• What important challenges does Northeast Florida face in 2008? Jacksonville Community Council Inc. needs your ideas. Each year, JCCI asks members, community leaders and the public to identify problems that affect the quality of life in Jacksonville. Citizen volunteers and JCCI committees then choose one issue to become the subject of an in-depth JCCI study. Suggested topics should affect a large number of people and be of major importance to the area’s quality of life. In recent years, JCCI has studied the St. Johns River, public education, race relations, growth management, arts and culture, adult literacy, incentives for economic development and teenage pregnancy. Ideas can be submitted by calling 396-3052, faxing to 398-1469 or online at www.jcci.org. Mailed submission can be sent to 2434 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32207.
• Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced four new appointments and reappointments to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Jacksonville resident Nancy Peek McGowan was newly appointed to a term beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2011. Lourdes Castillo de la Pena of Miami was also appointed and Commissioner Lauris Pizzo of Spring Hill and Commissioner Deborah Jallad were both reappointed.
• This weekend, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is offering $1 Train Rides all day to guests. The two-day special is made possible though the CSX Corporation.
• It’s never too early to start: Last week, the Sports and Entertainment division of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission was doing some long-range planning. Coordinator Mike Bouda said hotel rooms are already booked for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The nationally-televised week-long event will return to Veterans Memorial Arena after 2006 “March Madness” sold enough tickets to put a college hoops fan in every seat at every game.
• Joytel Wireless, a Jacksonville-based wireless Internet service provider for commercial and business accounts, has named AXIA as its agency of record for public relations services. Joytel’s clients include the University of North Florida, the Duval County Clerk of Courts, Capital Partners, the Bohan Group, Oncure Medical Group and Flagler College.
• “Jacksonville Stars Dance for the Castle,” an event to benefit Pine Castle, will be held March 1 at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel. Presented in partnership with the Uptown Civitan Club of Jacksonville, celebrity dancers will include PGA Tour Director of Community Relations Charlene Shirk, Regions Bank City President Marty Lanahan, City Council member Michael Corrigan, Ken Amaro from First Coast News and others. The evening will also feature a full-course dinner buffet, complimentary wine and martini bar and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $200 per person and sponsorships are available. For more information, call 733-2650, ext. 282.
“The public values the invention more than the inventor does. The inventor knows there is much more and better where this came from.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, U.S. essayist, poet and philosopher.