Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville March 3, 2010

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Maybe winter has finally left Florida, about time I say.  I checked the weather report today and it says that the weather for Wednesday is partly cloudy but with a high temperature of 55 F, so we should be OK for the art walk.

The theme for March 3, 2010: Rock ‘n’ Roll, so you don’t want to miss this one.

A few notes for this month’s event:

There’s a new venue for this art walk, the RiverFit Gym at The Landing, where you can meet t artist, Rejel of REJCEL.co.

Rock ‘n’ Roll to help Haiti with the best bands in Jacksonville and a silent auction benefit by local artists will take place at Suite 106 Gallery.

There’s an Elvis tributes by five-year-old (?!)  Gabriel Jarrett, and Elvis tribute artist, Randy Elvis Walker at Visit Jacksonville. If you enjoy fashion, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a live runway show by “Princess of the Prom” at Cafe 331 & The Sinclair

At the Florida Theater you can view  the 2010 ADDY award-winning work from local advertising agencies and participate in the 2010 AAF JAX Media Auction at 6 p.m.

To watch our video, and to download an map for The First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville, Florida –  click here

Scottish Games & Festival 2010 Jacksonville, Florida

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This popular festival promises to bring a “wee bit o’ Scotland” to the coast, with bagpipes, music, dancing and more.

The Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival include Kilted Golf Tournaments, Pub Crawls, Kirkin‘ o‘ the Tartans, Whiskey Tasting, Parades of Tartans & Ceilidh (Scottish Musical Evenings).

There’s also live entertainment with a variety of groups such as Need Fire, Mother Grove,  Highland Reign and Ron Davis. The Navy Band Southeast is also scheduled to perform. Check the website for more information.

The Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival 2008 will be held Saturday, February 27, 2010. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. The location for these Games is Clay County Fair Grounds on State Road 16, 2497 SR16 W Green Cove Springs. Tickets prices are $10 per person in advance or $12 at the gate.

Call 904.725.5744 for more information or visit the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival website.

World Class Service at Jacksonville Airport

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We always loved flying from Jacksonville, it’s quick and easy to get in and out at the airport.
So we were not surprised when we read this press release about the customer service at Jacksonville Airport, Florida.

Jacksonville International Airport’s Customer Service
Recognized as Among the Best in the Industry

Two New Surveys Show JAX Providing World-class Service

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) has earned top rankings for providing some of the aviation industry’s best customer service and overall passenger satisfaction in 2009, according to two recently released surveys.

In a J.D. Power & Associates study that measures overall airport satisfaction, JAX ranked No. 4 among all U.S. airports with fewer than 10 million annual passengers. Six factors – assessed through 27 specific attributes – are examined as part of the survey to determine overall customer satisfaction. They include: airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check process, terminal facilities, security check, and food and retail services.
In addition, JAX was ranked the 4th best airport in North America in a survey of participating airports by Airports Council International (ACI). The ACI Airport Services Quality (ASQ) passenger survey, a leading industry benchmarking tool, is used by many airports as one of the key performance indicators of an airport’s service.

In the same ACI survey, JAX ranked No. 5 in the world among airports with five to 15 million annual passengers.

“Congratulations to the entire JAX team, including Jacksonville Aviation Authority staff, the Transportation Security Administration, airlines and airport vendors,” said JAA Chair Deborah Pass-Durham. “2009 continued to be a tough year for airports, and for JAX to maintain such high levels of customer service is truly a source of pride for this region.”

MS Mud Run Jacksonville 2010

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National Multiple Sclerosis Society—North Florida Chapter Holds Second Annual “MS Mud Run Jacksonville”

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville is a 10K, military-style obstacle course race, with most of the obstacles surrounded by (or consisting entirely of) mud. Individuals, teams of two and teams of five will compete for prizes and the satisfaction of a doing a dirty job very well.

The North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS-NFL) will hold its annual MS Mud Run Jacksonville on March 20, 2010. This is the second time around for the exiting race. It’s  one of its most successful fundraising activities in 2009, according to  Jennifer Lee, President of NMSS-NFL. The inaugural Mud Run in 2009 attracted over 900 participants and raised more than $120,000.

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville will take place at Cecil Commerce Center, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Food and beverage vendors will be available and entertainment is planned throughout the day to provide a festival atmosphere for the event.

“We were optimistic when we launched this event last year that Jacksonville would show up and support us, and the results far exceeded our expectations,” said Lee. “Registration for this year’s Mud Run has been strong, with  almost 1500 people already registered to participate and we’re still a month out from the event. There are people from more than 13 states signed up, and just about every major employer in the North Florida area will be represented by a team. Some will be represented by multiple teams, such as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the different branches of the military. We’re expecting a terrific event with excellent results. And it will provide a great entertainment opportunity to participants and spectators alike here in Northeast Florida.”

Mud Run For Kids Too

New this year is the Mud Run Fun Run for Kids event, which will be held at 2:00PM. Boys and girls ages 7-12 will run a three-quarter of a mile course featuring three to five obstacles, including the large Slip ‘n’ Slide. The registration fee for this event is $30 per child and a signed notarized waiver by a parent/guardian will be required. Teens 13-18 may run the full course if accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times; they will also be required to submit a signed, notarized waiver by a parent or guardian.
Complete information about the MS Jud Run Jacksonville is available at www.mudrunjax.com, where you may also register for the event. Registration fees are $45 per person and each participant agrees to raise a minimum of $100 for NMSS-NFL. Simple online fundraising tools are available to participants to help them make the fundraising easy. Registration closes at midnight on March 18th. One hundred percent of fundraising contributions are donated to the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Volunteers will play a big role in the preparation and smooth running of the event. Volunteer opportunities are still available for the day of the event as well as Wed, Thurs, and Fri, March 17th, 18th and 19th   for those who would like to be involved. For information about volunteering or the event in general, visit www.mudrunjax.com, send an email to Jessica.Eichhorn@fln.nmss.org or call (904) 332-6810.

MS Mud Run Jacksonville Florida

Breast Cancer Marathon – Jacksonville, Florida

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The big marathon with takes place in Jacksonville, Florida every year in February. This is the third time for 26.2 with Donna The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer.

Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, February 19, 2010

Health & Fitness Expo

  • Hours 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Prime Osborn Convention Center
    1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
  • On-site registration and packet pick-up are available during expo hours.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Health & Fitness Expo

  • Hours 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Prime Osborn Convention Center
    1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
  • On-site registration and packet pick-up are available during expo hours.

26.2 with Donna Family Fun Run

  • Prime Osborn Convention Center
    1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Registration and check in begins at 7 a.m.
  • Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m.

26.2 with Donna National Galloway Pep Rally

  • Prime Osborn Convention Center
    1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Join U.S. Olympian, Author, Inspirational Speaker and 26.2 with Donna Training Director Jeff Galloway as he offers tips for successful run and motivates the crowd to FINISH BREAST CANCER!

Pasta Party presented by Nektar Therapeutics

  • Prime Osborn Convention Center
    1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Tickets are $20 for adults, and kids under 12 eat free!
  • Tickets may be purchased at the door or at the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday. Proceeds will benefit the Donna Foundation and help FINISH BREAST CANCER!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

26.2 with Donna National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay

Start/Finish, Mayo Clinic Campus
Medical Support at the start/finish line will be provided by Mayo Clinic from 7 a.m. until the end of the race and race day events.

  • 4:00 a.m. Runners Village Opens
    • Staff will be on-site to assist runners
  • 6:30 a.m. VIP/Sponsor Viewing Area Opens
    • Located at the race start/finish line.
    • Invitation Only
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay
    • Post Race Celebration
    • Food and Beverages
    • Entertainment
    • Family Reunite Area/Post Race Celebration Area

For more information and details, visit the website at www.breastcancermarathon.com