• Helping kids get ready to go back to school: Each year, thousands of local students begin the school year without even the most basic classroom necessities. Through the end of this month you can donate school supplies to the Keller Williams Cares for Kids program at the realty company’s office at 2950 Halcyon Lane in Mandarin. For information, call 288-7990.
• State Rep. Jennifer Carroll is hosting two town meetings Saturday for her constituents in Dist. 13. The first will begin at 9 a.m. at the Fleming Island Branch Library at 1895 Town Center Blvd. in Orange Park. The other gathering will begin at 11 a.m. at the Argyle Branch Library at 7973 Old Middleburg Road in Jacksonville. Carroll will be available to discuss and answer questions about the 2007 post-legislative session and the special session. For information, call 573-4994.
JTA has added to its senior-level staff. Chad Reese (right) was named Transit Chief Operating Officer. Reese previously spent seven years as general manager at Veolia Transportation where he ran the transportation services for Phoenix and Austin. Scott Clem was named JTA’s Director of Strategic Planning and Research. He spent the past 15 years working for St. Johns County.
• Joe Ann Bennett, marketing agent for Berkman Plaza 2, is asking the City for help with a project that would beautify the terrace at the Police Memorial Building, which is across Bay Street from the development. According to Bennett, “it would be a community beautification project with students from The (LaVilla) School of the Arts participating and sharing their talents.”
• Remember the car fire several weeks ago in the garage at Jacksonville International Airport? The area on the second floor of the hourly garage is still marked with police tape and hasn’t been cleaned.
• First Baptist Church has welcomed two new staff members. Dr. Jim Smyrl has joined the church as Executive Pastor of Education. He was most recently Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Theology and Director of Denominational Relations and Ministry Referral at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. James D. Whitmire has been named Executive Pastor of Worship. Before coming to FBC, he served as Professor of Music and Worship for Mid-America Seminary and Interim Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Dallas.