Jacksonville Public Library‘s (JPL) Main Library proudly contributes to the community’s cultural life by offering a wide variety of classical music programming.

Since its inception in March 2006, JPL’s Music @ Main programs, including the popular monthly Intermezzo Sunday Concerts, have remained the best-attended ongoing series of adult programs in the history of JPL. All of the performers freely donate their time and talents for the opportunity to perform in the series and presented programs have been in partnership with area schools, colleges and universities,  the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and Friday Musicale, Jacksonville’s oldest community music society.

Music @ Main concerts are open to the general public and reservations are not required. Unless otherwise noted, these free concerts are presented in the Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, located on the Conference Level of the Library near the Main Street entrances.

Intermezzo Sunday Concerts are held at 3 p.m. on the following dates:

• February 14: Cliff Newton, trumpet
• March 13: Douglas Anderson Piano Students
• April 10: Maila Springfield, piano & Linda A. Cionitti, clarinet
• May 8: Joshua Ross, piano
• June 12: JiWon Hwang, violin

Library customers who use the public garage at the corner of Duval Street and Main Street may take their garage tickets to our ground-floor Popular Services Desk to get validation for free parking weekday evenings when entering after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Free on-street parking is also available on weekends and evenings after 6 p.m.

The Police Athletic League (PAL) will host its 3rd Annual Sheriff’s Round-Up on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.

Guests will enjoy cocktails, food, gaming tables, silent auctions and dancing at the western-themed event.

The proceeds raised from this event will go toward the education, athletic and leadership programs PAL provides to more than 2,200 children living in the most economically challenged areas of Jacksonville.

The cost to attend is $130 for general admission or $75 for Young Professionals (40 and under).

For additional information, sponsorship opportunities or to register online click here.

About PAL

PAL is a youth activities program run by police officers and volunteers for the purpose of preventing juvenile crime and drug use. The program provides positive role models. It develops discipline, self-esteem and positive moral values through wholesome competition.

Some of the sports activities are basketball, boxing, cheerleading, football, karate, and track and field. Other activities include mentoring, tutoring and a summer day camp.

For more information call (904) 630-2160 or to access the Jacksonville PAL website directly, click here.

A Power Breakfast meeting on Tuesday, March 1 at the Deerwood Country Club will explore trends in transportation. The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a challenge to America’s mid-size cities including Jacksonville to address growing demands on transportation infrastructure in the decades to come and will fund projects that can solve transportation problems.

Competitors must demonstrate how advanced data and ITS technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality.

To register, click here. The event is planned from  7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., will cost $40 and the registration deadline is Feb. 26. The event is hosted by the Jacksonville Business Journal and sponsored by the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, BBVA Compass and Holland & Knight.

Small businesses crafting their marketing plan should consider attending this Business Growth Workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the JAX Chamber’s Hadlow Board Room at 3 Independent Drive in Jacksonville.

The workshop, presented by Steve Goranson, MBA, President, ActionCOACH Jacksonville, is free for JAX Chamber members and is $20 for non-members. Registration is required and RSVPs should be made to Shirley Moore at [email protected] or 366-6618.

Steve Goranson, President, ActionCOACH Jacksonville and 2012 ActionCOACH Marketing Coach of the Americas

Hosted by the Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Growth Division, the workshop aims to deliver a dynamic learning opportunity for current and emerging small business owners and entrepreneurs.

• See and think about your business differently.
• Understand that marketing is math. It’s all about customer acquisition and how much does it cost to buy a customer.
• Learn how to develop a market niche.
• Learn seven steps to marketing plan clarity.

Lisa Villar, Broker Associate and Joann Gaudette, Realtor, Watson with Mike Bugg, Principal of The Condo Group LLC

The Palazzo on St. Johns recently hosted a Grand Opening of the new Sales Gallery and Designer Models.

Tyler Shields and Tim Holden, Realtors, Watson

Guests were the first to experience the newly designer-decorated model condominiums while enjoying live music from Chris James, delicious hors d’oeuvres by The Well and fine wine.

Kathy Browning of The Condo Group LLC and Jill Moore of EverBank

For more information about The Palazzo on St. Johns, visit www.PalazzoOnStJohns.com or call (904) 627-4762. The Palazzo on St. Johns is located at 3958 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Fla. and its Sales Center is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

 The Mortgage Bankers Association of Jacksonville is hosting the 2016 Northeast Florida Real Estate Symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. at the University of North Florida. For more information and to register, click here.

The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach is one of the most sought-after communities in Northeast Florida. At the community, elacora meets the demand of discriminating homebuyers looking for what is often nearly impossible to find – an innovative and exceptionally high quality new home in an established and esteemed resort-style community.

“Many buyers want to live in a private, established community, such as The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, but they want a new home that is energy efficient and designed to meet the needs of today’s lifestyle,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach is the only neighborhood in Northeast Florida where your home or lot purchase automatically provides immediate membership to a luxurious lifestyle including a private beach club, championship golf course, tennis facility, fitness center and social activities. Our buyers are thrilled to purchase a new home in a value-added, amenity-rich community.”

Originally established in the mid-1980s, The Plantation is a pristinely manicured community in a beautiful section of Ponte Vedra Beach. The community has an impressive array of lifestyle and recreational amenities, and significant neighborhood enhancements are underway which will make living at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach even more spectacular.

The Plantation’s multimillion dollar facilities improvement plan includes an amenities park, a beach club renovation and the revitalization of the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.

Plantation Commons, the new community park, recently opened. Located near elacora’s homes, the park features an open air pavilion, a large fenced-in playground, a full-sized croquet court and open space for sports and activities. The beach club renovation will bring a new look with new decking, landscaping and a large space for a special event tent area. The golf course revitalization will improve the overall playing experience with the construction of greens and bunkers, improved drainage and a new irrigation system. Residents at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach also enjoy a tennis facility, fitness center and a clubhouse with dining and social activities for all ages.

These amenities are a wonderful complement to elacora’s homes, which appeal to professionals, couples and families. Homes by elacora are expertly designed with open and flexible spaces for living and entertaining. They feature spacious gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, luxurious designer bathrooms, spectacular outdoor living areas and three-car garages.

All of elacora’s plans at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach have been designed specifically for the community. They include numerous luxurious features as standards and offer abundant personalization options for adding bonus space for additional bedrooms, an office or a game or media room.

With only two dozen elacora home sites available, interested home buyers are encouraged to visit The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach soon and see the company’s available homes, including the Arcadia showhome furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. In addition to the Arcadia showhome, elacora has several move-in ready homes available for purchase.

Homes by elacora at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach are priced starting at $549,900. For more information, call (904) 484-9023 or visit www.elacora.com.

The First Wednesday Art Walk is a monthly event produced by Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) to bring people to the cultural and historical center of the city and showcase Jacksonville’s creative talent. Open to visual and performing artists, Art Walk is on the first Wednesday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m., rain or shine.

More than 55 Art Walk venues stretch across Downtown Jacksonville’s core and include Hemming Park, galleries, museums, cultural and educational venues, restaurants and bars, Downtown businesses and more.

Upcoming Downtown Art Walk’s will be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Feb. 3
• Wednesday, March 2
• Wednesday, April 6

The First Wednesday Art Walk is a great way to meet fellow artists, buy and appreciate their work and be part of the rapidly growing art scene in Jacksonville. It is estimated that, on average, 10,000 art enthusiasts attend each month to see more than 250 artists exhibiting on the Art Walk.

Visit jacksonvilleartwalk.com for more information.

Attend the 2016 Beaches State of Our Cities Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 11, to hear leaders representing the three beaches cities and Naval Station Mayport update attendees on current projects and provide an overview of what to expect in the new year.  The Luncheon will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant, 691 North First Street, Jacksonville Beach.

Keynote Speakers are Atlantic Beach Mayor Mitch Reeves; Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham; Naval Station Mayport Commanding Officer Captain Wesley McCall; and a representative from the Neptune Beach City Council.

Cost to attend is $20 when registered in advance or $25 at the door.

Click here to register online.

For more information, contact Amanda Patch at [email protected] or call (904) 273-5366.