Barbara Jenness, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO, GRI, PMN, TRC

Government salaries for northeast Florida government workers are posted via our local Jacksonville newspaper, The Florida Times-Union on their website.

I found this interesting link while reading an article on-line and just below the article it has a section called: "Worth Clicking". So I clicked.

I always thought the public was entitled to know government salaries, but was still a little surprised by the information provided. I believe The Florida Times-Union created this database using available public information. I am happy to see a newspaper taking full advantage of technology, the Internet and databases to provide this service to its readers. I have been reading about The Florida Times-Union doing new things, but this is proof positive.

Does your local paper provide this service? Do you have a quick way to view the salaries in your municipalities? Do you think this information should be publicly available or is it an invasion of privacy?

On Friday, September 18 my husband and I attended Artbreakers Scenic Cruise for a Cause. Pier Fitts and Gaye Jones, both cancer survivors founded Artbreakers to assist cancer patients in St. Augustine, FL. Artbreakers is a great local charity and this event was so much fun.

The cruise was on the Victory III, owned by the Usina Family and is Scenic Cruise of St. Augustine. It was a perfect night for a cruise and was sold out (60 people). The live entertainment provided by JR Roberts was wonderful.

Local artists donated works of art to be auctioned. The ride ended much too soon and all of the artwork didn't get auctioned, so I can't wait for the next event.

Next month, the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR) in St. Augustine will have a fundraiser that will benefit WCR and Artbreakers called Bratini. I hope you can make it. It will be fun as it will featured decorated bras as artwork, to be auctioned as well as men modeling the bras and $5 Martinis all at beautiful Serenata Beach Club.

There is so much happening in Vilano Beach now that September has arrived and summer is almost gone. I have been meaning to keep you up-to-date, but have been falling behind.

Tonight, Monday, September 14th is the first ever Pot Luck Dinner at North Shores Improvement Association's (NSIA) meeting tonight. Instead of the monthly forum, it has changed to a pot luck dinner. Not much notice was given, so I hope you can make it. Bring hors d'oeuvers or a dish to share while getting to know your neighbors.

Directions: Vilano Beach is the closest Beach to downtown St. Augustine, FL. Take the Vilano Bridge (Usina Bridge) to Vilano. Take a left on A1A. Go less than 1 mile to just past Surfside Park to a left on Meadow. Go a little over a block to 120 Meadow Avenue.

Date: Monday, September 14, 2009

Time: 7 p.m.

Where: North Shores Community Center at 120 Meadow Avenue (1 block off of Coastal Highway)

Who: Everyone in the area!

Bring: Dish to share with your neighbors

There will also be a tour of the old Fire Station. There will be a new Sheriff Stop Station located here.

See you tonight.

Barbara Jenness is President of Friends of A1A, vice-president of the local community association North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA), Board member of Vilano Beach Main Street since 1998 and has assisted with the redevelopment of Vilano Beach since 1998. She is a member of the Porpoise Point Homeowner's Association, Serenata Beach Club, and the South Ponte Vedra Civic Association. She was selected as Businesswoman of the Year last year by the Women's Council of REALTORS in St. Augustine because of her community involvement. Additionally she was selected as the 2008 REALTOR of the Year for St. Augustine. Realty/Builder Connection awarded her the SPIRIT award for Passion (selected from all builders & REALTORS in northeast Florida).

Events in St. Augustine, Florida this weekend, August 28-30, 2009.

Another beautiful weekend is on tap for St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Weather.com weekend forecast shows scattered thunderstorms which are typical for this time of year during the afternoon with temperatures from the low 70s to the mid-80s.

On Friday, August 28th, O.A.R. is in concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater.

OR...

Attend the Grand Opening of the Heather Blanton exhibit at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra on Friday. Ruth's Chris will be catering the wine & appetizer opening reception starting at 6:30 p.m. Blanton uses photographic images to show the ever-changing face of the Florida landscape.

Friday and Saturday, Black Raven Adventure Cruise for adults only is a sing-a-long pirate cruise. Cruise departs at 8:15 p.m. and returns at 10 p.m.

On Saturday, August 29th it's Uptown Saturday Night, a favorite end-of the-month event from 5 - 9 p.m. in the San Marco Shopping Distric. Appetizers are provided by the Saint Augustine Independent Restaurant Association (SAiRA). Free parking at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.

More details on all of the above events can be found here.

BRATINI - Cancer & WCR Fundraiser in St. Augustine, FL

I am so proud to be a member of the St. Augustine Regional Chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR). The friendship and support I have received from this professional organization is immeasurable. The chapter provides education assistance to encourage members to enhance their knowledge in the real estate business. Additionally, the chapter builds leaders in the community and assists the chapter's leadership in attending local, regional, state (Florida Association of REALTORS), and national (National Association of REALTORS) conferences.

Now the chapter has come up with a fun fundraiser---Bratini. It combines support for breast cancer along with support for the local WCR chapter. The event will be held October 23^rd at Serenata Beach Club in South Ponte Vedra, Florida from 5:00-7:30 p.m. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served while watching men model decorated bras and enjoying $5 Martinis. The public is invited. Below is the flyer if you'd like to get involved.

Art Breakers -Artists for the fight against cancer, is a non-profit based in St. Johns County and the money raised stays in the county. Please read more about this wonderful group. We are so excited to be working with them.

There are other events around the country that raise money for breast cancer featuring the auctioning of bras such as we will be doing, but I think our chapter is unique in having men model them and combining it with Martinis. See how much fun this will be? I can hear you now: one Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini-FLOOR. We have such a wonderful group of men that have agreed to be models for this event.

I'll post pictures after the event. Should be fun(ny). And it's for a great cause.

Barbara Jenness has lived St. Augustine since 1998 and is an active community volunteer. She is President of Friends of A1A, vice-president of the local community association North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA), Board member of Vilano Beach Main Street since 1998 and has assisted with the redevelopment of Vilano Beach since 1998. She is a member of the Porpoise Point Homeowner's Association, Serenata Beach Club, and the South Ponte Vedra Civic Association. She was selected as Businesswoman of the Year last year by the Women's Council of REALTORS in St. Augustine because of her community involvement. Additionally she was selected as the 2008 REALTOR of the Year for St. Augustine.