St. Augustine will be host to Beach Blast-Off on New Year’s Eve from 5 to 10 p.m. by the St. Johns County Pier.

Beach Blast-Off 2015-16 at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park is a full-day New Year’s extravaganza. With live music, delicious food and drinks, a kids’ zone and a fireworks show, this event is fun for the whole family.  Click here for more details.

In addition to the Beach Blast-Off, view a complete listing of St. Augustine restaurants participating in New Year’s Eve celebrations by clicking here.

Zumper recently published  a Florida Rent Report that analyzed more than 10,000 active listings in November 2015 across 60 cities, highlighting the most affordable cities and fastest growing metro areas in Florida.

The report stated that as one of the 10 most populous Florida cities, Jacksonville is the second least expensive, with one bedroom rentals asking for a median of $800 a month.  Also, while Jacksonville’s rent prices grew 2.6 percent since last year, it is below the state median of 4.7 percent.

To view the report in its entirety, click here.

The John Gorrie a condominium

A very limited number of homes remain available for sale at the historic and fully-renovated John Gorrie a condominium, located in popular Riverside where property costs are on the rise. A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) approved residence, qualified homebuyers at The John Gorrie can obtain a low down payment and fixed-rate mortgage at competitive rates, allowing them an opportunity to purchase a piece of history. Owners also receive an ad valorem tax abatement toward their homeowner’s tax bill through 2021.

“We had first toured The John Gorrie in February 2014 and absolutely fell in love with the space,” said Blythe Duckworth and Denys Zayets. Awaiting The John Gorrie’s FHA approval, the couple revisited in January 2015, hoping approval would be closer. “We selected the home we wanted and crossed our fingers it would still be available once the FHA approval came through. Lucky for us, it worked out.”

As the building’s ornate Mediterranean Revival architecture demonstrates, the former John Gorrie Junior High School was constructed in 1923 and was designed by noted Jacksonville architects Roy A. Benjamin and Mellen C. Greeley. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 before closing in 1997, community advocate Delores Barr Weaver and her husband purchased the former school with plans to renovate and restore the historic buildings, transforming them into what is now The John Gorrie a condominium.

The John Gorrie consists of 68 residences with luxurious contemporary amenities including 12-foot ceilings, expansive windows, stainless steel GE appliances, CaesarStone countertops and hardwood floors. The John Gorrie offers one- and two-bedroom residences and two-story townhomes priced from the upper-$100,000s. The community’s amenities include private gated parking, a private courtyard, custom fitness center, elevators, a resident reading room and Wi-Fi Internet access.

“Every home is unique because Mrs. Weaver was determined to retain as much of the historical aspect of the building as possible, yet each home has modern amenities,” said Valerie Williams, owner at The John Gorrie. “I was very impressed that the building still had the feeling of being a school. Original doors, window frames and radiators align the hallways and some of the homes even have original wooden floors from the former gymnasium and classrooms.”

The John Gorrie is home to young professionals, retirees and families alike, and to the owners’ delight, pet-friendly. Scheduled to break ground by December 2015, The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park will be located near the condominium in the northwest corner of Riverside Park. For more than three years, the Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) has been working in partnership with Weaver and community partners to establish the two-acre, off-leash dog park as a neighborhood amenity.

“One of my favorite things about life at The John Gorrie is the convenience of its location. On any given afternoon I can grab a cup of tea, stroll through Memorial Park, take in a matinee movie, eat Asian-inspired street fare and pick up some light reading at the book store – all without having to get in my car,” said homeowner at The John Gorrie, Mark Pariani.

Accolades that The John Gorrie a condominium has received include the Grand Aurora Award at the 2012 AURORA Awards in its “Remodeling, Rehabilitation or Historical Renovation” division; the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission’s 2012 Preservation Award for the restoration and renovation of the former John Gorrie Junior High School into condominium homes; an Outstanding Multi-Family Renovation award from RAP in 2012; and in 2013 Delores Barr Weaver was awarded the prestigious Urban Land Institute North Florida Award for Excellence in the Reuse/Repurpose category for her work on The John Gorrie’s transformation.

“Restoring a historic building as special as John Gorrie Junior High School and transforming it into a home for many was truly a labor of love,” said Weaver. “Thank you to the community for supporting the project and renovation process.”

For more information about how you can secure your piece of history and be part of The John Gorrie community, call (904) 383-3688 or visit www.TheJohnGorrie.com. The John Gorrie a condominium is marketed exclusively by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

Attend the 29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 15, at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center to hear influential speakers and live music.

Doors open at 7 a.m. and the event will begin at 8 a.m.

Presented by the City of Jacksonville and Florida Blue, the breakfast will feature Mayor Lenny Curry alongside an inspirational keynote speaker, Tomorrow’s Leaders award recipients and a live performance by the Jacksonville Children’s Choir. The breakfast will be hosted by Tennika Hughes from Action News Jax.

Tickets to attend are $40 for individuals or $400 for a table.  Ticket sales will conclude Friday, Jan. 8.

Click here to purchase tickets and for more information on the 29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast click here.

Ring in 2016 with live music and fireworks at The Jacksonville Landing on New Year’s Eve.  Entertainment will begin a 4 p.m. and guests must be 21 or older to attend this free celebration.

Entertainment includes:

– Live music on the Coca-Cola Riverfront Stage by 7th Street Band: 4 – 8 p.m.
– Live music on the Coca-Cola Riverfront Stage by Briteside: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
– Live music at Fionn MacCool’s by Captain Obvious: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
– City of Jacksonville Fireworks: midnight

The Jacksonville Landing will be gated and only allow those 21 years of age and older, active Military (must present ID), or Taxslayer Bowl Patch holders. Visitors will be required to show a valid photo ID for admittance.

Click here for more information.

The Jacksonville Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that serves Northeast Florida by funding workforce development, community leadership and entrepreneurial education programs in support of long-term regional prosperity, is seeking year-end donations to continue to serve the Jacksonville community through its various programming, including:

Entrepreneurial Education
-The JAX Chamber Foundation partially funds the Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Growth Division (EGD). EGD assists entrepreneurs and established small business owners to open, build and sustain their businesses. It accomplishes this through a variety of programs and services including supporting small business development, growing the local economy, broadening the tax base and creating jobs.

Education & Workforce Development
–Earn Up is a national initiative funded through the JAX Chamber Foundation with the goal of raising the post-secondary educational attainment rate. To be competitive as a region, the Chamber aims to increase the current college graduation rate from 36 percent to 60 percent by 2025. Research shows the single greatest predictor of economic success in a community is the number of degree and industry-certified people who live there.

Community Leadership
-The Foundation works with the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center and Jacksonville University to present Leadership MattersSM and the JAX Chamber on ImpactJAX. Both programs enhance the leadership skills of women business owners, female executives and young professionals across Northeast Florida.

Women’s Initiatives
–The Jacksonville Women’s Business Center (JWBC) is a program of the JAX Chamber Foundation. Its mission is to advance the success of women entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. JWBC accomplishes its mission by offering a wide array of educational programs coupled with a mentoring component, which is unique in Northeast Florida. In the past decade JWBC was instrumental in 113 new business starts and more than 1,200 jobs created.

Dreams Come True has been fulfilling dreams for local children and families battling life-threatening illnesses since 1984. Supporters of Dreams Come True have granted more than 3,400 dreams. The organization needs additional donations to continue to meet dreamers’ wishes.

More information on this program is available here.

The Jacksonville Public Library (JPL) offers a variety of classes, programs and resources year-round for all ages with your library card! Do you have one?

For information about all that your FREE library card can offer you and how to sign-up for one, click here.   Library cards can be acquired at any JPL branch or online.

Resources the library provides to cardholders include computer classes, e-books, access to meeting spaces and more.

To locate a Jacksonville Public Library near you, click here.

Upcoming holiday closings include:

• Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve
• Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day
• Thursday, Dec. 31, (branches to close at 6 p.m.)
• Friday, Jan. 1, New Year’s Day
• Monday, Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Visit Adventure Landing through Jan. 10 for its 5th Annual Jax Beach WinterFEST.

Enjoy a variety of winter activities and holiday fun including:

• Outdoor ice skating rink and skate rental
• Nightly snowfalls
• The Alpine Racer 130-foot long Ice Slide
• Crystal Creek Lodge featuring winter eats & treats
• Blizzard Bluff Village featuring cookie making, holiday carnival games
• S’more roasting
• An elegant light display

For more information and pricing, visit www.jaxwinterfest.com.