• Christmas is a ways off, but Circuit Court Judge David Gooding is already preparing for his annual “Home for the Holidays” special session of court during which dozens of children will be formally adopted. It’s Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 4 at the County Courthouse. Circuit Court Judge Waddell Wallace will also preside.
• The law firm of Ansbacher & McKeel has moved. Effective today, attorneys Barry Ansbacher and J. Thomas McKeel are now in Goodbys Executive Park off Baymeadows Road. The new phone number is 737-4600. The firm practices in commercial real estate, eminent domain, association representation and civil litigation.
• Also moving: the law firm of Milam Howard Nicandri Dees & Gillam. They are at 14 E. Bay St. and are holding an open house Sept. 20 from 6-8 p.m.
• HDR and Fiorentino and Hewett are hosting the 3rd Annual Charity Auction & Casino Night. It’s from 7-11 p.m. Sept. 22 at The River Club. The night features gambling games, a silent auction, food and drink. Proceeds benefit HabiJax.
• The Spohrer & Dodd firm showed up in full force for last week’s Jacksonville Bar Association Meeting – well, almost. Roger Dodd was absent but he had a good reason. Dodd was in St. Petersburg in the former Soviet Union addressing the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. “The only difference between me and Roger is he gets to speak in St. Petersburg, Russia and I get to speak in St. Petersburg, Fla.,” said partner Bob Spohrer.
• Helping soldiers keep their cool: The Smoothie King in Fleming Island will be wrapping a special parcel today. Owners Antoine and Susan Kouchakjy are blending 30 gallons of fruit smoothies for the 375 members of the Joint Provincial Reconstruction Team in Khost, Afghanistan where late summer temperatures hover around 100 degrees. The smoothies will be packed in dry ice and shipped to the troops via U.S. Mail. The taste of home is expected to arrive at its destination on Friday or Saturday.
• The FCCJ Artist Series’ 10th Annual “Test Drive Your Seats” will be held Wednesday at the T-U Center from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Current season ticket holders will be able to pick up their packets, exchange their tickets, buy additional tickets and check out the sight lines from their seats. Those who would like to buy season tickets are also invited to tour the venue and see which seats are still available.
“It is not he who gains the exact point in dispute who scores most in controversy, but he who has shown the better temper.”
– Samuel Butler