• The controversy surrounding naming the senior citizens center at Ed Austin Park named after former City Council member Jim Tullis should subside. Tullis has requested the proposed ordinance be withdrawn, although City Council member Lynette Self believes Tullis deserves to have the center named after him especially considering the work he did as a Council member to have the old Dunes golf course turned into a multi-purpose public park complete with soccer fields, a Police Athletic League facility and a senior citizens center.
• In the tradition of YouTube, Jaguars fans are being asked to go to www.tealtube.com and submit a homemade video that shows their Jaguars spirit – whether it be funny or serious. Fans can also view other submissions. The videos can be made with digital cameras or camera phones. Promoters say you don’t have to be Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino — just be creative. The videos can be as shorts as 10 seconds or as long as two minutes. Finalist videos get field passes to the Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants, prize packs and their videos will be shown at the stadium. Then, the winner will be announced at the game and the maker of the best video gets a pair of 2007 Jaguars season tickets. Fans can begin judging the videos Monday.
• The Clay County Salvation Army is holding its annual Red Kettles Kickoff Nov. 18. The event will feature live country music, free coffee and donuts and an inflatable “Moonwalk.” It will be held outdoors at the Corps and Community Center, 2795 C.R. 220, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• The Landing’s 55-foot Christmas tree arrives Tuesday. It’s a Norwegian Spruce from North Carolina that was hand-picked by Landing General Manager Janice Lowe’s 10-year old son, Zachary. The tree will stand in the courtyard for the duration of the holiday season after it’s lit during The Landing’s 20th Annual Tree Lighting Event Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. Mayor John Peyton and Toney and Bonnie Sleiman will light the tree.
• RALLY Jacksonville!, Panera Bread and the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation are holding a free Thursday evening series of guest children’s authors. The events will run Nov. 16 through Dec. 14 at the St. Johns Town Center Panera Bread. The store will accept donations of new and gently-used children’s books for the literacy initiative and donate $3 from each pizza purchased at the event to the library foundation. See www.jaxkids.net for more information.
• Mayor John Peyton, City Council member Richard Clark and School Board member Nancy Broner are holding a town hall meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be in the Kernan Middle School cafeteria and anyone interested can attend.
• Speaking of Peyton, along with Solantic walk-in urgent care, he has proclaimed November as, “Flu Awareness Month,” in Duval County. As many as 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year, 200,000 people are hospitalized and approximately 36,000 die each year from the virus. Influenza is also responsible for 70 million lost work days each year with employees averaging three days away from work.
• If you are heading to the Jaguars game against the Houston Texans Sunday, bring non-perishable food items. The team is holding its 12th Annual Jaguars Food Drive. Starting at 10:30 a.m., players, coaches’ wives and Food Bank volunteers will be accepting donations of canned food and other non-perishable goods at Alltel’s four main gates. Members of the Roar will be stationed at the stadium’s east and west Crown Royal Touchdown Club entrances. If you don’t want to bring anything you can still contribute by adding $1 to any purchase from the concession stands during the game.
• It’s a ways off, but the Salvation Army has picked March 15 (the infamous Ides of March to those who remember their Shakespeare) for its annual 2007 Celebrity Chefs Luncheon. The event is from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Fairgrounds and is co-hosted by the Jacksonville Women’s Auxiliary. No word yet on which local celebrities will be serving up lunch.