• Spohrer, Wilner, Maxwell and Matthews attorney Barry Newman just scored a professorship at a top national university, but he won’t be teaching at a law school. Newman, an instrument-rated airplane and helicopter pilot, received an invitation to teach aviation law at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona.
• Good luck to three good Samaritans from Jacksonville who left yesterday for the hurricane ravaged Gulf coast. The Northeast Florida chapter of the American Red Cross deployed three volunteers to help with rescue efforts and family services in Mobile, Ala. For at least the next three weeks, Red Cross staff member Emily Kellar and volunteers Cheryl Rudolf and Rose Keys will be in Mobile helping with sheltering needs and family care. Red Cross spokesperson Jack Morgan said due to the seriousness of the situation there is a good chance the volunteers could be in Alabama longer than expected. “If they end up spending 4 or 5 weeks there, it won’t surprise me,” said Morgan, adding that new volunteers will be rotated in when Kellar, Rudolf and Keys return.
• The Jacksonville Suns played their last Businessman’s lunch Wednesday. For more, see page 4.
• The Jaguars are reaching into the boxing world for their Sept. 11 opener against Seattle. Ring announcer Michael Buffer, whose “Let’s get ready to rumble” signature line has given him far more than 15 minutes’ of fame, will introduce the starting lineup.
• The old Java Junction at 315 W. Forsyth Street has reopened as the first downtown franchise of Healthy Bagel Express. The original store is on Baymeadows Road. The downtown location offers fresh-baked bagels, home made spreads, sandwiches and fresh-ground coffee.
• Due to Monday’s Labor Day holiday, the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville will not meet this Tuesday. Downtown Council has also canceled its Friday morning meeting.
• The Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance is planning to build a brand new blood donation center in Orange Park. The new facility on Kingsley Avenue near the Orange Park Medical Center will have 2,800 square feet and a 10-station donation area. Plans are to open this spring.
• Despite a 12.9 percent reduction in budget for the upcoming fiscal year and a 20 percent reduction in personnel, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton believes the “proposed budget is sufficient enough to allow the JEDC to fulfill its FY 05/06 obligations.”