• The Talking Phone Book is currently being delivered to virtually every home and business in the Fernandina Beach area and the cover commemorates one of the the beach community’s notable residents. MaVynee Betsch, also known as The Beach Lady, is featured on the cover and her life story, courtesy of friends and family, is on page 2 of the phone book.
• Hockey season starts locally Nov. 4, but the Barracudas start practice Tuesday. The team has a new head coach, Rick Allain, and general manager, Gilles Richard. Also, the team has a newly designed Web site — www.jaxcudas.com. Local consulting firm Geer Services worked with the Barracudas’ front office on upgrading the site, based on fan feedback over the past two seasons. For information on Barracudas tickets contact their office at 367-1423 or their Web site.
• Couple of new coffee shops in Jacksonville Beach and they are both on South Third Street. Cuppy’s is open and Where Ya Bean? will open soon. They are within three blocks of each other.
• The First Guaranty Bank All Pro Dad Father & Kids Experience will be held at Alltel Stadium Nov. 11 from 2-4:30 p.m. and it’s being headlined by Jaguars tight end Kyle Brady. Founded by Family First, the All Pro Dad fatherhood program helps to educate fathers on the best ways to become an “All Pro Dad.” Fathers are encouraged to bring their children to the event, where they’ll get to play on the team’s practice field and view a multi-media presentation on the “10 Ways to be an All Pro Dad.” The event will include visits by not only Brady, but other Jaguars celebrities as well. Registration is $10 per father which includes admission for dad and up to four kids. Beginning Wednesday, participants can register online at www.allprodad.com or by calling 1-800-956-8300. Registration is also available by visiting any First Guaranty Bank location.
• The guest speaker at next month’s Military Appreciation luncheon at the Hyatt will be even more important when he gets here. Adm. James Stavridis will take over the United States Southern Command from Gen. Bantz Craddock of the United States Army. The ceremony’s Thursday in Miami.
• Dennis Pate, the executive director of the zoo, is the next chair of the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. Pate joined the zoo in June of 2002 and joined the CVB’s board a year later. Pate will take over from Hampton Golf President M.G. Orender at the CVB’s Nov. 8 board of directors meeting.
• Pastor J.L. Del Valle speaks today at the Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board’s annual scholarship luncheon at the Hyatt. Last year, the Board awarded scholarships to local schools for 20 students of Hispanic descent.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Center has added Cesar Matos as a Spanish-speaking bilingual counselor. He will be available to counsel clients in Spanish or English Thursdays from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by appointment at the SBC.
• The City of Neptune Beach will officially celebrate its 75th anniversary as a town next weekend with three days worth of events. Things get underway Friday at 6 p.m. and wrap up Sunday with festivities from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday is an all day, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. affair. Everything’s at Jarboe Park, which is at the corner of North Third Street and Florida Boulevard. Several folks at City Hall got their invites complete with VIP parking passes, VIP seating tickets and free drink coupons.
• Speaking of Neptune Beach, Halloween isn’t here yet but the Kmart on Atlantic Boulevard already has its Christmas inventory for sale.
• Lutheran Social Services will hold its 22nd Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon Nov. 14 from noon-1 p.m. at the Osborn Center. Last year’s event drew nearly 900 people who helped raise $26,157 for the Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank.
• The local film industry has come a long way in recent years and the proof may lie in the fact that the 6th Annual Jacksonville Production Industry Reception is Wednesday evening at PRI Productions in San Marco. Things get underway at 5 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
• Another big event next week. The Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club will hold its grand opening Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment are on tap.