Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Blue Wave Forensics Team began the year with a victory at the Marks Invitational Tournament Jan. 22-23 at the University of West Florida.
The school finished in first place ahead of 13 other teams from nine states, including the University of Alabama, University of Florida and Florida State University.
Ten individual members advanced to the final rounds in 16 events.
Among the top-place finishers were Saman Jaberi, who placed first in informative speaking, and Madeline Windsor who took top honors in program of oral interpretation.
Several others came in second and third in other categories.
JAX Chamber, Coast Guard partnering on LNG safety
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville and the JAX Chamber are partnering for further safety and operations when it comes to liquefied natural gas and the maritime industry.
Daniel Davis, chamber president and CEO, and Capt. Jeff Dixon, U.S. Coast Guard sector commander, signed the agreement recently at an event hosted by The Propeller Club of Jacksonville.
The energy industry has found a liquefied natural gas home in Jacksonville through several projects announced in the past several years.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has expertise related to the safety and efficient use of LNG as a marine fuel and in mid-market export applications.
Additionally, the chamber’s JAX Alliance business unit focuses on the growing energy economy in Northeast Florida.
UNF launches institute to study race, ethnic relations
The University of North Florida has launched an Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations to look at those issues through a diverse lens.
Led by JeffriAnne Wilder, UNF associate professor of sociology, the institute was created as an interdisciplinary research institute on the study of racial inequality centered on the local and Southeast regions.
It will also be attentive to the broader impact on national and international communities.
The institute is one of two centers on race in the State University System and the only one that prioritizes research.
“As a community and as a nation, it’s crucial we recognize the intersectional nature of race and ethnicity,” said Wilder in a news release.
She went on to say there is a need to explore issues of race, racism and racial inequality while also focusing on the social identities of gender, class and sexuality.
Goals include offering training and professional development opportunities to UNF faculty in addition to scholars outside the university.
For more information, visit www.unf.edu/aa/srer.
Williams makes Jacksonville Sheriff's Office appointments
Sheriff Mike Williams on Monday announced three appointments to his staff to fill previous retirements and agency moves. They are:
• Elizabeth Kenny, formerly lieutenant of the special assault unit, has been named assistant chief and will move to community affairs. She’ll manage the office’s outreach programming, such as the Sheriff’s Advisory Councils and Crime Watches, Secondary Employment office, air and marine units and other specialized programs.
• Jackson Short, formerly lieutenant of the integrity and special investigations unit, has been appointed assistant chief. He’ll take over as commander of Patrol and Enforcement Zone 1, which encompasses the urban core and Springfield.
• Deloris Patterson, most recently lieutenant of the burglary unit of the investigation division, was named an assistant chief. She succeeds assistant Chief T.K. Waters, who was assigned to handle special investigations.
Job fair Tuesday in Downtown
Job News, Sponsor Ally Financial and CareerSource Northeast Florida will host a job fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Companies in attendance include Ally Financial, Ashley Furniture, Champion Brands, Gate Petroleum Co., Maxwell House and Web.com. Nearly 30 companies will be represented.
Parking and admission are free. Early admission is available for veterans, active-duty military and their families.
CareerSource will have a free computer lab available to print and update resumes, apply for jobs and research. Professional attire is encouraged.
To register, visit jobnewsjax.com.
JSO starts ‘Coffee with a Cop’
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office partnered with an Arlington McDonald’s this morning to introduce the “Coffee with a Cop” program.
The national program connects the community with law enforcement officers while sharing coffee. Officers from the Zone 2 Substation at Regency Square were on hand 7-9 a.m. at the restaurant at 13217 Atlantic Blvd. to talk to residents.
The goal is to improve relationships between police and the community.
An office spokeswoman said more events will be planned.
For more information, follow the sheriff’s office @JSOPIO Twitter feed.
FSCJ hosts deaf awareness month
Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Sign Language Interpretation Program and student engagement program are hosting a month-long series of events to talk about deaf culture.
Throughout February, faculty, staff and students and members of the public are invited to attend the free events.
The next is “Deafology, Part II: Basic Sign Language,” which will go over common phrases and signs useful in classroom settings. It will be 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the college’s North Campus, Room A-117, 4501 Capper Road.
The next will be a film discussion called “No Ordinary Hero — The Superdeafy Movie” led by Rachelle Settambrino, a deaf faculty member and instructor for the “Orientation to Deafness” course. It’s scheduled for 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd.
For more information and additional events, contact Lori Cimino at [email protected].
Peterbooke Chocolatier opens relocated Ponte Vedra shop
Peterbrooke Chocolatier will host a grand opening of its relocated Ponte Vedra store from 6-9 p.m. Friday at 333 Village Main St. in the Sawgrass Village Shopping Center.
The new store carries coffee, gelato, frozen yogurt, gift baskets and baked goods from the chocolatier. Team members will hand out samples of the company’s chocolate-covered popcorn among other treats.
The Jacksonville-based company was founded in 1983 and opened its first store in San Marco 31 years ago.
23rd annual ‘Through Our Eyes’ opens Thursday at Ritz Theatre
A sensory interaction among artists, their work and visitors is the focus of the “Through Our Eyes 2016: Sensory Interaction” exhibit at the Ritz Theatre and Museum.
The work was curated by Lydia Stewart and Ritz Museum administrator Adonnica Toler.
The exhibit is intended to “take the artist and visitor on a multi-dimensional journey of communication and understanding” through sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and intuition.
Each artist was asked to interpret the theme in his or her own way.
The exhibit starts Thursday and runs through Aug. 14.
Tickets are available at the Ritz Theatre, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and ticketmaster.com.