• Destination Planning Corp. President Anne Urban said the company has acquired certain assets of Center Stage Music and Events Inc. following the death of Jim McBride, who owned Center Stage. Destination Planning is creating a scholarship fund in his name for students pursuing the hospitality industry. Center Stage has been a full-service events company and has North Florida’s largest inventories of casino tables and gaming equipment. It will operate as Centerstage Entertainment and Events Inc. independent of Destination Planning, and will be run by McBride’s son, James McBride.
• Sheriff John Rutherford, victims of violent crime and the staff and board of the Justice Coalition are scheduled to make a public plea for financial help at 10:30 a.m. today at the coalition’s offices at 1935 Lane Ave S. “The Justice Coalition is in a financial crisis and may be forced to close its doors after 15 years of helping innocent victims of violent crime,” says the announcement. The coalition itself was a victim of crime earlier this year when a bookkeeper and office manager stole more than $100,000. She pleaded guilty and is currently serving a three-year prison sentence.
• The “Rick Scott Appreciation Tour” will stop at The Landing from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 29. The governor-elect and Lt. Gov.-elect Jennifer Carroll are making stops throughout the state to thank supporters who won’t be able to attend the inauguration in Tallahassee.
• IMPACTjax will host its holiday party tonight at Latitude 30, a new entertainment venue with bowling and arcade and video gaming. Admission is free with the donation of a toy or $10 to buy a toy that will be donated to Ronald McDonald House. IMPACTjax is the young professionals’ program of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and serves as a network of professional contacts for those 21 to 40 years old who live and work in the Jacksonville area, or who want to.
• Speaking of the chamber, “Celebrate Good Times” is the theme of its 126th annual meeting Jan. 18. It’s planned 6-9 p.m. at The Florida Theatre. For information, visit www.opportunityjacksonville.com.
• Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Benjamin Smith of Marco Electrical Contractors Inc. in Jacksonville to the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board for a term ending Oct. 31, 2013.
• The Jacksonville Transportation Authority board elected Michael Cavendish as chair, succeeding Ava Parker. Cavendish was appointed to the board in 2007 by Gov. Charlie Crist and served as vice chair in 2009 and 2010. Also elected were Vice Chair Ed Burr, Treasurer Cleve Warren and Secretary Alan Mosley. They take office Jan. 1.
• The Jacksonville Aviation Authority announced that the number of passengers traveling through Jacksonville International Airport rose 8 percent in November. The total number of passengers last month was 472,778, up by 35,021 from November 2009. Additional service beginning in 2011 includes Delta and American Eagle Airlines’ flights to Miami, JetBlue’s service to Puerto Rico and Southwest’s service to Denver. Cargo traffic at JIA rose more than 13 percent.