Business Briefs

Business Briefs

Earle new administrator of domiciliary

Lt. Col. James Earle, U.S. Army Reserve, was named Friday as the administrator of the Robert H. Jenkins Veterans Domiciliary by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA). He replaced Polly Tyler who retired in April after 17 years as administrator of the Lake City domiciliary.

Earle has served as director of the Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, area program administrator of child protective services for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and also in an administrative position at Northeast Florida State Hospital in Macclenny. He has been working for the past two years as a Department of Defense consultant to the Afghanistan National Army and National Police, in Afghanistan.

Building permits rise in May

Data compiled from city and county building departments by the Northeast Florida Builders Association show permits issued in May rose five percent for Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.That's an increase to 625 from the 593 permits issued in April.

Nassau County reported 33 building permits in May, compared to 44 issued in April. Duval County had 456 permits issued in May, St. Johns had 83 and Clay reported 53.

The total number of permits issued a year ago in May 2007 was 882.

Everybody loves ice cream

Sparkman's Dairy will be tempting shoppers at the Fernandina Farmers Market with their newest product - freshly made ice cream in a variety of flavors. The Fernandina Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1p.m. at Seventh and Centre streets. For more information call 491-4872 or visit www.fernandinafarmersmarket.com.

Hob Nob is back

The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce is bringing back Hob Nob. It’s an open-to-the-public event for political candidates to meet and greet, and it will be Aug. 7 at Metropolitan Park.

Hot air balloon rides new attraction this year

Reserve your booth now for the annual Fourth of July celebration at Lakeside Community Center in Lake Butler. Booth rentals are $40 each and can be reserved through Jennie Reed at Community State Bank on S.R. 121. For more information, call Reed at (386) 496-3333.

Some of the festivities for the day include two early morning runs: the Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K run at 8:30 a.m. Car show registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.

There will also be attractions such as karaoke and bluegrass music, hot air balloon rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, portable water slides, pony rides, watermelon eating contest and a greased-pole climbing contest. Booths will open around 9 a.m. and will have food, games and entertainment for everyone. Fireworks show will begin at dusk.

Attention Northeast Florida Educators!

An aquatic species collecting workshop will be held on Monday, August 11 from 9:00am-NOON at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve 505 Guana River Road Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

There will be a collecting permit presentation and practice collecting organisms; seining.

The workshop will cost $25.00. RSVP required by August 1st. Contact Angie Golubovich at: (904) 823-4500 or Angie.Golubovich@dep.state.fl.us

(If you plan on staying to practice collecting specimens, please bring sunglasses & shoes that can get dirty)

Visit the Chamber at the AINCAR Expo

The AIFBY Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit with staff at the July 8 Amelia Island Greater Nassau Association of Realtors Affiliate Expo from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Chamber staff will be available to answer questions, tell you about new programs and share information about our Visitors Guide and Business Directory.

The Chamber will offer a door prize during the Expo and is seeking donations for the prize. Contact Director of Membership Kelly Monti at 904-261-3248 or kelly@aifby.com, if you would like to donate.

Business briefs reports what’s happening to local and area businesses. Items can include mergers, relocations, office and store openings, honor and awards, promotions, personnel changes, or business events. Send information to  news@northfloridanewsdaily.com  Photographs must be clearly labeled and must be jpg format. You can also mail information to Theus Media Group, P.O. Box 1900, Glen St. Mary, FL 32040