• The Real Estate Outlook Conference and Expo is April 4 from 7 a.m.-noon. The informational conference is produced by NEFAR’s Commercial Alliance of Realtors and the Florida CCIM Chapter, North District. Details are online at REoutlook.com.
• The Jaguars Foundation Board has awarded a total of $250,000 in grants to 11 local nonprofit youth-serving agencies during its second grant cycle for 2006, bringing the year’s grant total to $849,570. The application deadline for the foundation’s next grant cycle is Feb. 16. Call 633-KIDS for more information.
• The River City Rumble basketball game between Jacksonville U. and the University of North Florida is Jan. 9 at the UNF arena. The Osprey athletic department is sending out tickets to the game and Mayor Peyton has gotten his invite from UNF President and former Mayor John Delaney. The club is also urging all UNF fans to wear white in an effort to “white out” the arena.
• Apologies to City Council Dist. 1 candidate Cheryl Grymes for misspelling her last name in a City Note Wednesday.
• Speaking of Council, the current members have been asked to join the “Keep Delta My Delta Coalition” — an effort being pushed by the Moore Consulting Group to prevent Delta Airlines from being bought out by US Airways (something Delta officials have assured won’t happen). According to the consultant, if the buyout happens, statewide it would have a $10 billion economic impact and cost 5,000 jobs. Locally, 25 percent of all seats would be sold by one carrier.
• Goodwill Industries of North Florida estimates it’s made $11.2 million in store sales from 440,000 donations this year. Those donations allowed the organization to serve 23,000 individuals and employ 10,000 people in Northeast Florida.
• City Council member Kevin Hyde’s departure for Governor-elect Charlie Crist’s cabinet has left a few openings on both the Council committees and other Council-related assignments. Hyde held six different assignments, including chair of the Finance and Personnel committees, among others.
• Gasoline prices usually increase just before the holidays due to increased demand from travelers, plus the increased consumption of heating oil in the Northeast and this year was no exception. According to AAA, the price of a gallon of gas is up 9.5 cents since Nov. 22. A gallon of regular-grade gasoline averages $2.33 in Jacksonville, slightly lower than the state average of $2.34. Currently, the most expensive gallon of gas in Florida is in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area at an average of $2.43, while drivers in Tampa are getting the best deal at $2.30 per gallon.