• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce will mark its 125th anniversary during its annual meeting Jan. 22 at the Florida Theatre. During the meeting, Chamber officials will look back on 2008, install the 2009 board members and announce the Compass Bank Small Business Leader of the Year.
• Speaking of the Chamber, President Wally Lee has recommended Broderick Green, Chamber manager for business recruitment, replace Bob Baldwin as representative to the Enterprise Zone Development Board. Baldwin, Chamber vice president of community relations, has a term that expires Dec. 31.
• Congratulations to Bailey Publishing editorial consultant Fred Seely, who played in the Gate Senior Invitational super-senior division this week. Seely shot 78-84-75, good enough for 10th, meaning he won’t have to go through qualifying next year.
• Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean had high praise for City of Jacksonville Fleet Division Chief Sam Houston and staff after he sent speedy help to a disabled evidence van transporting marijuana. The drugs were on their way to Jacksonville for destruction before engine trouble caused the delay.
• 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 ad Litem program, also serves on the panel.
• Allen Reid has joined First Guaranty Bank as its senior trust officer and vice president.
• Local TV company DeepLight Entertainment is launching a new home makeover series about Builders Care, the nonprofit entity of the Northeast Florida Builders Association that helps rehabilitate homes for low-income and elderly people. The show is called “Building a Difference” and will be released worldwide in February on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
• 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.
• 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.