The Florida Public Relations Association Jacksonville Chapter announced that local professional Maria Coppola earned the designation of certified public relations counselor.
The designation has been provided to fewer than 85 practitioners in Florida and only five in Jacksonville. The designation is given to those who demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and advanced consultation skills in the public relations field.
She owns Coppola Public Relations of Jacksonville, which focuses on campaigns for business and industry throughout the region.
False court emails being sent
The Duval County Clerk of Courts is asking the public to be aware of false emails about fictitious court notices being sent with potentially harmful attachments.
At least three people recently notified the clerk’s office of the emails they received from someone claiming to be a court clerk in Duval County.
The emails falsely inform recipients they are to appear in court and direct them to click on a link or attachment, which may be harmful to computer software.
The public can contact the clerk’s office at (904) 255-2000 to verify participation in a court case.
Free shred day scheduled for Thursday
The Jacksonville Jaguars and InstaRamp are sponsoring a free shredding day with Shred for Good from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday at EverBank Field, Lot J.
Among those taking part in the day will be local professional skateboarder Mike Peterson, who will demonstrate “shredability” with board tricks.
Shred for Good is providing the free one-day shredding service for residents and small business owners as part of a public awareness campaign.
All documents will be deposited into locked bins before
being transported to the company’s Green Cove Springs facility for destruction. The company is a division of Challenge Enterprises.
Vino Volo opens first Florida restaurant at Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville International Airport is the site of the newest Vino Volo, an airport wine bar found throughout airports around the country.
The Jacksonville location will be the company’s first in Florida. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday with airport and Vino Volo executives.
The restaurant is in Concourse C.
Jacksonville makes 'greenest cities' list
NerdWallet, a consumer-friendly financial literacy website, named Jacksonville as No. 20 on its list of “Greenest Cities in America.”
The list was created as part of an Earth Day-related study.
Study factors included the median air quality index, parks per 10,000 residents, gallons of excess fuel consumed per commuter and percentage of population that works from home or uses green or public transportation.
Madison, Wis., placed first, followed by Anchorage, Alaska. Jacksonville was the only Florida city to make the Top 25.
UF Proton Therapy Institute receives grant
The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute has been chosen as a Jeffrey Frank Wacks Music Therapy Program site and a Livestrong Community Impact Project grant recipient.
The project was created to bring proven cancer support programs to communities across the country and, as a grantee, the institute will receive up to $15,600 to establish a music therapy program. That includes the addition of a board-certified music therapist.
More than 100 qualified hospitals, cancer centers, university students and community organization in seven regions across the U.S. were selected to participate in an online voting campaign to determine winners. Thirteen were chosen.
The institute previously received a Livestrong grant in 2010 to start its artist-in-residence program.
A nonprofit affiliated with the UF College of Medicine, the institute is dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatments and setting standards for treating and curing cancer. The facility houses conventional radiation and proton therapy, delivering treatment to 110 patients a day.
DIA to talk structure and governance at special meeting Thursday
The Downtown Investment Authority will have a special meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall.
The meeting is to discuss the authority’s structure, governance changes and formation of legislation. For more information, call (904) 630-3492.
City joins Donate for Life effort
In recognition of April being Donate Life Month, the city has partnered with LifeNet Health of Florida, Lifequest and the Jacksonville Transplant Alliance to launch the inaugural employee donor registration drive.
The event will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at City Hall and feature Tax Collector Michael Corrigan and Dr. Valerie Rao, District 4 medical examiner.
During the event, recipients and families of donors and transplant patients will share success stories and organizations from the alliance will sponsor giveaways. More than 3,700 Floridians and 120,00 patients nationwide are on a transplant waiting list.
City employees and other residents are encouraged to visit donatelifeflorida.org to make their wishes known about organ and tissue donation.