• Paul Bueker and Justin Mallot of Marks Gray, P.A. are issuing a challenge to fellow attorneys to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House on the Southbank during the Children’s Way 5K Run/Walk & Family Day Sept. 18. Prizes will be awarded to the law firms with the most participants in the run. For details, call 398-0900.
• General Counsel Rick Mullaney will subject himself to some verbal barbs to raise money for Emergency Pregnancy Services of Jacksonville. The crisis pregnancy center has scheduled a roast for Mullaney for next March. Possible speakers include UNF president John Delaney, former mayor Ed Austin, Chief Judge Don Moran, former chief of staff Audrey McKibben Moran and Mayor John Peyton.
• The Adam’s Mark Hotel is expected to be packed with visitors and spectators Friday for a day-long presentation of “Forensic Investigation: The Pursuit of Truth.” Florida Coastal School of Law is hosting the seminar and speakers include Sen. Arlen Specter; Dr. Henry C. Lee, best known for his work in high-profile cases involving O.J. Simpson, Vince Foster and JonBenet Ramsey; and Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project. Registration will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m.
• Jacksonville Concierge Services, Inc. has added another client, The Palms of Marsh Landing.
• Reminder: the Downtown Art Walk is tonight and this month there are 25 venues participating. Beach residents who would like to attend can take advantage of a free shuttle service that will be operating between downtown and Steller’s Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach.
• The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association’s annual Judicial Reception is scheduled for June 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art.
• The Florida Department of Transportation will host a First Coast Commuter Transportation Summit May 19, at the Omni. The summit will present the results of research into transportation trends in Jacksonville and recommend future improvements.
• City lobbyists say the Senate’s recent extension of a ban on Internet taxes could cost Florida. Due to the bill, the State will likely be forced to end a current tax on DSL service. Sen. Bob Graham was one of only three senators who voted against the measure.
• An incentive package to expand Shaw’s Southern Belle Frozen Foods may have passed the Council’s Finance Committee unanimously, but it almost didn’t make it out of committee. Two committee members, Michael Corrigan and Lake Ray abstained from voting because they do business with Shaw’s in the private sector. The abstentions left the committee with only four members, the minimum necessary to vote.