• Speaking of the JEDC, Sports Coordinator Mike Bouda was in Greensboro, N.C. this week at the Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters making a presentation as part of the bid for the conference’s baseball tournament to return to Jacksonville in 2011-13. Bouda said he’ll have to rush back home to get ready for the arrival of the University of Florida and University of Central Florida basketball teams. After practicing Friday they’ll tip off their neutral-site game Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Arena.
• Edward Sim is the new administrator of Baptist Medical Center Beaches, effective Feb. 1. Sim has been with the hospital for three years and is also the vice president of operations at Baptist Medical Center.
• Landstar System, Inc. has named Latosha McFarlin Employee of the Year for the Jacksonville office. She has been with the logistics and transportation company since 2000 and works in the Operator and Equipment Compliance Department.
• Jacksonville boat dealer Liquid Sports Marine has been recognized by “Boating Industry” magazine as one of the nation’s Top 100 Dealers. The accreditation is given to dealers based on performance in the areas of sales programs, accounting practices, marketing plans, lead management, customer service and staff training. Liquid Sports Marine also ranked in the 90th percentile for customer satisfaction for each of the three brands it sells: MasterCraft towboats, Four Winns runabouts and Premier pontoon boats. The company also has a dealership in Orlando.
• Nancy Dreicer, Northeast Regional Director of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been appointed to a statewide task force on child protection. The group is chaired by former DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth. Richard Komando, program director for the 4th Judicial Circuit’s Guardian as Litem program, also serves on the panel.
• Allen Reid has joined First Guaranty Bank as its senior trust officer and vice president.
• Have you noticed a major change to Rolling Stone magazine? It’s no longer oversized.
• It’s no mystery the folks at Second Harvest Food Bank need help, but the numbers tell the story. According to President/CEO R. Wayne Reiley, donations in August were down 40 percent from a year ago while the demand is up 32 percent.
• Speaking of those who help others, Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Eligibility Screening line received 45,146 calls for emergency financial assistance from July-November. Laura Hickey, the organization’s executive director, says some of these calls may be duplicates. Catholic Charities helps people with everything from rent or mortgage payments to their electric bills.
• City Council member Art Graham is sponsoring legislation that would require administrative withdrawal of all bills pending for then two years since introduction. Such action would permit a 60-day extension and need a two-thirds Council vote. The Council’s Rules Committee must approve the bill first.
• The Professional Cheerleaders Alumni, a group of former NFL Cheerleaders, will hold their second annual Audition Prep Class to prepare women age 17 years and older who are interested in auditioning for cheerleading or dance squads. Classes will be held twice a week from January through March at Bailey’s Powerhouse Gym on San Jose Boulevard. Many pro teams will begin holding auditions as early as March for the 2009 season. For details, visit www.ProCheerleadersAlumni.com.