FRIDAY, JANUARY 25,2008 NEWS News-Leader WEST SIDE BRIEFS Homeless count help Jan. 28 is the day of the annual National Homeless Count. Agencies, organizations and indi- viduals around the country will be looking.for homeless men, women and children. State and federal agencies, such as HUD (Housing and Urban Development), mandate that communities assess how many homeless persons there are in an area before they will consider allocating monies to serve that area's homeless population. The Coalition for the Home- less of Nassau County is coordi- nating countywide efforts to find, count and administer surveys to homeless persons. It is seeking volunteers to work in teams for the count. Contact Dani Gammel at 261-8081 for more information. Naturalist program Nassau County Extension Agent in Agriculture and Natural Resources Steve Gaul is teaching a Florida Master Naturalist Program, a new environmental education opportunity offered by the University of Florida/Insti- tute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Instructors will be Gaul and Amelia Island Plantation nat- uralist Christina Nelson. The 40-hour program offers three modules: Florida's Wetlands, Coastal Systems and Upland Habitats. Sign up for one or for all three. The program is being offered at the Yulee County Extension office Feb.4- 29, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1-5 p.m. The cost for all three modules is $225.. Register online at www.Mas terNaturalist.org and click on Registration. For more informa- tion, call Gaul at 879-1019 or e- mail him at sgaul@ufl.edu. Callahan hardware store owner 'Business Person of the Year' LILSPINKS West Nassau Correspondent An estimated 110 members of the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce enjoyed the chamber's 2008 Annual Award and Installation Banquet Saturday night at the Clarion Hotel at Jacksonville International Airport. The event began with a recep- tion at 6 p.m., with entertainment by singer John Crisp. Following the welcome by outgoing board member Marlene Frost, and invo- cation by 2008 Awards & Installation Banquet Chairman Joe Michaels, chamber members enjoyed a buffet dinner. Guest speaker was State Rep. Aaron Bean, who was accompa- nied by his wife, Abby. Following his speech, Bean also displayed his versatility as an auctioneer by presiding over a very entertaining live auction featuring several gift packages donated by several chamber members. During the dinner, outgoing board member Marlene Frost introduced the officers and board of directors for 2008, the, names of incoming board members were announced by Joe Michaels and the names of the outgoing board members, by Wendy Prather. In addition, outgoing President Patsy Quaile presented the 2007 Board of Directors Choice Award and the Business Person of the Year Award. Business Person of the Year for 2007 is Raymond Fachko,, co- owner of Brandies Ace Hardware in Callahan. Fachko was unable to attend the banquet. Accepting the award on his behalf were his daughter Stephanie and her hus- band, Adam Henderson. Fachko had prepared an acceptance speech, thanking the chamber for bestowing the honor upon him. LIMITED Run! q weeks Only! PHOTOS BY LILSPINKS/FORTHENEWS-LEADER Outgoing President of the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce Patsy Quaile and newly installed President ' Wendy Prather pose for a photo during the chamber's Annual Award and Installation Banquet Saturday at the Clarion Hotel in Jacksonville, above. Top right, Quaile presents the 2007 Business Person of the Year Award to Stephanie and Adam Henderson, the daughter and son-in-law of Raymond Fachko, co-owner of Brandies Ace Hardware in Callahan. Fachko was unable to attend the banquet due to a prior commitment. Officers for 2008 are President Wendy Prather, Vystar Credit Union, Vice President Joe Michaels, Southern Tradition Mortgages Inc., Treasurer Carolyn Murphy, First Coast Impression. LLC, and Ex-Officio Patsy Quaile, an individual member. The Board of Directors for 2008 will be Tina Capps, Nassau County Record; Chris Goodell, the Goodell Group Inc., Cleo Horne, the town of Callahan, David Keay, First Coast Community Bank, John Melton, Bug Out Service Inc., Braxton Musseau, ERA/Fernan- dina Beach, Audra Parden, Franklin Properties ,and Joy Sheppard, Sheppard's "S" Mini Ranch. Outgoing board members include Frost, Robin Fowler, Tammy Roberts, Gary Rosenstone and Michaels. This year's corporate table sponsors were the Allied Veterans of the World, Family Support Services of North Florida, OREMC, Sheriff Bob Milner and Vystar Credit Union. Gift sponsors for the auction included Amor's Studio, Appraisals First Class, Anytime Fitness, Ciao's, Paul Clark/Ford-Mercury, Folkston House B & B, Hampton Inn and Suites, Dallas Hempstead, Ice Cream Club & Dell, Rick Keffer Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep, North Hampton Golf Club, Palm III Realty, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Royal Amelia Golf Club, Southern Tradition Mortgages, Inc., The Golf Club at Summer Beach and Vystar Credit Union. Serving with Michaels on the 2008 banquet committee were Frost, Anna Keay and Kathleen Walker, with Appraisals First Class, Carolyn Murphy and Braxton Musseau. Winner of the 50/50 drawing, which yielded nearly $150, was John Turpish, who, was seated at the Vystar Credit Union corporate table. Turpish donated his portion of the winnings to the chamber. Chamber members enjoy the buffet at the Annual Award and Installation Banquet, center. 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