• Dearing McRae Mullen is the new development director at The Florida Ballet. She previously was at the Cummer and lately at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church.
• Big pre-game football party Friday night at the Florida Theatre. They’ll go from 8 p.m. to midnight and it’s $25, with no one under 21 allowed. There will be a raffle for game tickets with proceeds going to the Spina Bifida Association. Info: [email protected].
• The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will open its 2007-08 season this week with Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony. Music Director Fabio Mechetti will lead the orchestra to begin the Fidelity National Financial Masterworks Series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall at the T-U Center. This season’s debut program will also feature Canadian pianist Ian Parker who will perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Tickets are $25-$65 and may be purchased by calling 354-5547 or visiting www.jaxsymphony.org.
• Speaking of the symphony, if you’re going to attend Saturday evening’s performance, plan to make different parking arrangements. The Water Street Garage will be available exclusively for people who will be working at Municipal Stadium during the Florida State University vs. University of Alabama football game. Bob Papke, SMG’s director of the T-U Center, said symphony-goers should plan to arrive a few minutes earlier than usual and park in the Enterprise Garage adjacent to the Omni Hotel. “It’s just two blocks from the concert hall and having the football crowd along with the symphony crowd will make the evening another great Downtown event,” he added.
• First Coast News will honor a dozen community service volunteers at the 20th anniversary “12 Who Care” awards ceremony Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theater and LaVilla Museum. An hour-long broadcast special of the event will be telecast at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 on TV-12. Tickets to the live show are available for $25; call 354-1212 for information. It was also announced that the law firm of Peek, Cobb, Edwards and Ragatz, P.A. will join First Coast News as sponsors of the 2007-08 21st year of “12 Who Care.”
• The Gator Bowl Association has canceled Friday’s VIP reception for Saturday’s Florida State-Alabama game. According to GBA President Rick Catlett, “the demanding schedule of representatives from both universities has made this decision necessary.” Those who paid in advance will be refunded.
• Dentist Chester Aikens is up for appointment to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s board of directors. Aikens will replace Charles Spencer and, following Council approval, his term will run until Sept. 30, 2011.
“The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort—the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing—the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.”
– Andy Rooney