Tonight’s First Wednesday Art Walk throughout Downtown will have a military-infused “Salute to Service” theme.
Hemming Park will feature music by the U.S. Navy Band Southeast and presentations by the Westside High School JROTC Color Guard.
Additionally, members of the JAX Sports Council will provide information about Saturday’s Navy vs. Notre Dame football game at EverBank Field.
Active and retired military will receive discounts at select artist booths and all beverage tents. Other venues will provide similar discounts.
Other attractions include a Dia de los Muertos parade at 7 p.m. along Laura Street, starting at the Jacksonville Landing, and read-aloud student performances at the Main Library.
For a listing of venues and offerings, visit iloveartwalk.com. Activities begin at 5 p.m.
Escape Ten Percussion Ensemble coming to UNF's Fine Arts Center
The University of North Florida will host the Escape Ten Percussion Ensemble concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the school’s recital hall in the Fine Arts Center.
Escape Ten comprises Andrea Venet, UNF assistant professor of percussion, and Annie Stevens, Virginia Tech percussion director, pictured at right. They will perform a concert featuring keyboard duos for marimba and vibraphone with small pitched instruments.
For information, call the School of Music at (904) 620-2961.
Little Gator Bowl champs crowned, move on to next round
Continuing an annual tradition, the 2016 Gator Bowl Pop Warner City Championships were held the weekend of the Georgia-Florida game with winners ready to move on to the next challenge.
The championships are a partnership between the JAX Sports Council and Greater Jacksonville Pop Warner Football Conference.
Gridiron winners were the Pablo Creek Saints in the Junior Peewee second division; the University Community Soldiers in the Peewee second division; Lakeshore Raiders in the Junior Peewee first division; and Sweetwater Hawks in the Peewee first division.
The first division winners will travel to Orlando to play in regional championship games Thanksgiving weekend against the winners of the mid-Florida/Miami games. Those winners will advance to the Dec. 2-10 national championships in Orlando.
The second division teams will play Saturday at Lee County High School against South Georgia winners, with victors advancing to regionals and, ultimately, to the national championships in Orlando.
Mabus to headline JAX Chamber military luncheon
U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will be the keynote speaker at the JAX Chamber’s 14th annual military appreciation lunch Thursday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
The event brings together business and community leaders to recognize service members from all branches of the military.
Mabus is the 75th secretary of the Navy and longest to serve since World War I. He is responsible for 900,000 people and an annual budget of more than $170 billion.
During the lunch, the chamber will announce the recipient of the third annual Kevin F. Delaney Award, its Military Hall of Fame honor that recognizes local veterans who have had a positive local impact.
The event is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with tickets available at myjaxchamber.com.
LBA Group accounting firm promotes four employees
The LBA Group recently announced four promotions within its accounting, consulting and wealth advisory services. They are:
• Daniel Brock as principal to the firm’s tax services department. Brock, who began as an intern, returned to the company in 2006 as a staff accountant and moved up the past 10 years. He focuses on tax planning and business consultation with manufacturing, distribution, consulting and software industries.
• Ashly Fogle as senior accountant in the audit and assurance services department. She joined the company in 2015.
• Jonathan Lee to senior tax manager. He joined the company in December 2002 as a staff accountant and was promoted to manager in February 2015.
• Shelli Sirmans as manager in the audit and assurance services department. She has more than seven years of experience in financial statement audits, with a focus on nonprofits.
UNF student earns scholarship to learn about international affairs
University of North Florida student Mitchell Gropman has received the World Affairs Councils of America Scholarship to attend the organization’s national conference on national and international “megatrends” this month.
Gropman is a junior double-majoring in economics and international studies with a minor in Chinese.
The World Affairs Council offers 25 scholarships among its 90 nationwide programs.
The scholarship will allow Gropman to learn more about international affairs and network with others in the foreign policy community.
He previously served as president of the school’s Model United Nations team and co-founded the UNF branch of the Liberty for North Korea nonprofit.
Crowley Maritime joins Clean Cargo Working Group
Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corp. has joined the Clean Cargo Working Group to help reduce environmental impacts of global transportation and promote responsible shipping.
Joining the group builds on the company’s existing emission-reducing practices and industry participation, according to Crowley.
Examples include construction of the world’s first liquefied natural gas-powered combination container/roll-on, roll-off ships, as well as a commitment to enforce existing sulfur restrictions through its Trident Alliance membership.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to perform Fitzgerald, Armstrong ode
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on Friday and Saturday will present “Ella and Louis — The Lady’s Centennial Celebration” as part of the 14th annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days.
The global initiative uses music to bridge cultural differences.
Associate conductor Nathan Aspinall will lead the orchestra with guest vocalists Byron Stripling and Marva Hicks and percussionist Robert Breithaupt.
The show honors jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
For more information, visit jaxsymphony.org.