• Have some extra plastic bags? The Ortega Elementary School needs 500 for students to carry home information that’s distributed on the first day of school this Monday. Chris Croft at W.W. Gay is coordinating the bag raising.
• Getting into a Hall of Fame is a big deal and we have one coming up: builder Ron Coppenbarger is one of two who will enter the Florida Housing Hall of Fame on Oct. 4. He’s a past state and local builders’ president.
• Looking for foreign business, a group of local builders and realtors will have a booth at a big real estate show in Birmingham, England. It’s in late September and it’s regarded as the best international expo of international properties.
• The City Council’s Public Health & Safety Committee is hosting three public meetings to gather citizens’ input on issues regarding public safety and the Jacksonville Journey. Meetings will begin at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Clanzel Brown Community Center on Moncrief Road, Aug. 28 at the Webb-Wesconnett Library on 103rd Street and Sept. 11 at Twin Lakes Academy Middle School on Point Meadows Drive. Representatives from the City and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will be present to answer questions on proposed safety initiatives.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida has added Jennifer Wenzel and Kelly Micheau to their Jacksonville location. Wenzel is customer service specialist, while Micheau is the new intake and enrollment specialist.
• St. John & Partners came home from the Florida Public Relations Association’s 2008 Golden Image Awards in Orlando with one of the top honors, a Grand Golden Image Award for best in class. The agency was recognized for “Ford’s ‘Through Their Eyes’ Art Exhibit Web Site” which was developed to host a gallery of children’s art work collected at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix to raise awareness for two autism charities benefited by the Grand Prix. SJ&P also received an Award of Distinction for the overall “Through Their Eyes” campaign and another for the Smoothie King’s “Smoothies for the Troops” campaign that shipped fresh fruit smoothies to soldiers and sailors in the Middle East.
• If you or someone you know would like to borrow materials from the Jacksonville Public Library (JPL) but can’t visit in person, there is a “Books by Mail” service available. In addition to traditional books, books recorded on audio cassettes and compact discs may also be borrowed then delivered and returned by the U.S. Postal Service. A valid library card is required. For information, call JPL Special Services at 630-2896 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Blackjack Meatloaf at the Plaza III Steakhouse is served up with a delicious Blackjack Barbecue Sauce, which was created by WOKV AM and FM’s Sports Director Cole Pepper, and a heaping side of mashed potatoes. The meal and a drink can be had for $7.99 inside the Downtown Hyatt.