Kevin Brown Selected 2024 Friend of the Beaches

The Beaches Watch Board of Directors is honored to select Kevin Brown as its “2024 Friend of the Beaches” award recipient, and he will be recognized at the Beaches Watch 20th Anniversary Celebration on March 6, 6-8pm at Beach Diner. Brown is a staple within the beach communities, serving inside and outside the classroom at Fletcher High School, where he retired in 2021. However, retirement is not in Brown’s vocabulary

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Beaches Watch to Celebrate 20th Anniversary on March 6!

20 YEARS OF BEACHES WATCH 1/28/2004 – 1/28/2024 On January 28, 2004, the first meeting of Beaches Watch was held at Fletcher High School with a small group of beaches citizens. This first meeting was initiated after the Jacksonville Beach City Council rejected the proposed development of Beach Marine with 550 condos. So, a small but mighty group of citizens gathered to create Beaches Watch to protect our beaches communities

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Beaches Community Kitchen Presented 2023 Give Back Donation

On December 6, Beaches Watch presented its 2023 Give Back Award to Beaches Community Kitchen, which provides free, freshly made nutritious meals to homebound and elderly residents. The Beaches Watch Give Back Award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has a substantial impact on the Beaches community. Beaches Community Kitchen has been quietly serving the Beaches community since 1991, delivering meals throughout the Beaches three times a week within one hour

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Jacksonville Beach Approves FY24 Budget and Millage Rate

On Monday, September 18, the Jacksonville Beach City Council approved the FY24 budget of $212,809,512 and unchanged millage rate of 3.9947. To review the approved budget for FY2024: APPROVED JAX BEACH FY23-24 BUDGET Budget Highlights Include: The proposed budget has been prepared using an unchanged millage rate of 3.9947 per $1,000 of assessed taxable value, 18.9% lower than the statewide average of 4.9275. The City’s total proposed budget is $212,809,512. The

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Neptune Beach Approves FY24 Budget and Millage Rate

On Monday, September 18, the Neptune Beach City Council approved the FY23-24 budget based on the unchanged millage rate of 3.3656 mills (this is the same millage assessed in FY22-23). The Chief Financial Officer had recommended the City Council approve a slight millage increase of 3.3821 mills and as such, the proposed FY23-24 Budget was prepared based on the increased millage rate. The total proposed General Fund budget was $9,256,744

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Atlantic Beach Approves FY24 Budget and Millage Rate

On Monday, September 25, the Atlantic Beach City Commission approved the roll-back rate of 2.8410 mills for the FY23-24 millage. This means property owners will not see an increase in the amount of property tax dollars that will go to the City of Atlantic Beach. Highlights of the approved budget are: The total assessed value of property in Atlantic Beach increased by $232,095,007 or 9.8% over last year. This includes

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Nominations Sought for 2023 Give-Back Donation

The Beaches Watch Board of Directors is requesting the submission of nominations for the 14th Annual Beaches Watch Give-Back donation. This $500 donation recognizes a nonprofit organization that helps enrich the lives of beaches residents.  Nominated organizations must be a registered Florida nonprofit that primarily serves the beaches communities of Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and/or Neptune Beach. Prior recipients are not eligible for consideration for 3 years after they received the Give-Back

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Beaches Watch Presents Fland Sharp Memorial Scholarship to Fletcher Senior Traci Schrock

Beaches Watch is pleased to present the 2023 Fland Sharp Memorial Scholarship to Fletcher High School senior Traci Schrock, a top First Coast scholar-athlete who is planning to attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington this fall. Schrock, a National Honor Society member and an Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award winner, and she captained the Fletcher volleyball team and played beach volleyball. She plans to study coastal engineering. Beaches Watch awarded the

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Learn About Jacksonville Candidates Before May 16 Election

On May 16, 2023, Duval County voters will go to the polls to vote in the Jacksonville Unitary Election.  Beaches voters will be voting for the Jacksonville Mayor and At-Large City Council representatives. Early voting for the Unitary Election will be held: May 1 – May 14, 2023 10am – 6pm Beaches Branch Library 600 3rd St. Neptune Beach, FL  32266 2023 JACKSONVILLE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM: On April 28, 2023,

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Jax Beach Voters Will Vote on Height Increase on May 16 Ballot

On March 20, the Jacksonville Beach City Council voted 5-2 to put a referendum on the May 16 ballot proposing an amendment to the City Charter to allow a height increase to 55 feet on the Latham Plaza parking lot property to allow the City to redevelop the property with a mixed use development and parking garage. Councilmembers Sandy Golding and Bill Horn voted AGAINST placing the referendum on the

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Jax Beach Citizens Need to Provide Input on Proposed Height Increase

At the February 13 City Council Briefing, Jacksonville Beach City Manager Mike Staffopoulos suggested the City Council consider a Charter amendment to allow increased height on ONE PROPERTY in the Central Business District, the Latham Plaza parking lot property south of Latham Plaza. As a result, the City Council is considering an amendment to the City Charter to allow a height increase to 55 feet on the Latham Plaza parking

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Beaches Watch Solicits Applications for the Fland Sharp Memorial Scholarship

For the 7th year, Beaches Watch is soliciting applications for the Fland Sharp Memorial Scholarship to support a deserving senior in their next steps after high school. This $1,000 scholarship recognizes and supports our future. Applicants need to have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be in good standing with the Dean’s Office, and submit the Fland Sharp Memorial Scholarship Application with a 500-word essay no later than 5pm, Sunday, April 30,

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Learn About Jacksonville Candidates Before You Vote

On March 21, 2023, Duval County voters will go to the polls to vote in the Unitary First Election for Jacksonville.  Beaches voters will be voting for the Jacksonville Mayor, District 13 beaches representative and At-Large City Council representatives. Early voting for the Unitary Election will be held: March 6 – March 19, 2023 10am – 6pm Beaches Branch Library 600 3rd St. Neptune Beach, FL  32266 2023 JACKSONVILLE MAYORAL

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Beaches Council on Aging Selected for 2022 Give Back Donation

Beaches Watch is pleased to announce the Beaches Council on Aging is the 2022 Beaches Watch Give-Back Donation recipient. On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, Beaches Watch will be presenting the Give-Back donation to representatives from the Beaches Council On Aging at 7pm at the Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd St, Neptune Beach. The public is invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the Beaches Council on Aging as well

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Nominations Sought for 2022 Give-Back Donation

The Beaches Watch Board of Directors is requesting the submission of nominations for the 13th Annual Beaches Watch Give-Back donation. This $500 donation recognizes a nonprofit organization that helps enrich the lives of beaches residents. Prior recipients have been Dial-A-Ride, Beaches Council for the Disabled, the Ish Brandt Beautification Committee, Lend An Ear Outreach Ministries, Beaches Community Kitchen and Beaches Fine Arts Series, Deck the Chairs and the American Red

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