Phil Ammann
Every politician has his or her own way of countering potentially hostile or adverse questions.
For example, take Gov. Rick Scott; he stares intensely, making the act of getting through questions a bit more difficult than it might be otherwise.
Rep. Corrine Brown goes on the counterattack, betting the reporter will get flustered.
Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown might not be “former” if he hadn’t told Lorena Inclan of Action News Jax that he didn’t want to answer questions.
One can weigh the strengths and weaknesses of all of those approaches, but we can give credit to each of them for at least acknowledging a question was asked.
That’s more that can be said for 4th Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey and Clay County Sheriff-elect Daryl Daniels.
For two weeks, FloridaPolitics.com attempted to get an answer about the strong rumors Corey was headed to Green Cove Springs as Daniels’ legal adviser.
The deal was done, we heard. But emails and calls to both the SAO and the Sheriff’s Office met with no response.
A working theory is Corey was adding DROP time, doing it far away from the prying eyes of the Jacksonville media.
On Tuesday, Daniels’ team sent out a news release confirming Corey’s hire.
Big chunks of it were just word salad; but one phrase jumped out, though.
“Ms. Corey is the subject matter expert when it comes to the application of the law and conveying that to law enforcement,” Daniels wrote. “I do not want innocent people treated like criminals and have their freedoms removed by someone misapplying the law.”
“Subject matter expert?”
Phrases like that are corporate abstractions, designed give the decision to bring on one of the biggest heavies in NE Florida politics an air of inevitability.
Republican voters of the 4th Circuit — repudiated her in a primary where Corey’s own cronies went to hell and back (or at least Tallahassee) to close. Through participation in voting booths in Nassau, Clay and Duval counties, voters said (in no uncertain terms) they didn’t want her.
The reasons have been well-rehearsed, aired in local and national media for the last eight years.
Those reasons are legitimate.
Corey, in theory, shouldn’t need to work again — much less take on a role putting her in the same orbit as the state attorney-elect.
Over the last eight years, Corey did well. Her net worth jumped by almost 250 percent, augmented by $395,626.266 in a taxpayer-funded Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) program.
She’s entitled to that money. No argument there.
But voters were entitled to know why a candidate they rejected, in an ugly campaign, can’t even go off the public payroll — even for a single day.
There should have been a news conference — and not one hastily announced 10 minutes before it happens, given to friendly media.
Daniels and Corey should have taken questions about the job.
About how it came about.
About why the Clay County Sheriff’s Office never needed a “subject matter expert” before.
About how much it pays (a detail omitted from the news release).
And about how Corey intends to work with Nelson, if overlapping spheres of influence dictate it.
Corey did not cooperate with the transition, at least in any meaningful way.
Nelson could visit the SAO … but only after business hours.
Imagine another incumbent, after losing an election, conducting a transition this way. It’s hard to.
But with Corey, it’s somehow unsurprising.
Recall that she used the SAO to film a campaign ad, then was never quite as forthcoming when an opponent’s campaign requested the same courtesy.
She thought it was her office. But she was wrong.
The office belongs to the people.
But, luckily for her, the crony system didn’t let her down — even when the popular vote did.
***Southern Strategy Group is Florida’s powerhouse lobbying firm with a dedicated Jacksonville office, as well as locations in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee. Our nearly 25 lobbyists work daily to get our clients and their issues in front of key local and state elected officials. Whether in City Hall, the State Capitol or somewhere in between, we’ll work with you to create and execute a strategy that moves your agenda from the starting point through the finish line. Every industry. Every interest. Powerful advocacy begins here. Call us today at 904-425-8765 or visit www.sostrategy.com to learn more.***
“John Rutherford talks police pensions” via Florida Politics – Caught in the middle of the maelstrom between city negotiators and police officers: the elected Sheriff. One man who knows what that’s like better than most in Duval County … Rutherford, who was sheriff for three terms before term limits kicked in. “I think a pension is absolutely necessary,” Rutherford told FloridaPolitics.com, noting that a defined contribution plan is a pension. Albeit one that may not consider the full risk an officer assumes. “I supported for years a defined benefit [plan], because if I have two officers who are facing a man with a gun – one has 20 years, one has two years – the guy with two years under a 401(k) is putting a lot more at risk than the guy who has 20 years,” the congressman-elect asserted. “If you can come up with a defined contribution plan,” Rutherford added, “that levels that playing field, that might be OK. But you have to guarantee that, if an officer dies [during] his first year in office, his family’s going to be taken care of.” … “I hear people say ‘well, look, people die in all kinds of different disciplines, different jobs.’ The difference is my guy’s putting his life on the line. He knows what he’s going into,” Rutherford continued. “An accident is one thing. Putting your life on the line because somebody’s in there shooting at you and you’re trying to save someone’s life, that’s a completely different situation,” Rutherford added. “As long as you can make that defined contribution significant enough that it takes care of their family, then that might be doable, but I’d have to see it.”
“Rutherford talks election, previews first term” via Florida Politics – Rutherford addressed Jacksonville’s Southside Business Men’s Club at their weekly meeting. Rutherford told a story of election night. His wife looked down at her phone at 7:10 and exclaimed that “they just called your race.” Of course, that race was decided — more or less — in the primary, something that couldn’t be said about the top of the ticket. By 3:30 in the morning, with Trump’s election, Rutherford was reassured. With majorities in both houses, “I believe that we can do great things for this country.” Congress knows, Rutherford said, that it needs to fix overregulation and taxation. High corporate taxes, Rutherford said, keeps capital offshore. Lowering taxes and systemic reform could lead to repatriation, Rutherford said, with some “true reform on the international side where they’re going to go with territorial tax.” The regulatory process, Rutherford said, would be “moved back into Congress where it belongs.” … “The executive branch has been legislating by fiat, and all of that is going to stop,” Rutherford said. Securing the borders, with “drugs and violence that pour across our southern border that is no longer sovereign,” is a priority. As is “taking care of our veterans.” Another priority: stemming $150 billion of “waste and fraud in entitlements.” … “It is off the chain,’ Rutherford said, vowing to “get us back to a welfare to work state rather than an entitlement state.” All of this, Rutherford contended, is part of the quest to “make America great again.”
Tweet, tweet: 
“Audrey Gibson apoplectic over floated F-35 defund” via Sascha Cordner of WFSU – Gibson … says she’s concerned about Trump’s proposal to defund the program. As the new head of the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security committee, Gibson wants a presentation done on the F-35 program’s importance to Florida. “If I had read the article before about the F-35, we might have done that today,” said Gibson, during [a] committee hearing. “But, I want to make sure we have a presentation on the possibility of getting some of the fighters in Jacksonville, in particular, and the state of Florida in general.” For 2017, Gibson also hopes to get an update on the status of Florida veterans’ health care as well as follow up on the progress of a state law to help more veterans become entrepreneurs.
The perpetual campaign — Even before much of the work of the current term barely began, myriad Northeast Florida Republican state Representatives have already filed for re-election.
Among those early filers, two rookie legislators: Cord Byrd in House District 11 and Jason Fischer in House District 16.
Both men filed last week.
Also filing early: Cyndi Stevenson of House District 17 and Travis Cummings in House District 18.
Stevenson actually filed in July 2016, and has nearly $12,000 banked, though all but $1,000 of that was raised before the August primary (in which Stevenson was unopposed.
Cummings filed late in November and has no campaign finance activity yet.
Meanwhile, those who enjoyed the “David Vs. Goliath” battle in House District 24 in the November election can buckle up for the sequel.
The incumbent, Paul Renner, filed to run again for his Palm Coast seat last week.
Preceding Renner was his opponent from last month: Democrat Adam Morley, who also filed last week.
Renner won in November, as well as a special election in 2015 by a roughly 2 to 1 margin, dictated by the District’s GOP lean and Renner’s fundraising advantage over the scrappy Democrat.
Even as these stalwarts are all in for 2018, some Northeast Florida incumbents have yet to file.
Among them: Clay Yarborough, a Republican in House District 12, and the two Democrats in the Duval Delegation: Reps. Tracie Davis and Kim Daniels of House Districts 13 and 14 respectively.
On the Senate side, Aaron Bean, Audrey Gibson, and Keith Perry have all filed for re-election.
Perry, a member of the First Coast Legislative Delegation (despite being based in the Gainesville area), is the only one of the three likely to face competition for re-election.
His November race against Rod Smith saw over a million dollars spent by both campaigns, with heavy buy-in from the state parties on both sides.
Gibson, the chair of the Duval County Democrats, carried over $20,000 from her previous campaign account after facing no competition in August; beyond that, she has a lot of $42.00 individual contributions, giving her $22,100 on hand.
“Reggie Fullwood sentencing pushed to February” via Steve Patterson of The Florida Times-Union – Fullwood had been scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard for wire fraud and failure to file an income tax return in 2010, charges he pleaded guilty to in September. But Howard withdrew from the case for unspecified reasons last week, handing off the sentencing to Senior Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. An entry made in Fullwood’s case docket listed the new sentencing date. It’s unclear what the sentence will be for Fullwood, who represented Jacksonville in the Florida Legislature for six years and who won a Democratic primary in August despite being indicted in April.
“Pension lessons from Dallas” via Ron Littlepage of The Florida Times-Union – Those interested in solving Jacksonville’s pension problems should be paying attention to what’s happening in Dallas. That city’s economy is booming and is experiencing the fastest economic growth of the nation’s 13 largest cities, according to The New York Times. It’s also on the brink of having to file for bankruptcy because its pension fund for police and firefighters is near collapse. Exacerbating the pension crisis in Dallas is the Deferred Retirement Option Plan offered to retirees, which should be familiar to people in Jacksonville. When talk began circulating about pension problems and possible cuts in benefits, what occurred amounted to a run on the bank with retirees opting to take lump sum payments out of their DROP accounts. That run on the bank cost the pension plan $500 million in a four-month period, worsening the already ailing pension fund. “What is happening in Dallas is an extreme example of what’s happening in many other places around the country,” the Times reported. “Elected officials promised workers solid pensions years ago, on the basis of wishful thinking rather than realistic expectations.” Included in those benefits were the DROP accounts that paid 8.5 percent interest per year. Sound familiar?
“City Council advised to stay out of union talks” via Florida Politics – General Counsel Jason Gabriel advises legislators to stay in their lane. In an email to council members, Gabriel noted that “questions have been raised recently with respect to whether City Council members should accept invitations from union representatives to meet and discuss labor related matters, particularly during this time when the City is in active labor negotiations with the various unions.” Don’t even think about it, Gabriel asserts: “the Office of General Counsel advises that City Council members not participate in discussions with union representatives as such communications may be used as a basis for an unfair labor practice complaint alleging bad faith bargaining or may be characterized as engaging in collective bargaining negotiations outside the sunshine (collective bargaining negotiations are required to be conducted in a public meeting).” Council members — many of whom were supported by these unions during their campaigns — are to “refer [union heads] to the City’s bargaining team for any conversation on matters under negotiation.”
“Council authorizes money for temp seats” via Florida Politics – Among the highlights: $70,000 was appropriated for “neighborhood events” for Jacksonville City Council members. And $415,000 appropriated for the installation of temporary seats for the TaxSlayer Bowl. “This is not cash for council” — 2016-489, introduced by Councilman Reggie Brown, appropriated $70,000 for “neighborhood events” for council members. The money will be approved at the end of the process by the council president, with approval from affected city departments a necessity to have the request fulfilled. The bill got through committees on its second try, albeit with a number of more-or-less friendly amendments, and with no votes in Rules and Finance, on the grounds that the money may not be evenly allocated among council members and on the grounds that the $70,000 would absorb more than half of the $133,000 council contingency. Councilman Danny Becton, a no vote in Rules, reiterated his opposition to the bill. Council members are “set up to fail,” Becton said, because attendees would wear campaign t-shirts, and “news cameras” would be at the events (a condition which presupposes a very slow day for television news).
“Council OK’s funds for Huguenot post-hurricane rehab” via Action News Jax – Help is on the way for the rebuilding of Huguenot Park. The Jacksonville City Council voted in favor of approving $550,000 to get the park back open. In a 19-0 vote, the City Council voted all in favor … of approving $550,000 to help rebuild Huguenot Park after it was damaged by Hurricane Matthew. “I believe this is going to come from the general fund, to get this opened up,” Councilman Al Ferraro said. Ferraro said getting the park back open is the main goal. The park shut down after Hurricane Matthew hit this fall. “Right now, we got jagged edges and rocks, and debris around there that need to be fixed up,” Ferraro said. “We were very, fortunate, we lost power for 2 1/2 days, but no damage to the building, which is remarkable, since we’re right on the water,” said Lee Smith, manager of Sandollar Restaurant. But Smith said he has seen a 25 percent decrease in business since the temporary closing of the park. “It’s definitely down,” Smith said. That is one of the main reasons Ferraro said things have to get back to normal.
Bill Bishop for City Council — In 2015, former Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Bishop ran a campaign for mayor that, even though conducted on a shoestring budget compared to that of Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry, finished a strong third in the March election.
In 2019, Bishop may be returning to the city council he told us, reiterating a contention he made in February.
Group 2 at-large Councilman John Crescimbeni will be termed out, and Bishop told us Wednesday that he was “definitely going to do it.”
“Unless I come to my senses,” Bishop quipped.
If Bishop does get in, he will face some competition from the right; rumors hold that people like former City Council candidate Mike Anania are looking at the race.
Bishop will decide, he tells us, early next year.
In 2015, after losing the race for the two-person general election after the “first election,” Bishop had said he’d run for mayor again in 2019.
When asked why he was announcing four years out, Bishop said: “The answer to ‘why now?’ is ‘why not?’”
“Jax Sheriff wants ‘competitive’ package for new hires” via Florida Politics – Sheriff Mike Williams and Mayor Curry have messaged symbiotically on public safety concerns; however, with the city’s position being that defined contribution plans are viable for new hires (a stance the police union rejects), Williams’ take was of interest. “No matter the vehicle, no matter how we get there, there’s got to be a fair benefit and pay package that they get together on,” Williams said. “Hopefully,” the sheriff added, “negotiations will continue and they’ll come up with something that will work.” When asked about the union position — that if benefits fall behind the rest of the departments in the state, then retention and recruitment will suffer — Williams had this to say. “I will say this: that’s my concern really,” Williams said, before reiterating his take. “As long as it’s a competitive pay and benefit package, I’m not sure the vehicle matters. But again, I’m going to leave the negotiations up to them. and I’m confident they’ll come up with something that will work,” Williams said. Thus far, Williams has stayed above the fray in what is shaping up to be a classic Labor Vs. Management clash between the fourth floor of City Hall and the Fraternal Order of Police.
“Jacksonville Children’s Commission talks fund balance” via Tessa Duvall of The Florida Times-Union – Staff turnover, changes in school configuration and problems with bus services are among the reasons that child-serving agencies are leaving city dollars on the table. The Jacksonville Children’s Commission board members and staff dived into the fund balance issue for about an hour Wednesday at the commission’s joint Finance and Program committee meetings, analyzing why 3 percent of contract dollars aren’t spent by the providers who work directly with kids.cAgencies contracted by the commission to provide services, including after-school programs, mental health and mentoring, have left, in total, about $503,000 on the table, out of almost $16.05 million allocated. Commission CEO Jon Heymann said staff reviewed the contracted spending for unusual trends and identified three agencies that provided after-school services that account for more than 95 percent of the unused money: The Boys and Girls Club, Communities in Schools and The Bridge of Northeast Florida.
“Downtown panel seeks master developer for Shipyards, Met Park” via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union – The Downtown Investment Authority board voted … to seek proposals from developers interested in a long stretch of the riverfront comprising both The Shipyards and Metropolitan Park. It marks the latest attempt to bring downtown-shaping improvements to that stretch of city-owned waterfront. The first effort melted down more than a decade ago when the city locked horns with the original developer in a messy legal battle, which led to a second attempt with another company that declared bankruptcy during the real estate bust. The vote by the Downtown Investment Authority board will authorize city staff to solicit proposals from developers for property covering both The Shipyards and its next-door neighbor, Metropolitan Park.
Tweet, tweet:
“JEA ends 2016 on positive notes” via Max Marbut of The Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – Paul McElroy, JEA CEO, reported “all signs look green” in terms of the utility’s finances in the first two months of the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 … sales of electricity and water and sewer service were slightly below projections due to the warmer than usual weather, but the numbers should get closer to what was expected in the next few months. The trip to New York City last week to meet with credit rating agencies was an “outstanding success,” said board Chair Tom Petway. Based on JEA’s financial position, its schedule to pay down bond debt early, the five-year electric rate stabilization plan adopted in November and the voters’ approval of Mayor Curry’s pension reform plan, Petway said he expects very favorable results when the agencies issue the credit reports. “Our financials speak for themselves,” he said.
“Report shows Florida ports major economic, employment driver” – Florida seaports have created 200,000 new jobs across statewide since 2012, according to a new report from the Florida Ports Council. “Our 15 world-class seaports are not only a major economic engine for job creation in Florida, but they also help strengthen Florida’s position as the gateway to Latin America,” Gov. Scott said in an announcement this week at Port Tampa Bay. “We are competing in a global economy, but no other state can match the combination of Florida’s transportation infrastructure, business-friendly environment and location.” At the news conference, Scott was joined by Florida port officials, including JAXPORT CEO Brian Taylor. “Florida’s seaports are economic powerhouses that welcome the largest vessels from all over the world, feature state-of-the-art cargo and cruise terminals, and allow manufacturing and distribution throughout the state to thrive,” Taylor said. “The upcoming deepening projects at JAXPORT and Port Everglades will increase our international competitiveness even further, enabling us to create and support more Florida jobs.”
“New JAXPORT mega-cranes move first containers” – New state-of-the-art 100-gauge cranes are now operating at the recently rebuilt Berth 35 at JAXPORT’S Blount Island Marine Terminal. The electric cranes will be used to service wider, post-Panamax vessels currently stopping at JAXPORT through the expanded Panama and Suez canals. Each of the three cranes handle up to 65-tons and reach 22 containers across a ship’s deck, a significant upgrade to the port’s cargo-handling abilities. Stevedores used two of the three cranes Friday to move containers from Maersk Line’s Sea-Land Comet. Manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, Co., JAXPORT invested $37.9 million – including a $15 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation – in the purchase and installation of the three cranes. JAXPORT’S long-term strategic plan calls for the purchase of 10 100-gauge cranes for Blount Island in the next 10 years.
“Florida Public Transportation group recognizes JTA as ‘outstanding’” – The Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) honored Jacksonville Transportation Authority with its 2016 “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award.” The recognition was presented to JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford at the FPTA Annual Conference attended by more than 450 transportation representatives Dec. 11-14 in Jacksonville. “This award is a positive reflection of all the solid work by our great staff, the leadership of our visionary board of directors and our remarkable customers,” Ford said. JTA was evaluated on safety, operations, maintenance, access, customer service, financial management, sustainability, workforce development, attendance and employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing and community relations. The Authority was also judged on measurable factors such as riders per hour and total passenger miles. FPTA is a nonprofit association representing every major public transit agency in Florida as well as interested citizens and businesses. FPTA membership is made up of 40 urban and rural transit systems, including two commuter railroads, a heavy-rail commuter system, and two people mover systems.
“CSX to expand Northbank operation?” via Karen Mathis and Dave Chapman of The Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record – The company is consolidating its operations and seeking to shift at least 550 employees from its Southpoint facilities to a Southside or Downtown site. The location would provide a “safe, comfortable accessible workplace that promotes collaboration in the best, most cost-effective facilities available,” said CSX spokeswoman Melanie Cost in a statement … If “all else were equal,” she said, that would mean bringing those employees to about 120,000 square feet of vacant space on the Northbank of the St. Johns River. Cost said the employees work in the company’s finance, technology, labor relations and corporate real estate organizations. According to a city report, the Downtown Investment Authority could offer a grant of more than $271,000 a year for five to seven years from its Northbank Tax Increment Financing Fund to the landlord CSX selects. The incentives would have a $1.9 million maximum indebtedness to the Northbank Community Redevelopment Area, which operates the fund. Such a deal would be contingent on CSX relocating a minimum of 550 employees Downtown and the company would have to provide written notice that it wouldn’t seek other city incentives for the move. “They are sincere about looking Downtown,” DIA CEO Aundra Wallace said. “And with that sincerity, we are very sincere in bringing them here,” he said.
“Bill Nelson cheers $31.6M for Flagler beach project” via Shaun Ryan of the Daytona Beach News-Journal – The Water Resources Development Act is a national bill that addresses water issues throughout the nation. The Flagler Beach project in the bill is one of five in Florida, the biggest of which is a $1.9-billion Everglades-restoration project. The U.S. House and Senate passed their own versions of the legislation in September, with the combined bill passing … with the Flagler Beach funding intact. “In the bill that was passed in the wee hours of Saturday morning, we’ve got the authorization for the beach renourishment project here in Flagler Beach, to restore the dunes, widen the beach and protect the structures and the road,” said Nelson. But the final decision will lie with the state and which plan it selects to permanently repair State Road A1A. Florida Department of Transportation officials have been looking at constructing a seawall, something strongly opposed by some local officials and residents. “The Army Corps of Engineers would not be able to do the beach renourishment if the state of Florida comes in and does a seawall,” said Nelson, “because that throws their cost-to-benefit ratio out of whack.”
“Americans for Prosperity reiterate critiques of TaxSlayer Bowl temp seats” via Skyler Zander for The Florida Times-Union – The issue we have is that the city — which you praise for striking deals based on good stewardship of tax dollars — has failed taxpayers by not being forward- thinking enough to rework this contract after the original renovations were made. It has also failed taxpayers by not safeguarding the city from having to add more seats — and by not proposing to add them only if the game actually sells out. We disagree that it was a good deal to force taxpayers — who had already ponied up millions for stadium redevelopments that took these very same seats away — to come to rescue for something the private sector should be responsible for. It’s not OK to use $415,000 worth of taxpayer money because the city will make a marginal profit of $8,000. That’s the sort of government math we just can’t get behind.
“All Jags want is to be better, even just a little bit” via Gary Shelton – This time, the Jacksonville Jags want to be just a bit better. This time, they want to have an answer for the Houston Texans.
The Jags, 2-11, play Houston for the second time this season. Earlier, Houston won a 24-21 game against Jacksonville, one of eight losses by less than a touchdown the Jags have suffered.
The Jaguars made a comeback in that game, but the Texans converted a third-and-five with two minutes to play to clinch the win.
“Obviously, you want to do what you do well and continue to do that,” said offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. “You don’t want to change too much, but at the same time, you don’t want to do the exact same so that they can plan for every single thing that you’re going to do. So obviously, we know they’re going to have some wrinkles, and we got to have some wrinkles in the things that we’re going to do. We had a good game plan versus them last time, and I think we just got to stay with some of those same things and mix it up.”
In the first meeting, quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 247 yards, but he had another interception returned for a touchdown.
“He always just comes into work every day and loves football, and it crushes him every single loss that we’ve had up to this point,” Hackett said. “It’s one of those things that I feel for him because I want him to do better, he wants to do better. Sometimes you still have to point out those good things for him because he’s so hard on himself. That is, I think some of those things is when the world sometimes is against you, you need somebody there by your side, and we’re in this thing together now. I just want him to feel like that. I don’t want him to think he’s on his own. We just got to find a way to finish it in the fourth quarter.”
Bortles said the familiarity is good.
“I think the more you play them, the more familiar you are with the personnel and the scheme and everything,” Bortles said. “So, I think that helps some. I can’t say there was necessarily any reason that that game happened to be better. There’s definitely still some mistakes in that game as well, but I think it’s kind of just the repetition of seeing them over and over again, twice a year.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Wash said the Texans have tweaked their offense since the first meeting.
“They’re not throwing it as much they did the first time we played them,” Wash said. “They’ve had some great success the last four or five weeks running the football. They’re putting it in Miller’s hands. When he does get to third down he’s making some good decisions. He has a couple interceptions. Some of them are maybe some tips or something, but he’s doing a nice job. He’s accurate. The biggest thing if you want you to play some man coverage you have to make sure you can control him because he has been getting out running a little bit more than he did the first time we saw him. We have to control him if he does get out of the pocket.”
“Jacksonville Zoo to host ‘Noon Year’s Eve’” – Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens will be ringing in the new year with a “wild time with some real party animals” Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Events include live entertainment, party favors, face painting, magic shows, giveaways, prizes and more. At the strike of noon, visitors can enjoy an apple juice toast. The celebration will be held at the zoo’s Great Lawn, and is free with admission. Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens it is at 370 Zoo Pkwy. in Jacksonville.
