• Barnett Jewelers held a contest to see who could most accurately guess the number of faux pearls on the Otis Smith Foundation’s Big Cat for Kids that Barnett sponsored and placed at the corner of Bay and Ocean Streets. Last week, Charline Jenkins, whose winning guess was 56,265, dropped by to pick up her prize, an 18-inch strand of cultured pearls. According to artist Lindsay Stump, who placed every pearl on the Big Cat, the actual number was 57,583.
• The rising cost of a fill-up isn’t the only thing that contributes to road rage. A survey conducted by Response Insurance indicates the 50 percent of drivers who are subjected to aggressive driving behavior on the road respond with aggression of their own. According to the study, 34 percent respond by honking their horn at the aggressor, 27 percent yell, 19 percent return an obscene gesture, 17 percent flash their headlights and 7 percent mimic the aggressive behavior. Two percent of drivers admitted trying to run the aggressor off the road. Men are more likely than women to respond to aggression with aggression (54 percent vs. 46 percent) as are younger drivers age 18-24 (67 percent) vs. drivers 65 and older (30 percent).
• The law firm of Holland & Knight is the primary sponsor of this year’s Florida Venture Forum titled “Life & Bio Ventures.” It’s Jan. 17 at the Renaissance Resort at the World Golf Village. The afternoon forum addresses global healthcare and features several speakers followed by a cocktail reception. For more information, call the Holland & Knight office in Tampa at (813) 335-0961 or visit floridaadventureforum.org. The registration deadline is Jan. 15.
• This year’s local ADDY Awards are set for Feb. 22 at the Florida Theatre and there’s still time to enter the competition. The ADDYs are the advertising industry’s version of the Grammys and local winners go on to compete at the regional and national level. Advertising and marketing agencies, production companies, printing firms, students and marketing departments of public and private organizations are encouraged to submit their work. The local ADDY Awards are sponsored by the Jacksonville Marketing and Advertising Club and will feature 15 different categories including billboards, direct mail, marketing brochures and Web sites, and print, radio and television advertising. All entries must be dropped off Jan. 5 at the Florida Times-Union building on Riverside Avenue between 3 and 7 p.m.
• Columbia College will start its first eight-week session of the year Jan. 8. The college, with two campuses in Jacksonville, offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. There are five sessions a year and the new on-line program allows students to work on their degrees and work full-time. One campus is in Southpoint on Butler Boulevard while the other is at NAS Jacksonville.
• Banks are more competitive for your business now than ever before. With incentives like free checking, low interest rates on loans and high returns on savings, every financial institution is trying more ways to attract business. Here’s something you’ll only find Downtown: Jax Federal Credit Union at Independent Square offers free popcorn at the branch every Friday.