• According to a Downtown Vision, Inc. survey, 94 percent of downtown business owners and 97 percent of property owners believe downtown is a safe environment. The City was ranked 14 in a CNN/Money Magazine list of America’s safest cities with more than a half million in population.
• The Jacksonville Bar Association is getting ready for one of its biggest events. The Bench and Bar Party is scheduled for Dec. 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Aetna building. RSVP by Dec. 2 to [email protected].
• More legal social happenings: the Jacksonville Asian American Bar Association is hosting its annual Christmas party Dec. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to Thuy Anh Nguyen at 733-1499 by Monday.
• According to a real estate investor’s prospectus prepared by the City for potential investors in downtown, the area already has an inventory of more than 1 million square feet of rentable retail space and more than 1 million square feet of office space is either under construction or on the drawing board.
• Attorney Christine Milton has been elected to the Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. She’ll serve as general counsel.
• Congratulations to JCCI. The organization’s Quality of Life Progress Report has been recognized by the Government Accountability Office as a model for developing national progress indicators.
• If you have a thing for gingerbread houses, check out the display at the Raddison. The houses are sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville as a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House and HabiJax.
• Christopher J. Greene has joined the law firm of Brant, Abraham, Reiter, McCormick, P.A. as a shareholder. Greene practices complex commercial litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes and litigation involving trusts, estates and probate matters. The firm will now be known as Brant, Abraham, Reiter, McCormick, & Greene, P.A.
• More than 1,500 needy families received supplies for a Thanksgiving Day meal Tuesday, thanks to The Salvation Army. The food was distributed at The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Lodge on East Adams Street. Salvation Army spokesperson Melanie Love said this year’s event went smoother than ever before, even though the line wrapped almost all the way around the building at one point. Love said the same families that received food today will also receive other assistance during the holiday season.
• Following City Council member Faye Rustin’s recent announcement of her plans to run for supervisor of elections, one hopeful has filed paperwork to replace her. Tim Carter, a Republican, made it official earlier this week.