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 | Free vaccines for Clay County pets”
One pet who is both vaccinated and loved | Heather Henderson, Jacksonville Today
4 hours ago

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
1 day ago

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.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville mayor weighs veto of immigration bill”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier commends Jacksonville's City Council for passing an immigration enforcement bill. Uthmeier spoke Thursday, March 27, 2025, in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 28, 2025

Jacksonville mayor weighs veto of immigration bill

Mayor Donna Deegan says her administration is evaluating the legality of an immigration law passed by City Council.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | MOCA Family Day”
March 27, 2025

BIT OF JOY | MOCA Family Day

Enjoy Family Day at Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art this Saturday.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Library book sale”
March 26, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Library book sale

The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library will hold a book sale this week.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Sandcastle contest”
The sandcastle contest at the Opening of the Beaches celebration lets you flex your creativity. | Visit Jacksonville
March 25, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Sandcastle contest

Sign up to participate in the sandcastle contest at the Opening of the Beaches next month.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Iftar at MOSH”
March 24, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Iftar at MOSH

MOSH is hosting an educational Ramadan Iftar dinner on Tuesday.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Local Realtor honored”
Local Realtor Stacy Horst was honored at a recent Northeast Florida Association of Realtors event. | NEFAR via Facebook
March 21, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Local Realtor honored

Fernandina Beach Realtor Stacy Horst was awarded $20,000 to support her charity, Erin’s Hope For Friends.…

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Jax Zoo makes top 10”
Jacksonville Zoo staff gave Theo the capybara a special treat for his birthday this week. Think Theo would agree his home is one of the best in the country? | Jacksonville Zoo via Facebook
March 20, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Jax Zoo makes top 10

The Jacksonville Zoo was named No. 4 in the country.…