Heather Henderson Newsletter Writer email
Heather Henderson is a writer, editor and artist. Originally hailing from South Florida, she has lived in Jax for close to 20 years. Previously a staff writer at Void Magazine, she also worked as a global trade researcher and wrote about trade policy for American Shipper. Most recently, she served as assistant editor for the National Culinary Review and We Are Chefs. In her free time she loves to paint, watch bad reality shows and read. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of North Florida.
Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Ponte Vedra students place 5th in national academic competition”
Shooting for the Stars, a team of students from Ponte Vedra High School, placed 5th in the nation at the Academic WorldQuest National Competition. | Submitted
May 6, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Ponte Vedra students place 5th in national academic competition

Ponte Vedra High School students placed 5th at the World Affairs Councils of America’s Academic WorldQuest National Competition.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Beaches Library Comic Fest”
May 2, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Beaches Library Comic Fest

The 10th annual Beaches Library Comic Fest is on Saturday, May 3.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Longshoremen raise money for scholarships”
Golfers take part in the ILA Local 1408 Scholarship Fund's 30th annual golf tournament at Hidden Hills Golf Club on Monday. | Submitted by JAXPORT
May 1, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Longshoremen raise money for scholarships

The International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1408 Scholarship Fund hosted its annual golf tournament this week to raise money for college scholarships…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Microgreen kits for schools”
The Duval 4-H STEAM Club is offering microgreen kits to schools in food deserts. | Submitted
April 30, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Microgreen kits for schools

The Duval 4-H STEAM Club is offering microgreen growing kits to schools in food deserts.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Future Lawyers and Leaders Scholarship winners”
Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince is flanked by Raines High School students Brandon Young (left) and Bryce Hardwick on Friday. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 29, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Future Lawyers and Leaders Scholarship winners

Two Jacksonville high school seniors won the inaugural Future Lawyers and Leaders Scholarship.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Sailor of the Year”
Jacksonville sailor Sarah Svejkovsky received a Sailor of the Year award this month. | Submitted
April 24, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Sailor of the Year

A Jacksonville sailor was recognized as Sailor of the Year by the U.S. Navy.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Volunteer opportunities”
Volunteers clean a Jacksonville beachfront during a recent St. Johns River Celebration. | City of Jacksonville
April 23, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Volunteer opportunities

A volunteer expo Wednesday showcases opportunities to volunteer in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Free vaccines for Clay County pets”
One pet who is both vaccinated and loved | Heather Henderson, Jacksonville Today
April 22, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Free vaccines for Clay County pets

Clay County is offering free vaccines for pets.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Neighborhoods United Cleanup”
Christine Watson-McCloud was one of more than 100 volunteers who participated in third annual Neighborhoods United Cleanup on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Watson-McCloud has lived in the Grand Park community for more than 50 years and says the cleanup was a way to spread love in her neighborhood. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 21, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Neighborhoods United Cleanup

More than 100 volunteers cleaned up trash in Northwest Jacksonville Saturday.…

Featured image for “Ahoy! Friendship Fountain playground set for debut”
April 17, 2025

Ahoy! Friendship Fountain playground set for debut

Friendship Fountain sprang back to life Thursday, and the playground will open Saturday.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Friendship Fountain reopens”
Friendship Fountain has been closed since April 1 for maintenance. | Heather Henderson, Jacksonville Today
April 16, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Friendship Fountain reopens

Friendship Fountain reopens Thursday, and the adjacent playground has its grand opening Saturday.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Extra time to file taxes”
Haven't filled out one of these yet? Don't worry, you still have time.
April 15, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Extra time to file taxes

Floridians have an extra two weeks to file taxes this year.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Spoonbill spotting”
A banded Roseate Spoonbill. | Audubon Florida
April 14, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Spoonbill spotting

This one’s for the bird enthusiasts. Audubon’s Everglades Science Center team is asking for help identifying banded Roseate Spoonbills that…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Student entrepreneur”
EverBank volunteers with winning student Joaquin Gasca from First Coast High School. | Submitted
April 10, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Student entrepreneur

A student from First Coast High School won a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge with his snack company.…

Featured image for “E-bikes may be allowed on the sand in Neptune Beach”
A sign on First Street in Neptune Beach lays out the rules for riding e-bikes.
April 9, 2025

E-bikes may be allowed on the sand in Neptune Beach

The police chief proposes to allow e-bikes on the beach if they’re operated safely and under 15 mph.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | JU students selected as finalists in NASA competition”
Jacksonville University students work on their concept for storing cryogenic fuel in space. | Jacksonville University
April 9, 2025

BIT OF JOY | JU students selected as finalists in NASA competition

Two student teams from Jacksonville University are finalists in NASA’s Human Lander Challenge.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Jax athlete reps the U.S.”
Jacksonville native Avery Patterson is representing the country on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. | USWNT via X
April 8, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Jax athlete reps the U.S.

Jacksonville native Avery Patterson is representing the country on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Haiku contest winners”
April 7, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Haiku contest winners

The St. Johns Cultural Council announced the winners of its 5th annual Haiku Contest.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Sea turtles released”
South Carolina Aquarium volunteers and a Little Talbot Island State Park ranger carried some of the recuperated sea turtles back into the ocean on Wednesday morning. | South Carolina Aquarium
April 4, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Sea turtles released

Five rehabilitated sea turtles were released at Little Talbot Island this week.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | A fair, a circus and a festival”
UniverSoul Circus is in Jax until April 20. | Tim Pethel
April 3, 2025

BIT OF JOY | A fair, a circus and a festival

The Clay County Agricultural Fair and the UniverSoul Circus start Thursday.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Student musicians win big”
The CAP String Orchestra took home awards from a the Music in the Parks competition in Orlando last month. | Submitted
April 2, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Student musicians win big

Local students in the Cathedral Arts Project’s String Orchestra, made up of students in grades 4-12, recently took their act…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Jax Poetry Fest”
April 1, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Jax Poetry Fest

The 10th annual Jax Poetry Fest starts April 1 and runs all month long.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Dealership donates to hospital”
March 31, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Dealership donates to hospital

Subaru of Jacksonville donated $205,000 to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Manatee deaths down”
Florida's manatee population is bouncing back, thanks to conservationists and a lot of salad. | Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
March 28, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Manatee deaths down

State and federal officials intervened to stop a manatee die-off linked to a loss of seagrass.…