• Mayor John Peyton is out of town the first three days this week and out of the office Thursday and Friday. He’ll be in New York at bond hearings on behalf of the City. The better the City’s bond rating the more likely City agencies are to get low-interest bonds for major capital projects.
• City Council is holding a closed “shade” meeting today at 2:30 at the request of the Office of General Counsel. The meeting is to discuss litigation in the lawsuit filed by Jacksonville Property Rights Association, Inc. against the City. The group represents several area adult clubs. Shade meetings are not open to the public.
• Speaking of Council, member Ronnie Fussell has declined an appointment to the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful: A Clean City Commission.
• The 2006 Riverwalk Great Strides is Nov. 16 and it benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Registration and a poolside celebration at the Crowne Plaza begins at 5 p.m. and the walk starts at 6 p.m.
• The Urban Land Institute of Jacksonville District Council is hosting a conference on trends in real estate Thursday at UNF’s University Center beginning at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $35 for ULI members and $45 for non-members. Contact Amy Ogden, ULI District Council Coordinator for more information, 280-5137.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Education Department is looking for art lovers to assist with adult tours for the upcoming exhibition “Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from The British Museum.” The volunteer position will be temporary, lasting from early January through mid-March. Docents will be needed for one tour a week on either a weekday afternoon, or Thursday or Saturday evening. If interested in being a docent volunteer, contact Susan Gallo at 356-6857.
• Members of the Duval Delegation recently filed their financial disclosures. The median net worth of the 17 delegates is $854,838. State Rep. Jennifer Carroll easily tops the list with a net worth of a little over $202 million. State Sen. Jim King is second at almost $6 million.
• Former Daily Record reporter J. Brooks Terry has been promoted to senior account executive at The McCormick Agency.
• Twisted Martini’s Halloween costume contest will be Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. No cover charge and more than $2,000 in cash prizes for “sexiest, scariest, most original” costumes.
• Our School Board and City Council are working on a joint meeting, something that happens about once a year. Organizers are trying to set it up before Nov. 21 when School Board Chair Brenda Priestly-Jackson’s term as chair ends.
• The City’s team finished third in the inaugural YMCA’s First Coast Games. Team captain Kevin Holzendorf, a policy chief for Mayor John Peyton, said the team was all or nothing and that’s evidenced by the four first-place finishes and the others that weren’t very good. “We will bring home the title in 2007,” he said.
• Apologies to Dr. Robert Nuss of Shands Jacksonville, who was misidentified in a City Note last week. Dr. Nuss is the senior associate dean for the University of Florida in Jacksonville.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. is teaming with The Strand and Chase Home Mortgage to present a seminar on selling high-rise condos Oct. 31. The seminar is for local Realtors. It’s from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Alltel Stadium and breakfast will be served.
• Catholic Charities Jacksonville is holding its two primary fundraising events of the year Nov. 3-4: the Festival d’Vine and the Black & White Ball. This year’s theme is “Starry Nights” and there’s a cocktail reception and silent auction both nights. Tickets for the Festival d’Vine are $75 each and tickets to the Black & White Ball are $200 each. They may be purchased by calling 354-4846 ext. 227. Both events are designed to support Catholic Charities’ community service programs responding to the needs of families in crisis.