Carlos Acevedo NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – News4JAX is learning more about new developments in Neptune Beach. There is a lot of talk about what is going to happen to the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn and the old Kmart. A big talker already in the works is redeveloping the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn and Lemon Bar. Jaguars owner Shad Khan bought this property, and there are plans to remake all of it into a private club, along with a new hotel with boutique restaurants, a spa, maybe some retail. Then there is that lingering question that’s been asked for many years now. What is the fate of the site of the old K Mart? News4JAX covered several stories over the years about original plans to turn the site into apartments and a hotel. Both were rejected. One half of the building is already seeing some new life. Developers converted the right side of the property into a boutique, grocery store, a Japanese restaurant, nail salon, and a Pilates studio. Nothing is official just yet for the other side, but some ideas that have come up recently include additional retail, a restaurant, a brewery and possibly a hotel. News4JAX spoke with Heather Whitmore, who is Neptune Beach’s community development director, about all the plans on the horizon. She said the focus needs to be on what is best for families and communities as the plans take shape. “We are a community of residential folks and schools,” Whitmore said. “That is going to be the key. All of the redevelopment that we bring in is going to meet the needs of the community, and everybody’s going to feel comfortable, staying here and remaining in place in their residential community.” Other projects include a new office building being built in front of Jarboe Park, similar to one that was added a few blocks away on Third Street last year. Whitmore says the new building will reignite visions for the park. She expects some new amenities to be added to the park for children and bikers in the future. A Chipotle Mexican Grill is taking the spot where BurgerFi used to be on Atlantic Boulevard. A 7 Brew Coffee shop is on the way not too far away. It will be built near the Winn-Dixie, possibly by the end of 2025. The last significant project is happening at the notable five-way intersection at Florida Boulevard and Penman Road. It is turning into a roundabout that will come with pedestrian beacons. All of that is a part of a larger Penman Road project aimed at improving traffic flow and safety. The project also includes the addition of several other roundabouts along Penman Road. It is the same intersection where a 15-year-old was hit by a car while riding his bike home from a Fletcher High School homecoming game in October 2024, according to the Neptune Beach Police Department. Police say he went through the crosswalk on Penman Road when a driver going north hit him. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Carlos Acevedo is a photojournalist at WJXT News4Jax and a University of North Florida graduate with a degree in Communications, concentrating in Digital Video Production. Since joining News4Jax in 2024, he has been responsible for shooting compelling news stories that capture and share important events with the community. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The annual “Opening of the Beaches” parade And this month — May 23 — will mark the 100th anniversary of the day Pablo Beach was renamed Jacksonville Beach On that day, Times-Union columnist Bill Foley wrote decades later “Jacksonville Beach arrived with the first official opening of the Beaches 1925.” but the name had changed and now everything was new and improved and onward and upward.” So this seems like a fitting month to write an ode to our beaches in 2025 touting some list of the top beaches in America as a potential column topic I’ll sometimes glance to see what Florida beaches are on the list Not even the Boneyard Beach of Talbot Islands TripAdvisor has three Florida beaches on its top 10 of 2025 “Best of the Best Beaches” in the United States: No As a Gannett employee, I probably should mention that USA TODAY is inviting readers to vote for their favorite Florida beach by May 19 in its 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. And as someone who not only lives in Duval County but sincerely believes we have some of the best beaches in th state I probably should encourage people to vote for Jacksonville Beach But I have mixed emotions about our beaches being on these lists I covered surfing contests at Cocoa Beach and hung out at some classic beach bars I went to beaches up and down the Gulf Coast that often end up on these lists (my sister got married on one of them) sit at the News Cafe and watch the people go by I understand the appeal of some of these other beaches the places that feel like they’re straight out of Jimmy Buffett song Some of it involves the actual beaches — I’ll come back to that — but some of it is simply the matter of getting to the beach making your way to the sand and trying to find an open patch somewhere Every time I go to Hanna Park and find hundreds of open parking spots I always think about how different this is from other parts of the state And then when I walk up one of the wooden boardwalks and the tree canopy opens up to a panorama — rolling dunes the expanse of water — I think my wife is right when she says it’s one of the prettiest views in Jacksonville There’s a gazebo where she used to take her wheelchair-bound mother They’d sit there for hours and listen to the ocean listen to old music that made her mom tap her fingers and Maybe this is where I should confess: I’m not a beach person Or at least not in the sense of setting up an umbrella My ideal beach day might be the start of one A few clouds to make the sky more dramatic when the sand is firm enough to drive on — but thankfully that isn’t allowed Our beaches are some of the best anywhere for walking you’ll see a beach that looks like a parking lot for Model Ts still places where you can drive on Florida beaches While I get the appeal of it — we’ve parked our campervan on the sand at Huguenot — I’ll take a beach without cars When I walked across Jacksonville, from west to east, I made a point not just to end on First Street, or at Pete's Bar, but to finish walking on the beaches. the day before another Opening of the Beaches I know some people (including my wife) love summer at the beach but I’ll gladly take a slightly chilly morning before the crowds return An idea for another paradeWhen I think about people who know and love our beaches Bill Longenecker is one of the first to come to mind But he has spent much of the last 72 years on the sand and in the water “I still remember my first night at the beach,” he said “We stayed at a motel that doesn’t exist anymore He didn’t just grow up at the beach and get hooked on surfing. For more than 40 years of his adult life, he got up before dawn, headed down to the edge of the ocean, checked the surf conditions, then filed a phone report. That tradition came to an end in late January doomed by the age of online surf reports and surf cams But most mornings, Longenecker still is at the beach by sunrise, getting in a swim with friends. And he’s still going to elementary schools, telling students about how our beaches actually are “retired mountains.” When I asked him about the Opening of the Beaches The opening is a tradition that goes back to when many oceanside businesses would close for the winter And Longenecker says those are his favorite times when the crowds fade but the water is still warm “I always wanted to have a parade in September and march backwards for a block to close the beach,” he said NEPTUNE BEACH – Neptune Beach is working to keep students safe by cracking down on the rules of the road with automated speed cameras that are now in effect at local school zones The new speed cameras became operational on April 3 and automatically issue citations with $100 fees for anyone driving more than 10 mph above the speed limit along with a photo of the car’s license plate and the speed at which the driver was traveling No points are assessed to your driving record The cameras are located at Beaches Chapel School and Neptune Beach Elementary Fletcher High School is expected to receive them in the future Visit here for more information. Veteran journalist and Emmy Award winning anchor This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time NEPTUNE BEACH | A new Italian restaurant is building on a family legacy rooted in Australia with an inspired menu offering authentic scratch-made pasta Mamasamas recently opened in Neptune Beach, at 1451 Atlantic Blvd., the space previously used by Dos Vatos Tacos The upscale-casual Italian restaurant offers made-from-scratch pasta and other authentic Italian dishes showcasing veal and fish as well as desserts rooted in family recipes "Every dish we serve is made with that same love inspired by generations of family meals and the joy of sharing good food with good people," owner and founder Nic Sama told the Times-Union which began as a popular popup two years ago a journey that started with my parents cooking the food they grew up with in a place far from home and love for bringing people together through food have shaped everything we do," he says on the restaurant's website noting that "it's my turn to carry on that tradition." The menu features dishes that were mainstays on the Sama family table at home as well as at his parents' restaurant in Sydney "We're doing real traditional Italian food here … These are dishes that we got brought up with at home," said Sama We used to have Cotaletta every night and meatballs on Sundays." Sama said he plans to change the restaurant's welcome sign "I want it to say 'Welcome to Mamasamas home." I want it to be a home they know each other and they pass wine around and Pappardelle 24-hour RaguMamasamas offers a small menu with big flavors The food is elevated and served amid a relaxed ambiance where guests are welcomed as family and friends the restaurant's menu "is made with love and for sharing," Sama emphasized All the pasta and sauces are made daily in-house The recipes and Mamasamas menu were inspired by dishes served at the family's table and in his parents' restaurant "We try to keep it all very traditional," he said We do meatballs and if you want a plate of pasta Fresh salads offered are Arugula ($17) and Mista ($13) After-dinner offerings range from fresh espresso ($8) to Italian liqueurs such as Limoncello and Sambuca (each $10) to Amaro Averna and Amaro Montenegro ($13 each) "We created the Budino and that has been a big hit "It's chocolate crème anglaise set in the fridge with salted caramel gelato Amaretti biscuits for that nice crunch and then we have an Italian meringue on top," he said Mamasamas has a full bar offering classic and craft cocktails along with wine and beer Among the signature cocktails: Benvenuto ($15) featuring Tito's vodka lemon and Prosecco; Ritardando ($12) which is red wine and citrus; and Buona Notte ($14) featuring Old Forester bourbon "We're mastering the classics with a heavy Italian influence … We're trying to bring a different cocktail culture to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida We really want to show what this area can produce and put Jacksonville on the map for cocktails," said Alex Arnaiz adding that most of their wine selection is Italian Restaurant openings and closings: 6 Jacksonville-area restaurants opened, 3 permanently closed in February Mamasamas began as a popup at a local American Legion post three days a week Next came its Vintage Pizza Bar catering trailer After two years of searching for the right location the Neptune Beach spot became available for the brick-and-mortar restaurant Sama spent three months renovating the space to transform it into his vision — "bringing a bit of Sydney a bit of Italy and a bit of all that culture together" to make his vision of the restaurant a reality without the dedication of the restaurant's staff The restaurant is named Mamasamas in honor of his mother — "Mama" and his father's surname "Sama." of the family's restaurant legacy that began when his parents emigrated from Calabria Although they spoke no English, his parents opened a small restaurant — Frattini Italian Kitchen — in the heart of Sydney the restaurant served as a gathering place and "a bridge between cultures," said Sama who moved to Jacksonville about five years ago Sama and brother grew up in the restaurant But there also were these ladies in the kitchen of the restaurant who were about in their 70s and I learned all these recipes off them," he said Sama learned the welcoming hospitality side of the business from his father it's for my little boy when he grows up," said Sama who hopes to pass on the family restaurant legacy to his son who recently celebrated his first birthday with pasta instead of cake at Mamasamas The restaurant currently has 65 seats in the main dining room and bar Additional seating is planned outdoors on the covered patio Reservations are recommended for Mamasamas The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 10 p.m Wednesday through Saturday and closed Sunday through Tuesday which is a vintage horse trailer renovated to become a catering vehicle Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage If your dog loves to feel the sand in their paws, Duval County offers several pet-friendly beaches, but each has rules about when our fur friends can visit their shores. Pet owners should also know before they head to any of the area’s beaches that wherever you take your dog in Jacksonville, it must have a current rabies license and a city pet tag if you and your pet are residents of the city. And you must scoop the poop! No burying it in the sand or letting the tide wash it away. When it comes to beach territory, Jacksonville Beach starts at the St. Johns County Line and heads about 4 miles north, ending at Seagate Avenue. It’s one of the larger beaches in the area, and has many dog-friendly restaurants, so it’s a popular destination for dog owners, according to Visit Jacksonville. In Jacksonville Beach, dogs must be leashed and are not allowed on the beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 through Sept. 30. Pets are allowed on the beach at any hour from Oct. 1 through March 31. And remember, the city requires you to pick up the poop! (Matching outfits are optional, but always adorable!) Cats are also welcome on the beach, but they must have city tags. If you want to let your dog loose, Visit Jacksonville recommends Paws Park, a members-only playground with separate large-dog and small-dog areas with much more flexible visiting hours. Heading north, the next beach on the Duval County coast is Neptune Beach, which picks up at Seagate Avenue and continues north to Atlantic Boulevard. Visit Jacksonville says Neptune is one of the more pristine beaches in the area, and the pedestrian-friendly community makes walking your dog a breeze. In 2023, Neptune Beach updated its rules because dog owners had so much confusion over the different rules between Neptune and Atlantic beaches. Now, dogs are allowed on both beaches year-round with no time restrictions. The Neptune Beach ordinance requires owners to keep their dog on a “leash physically connected to the dog” (no electronic collars), and it needs to be 12 feet or less. The ordinance also allows for dogs to swim in the ocean with their owners without a leash as long as the leash is put back on as soon as they’re out of the water. Walking your dog in the surf doesn’t count, so keep them leashed unless they’re swimming. Neptune Beach also added a provision to protect dogs’ health, saying that if you’re on the beach with your pup for more than half an hour, you have to make sure they have drinkable water and shade. Atlantic Beach starts at Atlantic Boulevard and continues north to the Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park borderline. With the updates to Neptune Beach’s rules for dogs on the beach, the two beaches now follow the same policy. Dogs are allowed year-round with no time restrictions but must be on a leash no longer than 12 feet. Dogs can swim in the ocean with their owners off leash. The 1.5-mile stretch of public beach in Hanna Park runs from Atlantic Beach to historic Mayport Village. The 450-acre park is also dog friendly and includes over 20 miles of trails and a 60-acre freshwater lake. Because of the natural wildlife in the park, including birds, alligators, foxes and sea turtles, dogs must be kept on a leash (up to 8 feet) at all times, and owners are limited to bringing two pups at a time. The entry fee for the park is $3 for pedestrians and $5 per vehicle. North of Hanna Park, the white sand beach of Mayport Naval Station also allows pups. Leashed dogs are permitted daily until dusk, just so long as they—and their handlers—don’t stray south of the area around the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society building, according to Visit Jacksonville. A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union. JACKSONVILLE – News4JAX is highlighting Duval County’s beaches for this month’s 4 Your Neighborhood special there are some hidden gems at the beaches that you don’t want to miss For almost 24 years, hidden along the Intracoastal Waterway of Jacksonville Beach, Cradle Creek Preserve has been home to birds and humans who want to explore the serene beauty of both swamp and forest life the more than 43 acres of nature trails and elevated boardwalks overlooking the Pablo Creek Estuary offer an adventurer’s paradise The preserve includes a landing pier for launching canoes and kayaks as well as plenty of spots for birdwatching and possible sightings of raccoons and manatees Visitors can access the Preserve via the Fairway Lane entrance They can also enter by canoe or kayak from the Intracoastal Waterway via Cradle Creek a natural creek that runs along the Preserve’s southern boundary and connects with the Intracoastal Waterway at several points near Marker 37 Biking, hiking, fishing, and floating are what draw locals and visitors to Dutton Island Preserve in Atlantic Beach. With 9,000 feet of nature trails, a fishing and viewing pier, a canoe and kayak launch, picnic areas, pavilions, camping spaces, and parking, this preserve is a paradise for all outdoor lovers right here in our backyard. They even offer wheelchairs that you can reserve at no cost. According to locals, the Island is a great hidden gem in Mayport, from fishing off the pier to walking the trails along the southern part of the Island. From the fresh breeze that blows off the Intracoastal to the abundance of wildlife, the preserve is a great place to go and get away from the world for a few hours. Dutton Island Preserve can be accessed from Mayport Road and is open from sunrise to sunset daily. Michelle McCormick joined News4Jax in December 2023 and in February 2024, she happily accepted the opportunity to officially join the News4Jax Weather Authority team as the weekend morning meteorologist. She is a member of both the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – National Volunteer Week is April 20-26, a time to recognize the countless volunteers who make a significant impact on communities across the country. KayLynn Stokes, a high school student at Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, has been volunteering for a majority of her life. Stokes excels in athletics and academics, whether she’s competing in the pool, shining on the volleyball court, or graduating early. One of her biggest passions is volunteering, but for this 17-year-old, however, it is anything but work. “I don’t even see it as volunteering honestly,” Stokes said. “I see it as just like going and having fun on a regular day.” For the past three years, she has dedicated her time volunteering at the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Jacksonville. Stokes runs the Kids Zone, painting faces for both children – and adults. “Kids would run over and be like, ‘Hey, can I get a little face paint?’ Always a purple ribbon,” Stokes said. “Even older people come in and say, ‘Hey, can I get a little ribbon for any type of decoration with face paint or anything?’” This year, Stokes is excited to work at the upcoming walk on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Over time, she has learned just how vital community support is for those affected by Alzheimer’s. “Alzheimer’s is a big topic and a big subject to just grab on to, and there’s information we still don’t know about it,” Stokes said. “It gives a certain community for people to lean on each other.” Florida has the second-highest number of residents living with Alzheimer’s in the nation, with more than 580,000 individuals affected and 840,000 unpaid caregivers. In Duval County alone, over 17,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s, representing 12.1% of those over the age of 65. “You cannot do this alone,” said Kimberly Crawford-Stokes, KayLynn’s mother, who is an experienced chair for planning the upcoming walk. With over a decade of experience in senior housing, Kimberly really understands the importance of community involvement. “The walk also helps bring families together that have similar circumstances,” she noted. “Therapy sometimes comes when you’re in groups.” KayLynn echoes this sentiment, following in the footsteps of her mother. “Anything or any type of just giving a hi, or saying something, goes a long way,” Stokes said. If you need assistance or resources related to Alzheimer’s, you can contact the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900, or visit alz.org for free resources. Caleb Yauger joined the WJXT team in February 2025. He previously worked as a reporter and weekend evening anchor for Erie News Now (WICU, WSEE) in Erie, Pa., covering both news and sports. NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A Neptune Beach man stepped up his holiday decorating game by honoring a holiday movie classic: “A Christmas Story.” “You’re looking at an exact scale replica of the leg lamp from ‘A Christmas Story.’ It is 420% bigger than the one that appears in the movie, so it’s 20 feet tall,” J.P. Michalik said. The design includes a pink bunny-suit wearing Ralphie hugging the leg. Michalik said he used golf netting and a half-mile of 14-inch fringe to help give the lamp its memorable look. “Everyone’s decorating their houses, and I thought it’d be fun to have a neighborhood competition, who could have the best Christmas decorations,” Michalik said. “I was tossing and turning one night and then I had this epiphany.” No word on whether he shot his eye out while building the replica -- or on how “fra-GEE-leh” the giant lamp is. “People come by and sometimes their kids haven’t seen the movie and they’re like, ‘Oh no, we gotta go home, and we’re going to force you to watch this movie,‘” Michalik said. “A 40-year-old movie with no CGI and people are still quoting it 40 years later.” The major award is located at the corner of Second St. and Magnolia St. in Neptune Beach. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Two teams from Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach took first and second place at Junior Achievement of North Florida’s JA Stock Market Challenge in Jacksonville giving them spots at an upcoming national competition in Atlanta The Rizzler Glizzys and Fletcher Financiers will represent Duval County Public Schools at JA Future Bound in June, which will test the investment skills of top-performing students from across the country The students will also participate in career readiness workshops and networking sessions and meet with mentors The Rizzler Glizzys are Christian Webb-Boxall Colton Coto and Finley Iannello; the Fletcher Financiers are Connor Woody "The success of the JA Stock Market Challenge underscores the power of hands-on learning experiences in equipping students with essential skills for their future careers," according to the nonprofit To donate to competition expenses, go to secure.qgiv.com/for/futurebound – Neptune Beach has a problem with speeders in school zones even though signs tell drivers how fast to drive and when to do it and now there will be a hefty fine if you get caught thanks to speed cameras that will go live in April News4JAX was in the area on Friday to see just how fast people are driving we went from Beaches Chapel School to Neptune Beach Elementary on Florida Boulevard Drivers averaged between 20 and 30 miles per hour these drivers would be above the speed limit the new speed cameras will be operational and issue citations to drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 MPH in designated school zones there will be a 40-day warning period beginning Feb during which violators will receive warnings instead of citations The citation cost is $100 and no points are assessed to your driving record The cameras will be located at Beaches Chapel School Neptune Beach Elementary School and Duncan U E-bikes have been banned on the sand in Neptune Beach since 2020 Under a proposal from Police Chief Michael Key e-bikes would be allowed as long as they’re operated safely and stay under 15 mph Key said he’s observed a decrease in reckless riding thanks to police efforts to educate the public Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach don’t have bans and Key believes all three cities should be consistent so people riding down the beach don’t inadvertently break the law Council members unanimously supported the change in an initial vote Monday By Heather Henderson Mayor Donna Deegan says her administration is evaluating the legality of an immigration law passed by City Council NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – Neptune Beach is repairing damaged walkways and installing ADA-compliant ramps in the Oceanwood subdivision. The city said the work began March 10 and is expected to be completed on the 24th. The construction is happening on Oceanwood Drive North to Oceanwood Drive South. It’s a $40,000 upgrade funded by the city budget. “We noticed that several sections of the sidewalk system through the Oceanwood subdivision, were cracked and busted up and also noticed there was no ADA ramps available. We speculate that it’s probably the original pour of sidewalks from back in the sixties when the neighborhood was built,” Richard Pike, City Manager of Neptune Beach said. People in the neighborhood said the project is a good thing. Pike said his team had to point out a storm related issue to a homeowner then they found other spots in the neighborhood that needed attention. Officials said to use caution when walking in the area and watch for temporary sidewalk closures. This native of the Big Apple joined the News4Jax team in July 2021. NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – Starting Monday, a 40-day warning period begins for drivers near Neptune Beach school zones as the city rolls out its automated speed cameras. The initiative aims to enhance student safety by deterring speeding in areas frequented by children. Traffic concerns have been a significant issue near schools like Neptune Beach Elementary, prompting the installation of speed cameras. According to city officials, a traffic study revealed an alarming 200 speeding violations per day in the area, with similar numbers reported at Beaches Chapel School. The cameras are strategically placed at the following locations: Over the next 40 days, drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 mph will receive warnings. The cameras will capture the driver’s license plate, and violators will be notified by mail. Once the warning period concludes on April 15, citations will be issued, carrying a $100 fine. However, these citations will not add points to the driver’s license. The average driver in the area travels between 20 to 30 mph, while the designated school zone speed limit is 15 mph. School board members hope the presence of cameras will encourage drivers to slow down, ensuring the safety of students walking in the area. Briana Brownlee is excited to call Jacksonville home and join the News4JAX team. She joins us from Southwest Florida, where she reported at Fox 4 News in Fort Myers. Before making it to the Sunshine state, she got her start in Rapid City South Dakota as the morning reporter and later transitioned into the weekend Sports Anchor. Three schools in Neptune Beach will soon have speed zone cameras posted near them “to increase driver awareness of the impacts of speed-related crashes in school and work zones,” according to police Neptune Beach Elementary School and Fletcher High School the cameras will monitor and send warnings to speeding drivers from late February through early April before citations start being issued The Neptune Beach Police Department first proposed the camera use about a year ago. The Neptune Beach City Council approved the automated cameras last March “Photo enforced” signs will be placed under speed limit signs near the schools to alert drivers The fine will be $100 if a driver is caught going at least 10 mph over the speed limit (A speeding ticket from a police officer in a school zone is a $340 fine.) The cameras will operate about 30 minutes before and after school indicated by flashing lights in the school zone and tickets will be issued via mail after officers review the incident Tickets will include an image of the license plate The registered owner of the vehicle tag that gets ticketed can request a hearing to challenge an automated speed enforcement violation within 30 days, police said. Ticketed drivers can pay the fine at onlinecitationpayment.com “The cameras would catch only speeders not drivers running red lights or any other traffic violations,” a police department Facebook post said “The tickets would not affect someone’s insurance and no points would be issued on someone’s license.” Police said that driving too fast is one of the biggest factors contributing to traffic crashes with almost one-third of all fatal crashes speeding-related By Noah Hertz Augustine’s newest city commissioner says he wants to maintain St Augustine’s charm while making the city safer NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – An 18-year-old now faces an aggravated assault charge after the Neptune Beach Police Department said he “brandished a machete” to intimidate voters. Chief of Police Michael Key said around 4 p.m. on Tuesday a group of seven juveniles and one adult came to the Jacksonville Public Library Beaches Branch with “ill intentions to cause a disturbance.” He said the group drove up, parked their vehicle and started antagonizing early voters to protest the opposing political group, and then the situation escalated to a verbal disturbance. According to Key, Caleb Williams aggressively brandished a machete toward two women, ages 71 and 54 years old. The women called the police, and no one was harmed. The disturbance caused traffic and parking issues but the voting precinct was not evacuated. “Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is crucial, and it will not be impeded upon in Neptune Beach or Duval County, this goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech to say your piece is your first amendment protected right, but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner,” Key said. Key ensured that the department would do everything to maintain safe polling locations. “It was a safe location to vote today before this incident, and it will continue to remain a safe location to vote. We’re committed to that, and we’re always committed to looking at plans to make it safer,” he said. No one else in the group was arrested or charged, but Key said since this is an ongoing investigation, future charges are possible, if necessary. Williams was charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. Although the police department did not state what party affiliation was targeted in the incident. The Duval Democraty party responded to the incident and thanked authorities for their response, saying, in part, “Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process. The Duval County Democratic Party stands with those who seek to express their views peacefully and without fear of reprisal.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duval County Democratic Party (@duvaldems) Proud alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University. Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duval County Democratic Party (@duvaldems) Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key Jr. angrily denounced the actions of an 18-year-old man who waved a machete during a confrontation at the busy early voting site for the Beaches and said it crossed the line from First Amendment speech to criminal activity The arrest came after a group of teenagers supporting former President Donald Trump showed up at the polling site Police arrested Caleb James Williams of Neptune Beach on a felony charge of aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and on a misdemeanor charge of improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon according to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office jail records Read the latest: Teen accused of waving machete at Florida polling place given bond Yelling and a machete: Voter intimidation is a felony in Florida. Here's how to report it "This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech," Key said when police announced the arrest Tuesday "To say your piece is your First Amendment protected right but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner." Authorities later added a third-degree felony charge of voter intimidation or suppression after police received new video footage "which depicts the suspect committing an additional crime of voter intimidation or suppression within the designated voting location," Neptune Beach Police said The Duval County Democratic Party praised the police department's response the Democratic Party said a group confronted peaceful supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris Video and photos of the group show it had a "Don't Blame Me I Voted for Trump" flag supporting Trump "This troubling act of intimidation was met with a swift response from the Neptune Beach Police Department who arrived within minutes to assess and de-escalate the situation," the statement said Tuesday did not stop early voting at the Neptune Branch library that has been the second-busiest of 24 early voting sites in Duval County Voting resumed as usual on Wednesday morning Key said Williams and seven male juveniles went to a parking lot at the early voting site with the intent to "protest and antagonize the opposing political side." He said that escalated to the point that Williams "brandished a machete in an aggressive threatening posture over his head" at two women "To say I'm disturbed is an understatement," Key said He said his department has been in contact with Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland about ensuring voters can go to the site without any fears for their personal safety "It was a safe location to vote today before this incident and it will continue to remain a safe location to vote," he said "We're committed to that and we're always committed to looking at plans to make it safer." Want to vote early: Here are the locations, dates and times around Florida GOP turnout: Republicans see big win coming in early voting turnout in Jacksonville area Key said the ongoing investigation did not find any violations by the juveniles in the group "This group of juveniles probably wasn't using their heads and they weren't thinking very clearly about what they wanted to achieve because it is again one thing to go up and exercise your First Amendment right which we so dearly take as a sacred right to express While the Duval County Democratic Party said in its statement that "violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process," the Republican Party of Duval County also praised praised police "for swiftly apprehending the individual involved." "In an environment of high political tension where President Trump has survived two assassination attempts and Republican supporters are derided as Nazis and called 'garbage' by Joe Biden we urge calm as we approach the end of this election season," the GOP statement said said the incident at the Neptune Beach highlights the importance of voters to go to the polls "Voters are the heroes in this story," said Florida For All Executive Director Angie Nixon who also serves as a Democrat in the state House representing a Jacksonville district "They’re showing up in the face of fear and choosing to make their voices heard Mayor Donna Deegan said it is "never acceptable for any voter to feel unsafe" while exercising the right to vote "Threats of violence and verbal harassment do not belong anywhere in our society and especially not at the polls," she said "Let’s remember that we’re all Americans regardless of our political beliefs." (This story was updated to add new information and to add a video.) It's not even the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles The trek from the SeaWalk Pavilion to Pete's Bar may not measure up in the athletic category to some of the other events on the schedule for the Donna Marathon weekend but the new two-mile mini-distance is the newest addition to the calendar for 2025 The new event is the Pete's Bar Donna Crawl, presented by ITP Partners, part of the less competitive side of the weekend in Northeast Florida's race to finish breast cancer. While it's year one for the Pete's Bar Crawl, Sunday's event marks the 18th edition of the marathon founded in 2008 by Donna Deegan, now mayor of Jacksonville. "A lot of people really want to be a part of the marathon weekend but they aren't ready to run the long distance," said Amanda Napolitano traveling from SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach to the 92-year-old bar at the intersection of First Street and Lemon Street in Neptune Beach plus the right to say they participated in the annual marathon for breast cancer research and support participants must be at least 21 years old to enter this event unlike most of the rest of marathon weekend Deegan said the idea took root after conversations with runners who were participating in the event but not planning to traverse the full distance but we're really only going to Pete's,'" she said "Then they would cheer on the runners as they passed by." The morning will mark an early opening time for the bar which was the first in Duval County to receive a liquor license following the 1933 passage of the 21st Amendment and the consequent demise of Prohibition the Pete's Bar Crawl takes the place of the former relay event on marathon weekend which is not on the schedule for this year For marathon officials, Pete's Bar Crawl is proving popular so far — and, more importantly, the rest of the race weekend is also showing an increase in interest, including selection to the USA TODAY 10Best Reader's Choice list last year The Pete's Bar event reached its full capacity earlier this week the Donna Foundation announced that Sunday's half-marathon is also at full capacity That represents a continued pattern of increase from 2021 when the marathon took place on a virtual basis only amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic Since the race returned to the road the following year The half marathon recorded 1,662 finishers in 2022 but that jumped to 2,689 in 2024 in spite of damp weather there were a lot of people that were interested in being able to get out and move their bodies," Deegan said that's translated into a lot of new runners." Deegan said registration numbers for the weekend have continued to rise compared to 2024 the National Weather Service forecasts near-ideal running weather for Sunday: partly cloudy with morning temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to lower 60s NEPTUNE BEACH — It took a good bit of work to get it done Michalik says there's nothing all that complicated about his motivations behind the Christmas decorations in his front yard: a 20-foot tall leg lamp and a bespectacled boy in a pink bunny suit with one fuzzy arm wrapped around it go watch the movie now; you'll be charmed) "I get a kick when somebody takes the time to stop in the middle of the day and parks the car and says get out of the car and pose in front of that random person’s house,'" said Mikalich who lives at 226 Magnolia St in Neptune Beach A neighbor even told him he met a family who had driven all the way from Yulee and it's all visible a couple of blocks away The real house in the movie: What happened to the 'Christmas Story' house owned by a Jacksonville man News4Jax did a short segment on the display earlier this month and after that the giant leg lamp and Ralphie went pretty viral Just search "leg lamp" and "Neptune Beach," and you can see it all Such holiday displays aren't new to Michalik He had a Santa tableau for the last few Christmases He had a custom 16-foot inflatable monster truck made for the 4th of July made a scythe out of driftwood and placed him atop a giant lifeguard stand which is currently home to a fake Christmas tree now bears the words "Fragile" and "Must be Italian," which references a very fine joke in 'A Christmas Story.' and used to build bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn a one-story house at the corner of Magnolia and Second streets in a neighborhood that's quickly losing those little houses in favor of ones two or three or even four times larger in which is embedded a large pole for stability The leg material is "a trade secret," he says while the shade is from material he hunted down at JoAnn Fabrics to the movie's lamp out of material Michalik bought at the fabric store “I designed it for myself," he said of the floppy-eared costume "but since I don’t want to stand out there all day in a bunny suit I repurposed a Santa Claus I bought years ago and had to make him quite a bit skinnier.”  The whole tableau stood up fine to a decently gusty nor'easter that hit the Beaches recently that’s heavy-duty construction there," he said with satisfaction and another who said it wouldn't never fly in their development's HOA (homeowner's association) living in a place where you couldn't paint your door the color you wanted much less put up a giant Christmas display He thinks some of the appeal of his "A Christmas Story" tribute lies in the movie's charm of a simpler, slower time “Technically we have fancier stuff: Our cars are fancier but what we're missing is time with family and friends," he said he supposes the movie tugs at his nostalgia for growing up North as seen in moments such as when a boy is triple dog-dared to place his tongue on a frozen flag pole “And if you have actually had your tongue frozen to the flagpole before — I don’t know if the movie made us do it JEA is close to completing an in-depth study of what the costs and benefits would be if it took over providing water and sewer service in Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach The driving force behind the study is costly state regulations that require utilities across Florida to phase out discharge of treated wastewater to surface waters such as the St JEA also must deal with the state mandate but as a much bigger utility than either Atlantic Beach or Neptune Beach it might be able to comply with those regulations at a lower per customer cost for the two Beaches communities compared to if they do it on their own Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown said the town owes its residents to explore that option and whether it would help them "We'll see what it looks like and we'll certainly be working with our neighbors in Atlantic Beach," she said JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson said the report will assess what the Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach water and sewer utility networks are worth and also forecast over 20 years what the rates would be for customers with JEA providing the service and without JEA taking on that role "Then it will be an informed decision they can take to their councils and commissions and we can take to our board," Wilson said Atlantic Beach residents get their electricity from JEA while Neptune Beach is served by Beaches Energy Jacksonville City Council Rory Diamond, who represents the three Beaches communities, recently asked JEA interim CEO Vickie Cavey about the status of the discussions between Neptune Beach and JEA "Are you able to absorb something like Neptune Beach with the significant challenges the city has with really old infrastructure?" Diamond asked during an Aug JEA and Atlantic Beach: Wide range of options in study of Atlantic Beach water utility operation "We are looking at those communities and working with them," Cavey said I think we'd also have to talk with Atlantic Beach and if they come together She said JEA "will do whatever is necessary that makes sense for those communities and for our ratepayers." The state regulations are aimed at moving utilities toward investing in water reclamation projects that reuse wastewater by treating it for irrigation or drinking water Reusing water would ease the pressure on the Florida aquifer as the state population growth puts more demands on it JEA began its study a year ago on Atlantic Beach JEA is paying for the study being done by Stantec Consulting Services Atlantic Beach officials have said they would have community presentations and opportunities for the public to weigh in on any potential change Brown said Neptune Beach would do the same with town hall meetings "It would truly be something that goes to the public in Neptune Beach and let them certainly look at what it would cost in the future and what it would save in the future facilitated by Neighborhood Services (where I worked) She wanted to know the hot issues in every district of this huge city and to meet as many neighborhood leaders as possible Over the next eight years of her two consecutive terms my admiration and respect grew as I witnessed her responsiveness to residents’ concerns and passion for making the city better Her husband, Richard, also served two terms on the City Council From 1990 to 1998 he represented Arlington and the Beaches His genuine smile made me feel like a friend long before I was Eventually our paths connected socially and I had a clear view of the Browns’ unselfish commitment to Jacksonville and the Beaches Each went on to serve two four-year terms as mayor of Neptune Beach recently passed the gavel to her successor in December That ceremony marked the culmination of 32 years total as elected officials But it’s not the end of their involvement and deep concern Elaine says she’s not done; she loves it too much Volunteer chair of Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau at the time she confided being nervous speaking before the council for the first time to stress that Jacksonville needed a team for tourism and business growth The NFL also played a big role in Elaine’s council service She was president in 2005 when Jacksonville hosted Super Bowl XXXIX Serving on boards and commissions for multiple community causes led to public service for both Browns who each chaired the Beaches Chamber of Commerce Richard was active in the March of Dimes and Jaycees while Mayor Ed Austin appointed Elaine to the Downtown Development Authority He also selected her to lead the Multi-Modal Task Force to study creating a transportation center downtown Richard’s civic involvement caught the attention of executives at BellSouth worked as an installer and ended up community relations manager When he took advantage of an early retirement program the community-minded company supported his decision to run for City Council and allowed him to stay employed while he campaigned Jacksonville Civic Council: Raising garbage fee 'opportunity for bold leadership' for future a small business owner in special events and convention planning said her community service convinced her that to get anything done The couple agree that the family’s love for Neptune Beach (where they have lived since the early 1980s) led to their civic involvement Yet Elaine was shocked when Richard ran for mayor he was enjoying retirement and painting with an art group When people he respected asked him to run to bring harmony to the government Letters: All immigrants, documented or not, deserve a chance to become U.S. citizens Pruette knew she really cared about Neptune Beach COVID-19 and contentious social media made Elaine’s mayoral terms more stressful than her husband’s she remained optimistic about making Neptune Beach better and safer She cherishes her time serving the community she loves Elaine embraced Richard’s advice to remain professional in public and to compliment people whenever possible they helped make Jacksonville and Neptune Beach better places to live Lorrie DeFrank is a former newspaper editor and reporter from Pennsylvania She later served as chief of Jacksonville’s Neighborhood Services Division This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) A week after BurgerFi said all of its U.S. restaurants would remain open following its Sept. 11 filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection the Fort Lauderdale-based chain has already closed at least two in Florida Restaurants in Neptune Beach and Naples are no longer listed on BurgerFi’s website or have active licenses with the state Seven others are no longer listed on the company’s website but still had active licenses on Friday It wasn’t immediately clear whether those locations had closed Following the closure of its restaurant at 628-3 Atlantic Blvd three other Jacksonville-area locations remain open: 108 Riverside Ave. at Brooklyn Station and 4890 Big Island Drive at Markets at Town Center in Jacksonville; and 345 Beachwalk Shore Dr which just opened at Beachwalk in Saint Johns BurgerFi also has a location at Jacksonville International Airport The closings, which also extend to a handful of BurgerFi-owned Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings locations, were first reported by the South Florida Business Journal Renna’s Pizza and Tokyo Ramen & Sushi Burrito “better burger” concept is known for its 100% Angus Beef burgers BurgerFi International said it operated 144 BurgerFi and Anthony Coal Fired Pizza locations "We are confident that this process will allow us to protect and grow our brands and to continue the operational turnaround started less than 12 months ago and secure additional capital." its one remaining Jacksonville-area restaurant Aleesia Hatcher – The Penman Road Project was on the agenda at Tuesday night’s Neptune Beach City Council meeting The city hosted an open house event where people were able to speak directly with the development team before a public discussion with the city council “We’re trying to facilitate what the needs are and what’s important,” Consultant Project Manager Dow Peters said The idea of roundabouts being placed along Penman has been floated around for several years the plan is to add roundabouts at five intersections in the area RELATED: 5 roundabouts proposed for Penman Road intersections in Jacksonville Beach The plan also proposes right-of-way sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety But several residents at Tuesday’s meeting said they aren’t sure it will make things safer “We have to stop the cars so people can go across safely,” one person said News4JAX spoke with locals who feel the current five-way is unique with a few minor issues “I think there is a need for improvement on the overall just kind of the congestive flow of traffic is definitely been building up especially with a lot of the growth that the city’s seen,” said Neptune Beach resident Morgan Christiansen “However [but] I’m curious to see what the city comes together with.” said he lived in Europe for a few years and said roundabouts definitely help the flow of traffic in his area “Roundabouts definitely help,” Romero said “It’s just a term of how [Europeans] use it and how people get used to getting in and out and respecting other traffic that’s already in the roundabout...So if people use it correctly The plan would currently make Penman a 35 mph road But they said the roundabouts would make cars go about 25 mph construction could start by January 2027 with the project finishing December 2028 For more information about the project, visit: penmanroadproject.com. Chris Will has joined the News4JAX team as a weekend morning reporter, after graduating from the University of Florida in spring 2024. During his time in Gainesville, he covered a wide range of stories across the Sunshine State. His coverage of Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award. Francine Frazier Kendra Mazeke NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – News4JAX has learned that an 18-year-old, who now faces an aggravated assault charge after police said he “brandished a machete” to intimidate voters, is a registered Republican. Duval County Democratic Party Chair Daniel Henry responded to the incident in Neptune Beach and confirmed that the voters who were confronted by the teen with the machete were waving Harris-Walz signs. “This troubling act of intimidation was met with a swift response from the Neptune Beach Police Department, who arrived within minutes to assess and de-escalate the situation,” Henry said in a statement. According to Neptune Beach Chief of Police Michael Key, around 4 p.m. on Tuesday a group of seven juveniles and one adult came to the Jacksonville Public Library Beaches Branch with “ill intentions to cause a disturbance.” He said the group drove up, parked their vehicle and started antagonizing early voters. Police said only that they were protesting “the opposing political group.” Henry said the young men were carrying Trump flags when they “confronted peaceful Harris-Walz sign wavers exercising their First Amendment rights.” Police said the situation escalated to a verbal disturbance, and according to Key, Caleb Williams aggressively brandished a machete toward two women, ages 71 and 54 years old. “We commend the Neptune Beach Police for their prompt response, which helped ensure the safety of our community members,” Henry said. Police found a machete with an 18-inch blade in plain view in the bed of a truck Williams was standing next to, and one of the women had taken a photo of Williams approaching her with the machete over his head. The photo and machete were taken into evidence “Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is crucial, and it will not be impeded upon in Neptune Beach or Duval County. This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech. To say your piece is your First Amendment protected right, but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head in a threatening manner,” Key said. “To say that I am disturbed is an understatement. I am mad that this happened in Neptune Beach.” “We are grateful for the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement officers who worked to maintain peace and respond to this incident,” Henry said. Williams was charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. Records show he registered with the Republican Party of Florida in March of last year. “Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process. The Duval County Democratic Party stands with those who seek to express their views peacefully and without fear of reprisal,” Henry said. “We urge all citizens to continue engaging in civic activities respectfully and lawfully.” The Republican Party of Duval County issued a statement as well a little before 10 a.m. Wednesday: “The Republican Party of Duval County thanks law enforcement for swiftly apprehending the individual involved. In an environment of high political tension, where President Trump has survived two assassination attempts and Republican supporters are derided as Nazis and called “garbage” by Joe Biden, we urge calm as we approach the end of this election season.” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan called the right to vote “sacred” in a statement. "It is never acceptable for any voter to feel unsafe while exercising this fundamental right. Threats of violence and verbal harassment do not belong anywhere in our society and especially not at the polls. Let’s remember that we’re all Americans regardless of our political beliefs," Deegan wrote.