• For the second year in a row, former JBA president Bill Joel is having to put up with some biting observations from current president Jim Moseley Jr. The occasion is Hampden-Sydney College’s 45-7 win last weekend over Washington and Lee University. The bet was a dinner, and Moseley is going to ask to be treated at Bravo! in the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
• There’s a small brouhaha brewing between Elks Club management and former tenant Gus & Co. Shoe Repair. The Elks Club is refusing to let Gus & Co. place signs at their former site to let customers know they’ve moved down the block. They are also taking exception to Gus’ employees standing outside the building, telling people the shop has moved. They’ve made their displeasure known in a letter from their attorney.
• Look for a couple of changes in bankruptcy filings in the next few weeks. To help prevent identity theft, complete social security numbers will no longer be available on case files. Also, the cost of filing some cases is increasing.
• Michael Davis, music director of the St. Johns River City Band, is taking over as executive director Nov. 1. Bobi McGinnis is stepping down after eight years to start her own art-based business, Heart Strings.
• Though the London Bridge Pub will be officially open for one year Nov. 1, they’ll be celebrating the event one week later on Nov. 8. Pub co-owner Ginger Readion doesn’t want to have to compete with all of the hoopla surrounding the Florida/Georgia game.
• Making its way through City Council: an ordinance appropriating over $500,000 from a Special Council Reserve fund to hire and equip 30 additional firefighters. The Fire and Rescue Department says it needs to prepare for 74 vacancies coming after January 2004 as a result of the Deferred Retirement Option Plan program. The Drop program is expected to be responsible for 221 more losses over the next five years.
• Lisa Braren, a former employee with the City’s Public Information Office, is returning to college so she can become a certified acupuncture physician.
• Congratulations to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. They recently received a $2,500 grant from Target for their mini-museum program, which takes historical documents into schools.
• State Sen. Steve Wise, interim chair of the Duval Legislative Delegation, is holding an organizational meeting and general legislative hearing Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. in City Council Chambers to elect a chair and vice chair and hear public input on pending issues. The deadline for filing local bills is Nov. 7 at noon.