• New year, new officers. Developer Greg Matovina will head the builders association and Watson Realty VP Andre Boutte is our top realtor. Software consultant Bill McCamy will be installed as the new Meninak president today.
• A third candidate has entered the race for City Council president. Faye Rustin announced her intentions last week, joining Elaine Brown and Reggie Fullwood in their bids for the top spot. For more, see story page 4.
• The Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association will host its Holiday In January party Jan. 31 at the Florida Department of Children & Families.
• Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont will be in town Thursday and the Duval County Democratic Party is inviting fellow Democrats to attend a breakfast at The River Club. Cost is $35. RSVP to 721-9805.
• The Friends Working To Free Scott Speicher Inc. will hold a candlelight vigil on the west front lawn of the U.S. Capitol Saturday, the 13th anniversary of his disappearance over Iraq. The Friends, composed of classmates from Forrest High School, hope that having the vigil in Washington, D.C., coupled with the capture of Saddam Hussein, will renew interest in their cause. Speicher’s F/A-18 Hornet was shot down by an Iraqi missile on the first night of the First Gulf War.
• Thursday is the deadline for filing applications to fill a position for a U.S. District judgeship in the Middle District. Applications are being accepted by the Federal Judicial Nomination Commission. Go to www.flmd.uscourts.gov for more information.
• Laura Giuffrida is a new associate at Holland & Knight. She’s working in commercial litigation.
• Three area restaurateurs have been chosen for leadership positions in the Florida Restaurant Association for 2004. Chapter presidents include Ridge Sink, of Outback Steakhouse in Jacksonville and Tom Borchert, of Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Jacksonville Beach. Robin Sorenson, co-owner of Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville, was reappointed a board member.