• The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s 2007-08 Board of Directors will be chaired by Ron Natherson Jr., who has served on the Board since 2002. He is Vice President of Claims and Agent Marketing for Southern Oak Insurance Co. and currently serves as Tournament Chairman for The Players Championship. Natherson is also on the Boards of the Beaches Fine Arts Series, the Florida Theatre and Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Northeast Florida.
• Landing General Manager Janice Lowe just got back from North Carolina where she selected this year’s Christmas Tree. The day-long process to get it into the Courtyard, erected and ready to decorate is scheduled for Nov. 13.
• Filmmaker, producer, director and cinematographer Ken Burns is the guest speaker at Monday’s Downtown Rotary Club meeting. Burns was nominated for an Academy Award in 1981 and his most recent film is “The War” — a World War II documentary.
• If you are interested in traveling to China, getting there just got easier. Last week, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters was in Atlanta to announce that Delta was being awarded the rights to fly to Shanghai. According to Doug Blissit, Delta’s vice president of public affairs, the airline plans to begin service to China March 30 of next year.
• Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Weaver have agreed to serve as honorary chairs of the 2007 Angels of the Arts campaign to benefit the Cathedral Arts Project. Fidelity National Financial President Randy Quirk will host a fundraiser at his house later this month and the wines will be provided by the vineyards of Fidelity Chairman Bill Foley.
• City Council President Daniel Davis has introduced a bill that would amend a section of the City Ordinance Code that deals with public expenditures for food and beverages. The changes authorize the use of tax dollars for food and beverage only if the event is being “hosted, sponsored, produced or coordinated by the City’s Special Events Office.” Anything for only the benefit of City employees is prohibited.
• Speaking of Davis, he and Council member Ray Holt are hosting a community meeting Tuesday at the Cecil Field Conference Center at 7 p.m. The agenda is focused on gathering community feedback and providing input to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority for the Cecil Field Master Plan.
• Clarification. Mayor’s office administrative aide Tenisha Williams will be on the job until late December.
• The Florida Department of Transportation is holding an informal open house Oct. 30 at the Heckscher Drive Community Club to discuss the Heckscher Drive bridge replacement project over Shad Creek. The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m.
“We must beware of trying to build a society in which nobody counts for anything except a politician or an official, a society where enterprise gains no reward and thrift no privileges.”
– Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill