• Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) have designated October as “Florida Greenways and Trails Month.” With more than 5,000 miles of trails and 80,000 acres of greenway, the state offers residents and visitors of all ages and abilities year-round access to a variety of free health and fitness activities. More than 100 events will take place in 59 counties to celebrate Florida Greenways and Trails Month.
• Tickets are still available for the 22nd Annual Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Steak & Steak event Thursday evening. A reception followed by dinner will begin at 6 p.m. at the Citi Facility at 14000 Citi Cards Way. Former Orlando Magic player Otis Smith is this year’s guest speaker. A silent auction will take place featuring sports memorabilia from the Orlando Magic and Jacksonville Jaguars plus restaurant and golf packages. A live auction for two tickets to this season’s Super Bowl including hotel room and air fare is also on the schedule. Last year’s event raised more than $103,000. Tickets are $200 per person and table sponsorships are also available. For information, visit www.bgcnf.org.
• In conjunction with the Cherish the Ladies and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s “Irish Enchantment” concert on Friday night at 8 p.m., the Guild of the Jacksonville Symphony is hosting an Irish Pub Party at 6 p.m. at the T-U Center. Tickets are $75 and include the Conductor’s Club Intermission Reception. For reservations, call 358-1479.
• The Jacksonville Firefighters’ Pension Trust Fund and Jacksonville Police Officers’ Retirement Trust Fund recently received the largest reimbursements from the state ever totaling nearly $8.9 million. The money, which is collected from fire, casualty and other property insurances, makes up about 3 percent of the funds total value, according to John Keane, executive director and administrator of the Police & Fire Pension Fund. Letters were recently sent to the city stating the state was given no confirmation the city received and deposited the money sometime after Aug. 20. Keane said he believed the money had been deposited.
• The Museum of Science and History is hosting “Chemistry Explorathon” from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the museum. The event is held each October and observes National Chemistry Week. Local high school students are preparing for the event by making projects that are based on this year’s theme, “The Many Faces of Chemistry.” For more information call 396-MOSH, ext. 230 or visit www. themosh.org.
• Mayor John Peyton, City Council Member Don Redman and the Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation will host a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Beach and Peach Urban Park at 10013 Anders Blvd.
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.”
– John Kenneth Galbraith, U.S. economist.