It’s time to have fun for a good cause. The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. has announced its 2^nd annual Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m., in conjunction with its 22^nd annual El Pescado Billfish Tournament, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at Camachee Cove Marina in St. Augustine.

Sponsored by PRI Productions and Hampton Golf, the Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event will include casino-style games as well as the unique “Ladies Tackle Box,” sponsored by The Brumos Companies, featuring fun shopping opportunities from local artists who support the Monique Burr Foundation for Children. Only 250 tickets are available for this event and will be sold separately at $75 each. Ticket price includes cocktails, dinner, games and chips. At the end of the evening, chips will be cashed in for tickets that can be entered in prize drawings.           

The casino night will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, following the El Pescado Billfish Tournament’s award ceremony. The El Pescado Billfish Tournament is part of the world’s largest offshore sanctioning organization, the WBS, which is comprised of six regional divisions, and is an IGFA/Rolex Championship sanctioned event. The tournament is one of the most successful and well-established billfish tournaments in the United States and is expected to attract anglers throughout the Atlantic coast region. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.

This year’s El Pescado Billfish Tournament will also include the introduction of an Outboard Division. Individuals entering the Outboard Division may also enter the regular tournament. The entry fee for the tournament is $2,450 per boat, and/or $1,000 per boat for entry into the Outboard Division.

For more information about the 2010 tournament, sponsorship opportunities and Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino tickets, contact the Monique Burr Foundation at (904) 642-0210 or visit www.elpescadobillfish.com.

Have you ever wanted to know the state of the local restaurant industry directly from those in-the-know? If so, you’re in luck because Jacksonville Next Generation, the local chapter of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Next Generation Program, is hosting an interactive question and answer program with some of Northeast Florida’s most successful restaurateurs. The event is being held at the Alhambra Dinner Theater on Sept. 7 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Participants will share the secret to their business success, their expansion criteria and the process for analyzing their next market move.

The ICSC Next Generation program offers retail real estate professionals the unique opportunity to meet and interact with their peers, share experiences, and exchange ideas. ICSC members and non-members are welcome to attend the event.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network and learn important information about one of the key industries in our area. The panelists for the event include:

• Christopher Calloway, Five Guys
• Al Mansur, Al’s Pizza
• Matthew Medure, Matthew’s
• Don Nicol, Taco Lu
• Greg Saig, Salt Life

Registration is available online at Jacksonville Next Generation, or by calling the ICSC information center at  (646) 728-3800.

Clockwork Marketing Services is seeking Florida residents to participate in an upcoming focus group session on behalf of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. This is an opportunity to offer your thoughts and opinions on the current housing market and your homebuying habits and experience.

An experienced moderator will conduct a round table discussion with a select group of participants. The group can look forward to a lively and informative discussion regarding these topics and other issues related to the real estate market.

The focus group will be conducted at Clockwork Marketing Services located in Ponte Vedra. If selected to participate, you may attend one of the two sessions, outlined below, as identical topics will be covered in each session.

Tuesday, September 21

Session I         3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Session II        5:45 – 6:45 p.m.

This a great way to have your voice heard and be in on the conversation about the state of real estate in Northeast Florida. If you are interested in participating, call Amy Ogden at (904) 285-3217 no later than Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Florida Forum is back and this year’s event will feature world-renowned figures President Bill Clinton, best-selling author and humanitarian Greg Mortenson and President George W. Bush. The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital sponsors the Florida Forum each year to increase awareness of the hospital’s mission of caring for the specialized health needs of children and to raise much-needed funds for its programs.

The series opens on Oct. 19 with the founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton. Greg Mortenson will follow on Jan. 21, 2011. Mortenson established more than 131 schools in ruggedly remote and volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson is also the best-selling author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools, Promoting Peace with Books Not Bombs in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The series concludes with the 43rd president of the U.S. President George W. Bush on March 1.

All speaking events will be held at the Florida Times-Union Center and the funds raised by the Florida Forum will benefit the new state-of-the-art Behavioral Health Unit at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the purchase of a Kids Kare Ambulance. Presenting sponsors include Landstar, BlueCross BlueShield and Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company. Several levels of subscription packages are available. For tickets and additional information, contact The Women’s Board office at (904) 202-2886 or visit www.thefloridaforum.com.

We hope to see you at these fascinating presentations that support a most worthwhile cause!

Are you ready to get your game on? Tickets for the 2011 Gator Bowl are on sale and the race is on for the best seats at Everbank Field!

This year’s matchup will feature a team from the SEC facing a team from the Big Ten. The game will take place on January 1, 2011, with kickoff at 1:30 p.m., and be televised live on ESPN2.

The Gator Bowl hasn’t welcomed a team from the SEC since Tennessee in 1994, and there hasn’t been a team from the Big Ten in this game since Michigan in 1991.

The Gator Bowl will be a great way to celebrate the start of 2011!

Visit www.gatorbowl.com for tickets and more information.

The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) is giving us the scoop on the latest happenings in the city, including new signs of job growth, national kudos for Jacksonville and the hottest news in film, sports and entertainment.

Here are some of the highlights:

Sports and Entertainment

• News from the JEDC Sports & Entertainment Office includes a reminder that the 88th annual Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic is right around the corner. The four-day event will take place Oct. 27-30. Also, the 15th annual Outback Steakhouse Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is on Friday, Oct. 29, at noon.
• News from the JEDC Film & Television Office includes an announcement that the 2010 Jacksonville Film Festival is scheduled for October 14-17. Confirmed screenings for this year include an African American Spotlight, Viva Cinema, and Indie USA. Visit www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.com for a complete line up.
• In other news, JEDC’s Film and Television Office has permitted and assisted 36 productions since the first quarter of 2010, which created 417 jobs and had an economic impact of $767,030. Recent productions include: a Perry Ellis fall catalogue photo shoot, HGTV’s “Bang for Your Buck” and “Community Crusaders,” the Discovery Channel’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” MTV Network’s “MADE with Kylee Spence” and a Community First Credit Union commercial.

Jobs

• A groundbreaking for new State Road 9B was held in July. Upon completion, 9B will run from State Road 9A south of Baymeadows Road to U.S. Highway 1 in St. Johns County. The project has created or maintained 200 jobs. Construction is expected to be complete by the summer of 2012.
• Digital Risk, a local company providing business consulting services to the residential mortgage industry, will create 300 jobs in Jacksonville.
• Mercedes-Benz USA recently opened a 415,000-square-foot facility at 13470 International Parkway, near the Jacksonville International Airport. It will employ 160 people in the distribution, marketing and customer service fields.
• Signature Offset Inc., a Colorado-based printing company, recently opened a 34,000-square-foot facility at PortJax Trade Center on Jacksonville’s Northside. The company invested $3 million in the facility and will create 30 jobs.
• AvMax Group Inc. announced the opening of a repairs and maintenance facility for regional jets and turboprop planes at Jacksonville International Airport. The facility will employ approximately 120 licensed aircraft mechanics.

Other News

• In June, Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved a 25-year agreement with Hillwood to be master developer of approximately 4,475 acres of city-owned property at Cecil Commerce Center. The development will be named AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center in alignment with two other successful, large-scale Hillwood projects in Texas and California. JEDC is working with Hillwood on outfitting an office at Cecil and installing monument signage.
• According to a yearly study by Newsweek, Jacksonville is home to two of America’s Top 10 High Schools – Stanton College Prep ranked No. 3 and Paxon School for Advanced Studies ranked No. 8.
• A recent study by Parenting Magazine ranks Jacksonville No. 1 on the list of Ten Best Cities for Recreation.

This is all great news for Jacksonville! Do you have an interesting update or positive story to share? Let us know in the comments section below!

Growth continues at Laterra Links in the King & Bear neighborhood at World Golf Village. The first of four new coach home buildings is complete and available for sale. The coach home community is located on seven holes of Jack Nicklaus’ and Arnold Palmer’s The King & The Bear golf course.

The new building includes two Pebble Beach and Pinehurst homes, each containing the high-end features and upscale finishes typically found in a designer home.

“Each time we start a new phase of construction, we are excited to offer buyers the latest in luxurious trends – from tiles to cabinetry and hardware to flooring,” said Pamela Anastasia, vice president of Homes by Deltona, a division of Deltona Corp., the developer of Laterra Links. “Our commitment to improve the residential offerings has evolved into the area’s only innovative and luxurious coach home dwellings.”

Three additional buildings are currently under construction at Laterra Links and expected to be ready for buyers soon. The coach homes at Laterra Links provide the comforts of a single-family home with all the conveniences of a condominium lifestyle. Each home is a corner residence with an open, spacious design, abundant natural lighting and luxurious appointments. Gourmet kitchens feature granite countertops and state-of-the-art appliances.  Homes on the first floor feature 10-foot trey ceiling and homes on the second floor include vaulted ceilings and private elevators.  Visit the community and its decorated models or click here to learn more.

Congratulations to Laterra Links – we love to hear news about growth in our local community!

How often do you really get a chance to give your opinion on the best local places in Northeast Florida? Well, the time has arrived to make your voice count!

Voting in Jacksonville Magazine’s Best of Jacksonville 2010 Readers Poll is now open and ends on Sept. 15. To vote, visit the magazine’s website at www.jacksonvillemag.com.

By taking part in the magazine’s annual survey, you can help editors identify the city’s “Best” in eight categories including Food and Dining, Shopping, Services, Nightlife and Bars, Things to Do, Kid’s Stuff, Arts and Culture, and Beauty and Health. Results will be featured in the magazine’s December edition.

Everyone who votes and completes at least three-quarters of a ballot will be automatically registered to win a bunch of free stuff! You may only vote once per category.

In addition to being featured in the December issue, Best of Jacksonville winners will be recognized at the eighth annual Best of Jacksonville party fundraiser to be held in January 2011.

So, what are you waiting for? Cast your vote now! More information is available here.

This Thursday, Aug. 26, the Judy Nicholson Foundation is set to host its 2nd Annual Art for Hope that will build awareness and support for kidney cancer research and early detection programs through Mayo Clinic Florida.

The Art for Hope event will take place this Thursday evening at Palm Valley Gardens in Ponte Vedra from 5-8 p.m. and will feature an artist showcase and juried art exhibition. Guests can also enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine and music while viewing Art for Hope works. The artwork will be available for viewing and purchase the entire week of August 23-28 at Palm Valley Gardens, located at 4975 Palm Valley Road.

Tickets to the event are $40 and can be purchased at www.judynicholsonfoundation.org. Partners for this year’s event include CBC Benchmark, Stellers Gallery and Watson Realty Corp.

More information about kidney cancer and efforts to raise awareness about the disease is available at www.judynicholsonfoundation.org. Are you ready to do your part and support cancer research through art? We hope to see you there!

The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa recently donated more than $2,500 to the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross for its earthquake relief fund. The resort’s executive team presented a check to Jack Morgan, chief executive officer of the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Rusty Russ, chapter volunteer.

The month-long fundraising effort, which included personal donations as well as a bake sale and raffle, was organized by the resort’s Associate Activity Committee. The committee supports community organizations and local causes while providing creative activities and events for the resort’s associates.

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa general manager Jeff Mayers congratulated his team for their efforts.

“We are very fortunate to have some of the finest associates in the resort industry. Supporting the local community is important, and we are pleased to be presenting this gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.”

Donations to the American Red Cross bring hope to those in need. More information on ways you can help is available here.