• The Florida Bar Board of Governors is looking for two lawyers to fill vacancies on the Bar’s Foundation Board of Directors. Those interested in applying can download and complete the application for special appointment online from the Bar’s website, www.flabar.org, Deadline for applications is Jan. 7.
• The Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council, Inc. board of directors has asked for the mayor’s office’s help in getting Hogan’s Creek listed as a priority for a State waterways restoration program. The SPAR Council asked Peyton to specifically identify the project for the Water Resources Development Act Ecosystem Restoration Program. Previous planned cleanups have been delayed due to lack of available funds. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies have found high levels of ash, lead and arsenic in and around the creek, which has been used as a dumping ground for a variety of industries in the last 100 years.
• The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Florida raised more than $25,000 at last week’s annual Empty Bowls luncheon, according to the food bank’s program assistant Rachel Miller.
• A bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $1.5 million for a preliminary design and final impact statement for the Mathews Bridge replacement project. And that’s not the only local transportation project in line for federal funds. For more, see page 3.
• Staff and volunteers from the YMCA at the Bank of America tower have a busy day planned today. They’ll deliver 100 turkey dinners to families and children at John E. Ford Elementary School. The annual turkey drive is a part of the YMCA’s Community Development outreach mission. The 100 dinners sets a new record, breaking last year’s mark of 60.
• Political consultant Bruce Barcelo’s holiday party is today, but don’t expect to see many City Council members hanging around for very long. Today is Council meeting day. “He does it this way every year,” said Suzanne Jenkins. “I think it’s his way of getting us out of there early.”