With a banner year under Madison County’s belt, the 2015 Madison County Chamber of Commerce Banquet and Silent Auction is a “Hall of Fame” on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. with a get-together at Divine Events Restaurant, 5806 NE Colin Kelly Highway in Madison. Guest speaker is President John Grosskopf of North Florida Community College. NFCC was recently ranked #1 among 2015’s Best Community Colleges in Florida and the U.S. by WalletHub. They were ranked first in four key areas: cost and financing, classroom experience, educational outcomes and career outcomes. Presenting sponsor of the Chamber Banquet is Duke Energy and they’ll be providing a fabulous door prize. Madison County Community Bank sponsors the lovely table decorations from Madison Florist. Dignitaries from Madison, Lee and Greenville are attending the Banquet as well as business owners and community members. In 2015, a record number of new businesses opened in Madison County including Daisy & Dukes Boutique, Norris Café, Penelope’s Boutique, Madison Coffee Company, Vito’s Vapes, DK’s Seafood & More, and LB Feed and Country Meats. Southern Grace Gifts expanded from their location on Horry Avenue to a substantially larger location at 224 SW Range Avenue.
Honey Lake Plantation in Greenville was sold to Safe Haven, and the new owners have announced the return of weddings and other events in 2016. Madison Blue Spring State Park in Lee won “Best Swimming Hole in the Nation” from USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards, which was reported by Visit Florida’s media blog available worldwide. Over the summer of 2015, writer/director Wes Miller and crew filmed a gripping legal drama called Prayer Never Fails in Madison County about a basketball coach fired for praying with a student. Local casting Director Jessica Webb cast over 100 local residents to appear with actors, Lorenzo Lamas, Clifton Davis, Nick Lashaway, Corbin Bernsen and more. The film preview will be shown Nov. 14 in Valdosta. Details to be announced. Release date for the movie is Jan. 15, 2016. Other success stories in Madison County for 2015: the Barn Quilt Trail of Madison County joined the new Florida Quilt Trail, part of the explosive American Barn Quilt Trail, an art movement spreading across the USA in over 40 states and Canada. Artist Janet Moses has created a large number of the colorful artwork now seen throughout Madison County on historic buildings, barns and homes. A new brochure will be produced to link each of these sites for visitors and residents to enjoy traveling through Madison County. Progress in 2015 for the City of Madison is a long list, but here are some highlights.
They began a Community Policing Program in 2015. The City was awarded a valuable state Competitive Florida Partnership Program grant, a three-year program designed to increase the number of jobs. Their Parks Enhancement Program is laying major groundwork through two $50,000 grants, one to improve Lanier Field with tennis courts, etc., and enhancements to Sumpter James Park include a picnic shelter, tables, hopscotch, shuffle board, etc. The City of Madison worked with Madison Correctional Institution and the Madison Lions Club to construct the new pavilion at Lake Frances. It made a beautiful debut at this year’s 2015 God & Country Fourth of July Celebration. They’re also collaborating with the Madison County Health Department to replace the exercise equipment at Lake Frances. The flag pole has been replaced. Screening devices to improve water quality at Lake Frances have been applied for this year through a grant. What a great year to celebrate Madison County successes together: Chamber members and non-members are invited to attend this Banquet and Silent Auction.
The Auction features bidding on tickets to World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum, WonderWorks Orlando, Tallahassee Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Saint Augustine Alligator Farm, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, NFCC Colin P. Kelly Fitness Center His N Hers Fitness certificates, Madison Golf and Country Club gift basket; Herbalife gifts, Jim Glaser Studio gift basket and much more. Approximately 30 tickets remain for the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Banquet and Silent Auction Monday, Nov. 2. The cost for Chamber members: $25 per person; corporate tables of six for $150. Non-Members: $30 per person; tables of six, $180. Advance payment is required: Checks should be made out to Madison County Chamber of Commerce, 316 SW Pinckney Street, Madison, 32340.