• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida has been awarded an $113,772.00 grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Religious, Charitable and Educational Fund. The money will fund a Vice President of Fund Development and the hardware and software necessary to support the department over the next three years. In direct response to the DuPont grant, the non-profit’s board has committed to raise $105,878 in matching funds.
• Joanna Norris is back in the public relations business. Formerly at Shands, she’s now on the UNF staff after taking a break to raise a son.
• The “Blueprint for Prosperity” program to raise per capita income will have 19 focus groups starting next week. It’s a joint effort by the Chamber and WorkSource and the first step will be to identify “the best methods for raising per capita income in Duval County.”
• The City’s annual surplus auction is this Tuesday at 1096 McDuff Ave. at 9 a.m. You can pick up everything from used bulldozers to old police cars to computer equipment. JEA is having its auction on June 25. They’ll have heavy equipment, surplus trucks, SUVs and more.
• The 10th Annual Mayor’s Neighborhood Summit is June 24 at the Osborn Center. The day-long event is free but you have to let the City’s Neighborhoods Department know you are coming by this Friday.
• Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman has sent out notices to area Republicans reminding them July 6 is President George Bush’s 59th birthday. However, the reminder includes a birthday card for Bush that is actually a fundraiser. “When you return your birthday card, I hope you’ll include a special contribution of $59 to commemorate the President’s birthday and keep our Party moving forward,” wrote Mehlman.
• New at the law firm of Schutt, Schmidt & Burnett: Andrea Kast, Brian Mills and Neil Weinreb.
• Score one for the “premium” side in the outlet mall battle in St. Augustine. The mall (it’s the one to the west of I-95) got the Polo Ralph Lauren store to move from the Belz mall (to the east.)
• More shopping news: The new St. Johns mall off Butler Blvd. gets its first motel this month. The Homewood Suites will have 119 rooms.
• The City’s golf course at Cecil Field has its new operator in place. Mike Pullen, who owns the St. Augustine Shores course, has taken over and improvements are underway. The last operator left the place in less-than-playable condition.
• The IMAX theatre at the World Golf Village is bringing back two popular films this summer: “The Lion King” and the very loud NASCAR show.
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