“SPAR SPEAK” the Weekly Update
Your contributions can help Springfield! This is the time of year when the local United Way campaigns take place. You may select all or a percentage of your contributions go to the United Way pre-determined programs, or you can select other non-profit organizations such as SPAR. All you need to do is provide our name, street address (1321 N. Main St. 32206) and contact person (Brenda Boydston), and the contributions will be routed to SPAR. We are very thankful for those who have already directed their donations to SPAR.
Congratulations to Island Tropics Restaurant for their perfect restaurant inspection! They were inspected on February 16, 2010 and had no violations. Great job, Island Tropics!
New discount for SPAR members: Island Tropics Restaurant is offering SPAR members a Buy One Meal, Get One ½ off, or 10% on a single meal discount. Island Tropics is located at 2527 N. Main St., and their phone number is 355-9050. Just show your SPAR membership card to get your SPAR benefits at this and other locations listed on your membership letter.
Are you making your voice heard?? A template letter has been prepared that may be used to create your own letter when you wish to address issues to the City which relate to the Springfield Community. It is available in the SPAR Office, where you may request a copy. Don't forget that all community voices (and letters) are important! We are able to get more attention in this manner.
Thanks for filling the Paper Retriever bin with all sorts of newspapers, magazines, school and office papers, and junk mail. It’s a great way to keep the clutter out of your home, and support Springfield programs and the environment at the same time! The bin is set well back from the road in the large, open field beside the Jacksonville Printing shop at 1326 N Main. It is across the street from the SPAR building on the west side of Main St. Thank you so much for supporting your community by bringing your paper to this location.
Planning meeting for the Springfield Heritage Home & Garden Tour—Many new and exciting ideas have been put forward for this year’s Tour. If you would like to be involved in planning this huge event, please join us at the SPAR building on Wednesday, March 10, 7:00pm.
Springfield Residents,
A group of Springfield dads is kicking around the idea of starting up a Charter School in Springfield. The mission of the school will be to provide quality education (likely K-6) to the children of Historic Springfield. The current public elementary school designated for our neighborhood is failing, which is forcing the parents of Springfield to send their children outside the neighborhood to private schools, magnet schools or our alternate elementary school near the beach. I will be sending out a meeting notice in late March with more information and how people can get involved with this effort.
Please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to participate in this effort or would like more information.
Sincerely,
Mark Fresonke
Get your taste buds ready for the 3rd Annual Springfield Chili Cook-off, this Saturday, March 6, 1:00-4:00pm at Three Layers (6th & Walnut). The Cook-off will have 8 entries again this year, celebrity judges, and a people's choice award. Each entrant is sponsoring a local non-profit organization. Tickets are $15 (available in advance at Three Layers or at the door), and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" will perform.
Art After Dark is widely recognized as a unique and important showcase for many of our community's "undiscovered" visual artists. The Art After Dark evening includes a silent auction, music and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $25. To order, call the box office at (904) 355-2787. The event will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010 from 7 to 11 pm at the Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth.
Find the perfect book at “The Great Jacksonville Book Sale” at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds Exhibit Halls A & B on March 5-7. Enjoy free parking while you browse among the tens of thousands of books priced from $.50 - $2.00.
Hours: Friday 5th, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 6th, 10am to 6pm; Sunday 7th, 12pm to 6pm
SAMBA Meeting, Thursday, March 11, 2010, 6:00PM at City Kidz (1303 N. Main St.) - Mr. Brent Staton, Chairman of the Metro North CDC and owner of Old Time Hardware, will speak on the topic of “How to Improve Springfield Business.”
Symposium and Tour to Honor Modern Architects and Architecture – This event will be held at the Cathedral of Faith Church of God in Christ (2591 W. Beaver St.) on March 13, 2010. A morning session with presentations by important figures from North Florida’s architectural history and others will begin at 9:00 a.m. The lead presenter will be one of Jacksonville’s best known architects, Robert C. Broward. An optional afternoon bus tour will visit five of Mr. Broward’s most important buildings. The tour, including lunch by the Ladies of the Church, will be offered at $60. The morning presentations will cost $5. All attendees will receive a full-color brochure and driving map of all Mr. Broward’s buildings in Jacksonville. All attendees will also have the opportunity to join the speakers for lunch after the morning presentations. For those not going on the afternoon tour, lunch will be available for an additional $10. For information, contact Lane Manis at 389-8421 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
St. John’s Cathedral is hosting a Silent & Live Art Auction and Music Soiree Saturday, March 20th, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Taliaferro Hall, St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 256 East Church St. The event will be filled with art from some of the great works by local and nationally known artists including some incredible, undiscovered talent. Hors d’oeuvres, libations and great music will also be provided for a fun-filled evening. Admission is $20 at the door, or advance tickets for $15 can be purchased through the Cathedral Office by calling 356-5507.
The SPAR Block Captains will launch a series of monthly clean-ups following each First Friday beginning in April. The first “The Morning After Clean-Up” will be on Saturday, April 3rd following First Friday. The clean-ups will start at 9AM – 11:30AM with lunch following. We will always meet in the Wachovia/Post Office parking lot.
From our latest community group: The Springfield Book Club is starting their new reading season with the book “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. From Publishers Weekly: What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and anxious to become a writer. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies but mistrusts, enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams.
The book club meets every 6 weeks in Springfield and is open to anyone who enjoys reading and the camaraderie associated with a good book. We will be discussing “The Help” on April 3rd. For more information, please contact Shannon Palmer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Mark your calendars for the April SPAR General Meeting (Thursday, 4/15). SPAR will be hosting political candidates so that everyone will have an opportunity to meet them and ask the questions that are important to you.
The SPAR Office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Please contact us (phone 353-7727 or visit us at 1321 N. Main St.) with any questions or needs where we may be able to offer assistance. We are always happy to serve the community!
Thank you for your support,
SPAR Office
