarded tackle, or offshore dumpings may wash onto the beach. Now you can use your “smart phone” to report debris problems along our coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and University of Georgia have created a new cell phone app to track areas where marine debris is accumulating. The Marine Debris Tracker program also encourages users to properly recycle or dispose of debris when they find it. In addition to collecting data, the app educates the public about the harmful effects of trash and debris on our beaches. Data can be used by cities and counties for decision-making as well, such as where to locate additional trash cans or where to implement beach cleaning. To find out more information on the Marine Debris Tracker and download the app, go to www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/. remember, only irrigate on your assigned days before 10 am and after 4 pm. Odd numbered addresses - Saturday Even numbered addresses - Sunday Non-Residential - Tuesday for more information on saving water, go to www.floridaswater.com. Think Safety During The Holiday Season The end of the year is approaching, which means the hustle and bustle of the holidays is amongst us! The Atlantic Beach Police Department would like to remind all citizens to keep safety in mind during the holidays. • Don’t drink and drive. Besides putting your own life at risk, you are risking the safety of all others around you. Designate a driver or call a cab. • Lock your car doors. Even when it is parked in your driveway or in a safe neighborhood. An unlocked car is an invitation to burglars. • Don’t leave valuables in your car. If you must leave something in your car, put it in your trunk where it cannot be seen by people looking in your car windows. • Santa comes down the chimney, not through the door or windows. Keep those locked and your window blinds drawn when you aren’t home or are sleeping. • Include helmets and other protective gear when giving bicycles, skates or skateboards as gifts. • If you see someone or something suspicious in your neighborhood, call the police immediately! • Most of all, have a safe and happy holiday season! MarshFest is Coming! The Marsh Preservation Society, the City of Atlantic Beach and the City of Jacksonville will host MarshFest ’11 on Saturday, November 19 from 10 am to 3 pm at Dutton Island Preserve in Atlantic Beach. Admission is free. Kayak/canoe trips and food will be available for a small donation. There will be numerous exhibitors, raffle prizes, and a grand prize drawing for a brand new kayak, with live “Americana” music playing all day. Donations received at the event will help fund public access and passive amenities in the four marsh parks, Dutton Island Preserve I & II, River Branch Preserve, and Tide Views Preserve for everyone’s enjoyment and use. What Should the City Name the New Boardwalk? The new boardwalk at Tide Views Preserves is nearing completion and needs a name. The City of Atlantic Beach is soliciting input from citizens on what to name the new boardwalk. If you think you have the perfect name for the boardwalk, please submit your suggestions to the City of Atlantic Beach, City Manager’s Office no later than Wednesday, November 30th. Suggestions can be phoned in to 247-5808, submitted in writing and dropped off at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road or e-mailed to Yvonne Calverley at ycalverley@coab.us.