Darrell Smith, a 48-year old Jacksonville resident, won a new 2015 Ford Mustang convertible over the weekend as part of the Gate Drive Your Dream Mustang Giveaway.
More than 30 finalists attended the drawing Saturday and were given a random key to try to unlock the car. Smith was the 11th finalist to try his luck at the Town Center Parkway store.
Twenty-four finalists were chosen based on their frequency cards and mail submissions, while 16 won an invitation during a “Spin the Wheel” promotion. Those who didn’t win the car, valued at almost $32,000, received a $100 Gate gift card.
JTA shuttles ready for Florida-Georgia game
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s shuttle service will be running Oct. 31 for the annual football tilt between the University of Florida and University of Georgia.
The park-n-ride service will have two Downtown and two suburban locations.
The Downtown service will start from the Prime Osborn Convention Center lot, 1005 Forsyth St. and the Kings Avenue parking garage, 1003 King Ave. A shuttle pass is $7.
The suburban lots will start from the Beaches at Wingate Park, 277 Penman Road and Southside and Butler Boulevard, 7020 Philips Highway. That pass is $12.
The authority also is offering a shuttle-only service from the Landing for $7 and the Skyway will have extended hours.
For more information, visit jtafla.com.
Relics of Saint Maria Goretti coming to Basilica of Immaculate Conception
As part of a three-month U.S. tour, the Diocese of St. Augustine will host major relics of Saint Maria Goretti on Oct. 28.
The Jacksonville stop will be Downtown at the Basilica of Immaculate Conception, 121 E. Duval St.
The schedule includes a 6 a.m. public veneration of Saint Maria and a 7 p.m. Solemn Mass celebrated in her honor with pastor Edward Murphy. Venerating relics is not worship, but instead a way to honor and draw near to saints and petition for their prayers.
Goretti is the youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church. The 11-year-old died after being stabbed in an attempted rape, but not before forgiving her attacker.
It is the first time the body of Goretti has traveled to the U.S. and the second time it’s left Italy.
The tour includes stops at 25 Catholic dioceses spanning 16 states.
For information about the relics, visit mariagoretti.com/delta/about-relics.
Curry appoints department heads
Mayor Lenny Curry recently appointed directors to the city’s Public Works, Planning and Development and Employee Services.
John Pappas will lead Public Works, taking over for Jim Robinson, who resigned. Pappas has worked in the department since 1985, most recently as director of operations. Duties included overseeing rights of way and stormwater maintenance, mowing, landscaping and public buildings. He will make $147,000.
Bill Killingsworth returns to Jacksonville to lead Planning & Development. He previously held the position from 2009-11 after serving for two years as community planning division chief. He then went from the city to the state, serving as community development director for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. His salary is $135,000.
Folks Huxford, who served in the interim role since May, will return to his role as chief of current planning. He will be paid $115,000.
Kelli O’Leary has been reappointed as director of employee services after serving since 2014. Her salary is $135,000.
3D Digital Solutions buys Dorsey Media Group
Jacksonville-based 3D Digital Solutions has acquired local Dorsey Media Group.
3D Digital Solutions provides display ads, social media services, website design, copy writing and search and mobile marketing.
Dorsey specializes in video production, film and television, animation and motion design, social media video campaigns and video optimization. Clients include the NFL Network, TaxSlayer Bowl, the Tim Tebow Foundation and political candidates.
Dorsey will continue to operate under its own name. Founder Greg Dorsey will serve as managing director of 3D Digital Solutions’ video services division.
Taggart, Forte join JU to boost enrollment
Two higher education veterans have joined Jacksonville University to enhance student recruitment and enrollment.
Tom Taggart is chief admissions office and Allana Forte is director of admissions and recruiting. The appointments represent part of Jacksonville University’s modernization of its admissions structure.
Taggart worked at Florida Coastal School of Law as associate dean of student affairs. His eight years there meant working with student affairs, retention and enrollment management. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in engineering from Miami University.
Forte most recently was at Florida Coastal, where she worked in admissions. She’ll work with Taggart on operational management of the office. She has a juris doctorate from Stetson College of Law and a bachelor’s in telecommunications from the University of Florida.
Gunn named VP at Baptist Medical Center South
Elizabeth Gunn is joining Baptist Medical Center South as vice president of patient services. She comes from the Southeast Georgia Health System, where she served in the same capacity. While there, she oversaw nursing practice for the health system, including its two hospitals in Brunswick and St. Marys, Ga.
She has more than 26 years of health care experience.
JTA's Nat Ford named 'Champion of Change'
Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford has been named a White House Transportation Champion of Change, a distinction given to 11 people across the country for leadership and innovation in the industry.
The award is for leading the overhaul of JTA’s transportation system through the Route Optimization Initiative aimed to increase ridership, decrease travel times and make safety upgrades to buses and stations.
The Champions of Change program was created to allow the White House to feature people who inspire their communities. The awards event was Tuesday afternoon.
For more information, visit whitehouse.gov/champions.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra seeks musicians for civic group
Calling all musicians, calling all musicians.
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is developing a Civic Orchestra providing members an opportunity to perform onstage at Jacoby Hall under the direction of symphony conductors and its musicians.
Rehearsals will be Feb. 1-6, with a concert Feb. 6.
Registration is $50 and can be found at jaxsymphony.org. Participants must be 21 or older, be able to read music and play a standard orchestra instrument. The deadline for registration is Dec. 15.
There are no auditions.
For more information, visit jaxsymphony.com or call (904) 354-5657.