Families

St. Johns County School District Free and Reduced Lunch Policy

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011, 10:46am

The St. Johns County School District announced its policy today for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and Child Care Food Program. Interested persons may review a copy of the policy by contacting Elizabeth Binninger, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, 10 Hildreth Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084 or (904) 547-3961 or toll free 1-(866) 984-7084.

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Tickets on Sale TODAY: Sesame Street Live "Elmo's Super Heroes" in Jacksonville Sept. 16 - 18

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011, 9:45am

Calling all super heroes! Super Grover needs your help – and it’s Elmo and the Fabulous Five to the rescue when this fantastic musical production zooms into Jacksonville. Join Elmo, Zoe, Abby Cadabby, Telly Monster and Zoe’s pet rock Rocco for Sesame Street Live “Elmo’s Super Heroes” at Times Union Center for Performing Arts (Moran Theater) from Friday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Sept. 18. Tickets for all five performances go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 10 a.m.

When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, Elmo and his team of super heroes are here. Teaching lessons of healthy habits through song and dance, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and your favorite Sesame Street friends will explore exercise, nutrition, sleep/energy and hygiene – all in a quest to put the “super” back in Super Grover. It’s Elmo’s Super Heroes to the rescue!

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Community Raises $40,000 for Baby in Need of Transplant

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011, 12:16pm

Community Raises $40,000 for Baby in Need of Transplant

With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients.

In Saint Augustine, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local baby Grace Tobuck.

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Winn-Dixie Recalls Mislabeled Baked Goods

Submitted by Jessika Lewis, Assignment Editor

Saturday, August 6th, 2011, 12:01am

Winn-Dixie Recalls Mislabeled Baked Goods

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie stores announced a voluntary recall of some baked goods, saying they weren't labeled for eggs or wheat.

According to a release from the store, the "Winn-Dixie Lemon Bar" cakes, "Winn-Dixie Chocolate Cherry Bar" cakes and "Winn-Dixie Bakery Iced Cinnamon Rolls - 6 Pack" weren't labeled properly, creating a problem for customers with egg and wheat allergies and those who are gluten intolerant.

A customer complaint led to an internal investigation of the matter, Winn-Dixie explained, and prompted the recall.

Products affected by the recall were sold in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and now Winn-Dixie said it's working with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Food and Drug Administration and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network to fix the problem.

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Failing the worm test. Now on to a house with chickens

Submitted by Brian Thompson

Thursday, July 28th, 2011, 1:56pm

So we did the test. The worm test. Vermicomposting worms. The kind that eat table scraps and leftover vegetable bits and human flesh. (No, I’m making that last part up.)

My wife said: “If we can keep worms alive then it will be a great test for how we’ll do with chickens.”

Chickens have been her dream for years. Laying hens. Big, fluffy fowl that you wear on your shoulder like a parrot. Who guard your house while furnishing you with eggs. Who bring love and joy and eat everything in your yard, down to the bricks, which they would also eat if only they had sledgehammers.

So first we did worms to see how we would manage. To see if we could do it. To see if we could keep them alive.

And … well … we killed them all!

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Sesame Street Live "Elmo's Super Heroes" in Jacksonville Sept. 16 - 18

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011, 12:34pm

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Playing hero to a daughter … if only briefly

Submitted by Brian Thompson

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011, 1:55pm

A hero for five minutes. But what a five minutes it was. All thanks to Elmer the Elephant. Or I should say finding Elmer. Which I did. And which made me a hero. Even if for only five short ones.

I’ll take it.

It had been bedlam that morning. Mother and child hurrying about the house, trying to find something. Heck if I knew what. All I knew is it looked like there had been an avalanche of stuffed animals in my daughter’s closet, and there may or may not have been one of my family members trapped below them.

“Is anybody under there?” I called. “Should I go get a shovel?”

I was relieved to see my wife calling from the other room to my daughter — they were late for summer camp. The little girl walked up to me, calm as can be, and asked in her little girl voice, “Dad, do you know where Elmer is?”

Elmer? Who the heck is Elmer?

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