Happy New Year 2010

Wow! 2010 already. Where has the time gone?

Sorry that I haven't wrote in a while. There have been some changes in the area. Some new restaurants have opened. Others closed. The I95 and CR 210 intersection has seen some improvements with more planned in the spring.

Here's an opportunity for you to improve your health and make some money. Check out these other sites to find out more...

www.trumpnetwork.com/briandonor

http://trumpnetworkjax.blogspot.com

I95 & CR 210

Things are coming along at I95 and CR 210. For the exit ramp, they now have 2 left and 2 right turn lanes. At night, they are still working on expanding the exit lane so that it doesn't back up traffic. It should really help rush hour.

I'm still not sure about the morning traffic flow. I believe that they plan to have 2 left turn lanes onto I95 north, but not sure how they are going to squeeze that in. I'm also bothered by the left turn arrow for I95 north. The biggest problem is that during low traffic volumes, you now need to wait for a green arrow. So instead of proceeding with the turn, you now wait.

The new Russell Sampson road intersection at CR 210 is now open with the new light. I imagine that should help morning traffic a bit. Instead of people turning across traffic and merging to east bound CR 210, they now have a light to help them with. But if traffic backs up from I95, I don't know how these people will turn. I'm also hoping that a large number of people that pull out of St Johns Forrest will use this road since they have a private exit.

I can't believe that it's been so long since I last posted anything. Things must have been happening during the past year! Glad I'm out of my comma (for now)!

Starbucks At Johns Creek Closing

Most of you probably know about the woes at Starbucks. They have faced a significant amount of competition from unexpected sources (i.e. McDonalds). As a result, they have been struggling with ways to improve their fiscal position. Recently they listed all of their store closings. Because 2 Starbucks are overkill on CR 210, they opted to shut down the store outside of Johns Creek.

For some of us, that is quite unfortunate. I would much rather stop at that location than the one down by I95. As I need to travel northbound during rush hour, it is nearly impossible to get out of there and head north. Instead, you usually have to go up to the truck stop and make a u-turn.

While many people would prefer to use the drive thru, I do not. I would rather go into the store and get my coffee. I'm not one of those people that are in there daily where I'm automatically recognized by the team in Starbucks. But they are always friendly and quickly serve up my selection.

I wouldn't expect Starbucks to shut down the new store with the drive thru. But if I had my pick, I would have kept the one at Johns Creek. Then again, I wouldn't have built that close to I95 to begin with and I would have built the Johns Creek one with a drive thru.

One last thing about Starbucks. They build this brand new store with the drive thru. They put up a sign on a high post. But they don't advertise it on the billboards or other exit signs. If they really are trying to capitalize on the highway traffic, shouldn't they let people know that it is there before they go past the exit? Starbucks needs to find ways to drive people to the store and not chase them away. In a land of supply and demand, you need to drive up demand or else supply will kill you. This is what is happening with Starbucks. Instead of giving people more reasons to go there, they let their competitors get an upper hand. Then their overpopulation of stores inflates their operating expenses.

Russell Sampson Road Closing

If you have driven on CR 210 anytime recently, you would have noticed the temporary sign stating that Russell Sampson Road will be closed. Per the official public announcement from St Johns County, Russel Sampson Road will be closed for up to 9 months except to local traffic.

Why will it be closed for 9 months? The road is being diverted. Obviously it is a real traffic nightmare for the morning commute and a disaster waiting to happen in the evening. All of the morning cars merge into CR 210 in the morning backing up the left lane. During the evening rush hour, it is real dangerous for any cars trying to make a left turn onto CR 210.

When it is finished, the road will be diverted and will meet up with Leo Maguire Road. There is no mention if a traffic light will be added, but one would assume that there will be one added at that corner to help manage traffic better.

I would think that this might help the morning commuters a little bit. But it will likely give the people that change lanes at the last moment a little longer to merge over into the left lane without having to watch out for the Russell Sampson Road traffic. Hopefully the County Commissioners and FDOT are still working on a long term plan for the I95 intersection to better handle the traffic volume.

Here is the link to the official post...
http://webappserver1.co.st-johns.fl.us/bcc/PublicRelations/PressReleasesRepo/Media/Russell%20Sampson%20Road%20Realignment%20WEB.pdf

Vandalism at San Juan Del Rio

If you haven't heard, a bunch of punks recently painted graffiti on parts of San Juan Del Rio. Here is the news story at First Coast News... http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=109049

This really ticks me off. Why would anyone want to do something like this? Does this really make someone feel really big about themselves. It's such a shame that we must have punks like this trying to ruin our surroundings. I hope SJSO catches these people and lock them away for a real long time.

Bank Of America

If you drive on CR 210, you probably have noticed that the lot across from Wachovia is being cleared. This is the lot adjacent to the Loop Pizza & Grill in the Publix shopping center. You may have also noticed the sign. Yes, it is another bank. Bank Of America owns the property and will be building on that spot.

I'm sure that this will make all of the BOA customers in the area very happy.

Lemonade 4 Life - May 3rd

Just a quick reminder that the YMCA Adventure Princesses will be at many of the local Jacksonville Publix locations this Saturday from 2pm to 6pm to help raise donations for Alex's Lemonade Stand. Alex's Lemonade Stand is a non profit organization dedicated to help fight cancer in children.

If you can, please stop by a local Publix this Saturday, May 3rd and help. I know that the princesses will be at the Publix on Cr210 and would be very happy to serve you some lemonade.

If you can't make it but still would like to contribute, you can do that through a website created by the princesses. Please visit http://www.firstgiving.com/lemonade4life for more information about this cause and to help.

Thanks in advance!

Alex's Lemonade 2008

For the past 2 years, one of the "tribes" from the YMCA Adventure Princess program has put on an annual fund raiser for cancer. The Puma tribe collects money to support Alex's Lemonade Stand. Alex's Lemonade Stand was formed several years ago to help Alex battle cancer. Unfortunately Alex didn't survive. But through her efforts and this great charity, the survivor rate for children's cancer continues to improve.

Last year the Puma tribe also joined with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund to jointly raise awareness and money to battle cancer. Once again this year, Alex's Lemonade Stand and Tom Coughlin Jay Fund are united by the Puma tribe and the YMCA Adventure Princess program.

Many local Jacksonville area Publix will help the YMCA in hosting the lemonade stand. This year's event is May 3rd and will be held from 2pm to 6pm. The Puma tribe will be at the CR 210 Publix. Hopefully you can make it out to help this great cause. And if you can't, any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. The Puma tribe has a web page that you can visit and securely contribute. http://www.firstgiving.com/lemonade4life

I hope to see you out on May 3rd. You might even get a chance to meet with the winning Super Bowl coach! You will defintely meet up with a great bunch of Adventure Princesses!

Both Alex's Lemonade Stand and Tom Coughlin Jay Fund are registered charities that you can deduct from your taxes.

Alex's Lemonade Stand: http://www.alexslemonade.org/
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund: http://www.tcjayfund.org/
YMCA Adventure Princess of the First Coast: http://www.timucuan.net/

2008 Jacksonville Auto & Truck Show

I got the opportunity to attend the show last week at the Prime Osborne Convention Center. I have to say that I'm rather disenchanted with the show.

The Prime was filled with cars from many of the different manufacturers. However, there are many that were missing. Some of the key manufacturers that I didn't see included Mercedes, Audi and Porche. Yes your Chevy's, Ford's and Chryslers were there. But even they were lacking in their displays. I didn't see the new Camaro or even the new Bullitt Mustang. The new Challenger was there but only from an outside display.

Other manufacturers also had poor showings. Saab only had a couple of vehicles. Toyota had some but not their entire product line. This is Florida people. Where are the convertibles?

Mini had a small but good sampling of their cars. Lexus had a large number of cars. Lincoln seemed to be represented well.

I was speaking with the Cadillac representative about the show. She commented that the JAX show plays second fiddle to the Chicago show. All of the concepts go to that show. Very little ends up here. Heck, they didn't even have a couple sample for their cars.

Kudo's to Nissan for having their GT-R at the show. Yes it is the rocket from the other side of the world with the steering wheel on the opposite side. But it is one sweet looking ride.

The bottom line is that this show is an afterthought. Many of the mainstream vehicles are there to see and climb into. But if you want to see newer models and the future, this isn't the place. You want to see the mainstream vehicles, drive down the street and you can see over a dozen in a showroom or else make a trip to one of the real shows (Miami, New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles).

I'll avoid this show in the future.

2008 Hopes & Dreams

Welcome all to 2008. I, like many of you, have my hopes for 2008. Below is a list of things that I would like to see happen to the CR210 area this year.

1. Open a nail salon
2. Add a new Starbucks

Ok, I'm joking with that list. Obviously we have seen our share of both of those in our area. Here are the things that I'm really hoping come about:

• Fix the traffic situation at I95 and CR210. Both the entrance and exit are major problems and a moment away from a fatality.
• Add some major restaurants. I would like to see a Chili's, Outback or other family friendly restaurant added to our area. Nothing wrong with the local places but can't we mix in a few of the national staples?
• Another fast food place... I would like to see a Chick-Fil-A or Wendy's open up to give a little more variety. Perhaps a KFC or even a Dunkin Donuts would be a welcome change.
• Automotive Service. Why can't we have a place to pick up parts or drop a car off for service nearby.
• Pool Supply. There are a lot of homes in the 210 area. I would like to be able to go someplace right around the corner and not all the way up to Race Track to get them. I could really use a Pinch A Penny closer.
• Shopping. Ok, maybe not on CR210 but something closer than the Avenues or Town Center where we can have some variety in shopping. Nobody wants a Target in their backyard but everyone seems to go to it once it opens.
• Home Improvement. Maybe not a Home Depot or a Lowe's but how about an Ace Hardware?
• Bookstore. Barnes & Noble? Books A Million?
• Championship. Can this be the Jaguars year?

That's my list. I'm sure that there will be people that will say we don't need some or all of these things. Or they will say it isn't too far to go to get to some of those other things. I'm sure there are a lot of people still wish 210 was a single lane road in each direction. Things change. Let's hope things change for the better!

GO JAGS!