“My administration is not about ‘now,’ it’s about the future. It’s important for our kids to have good health. It builds self-esteem and helps young people grow up to be responsible leaders,” said Brown.

Before Brown arrived, more than 100 Duval County middle school students learned about healthy lifestyle habits and environmental issues and toured the vessel.

The mayor offered his young audience some advice.

“The rules are simple,” Brown said.

“Brush your teeth and eat fruits and vegetables. When you do that and we’re all working together, you can live a good quality of life.”

The “Bold” is the EPA’s only ocean and coastal-monitoring vessel. The scientists on board collect data that is used to evaluate the impact human activities have on water quality.

Reggie Barrino, an environmental engineer with the EPA Regional Environmental Justice Program, said the vessel visited Jacksonville to focus attention on the EPA’s work in the urban core.

In addition to studying water quality in the St. Johns River Downtown, the agency has sponsored outreach programs to increase awareness about asthma and lead-based paint, he said.

Barrino said data collected in Hogans and Long Branch creeks indicate people should avoid eating fish caught there because of high levels of pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

“It’s not safe to eat the fish from those creeks,” he said.

mmarbut@baileypub.com

356-2466

Festival Executive Director Warren Skeels was a guest at Friday’s meeting of the Downtown Council of the Jax Chamber.

He said this year’s festival should be the biggest and best in years, with 16 feature films and documentaries on the schedule, plus four programs of short films.

“The mission of the festival is to expose Jacksonville to the world and to bring people in the film industry to town. We all meet here to celebrate films and filmmakers and the event helps the hotels and restaurants,” Skeels said.

On-screen highlights of the festival include a film about training wild horses and a documentary, “Bettie Page Reveals All,” that’s narrated by Page, a legendary pinup and figure model from the 1950s.

Skeels said the showing of the film at the festival is a “test screening” and the film will make its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

After the screening, a “burlesque party” is scheduled at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Skeels assured the Downtown Council members and guests there will be no nudity at the event.

Saturday, the red carpet will be rolled out at The Florida Theatre for a costume contest for children and screening of “The Dog Who Saved Halloween.”

Also Saturday at The Florida Theatre, there’s a 50th anniversary screening of “West Side Story” featuring a restored 35 mm print of the film, Skeels said.

He said the festival attendance peaked in 2007 when more than 12,000 people attended. Then the recession took hold, but Skeels predicts this year’s festival will be a success artistically and financially, based on sponsor support.

“We’re already in the black and ticket sales haven’t even started,” he said.

The Downtown Council has helped support the festival since its debut. Friday morning, the council presented Skeels a check for $500.

For the complete 2011 Jax Film Fest schedule and ticket information, visit www.jacksonvillefilmfestival.com.

mmarbut@baileypub.com

356-2466