• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce has chosen New Orleans as the destination for its annual Leadership Trip. Participants, including local business and community leaders, will talk with the city’s leaders and tour the area for the first three days of November. ”In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is by far the most compelling American city for us to study both the successes and failures of leadership,” said Steve Wallace, the Chamber’s chair-elect and president of Florida Community College. Registration starts in July.
• A legal delegation from Argentina was in town for a few days this week and among their numerous stops was a visit with the folks at Rogers Towers. One thing that was learned during the lunch — and try imposing this here — was that judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys in Argentina all earn the same salary.
• Speaking of the delegation, many of their questions for the Rogers Towers attorneys revolved around pro bono requirements of attorneys in the United States, particularly in Jacksonville. Florida Coastal School of Law’s Eric Smith (a former City Council member) was in attendance at the time and attorney Bill Scheu took the opportunity to take a light-hearted poke at Smith. “One of our biggest pro bono efforts was keeping an eye on Eric Smith while he was on City Council,” said Scheu.
• CSX is celebrating its 30th anniversary and what better way than with a train ride. But, this one’s expensive. For $5,000, you and three others can enjoy an evening aboard the CSX executive train. However, all proceeds go to Hubbard House, the charity of choice of CSX CEO Michael Ward.
• The folks over at the Salvation Army are offering tours of its senior center May 18 from 10 a.m. until about 1 p.m. with lunch provided. Salvation Army advisory board chairman Mark Mullins and Majors Jim and Karol Seiler will lead the tour.
• Ready 4 Work will hold its graduation ceremony May 19 at nosh in Springfield. The program is designed to help convicts get back on their feet after serving time and learn work skills that will keep them employed and out of jail.
• Demola’s will open at the Landing next week in the space formerly occupied by Harry’s and a host of others. The food promises to the kind that “made the Jersey shore famous” according to a sign. It’s owned by the same guy that owns D’s on Bowden Road.
• The Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting has been moved from today to May 11. It’s at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers.
• Now that 9A is in the final stages, the Florida Department of Transportation can move on to 9B, literally. May 23 there will be a public meeting at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village to discuss the State Road 9B extension project. Starting at 4:30, DOT officials will be on hand with maps, drawings and other project information. There will be public input as well as a question and answer session.
• The 32nd annual Tour of Homes in Riverside and Avondale is this weekend. One of the stops is the home of Scott Makar (Office of General Counsel) and Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a professor at Florida Coastal School of Law.
• Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swafford will be in town late this month for a lunch with the Gator Bowl Association and Mayor John Peyton. It’s May 26 at the River Club.