Where to dispose hazardous waste and e-waste in Jacksonville (Duval County)

Info is taken from The Florida-Times Union, page B3, 1/12/2007.

Electronic waste can legally be put into landfills, but recycling is strongly recommended due to environmental concerns. Examples include: computers, monitors, mobile devices, computer peripherals (such as keyboards and cables), audio equipment, small appliances (such as hair dryers or power tools), televisions.

Household hazardous waste should not go into the landfill and have to be taken to special centers for recycling or proper disposal. They include: batteries and include rechargeable batteries such as those in cell phones, paint, oil, fluorescent lisghts including tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs, pool cemicals, motor oil and used oil filters, drain cleaners and acids, pesticides and fertilizers.

Take e-waste and househould hazardous waste to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2675 Commonwealth Ave., which is open Tues. through Sat. There is a limit of three cathode ray tubes/televisions per person.

The City of Jacksonville is also sponsoring the following remote collections:

Jan 19, 2008 - Oceanway Park, 12215 Sago Ave.

Feb 9, 2008 - Ed Austin Reginal Park, 3450 Monument Road

Mar 22, 2008 - Blue Cypress Park, 4012 University Boulevard N.

Apr 19, 2008 - Crystal Springs Park, 9800 Crystal Springs Road

May 17, 2008 - Mandarin Park, 14780 Mandarin Road

For more information, call 904-387-8847.

Priced Right Homes Are Selling

Price Home Right to Sell

Many properties are listed at prices that prevent buyers to want to even look at them. If a home is listed in the MLS and not view within three weeks after being marketed on Realtor.com and other websites, I believe that the property is priced too high.

Picking Blackberries

Where to go:

U-pick blueberry farms:

Blackberry Hill Farm, 2995 Thunder Road, Middleburg, 904-264-2039 or 904-282-9250.

Dowless Blueberry Farm, 7010 Ricker Road, Jacksonville, 904-772-1369.

Mary's Berries, 44090 Koreys Lane, Callahan, 904-879-1569.

Williams Blueberries, 2595 Stratton Road, Jacksonville, 904-781-4676.

Sellers Blueberry Farm, 10229 Old Plank Road, Jacksonville, 904-781-7739.

New minimum wage

Jacksonville, Florida

Increases on 7/24/08. Taken from the Associated Press by The Florida-Times Union.

Increase is from $5.85 to $6.55, which the 2nd of 3 annual increases required by 2007 law. Next year, it will increase again to $7.25/hour.

Florida's minimum wage: $6.79

Hiring a Contractor

Jacksonville, Florida

Taken from "Missing: Everything but the kitchen sink," The Florida-Times Union, by Matt Coleman, 7/25/2008.

Source: Consumer Reports - this is source Mr. Coleman cites in the article

1. Get 3 bids to gauge the going rate for work

2. Get an estimate ( I will add to that...make sure it is in writing)

3. Choose pros you know

4. Get references from recent and older jobs

5. Look for proper licensing and insurance (and I will add, ask for copies)

6. Check the Better Business Bureau for filed complaints

7. Do the hiring yourself

8. Obtain a contract (from the one you hire)

9. Stick with the plans

10. Pay by check

11. Make final payments only whe the work is completed to your satisfaction.

Mayport Ferry

Jacksonville, Florida

Normal hours of operation:

M-F 6 am - 7 p.m.

Sat 6 am - 8:30 p.m.

Sun ?

Deadline to register to vote

Jacksonville, Florida

Monday, July 28, 2008, 6 p.m is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 26 primary election in Duval County and surrounding counties for local public seats.

Call:

Duval County: 904-630-1414

St. Johns County: 904-823-2238

Nassau County: 904-491-7500

Baker County: 904-259-6339

Putnam County: 904-329-0224

Home prices, sales in Jacksoville

Jacksonville, Florida

Taken from
"Home prices, sales continue upward trek," The Florida-Times Union,  by Liz Flaisig, 7/25/2008.

According to the Florida Association of Realtors:

Housing sales in Jacksonville have shown modest gains from month to month since February 2008.

Single-family Home sales in Jacksonville were up 2.1 percent to 1,013 from May to June. Though sales declined 20% compared to sales the same month one year ago.

The median price in June 2008: $197,000

The median price in May 2008: $193,200

The median price in June 2007: $212,200

Condo sales in Jacksonville went up to 20.5% from May to June to a total of 135 units. Though sales declined 9% from the same month one year ago when 149 units were sold.

The mendian price in June 2008: $$182,000

The median price in May 2008: $154,700

The median price in June 2007: $173,000

Jacksonville - #8 on Forbes List as place for housing bargains

Taken from The Florida-Times Union on March 29, 2008

Prices have dropped all over...but Northeast Florida real estate professionals and Forbes magazine say Jacksonville continues to have a solid housing market and is a good plaace to shop if you are looking for a real estate bargain.

Mortgage Insurer Restrictions

Taken from The Florida-Times Union, March 21, 2008.

Mortgage Insurers have flagged  more than 9,600 zip codes  where they will not insure loans for investment properties, adjustable Rate and Interest only mortgages and buyers making down payments of less than 3%. A large part of Florida is flagged. In some areas:

*a borrower cannot receive more than 95% financing; some 90%.

*Loans for investmen properties, second homes and manufactured homes are not eligible.

*Interest-only, option-payment and 2- or 3-year adjustable are not eligible.

*Refinances that allow borrower to extract all equity are not eligible.

*Loan amounts greater than $650,000 are not eligible.

Right to Know Links

(Info Taken from The Florida-Times Union, March 21, 2008)

Find out about a Teacher's Certification: www.fldoe.org/edcert/public.asp or call 850-245-0442, Florida Dept. of Education

Find out about Child Care Inspection Reports: www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/ then click on "provider search" or call 850-488-4855, Florida Dept. of Children and Families.

From the office of the public official. Some of Jacksonville city e-mails are online at webmail.coj.net/public. For Mayor John Peyton's e-mail: username is publicdocs; password is public. For city Council's e-mail: username is citycpublic; password is public.

Find out about your doctor: ww2.doh.state.fl.us/irm00profiling/SEARCHFORM.ASP or call 850-245-4005, Florida Dept. of Health.

Florida voted "Yes" on Property Tax Reform on 1/29/2008

For information and forms, go to http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/sb4d.html

Today's Quote - 1-21-2008

Today's Quote 1/21/2008: You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"  George Bernard Shaw, "Back to Methuselah" (1921), part 1, act 1

"I have a dream....." Martin Luther King on this Martin Lurther King Day 2008

Today's Quote 1-17-2008

Today's Quote 1-16-2008

Today's Quote 1/16/2008: "Genius is one percent inspriation and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Thomas Edison

Today's Quote 1-15-2008

Private Companies that take e-waste - in Jacksonville

Info is taken from The Florida Times-Union, page B3, 1/12/2007

Check with the devices manufacturer to find out if they recycle or check out a list at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling.

Or contact the store it came from: Staples accepts many electroics but charges a $10 fee for large items such as computers, monitors, printers. eBay has a site dedicated to e-waste solutions at rethink.ebay.com.

A Jacksonville Company at 1429 West 16th St., Recycling E-Scrap (formerly Jack's Recycling) will pay for certain electronics, including computers and peripherals, as well as cell phones.

For more info, call 904-355-7900 or see www.scrapcomputers.com.

RITA Foundation in Jacksonville grants over $300,000 in 2007 to cancer research

On 1/12/2008, the "Southside Sun," The Florida Times-Union publication, reports that the "RITA Foundation grants top $300,000" in 2007. RITA is an all-volunteer nonprofit that donates all of the net proceeds from its six annual fund-raising events to local cancer programs.

If you would like info about the RITA organization, volunteering, participating in  events, or any other question, you may contact Charles R. Jantz, Volunteer Chairman,  (904) 363-1493, ritafoundation@bellsouth.net, or check out the RITA website at www.the-rita-foundation.org. The organization keeps  expenses to a minimum and overhead costs to $ 0 thanks to the direction of Mr. Jantz.

P.S. Mr. Jantz is the landlord of Platt Realty, Inc., my company's office location. He did not ask me to post this. I post on this blog causes that I  truly believe help the community. And knowing Mr. Jantz and his wife personally, I can tell you.....they are honest, hardworking, and dedicated to this cause.

Today Quote 1-12-2008

Today Quote 1-10-2008

Today's Quote 1-2-2008