• JTA will host its 2005 Transportation Summit Dec. 15. Topics of discussion at the the all-day event will include regional developments and a look at where the community’s needs may be headed.
• The new Gold’s Gym on Forsyth should open soon. Lifecycle exercise equipment was taken into the building this week.
• The City’s Bay Street parking consultant estimated a cost of about $75,000 to build a parking lot on the corner of Market and Forsyth, but now the City is preparing to grant a private developer up to $120,000 in rent credits to build a lot on the site. City planners Walker Parking Consultants didn’t figure in the cost to landscape the lot and conform to other downtown design specifications. City officials expect the lot to help jump start the Bay Street Towncenter.
• Ferver over the Job Corps Building in Springfield has flared up again. As reported months ago, River Region Human Services continues to move forward with plans to convert the Main Street building into a halfway house. Springfield advocates will meet on Oct. 27 at Klutho Park to discuss the issue and get an update on the status of the River Region project.
• The pig for this year’s Kiss the Pig contest is named Yoda after the wise, old Jedi Knight from the “Star Wars” movies.
• Bad news for the Sheriff’s Office, which was turned down by the U. S. Department of Justice for a grant that would fund its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Interoperable Technology Grant Program. Seems the Justice Department has $93 million available for Sheriff’s Offices all over the country but received over $300 million worth of grant requests.
• The Marine Corps will hold its 230th Marine Corps Birthday Bash on Nov. 12 at the Hyatt Regency. It’s is being hosted by the Blount Island Corps.