• It’s hard to miss all of the Big Cats around Jacksonville and on July 10, you could have a chance to own one. The Otis Smith Kids Foundation will host the Big Cats for Kids Live Auction at 6 p.m. July 10 at the Morocco Shrine Center, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Rd. Tickets are $50 and will go on sale April 2.
• JaxBiz, Inc. – a “nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization with the goal of promoting business-friendly leadership at the local and state government levels” — is a group comprised of members of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce that interviews candidates for office and makes public endorsements. However, JaxBiz has opted not to endorse anyone in the race for Supervisor of Elections. The group, led by chair and LandMar Group president and CEO Ed Burr, cited the support for both candidates within its organization. They also cited “no overwhelming business issues attached to the election outcome.”
• Immediately following the March 26 Jacksonville Port Authority board meeting, Port officials will mark the beginning of construction of the MOL/TraPac Terminal. There’s also an “invite only” luncheon after the ceremony. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Jaxport Cruise Terminal.
• AXIA, a Downtown-based advertising agency, has created and hired several new positions. Creative Director Andrew Macris comes to the agency from Citigroup. Account Executive Tara Petrovic has brought her previous account experience with Subway, RE/MAX, Vistakon and Marriott Hotels & Resorts. Craig TerBlanche, public relations account executive, joins AXIA after working with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and United Way. Chad Landenbarger has also joined the agency as an associate art director.
• Former Jacksonville prosecuter Nicholas Martino has joined the law firm of Lee Lockett. Martino, who joined the firm Feb. 26, will practice criminal defense and family law.
• It may get more expensive for neighboring counties to hire the City of Jacksonville’s mosquito control sprayer. Legislation has been drafted that would raise the fees Jacksonville charges. Currently, the fee is $350 an hour. The new fees would be $661 an hour for a helicopter; $804 for a single-engine plane; and $1,096 for a twin-engine plane. The fee does not include the cost of the actual chemicals.
• Officials from both the University of West Virginia and Ga. Tech recently returned surveys about their experience here during this year’s Toyota Gator Bowl and both schools had high marks. Every remark was either “satisfied” or “very satisfied.” West Virginia said their practice facility was one of the best the school has ever seen and Ga. Tech had high praise for the game’s volunteers.
“Elections and politics in this country correspond with battles and war in other times and countries. Whatever of departing evils remains is sure to show itself last in the excitement of political contests.”
– Rutherford B. Hayes, U.S. president.