• Our condolences to the Pajcic family and Pajcic & Pajcic law firm. Gary Pajcic passed away Wednesday evening from a rare form of viral encephalitis. The memorial service is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Episcopal High followed by a reception at the River Club in Independent Square.
• The Beaches Division of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce will meet next Thursday at the Sea Turtle. Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton is the guest speaker.
• Speaking of the Chamber, its Mandarin Council is moving its meetings to the Golden Corral on San Jose Boulevard.
• Gator Bowl Association President Rick Catlett has requested “Where and when appropriate, to include the following language in the Mayor’s speeches for the balance of the year: ‘We look forward to building another great Jacksonville tradition, like the Georgia/Florida game, by selling out the ACC Football Championship.’ ” The reply from public information director Susan Pelter? “Already on it.”
• The 2007 legislative session will run from March 6 to May 4.
• A nursing student from the University of North Florida, Todd Uhlman, recently became president of the National Student Nurses Association. The junior was elected last spring as vice president of the non-profit organization that focuses on developing professional nursing students. He assumed the presidency after the position became vacated this summer. Uhlman was also an eight-year Naval Air crewman who was chosen for the U.S. Navy Nurse Candidate Program and received several medals, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal last year.
• If fast food with style sounds more appetizing, the new McDonald’s in the St. Johns Town Center could be the place to eat. The menu is the same as any other McDonald’s, but it also has an air hockey table, free touch screen games and a rock water fountain at the center surrounded by tropical plant life and red and gold booths.
• The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast is headed for a competitive fall season. The first inaugural First Coast Games, a multi-sport competition between Jacksonville’s large businesses, kicks off Sept. 9. Twelve teams were selected this week for a 10-week wellness challenge. Ray Purvis, senior vice president for community development at the Y said Wednesday he would know by the end of the day the entire roster of employees from every participating company who will play in each specific competition. All competitions lead to a final game day where the First Coast Games cup will be awarded to the corporate champs.