• NBC News is preparing a feature on the City’s new homeland security system. Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Jack Donovan supplied the communications software to the City on a trial basis. The military already uses the early–warning software, which links law enforcement, emergency responders and federal, state and local agencies. If the program is successful in Jacksonville, its use could extend to other cities.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield lobbyist Mike Hightower, who is expected to succeed Tom Slade as the new chair of the Republican Party of Duval County, goes up for a vote tonight. If victorious, he’ll start right away.
• The broker marketing the commercial space at 11 E. says there has been a lot of interest in the 4,000 square-foot space, but no deal is imminent. He says talk of Portabella’s moving into the space is nothing more than a rumor at this point. He declined comment on whether the Atlanta Bread Company is still interested.
• Men’s Fitness magazine will name Jacksonville the 12th fittest city in the country in its upcoming list of the Fittest and Fattest Cities of America, up 11 spots from last year.
• Peter King of HBO’s “Inside the NFL” said last week he expects to see former Jags coach Tom Coughlin coaching the New York Giants next season. Coughlin was an assistant coach on the Giants 1990 Super Bowl team and the club’s owners hold him in high regard, says King.
• Ch. 12 sports director Dan Hicken and his wife have purchased a new home in Pablo Bay.
• Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum has lost its assistant director, Leigh Rodante, who will start her new job today as program director of the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center.
• Free children’s movies will be shown every Saturday at 9th and Main Theatre and Galleria at 4 p.m. Showtimes are listed on their website, www.9thandmain.com
• The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra will play music from the silver screen at its Nov. 23 fall concert. The “Lord of the Rings” score is one of the featured works.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Dec. 3 retreat will feature speakers Secretary of State Glenda Hood, Pam Dana of the tourism and economic development office, Enterprise Florida president Darrell Kelley and Coral Coletta, host of the Smart Cities Radio Show.
• CREW Jacksonville (Commercial Real Estate Women) will present its inaugural fund raiser, “Beauty and the Beast,” A Night at the Races,” from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday at Orange Park Kennel Club. The fund-raising event will support AngelAid Foundation, providing services to children with a terminal or critical illness or who face a life-threatening situation; and Builder’s Care Foundation, which provides construction services to low-income elderly or disabled citizens.