September 2008.pdfVOL.4 NO.9SEPTEMBER 2008
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By all measures the City
of Atlantic Beach is a
safe city from crime. As
a matter of fact we have
the lowest per-capita
crime rate in Duval
County. Our Police force
is well trained and “out in the community”,
and there is now an increased presence in
the Mayport Road area as our new COPS
(Community oriented police) program is
underway. This new initiative puts two police
officers on the streets, sometimes in a patrol
car, but most often on foot or bicycles with a
focus on getting involved in the neighborhood
to organize the citizens. No neighborhood should
tolerate any criminal activity and together we
even improve on our current level of public
safety through community action. As safe
as we are we have experienced some home
burglaries and vandalism to cars, etc., in various
parts of the City. We can take measures to
protect ourselves and the following crime
prevention tips are for your use:
1. During daytime hours thieves will often
knock on doors or walk around residences
they are targeting to see if anyone is home or
if there is an alarm system that is turned on.
Criminals know that an innocent looking
female will draw less attention than a strange
man walking around the neighborhood, so
they sometimes employ the use of young
female accomplices to case a home.
2. These thieves look for homes without alarm
systems, alarms that are not turned on,
homes without dogs, and easy access to the
back of the residence where they can force
entry with less chance of being seen.
3. Occasionally burglars are bold enough to force
open a front door of a residence and use the front
entrance to load a vehicle with stolen property.
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city of atlantic beach newsletter
LIEUTENANT BARTLE RETIRES
After 25 years with the City of
Atlantic Beach Police Department,
Lieutenant Henry J. Bartle has
announced his retirement effective
August 25, 2008. During his
tenure with the Police Department,
he was assigned to duties as a
patrol officer, patrol lieutenant
and internal affairs investigator. Lieutenant
Bartle was repeatedly recognized by area law
enforcement agencies for his
outstanding work, and he was
selected as the Officer of the Year
in 1987 and 2006.The City of
Atlantic Beach recognized him as
the Employee of the Year in 2005.
Lieutenant Bartle has had an
outstanding career in law enforce-
ment,and he has provided an excellent example
for other officers to emulate.
Mark your calendars! You don’t want to miss this
year’s Annual Family Fun Day and Campout
under the Stars scheduled for October 11 at
Jack Russell Park.This year’s Family Fun Day
begins Saturday at noon and will feature
activities for the whole family including
Uncle Mike’s Hug-n-Farm, Balance Bridge,
face painting, balloons, magic show, Disc-
Connected K9s, Juggling Jeff, Brothers of the
Coasts and Prince Pele’s Polynesian Revue.
The cost of each campsite is $10.00 and pre-
registration is required.There will be a free
pancake breakfast Sunday morning.
To register stop by the Recreation Office
located in the Adele Grage Cultural Center,
716 Ocean Blvd to reserve your campsite
early. For more information call 247-5828.
FAMILY FUN DAY & CAMPOUT UNDER THE STARS
The next Community Stakeholders meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2 at the
Donner Park Community Center at 6 p.m.A presentation will be given on the progress of
the Mayport Road project.
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
Registration for flag football is currently under way for children 5-8, 9-12, and 13-15 years
of age. Deadline is September 12, 2008.The season begins the last week of September for six
Saturdays. Parents may register a child for a $10 fee at the City of Atlantic Beach Recreation
Department office located in the Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd. from 8 to 11
a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Registration forms are also available on the city’s Web site and at the
Donner and Jordan Park Community Centers.
FALL FLAG FOOTBALL
Lieutenant Henry J. Bartle
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city of atlantic beach newsletter
Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers unless otherwise indicated.
* These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center,716 Ocean Blvd.
** These events will be held in the North Conference Room at City Hall,800 Seminole Road.
John Meserve
MAYOR
John Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
Mike Borno
MAYOR PRO TEM
Paul Parsons
COMMISSIONER
Carolyn Woods
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna L. Bartle
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER 2008 OCTOBER 2008
Oct 8 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Oct 13 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Oct 21 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
Oct 22 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Oct 27 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Oct 28 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Sept 8 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Sept 9 Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Sept 16 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
Sept 22 City Commision Mtg | 6 p.m.
Sept 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg.| 7 p.m.
Sept 24 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS
September 2008
Sept 7 Songwriters Concert – Adele Grage |
6-8 p.m.
Sept 12 ABET Opening of “Nunsense” – Adele
Grage Theater | 8 p.m.
Sept 18 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center
Area | 5-9 p.m.
Sept 21 Acoustic Night – Bull Memorial Park |
6-8 p.m.
October 2008
Oct 5 Songwriters Concert – Adele Grage |
6-8 p.m.
Oct 11 Family Fun Day & Campout Under the
Stars – Jack Russell Park
Oct 16 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center
Area | 5-9 p.m.
Oct 19 Acoustic Night – Bull Memorial Park |
6-8 p.m. (Last concert of the season)
For more information on upcoming events,
call the Recreation and Special Events
Office at 247-5828.
The City of Atlantic Beach in conjunction with “Keep Jacksonville Beautiful” will take part in the
International Coastal Clean Up Saturday, September 20.Approximately 75 countries take part in
this event every year. Please make plans to come out and volunteer your time to help keep
Atlantic Beach clean.Volunteers will be cleaning up Dutton Island and Tideviews Preserves.
Where: Meet at Donner Park at 8:30 a.m. for check in and issue of cleanup gear
When:Saturday, September 20
Time:8:30 - 11 a.m.
After the clean up, all volunteers are invited to Donner Park for a cookout.
For more information contact Dale Hatfield, Community Redevelopment Coordinator at (904)
270-2591 or e-mail him at dhatfield@coab.us.
ATLANTIC BEACH TAKES PART IN INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP
TAKE CARE OF YOUR WATER METER
Most people don’t think much about their water
meter—but it’s important to make sure your
meter is easily accessible.That way,if you have a
busted pipe in your house or a leak in your yard,
the City can find your meter quickly and get the
water turned off.
That not only minimizes any damage,but saves
money and conserves water.
So please avoid covering your meter with
permanent landscaping,sod,or obstructions.And
remember – water your lawn no more than two
days per week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
For more information on how to save
water,check out the St.Johns River Water
Management District’s Web site at
www.sjrwmd.com.
NOTICE: If a tree trimming contractor, lawn service provider or other professional is hired to
remove trees and/or limbs, including palm fronds, that Contractor is responsible for removing
and properly disposing of the resulting debris. Private contractors are not allowed to place the
debris at the curb to be removed by the City or the City's Sanitation Contractor.
TREE TRIMMING
John Meserve
Mayor
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Therefore any unfamiliar vehicles at a neighbor’s
home should be reported to police even if it
appears that the people might be contractors.
The police department would rather talk to a
legitimate contractor than have to investigate
a burglary after the fact.
4. Remote garage door openers should not be
left in vehicles parked outside of your home,
particularly if you often forget to lock your car
doors at night. Although not common, we have
information that criminals who burglarize cars
are sometimes looking for; garage door openers
to gain access to the garage, additional cars
in the garage to burglarize and the commonly
unlocked access door that leads into your
home from the garage.
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