• This week’s workspace is the Jacksonville Public Library’s Support Services Center. For more see this week's 'Workspace' story inside.
• Two administrative aides are leaving the mayor’s office before the end of the month. Iris Corbitt is going to finish her business degree at the University of Phoenix and then attend cosmetology school. She wants to open a salon. Tenisha Williams is moving to Atlanta where her husband is taking a job.
• Thirty students of Mandarin Middle School language arts teacher Jane Feber are being recognized for their entries in Rock’n Write, a national writing contest. The school had three of the 12 national winners, 15 medalists and 12 certificate winners. Oct. 30, a team from Hewlett Packard and Rock’n Write will visit the school. The kids will get computers, printers and digital cameras.
• City Council member Don Redman has been appointed to the Mayor’s Council on Fitness & Well Being. His term ends June 30 of next year.
• This year’s Military Appreciation Luncheon put on by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s area Councils is Nov. 13 at the Hyatt. VyStar Credit Union is the major presenter and Chamber Chair Steve Wallace is expecting over 800 to attend.
• Speaking of the Chamber, 2009 chair Mike Hightower has been named Jacksonville University’s 2007 Distinguished Alumnus for his work as chair of the Power of Partnerships campaign. Hightower, who graduated from JU in 1972, is the vice president of governmental and legislative relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. He’ll be presented the award Friday night at the President’s Welcome Reception as part of homecoming and again Saturday at halftime of the JU-Morehead St. football game.
• The JCCI Forward Forum “Election January 2008: Will YOU Show Up?” will meet Wednesday and Oct. 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. at JCCI, 2434 Atlantic Blvd. The forum will examine the January 2008 election, explore recent voter turnout and ask what is needed to get you to the polls. The forum is free. For more information call 396-3052.
• The Friday Musicale will host cellist Tahirah Whittington on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. She will perform in a program of Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms, assisted by acclaimed French pianist Laurent Boukobza. Whittington is a first prize winner of the prestigious national Sphinx Competition and tours nationally with the Ritz Chamber Players. Friday Musicale concerts are free and open to the public. Concerts are funded in part by the City of Jacksonville and the Cultural Council of Jacksonville, Inc.
• Neptune Beach City Council member Harriet Pruette is up for appointment to the Jacksonville-Duval County Council on Elder Affairs. Also up for appointment to the same group is one-time mayoral candidate Keith Myers.
“The ability to think straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, some skill to do useful service, some urge to fit that service into the well-being of the community – these are the most vital things education must try to produce.”
– Virginia Crocheron Gildersleeve, U.S. educator