• The future site of the Army-Navy game will be up for bids in the next few weeks according to Naval Academy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk, and Jacksonville will be vying for consideration. “We’ll check into it. The last time the game was up for bid the contract included getting all the students from both academies to the game and housing them,” said Rick Catlett, president of the Gator Bowl Association. “The last time we looked into it that cost $4.5-$5 million. The numbers just didn’t add up. If they change the parameters we may be interested. We’ll go at it again and see what happens.”
• The folks over at daniel have reason to celebrate Saturday. The child-service agency that helps abused and emotionally-troubled children will be celebrating its 124th birthday from 11 a.m –3 p.m. by throwing a party for its current and former clients as well the public at the organization’s Belfort Road campus. With volunteer help from Celebration Church and Citi, the party will include a cookout, birthday cake, field events and games. “Our annual birthday party is a great way for the community to see our young clients pausing to celebrate life on their road to recovery,” said daniel CEO and President Jim Clark. Over 400 people are expected to attend.
• Jaguars officials are in the midst of their “Believe in Now,” season ticket campaign, but those looking for single game tickets to the teams two home preseason games against the Falcons and Dolphins will be able to purchase beginning Saturday. Single game tickets for regular season games won’t be available until Aug. 8.
• It’s been known for a while, but now it’s official. The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce will be taking their 2008 leadership trip to Seattle after Chamber Chair-elect Mike Hightower signed off on it. The trip is Nov. 11–14 and will include 150 business and community leaders who will learn about the city’s economic development and infrastructure.
• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office plans to use the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Lab to conduct a poll of Jacksonville businesses who may be willing to hire ex-offenders. Dr. Elizabeth McMullan will help with the poll which runs through Tuesday.
• School Board candidate and trial lawyer W.C. Gentry is holding a big fundraiser Thursday and some of the area’s top former elected officials and business leaders are on the host committee. Gentry’s a Democrat and the party is at the home of former Duval Republican Party Chair Mike Hightower. Just so you know, School Board races are unitarian.