By: Ryan Luke

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Across parks and fields in the city of Jacksonville, one local organization is changing what it means to socialize as an adult.  

Jax Fray, a social sports league for adults 21 and over, is giving people the opportunity to stay active, while building friendships and providing a much-needed break from the stress of their daily lives. 

For many participants, the appeal of the league starts with its alternative environment, where they are substituting drinks at a bar for kickballs, soccer balls and time at the beach.  

One kickball player named Addie Hall, who is a mother, loves this change and thinks that it is an important shift from the typical night out that centers around going to a bar for drinks.  

“This is a nice alternative to that because it’s a way to do something that’s more active and healthy,” Hall said.  

While the leagues offer a physical outlet, the effects and impact that the organization has on the players extends far beyond the game itself. Many people describe the experience as a way to step away from the stress of everyday life and reset during the week.  

“Whether I am in a good mood before I get here, usually I am in a good mood when I leave, so it doesn’t really matter what the day brought me or what the work week has afterwards,” Patrick Dunne said. Dunne is a former host of the leagues and has said that not only is the experience rewarding for the players, but for the staff as well.  

Another key aspect of the league is the way that it has provided a platform and a place for people new to Jacksonville to grow their social circles and make connections with people that they may have never met without the league.  

Dylan Johnson is an example of this, as he joined Jax Fray after moving to Jacksonville in August, and found a soccer team with people that he really bonded with. “We started with 10 people on my team, and it grew over time, and everyone on my team I love. They’re great people,” Johnson said.  

Skyler Roman, who is new to the River City and plays beach volleyball with Jax Fray, said it has left a huge imprint on him and provided a group he looks forward to spending time with each week. “We have a lot of memories. I mean they are my best friends now; I go out with them all the time and communicate with them all the time. I couldn’t ask for anything else,” Roman said. 

Those who are already familiar with Jacksonville, like Hall, are thankful for the connections they’ve made because of how much it’s permeated their lives.

“I’ve had thanksgiving with some of these people, I’ve met lifelong, and we’ve been with each other through the ups and downs,”—Hall said.

With players from different backgrounds, careers and stages of life coming together, Jax Fray continues to create a diverse environment full of support and community, while reshaping how people connect in Jacksonville.

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By: Sasha Koresh

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The Ritz Theatre and Museum stands as a centerpiece of African American history and culture
in Jacksonville, preserving the legacy of the LaVilla neighborhood.

Located west of downtown, LaVilla was known in the early 20th century as the “Harlem of the
South,” a hub for Black business, music and entertainment during segregation.

The original Ritz Theatre opened in 1929 as a movie house and performance venue, drawing
crowds to the vibrant district. Though the area declined in the decades that followed, the site
was revitalized in 1999 with the opening of a new theater and museum complex.

“The purpose the theater serves in the the community today is to be able to showcase and put
on the exhibits for individuals to see what happened in the past, the present, and the future,”
said Shaun Powell, an employee at Ritz.

Today, the Ritz Theatre and Museum serves both as a performing arts venue and an
educational space. The 400-seat theater hosts concerts, plays and community events, while the
museum features exhibits on African American life in Northeast Florida and the broader
diaspora.

“We also give independent artists an opportunity to showcase their work here as well,”—said Powell.

The museum includes artifacts, photographs and interactive displays that highlight key figures
and moments in local history. Among those remembered is James Weldon Johnson, a
Jacksonville native known for his contributions to literature and the civil rights movement

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photo courtesy of Shaun Powell

By: Sebastian Baez

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The Chamblin Bookmine has featured a banned books display since 2022, showcasing literature that Duval County did not approve for educational use in varying grades across k-12. Today, the display regularly rotates books that have been placed on the ban list. 

Some of these books include A Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin and Looking for Alaska by John Green.  

“Our goal is to A: educate the community as much as we can, but B: also get those books into people’s hands as much as we can,” said Abby Bell, manager at Chamblin. “It’s just education. There’s a lot of people who will walk by the display and they’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I had no idea that book was banned!’ or ‘Why was that book banned?’ and so they’ll be more likely to pick it up.” 

Chamblin employees say that discovering books like “Puss n’ Boots” or “How to Eat Fried Worms” is both disheartening and difficult, as the Duval County review board is constantly adding books to the challenged or banned list.  

This leads to not only contention with authors, but teachers as well. Educators often struggle with ensuring that the books in their classrooms are not only beneficial and entertaining for the students, but compliant with local laws. 

“They try to say that the list is easy to find, and it’s accessible for everyone to look it up and know what books are banned, but it’s actually kind of difficult to keep track of,” said Carly Biesiada, general manager of Chamblin.  

“Especially when they’re doing books weekly, it seems like. And I think with the customer base, the number one issue we run into is people being like ‘books aren’t banned!’ or ‘it’s fake!’”  

Biesiada says that since the list changes so often, it’s become common practice for employees to check every one to two days. 

At the banned book display, authors like Stephen King and John Green sit. Many of the books include topics like race, gender and fantasy, among others. The topic of discussing such themes in classrooms remains controversial even today. 

Keeping these banned books affordable and accessible for children remains a top priority for Chamblin, providing an easy way for young readers to access books for a reasonable price. Bell said that the ones who come in the most are teens and children.  

Even today, books are being challenged in Duval, with Chamblin standing with authors to ensure everyone’s story can be told.  

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