• Alan Hopper, executive director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, says the JSO is on pace to meet a half-million dollar challenge from board member and Water Street Capital founder Gilchrist Berg. Berg promised to raise $200,000 for the JSO’s operating revenues if the symphony could increase this year’s ticket sales by $250,000 — that’s a 10 percent bump. Hopper said the JSO has already improved its subscription sales by $140,000.
• More than 300 people attended the Save the Palms Fish Fry last week, raising almost $10,000 to save the popular Northside restaurant. The money will go toward back rent the Palms Fish Camp owes the City. Supporters of the restaurant are negotiating a lease with the City to keep the restaurant open past its scheduled March 31 closing date.
• The Magnificat Cafe has added some new dishes to its menu, including an Angus beef hamburger which they say they’ll match against any in the city.
• Four will be inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame during a luncheon Dec. 31: former FSU quarterback and MVP of the 1985 Gator Bowl, Chip Ferguson; former Florida coach Steve Spurrier; former FSU All-American tailback Greg Allen and the late car dealer Bill Nimnicht, who once chaired the game.
• The Chamber’s annual civic awards went to attorney Bill Scheu for his work as interim elections supervisor and former Mayor Jake Godbold for general service to the city.