• The River City Republican Club is seeking solicitations for its upcoming “Republican Cookbook.” City Council President Daniel Davis was one many GOP members in the area to receive an invite to submit a recipe and commentary on the dish. Deadline is mid-November and the club wants the book on the streets by the holidays.
• The grand opening of the new clubhouse at Amelia National Golf & Country Club is Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. The course has been open for several months.
• Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford is also asking for the Mayor’s support, although it may be another John Peyton. A letter signed by Rutherford asks a “Mr. John Payton, General Cunsel CY Jacksonville” to become a business member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association. If a member, Peyton would receive a membership card, six issues of The Sheriff Star magazine, a green and gold window decal and a “handsome” plaque, although it’s unknown what name and title will adorn those gifts.
• Mayor John Peyton and his wife have been invited to secure a select wine from Blackbird Vineyards in Napa, Calif., but they must act fast. “As a private client who has not acquired wine from our first two vintages, we invite you to secure an allocation — before your position on our mailing list is transformed to a ‘wait list,’” the letter states. If ordered by Oct. 15, the Mayor can buy a maximum of six bottles of 2005 red wine at $80 per bottle plus $48 for shipping.
• According to Muscular Dystrophy Association District Director Lauren Herringdine, this year’s “Fill the Boot” campaign generated $2.306 million thanks to the work by firefighters in 300 communities across the country. Herringdine has asked Mayor John Peyton to declare the week of Oct. 22-26 as “Firefighter Appreciation Week.”
• Speaking of the fire department, the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is next Friday at Station 1 on North Liberty Street at 10 a.m.
• According to the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida, the City of Jacksonville reportedly ranks third in the state for homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure, with one in every 73 households facing foreclosure — up about 20 percent from the first half of 2006. Florida currently ranks fifth in the nation in foreclosures.
• To commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Hubbard House will host the 13th Annual Barbara Ann Campbell Memorial Breakfast at 7 a.m. Oct. 10 at the Osborn Center. This year’s featured speaker is Kelly Otte, executive director of United Partners for Human Services, a coalition of more than 90 human services agencies in Tallahassee. Tickets are $30 per person and will be available at the event. For information, call 354-0076, ext. 211.
“Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.”
– Sir Moser Claus, former Warden of Wadham College.