• Best wishes to State Attorney Chief Investigator Rick Beseler, who’s retiring after a 25-year career with the State Attorney’s Office. Beseler’s last day is Dec. 31.
• State Rep. Stan Jordan is recommending to the Duval County School Board that the next high school built in Jacksonville be named after former U.S. Rep Charles Bennett.
• San Marco is gaining another business design shop Jan. 1. Trios Design, Inc., headed by Bluzette Carline, will relocate from the Radisson Riverwalk to 1626A Hendricks Ave. The advertising, design and marketing company is growing and needs more visibility.
• For those with big appetites, the new Steak Finger Station at the Landing has the solution: the Lone Star burger, which they bill as the biggest burger in town, is a one-pound patty in a 10-inch bun. Price: $9.99.
• Radio personality Cole Pepper was doing an incognito gig this week. He dressed as Santa Claus to help the Sulzbacher Center unveil its holiday billboard.
• We had an incorrect headline in Wednesday’s paper. We said the Gator Bowl Association set a sales record, when in fact they surpassed the goals set for this year.
• The first major work — Talking Continents by artist Jaume Plensa — of the Art in Public Places program will be unveiled at the opening of the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Nov. 22.
• Scott L. Cilliman, professor of law at Duke University School of Law, will speak on “The War on Terrorism: A Legal Quagmire” at the Duke Club luncheon Friday. The luncheon begins at noon at Coffman, Coleman, Andrews & Grogan. Cilliman supervised the deployment of all Air Force attorneys and paralegals during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He retired as a colonel in 1993 after 25 years of service.
• Wednesday’s City Council workshop on Intelligent Transportation Systems drew a standing-room only crowd, including television cameras and representatives of the mayor’s office. Council president Lad Daniels was surprised by the turnout. “I didn’t realize this was such a hot issue; we have some heavy hitters in here,” he said, nodding to the mayor’s policy chief, Steve Diebenow. “It must be the free food, it brings them out every time.”
• Stay tuned to the “Dr. Phil” television show today because Mark Miller, an attorney with Ford, Miller and Wainer, is expected to pay a visit. The topic of the show revolves around adoption issues, one of Miller’s specialties.
• The Super Bowl Host Committee is sending a delegation to the upcoming Super Bowl in Houston. The four–night trip includes a welcome reception and a complimentary ticket to the Feb. 1 game. Delegates can buy a face–value ticket for their spouse.
• Beginning in January, Mayor John Peyton plans to hold semi-regular Town Hall meetings. No word on where the first one will take place.
• Mayor Peyton will be the speaker for the Federal Bar Association luncheon Nov. 18 at noon at the Omni. RSVP to Tysen Duva at 389-5161.