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2007 - 2008 FCAT grades were released today. For a searchable database of area FCAT grades, click here

Jena was 14 years old. Her mother will never understand what happened on her daughter's life, something so terrible, that pushed her to finish her own life. Two days ago, she was going to go to the mall with her friends one afternoon. She seemed very excited about it.

Her mother was happy too, Jena had been kind of quiet and sad lately, and she had occasionally complained about her appearance, nothing strange in a teenage girl. Who didn't feel unhappy sometimes with her body while going thought adolescence? However, Jena wasn't only experimenting those "natural" changes on her young life, she was also going through a hard time, being bullied by other kids at school, and constantly critized by one of her teachers. She had become the target of prank calls, and despite of this stress, Jena never told anyone about it, because she felt that no one really cared about her feelings. Jena was suffering of deep depression, the quiet killer condition of hundreds of teens today in our society.

Spotted on the Westside near Herlong Airport.

As much as I miss being close to the ocean, the Westside offers its own special peace.

I was reading yesterday where someone was asking for gun education.  I agree, people should know more about a gun, besides what they see on tv.  There is more to it than how to load, point and pull the trigger.

I believe that the guns should be made more difficult to get.  We have trade shows, in fact there is one this weekend at the Shrine Temple.  Anyone can go to it with an admission ticket and a pocket full of money.  They are allowed to shop through hundreds of weapons and find what they want, buy it and take it home.  Bang, a done deal.  There are lots and lots of genuine collectors to whom these shows are targeted.  But anyone can go, and someone of the wrong mindset can go and pick up anyone of the guns for sale, mostly from individuals.  Those that are not collectors will have a gun regardless, but, my contention is make buying a gun not as easy.  Either have the collectors licensed as such so their documents are on file nationally with ATF and availabe to all law inforcement agencies.  Or, perhaps as well as that have the people who go to the trade shows to sell them, be licensed as well, and go through the full proceedure as with retailers.

  Hi my name is Zinnia and I'm a local artist in the westside, I like this website because its more about the community and its not like myspace and facebook.  I would like to meet some locals in my area with the same interests in art as I am.  I would like to start a group that is into art and likes to organize in art events around town!  If interested let me know!!

Zinnia 

Hi Everyone,    

    Come celebrate life with us! We are an online support community for those family and friend, who have been touched by cancer…directly or indirectly! This is a place for people to tell their story, talk about their daily struggles, and share tips that they have learned. Additionally, members can help each other, comfort each other, and make new friends. We focus on surviving and coping with living beyond cancer’s touch. 

Welcome to Old Plank Christian Academy’s Summer Camp Program for 2008. It is our desire to have the very best camp possible, which will not only glorify Jesus, but uplift your children through our daily Bible lessons and Christian environment. Our staff consists of qualified Educators from our academy. We hope that your child(ren) will develop spiritually, physically and emotionally.

June 9, 2008 through August 15, 2008 (Closed Friday, July 4, 2008) Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Campers entering Third (3rd) through Seventh (7th) grades have all activities as proposed below. Activities include daily Bible Lesson, sports, crafts, games, movies, library reading enrichment, and field trips. We will average THREE trips per week. Currently, we have THIRTY-TWO trips on the calendar. Field trips include Jacksonville Suns Baseball Game, Bowling, Adventure Landing Golf & Games, Adventure Landing Shipwreck Island Water Park, Skate Station Skating Rink, IMAX Theatre @ World Golf Village, Chuck E Cheese, Diamond D Ranch, and WEEKLY Swimming in an In-Door Facility with Lifeguards on Duty giving Swimming Lessons! There will also be swimming lessons included for those who need to learn to swim, or just improve their swimming strokes! Many of the trips also have lunch included! Our wonderful caring staff will also continue challenging our children to learn in fun and creative ways.

I as print journalist I should decry Mysun. But I won't. It's great - hyper-local news, events, issues mixed with a community of neighbors that can meet, greet, debate and innovate to make where they live a better place.

I just signed up for Mywestsidesun and intend to be  frequent user. MySpace is great and it keeps me in touch with friends and family far away. MySun should be an easy way to connect with my new neighbors (been in Riverside since October) in a day and age when we are becoming more insular and disconnected from one another. Kudos to the administrators and ideators at jacksonville.com.