• Ron Autrey, president and chief operating officer of Miller Electric Company, has been selected to serve as chair of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2008. Autrey currently serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and is a Chamber Trustee and Cornerstone investor. He is also the 2007 United Way Campaign chairman and vice-chairman of Jacksonville University’s Board of Trustees. Autrey will take over for FCCJ President Dr. Steve Wallace who will succeed current chair Ed Burr, the CEO of The Shipyards developer LandMar.
• Update on the City’s team participating in the YMCA’s First Coast Games. With two events left — golf and the family fun day — the City trails Baptist Health by a scant six points. The month-long games wrap next Saturday.
• The Republican Club of North Jacksonville meets Monday at 7 p.m. at Oceanway Middle School. Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba is the guest speaker.
• One state official would put an end to gubernatorial appointees to the Florida Water Management Districts scattered across the state. Collier County (think the Naples area) Board of County Commissioners Chairman Frank Halas is on the record as saying he believes those positions would be filled better by election than appointment. Halas believes elected officials would better serve the constituency while appointed officials may “become bound to a single interest or group over a period of service.”
• The Riverkeeper will hold its 5th annual oyster roast next month (good month, too, for it because most that eat oysters think they are best in months that end in “r”). It’s Nov. 17 at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. There will be river cruises, music and silent auction and catering by Liz Grenamyer.
• SunTrust Mortgage will open its new mortgage office next Thursday. The new office is on Sutton Park Drive South.
• The month of October is officially being recognized as Energy Awareness month after Gov. Jeb Bush signed a proclamation for the designation, joining federal and state partners in encouraging American to conserve energy at home and in the workplace. This month, Florida also holds its first sales tax holiday for energy efficient products during Energy Efficient Week, Oct. 5-10. Qualifying items include ceiling fans, programmable thermostats and dishwashers.
• There’s new art in the baggage claim area at Jacksonville International Airport. It’s called “The River” and it’s by artist Peter Hite. The JIA Arts Commission will officially unveil the art during an Oct. 19 ceremony and reception. Hite is a contemporary artist from Houston. In “The River” Hite used over half a million postage stamps from the 1800s to the present to create a montage of rivers from across the world including the Nile, Ganges, Yangtze, Amazon, Mississippi and St. Johns.
• Author, humorist and Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry is the guest speaker for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 122nd annual meeting. It’s set for Jan. 11 at the T-U Center.
• U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is looking for interns for the Jacksonville office. Duties would include research, attending events and constituent services. If interested, send a resume to [email protected].