• Not surprisingly, security was very tight at the Hyatt Monday morning since the “Obama for President” entourage was registered there. In addition to a phalanx of Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and Florida Highway Patrol motorcycle units, the obligatory cadre of Secret Service agents and even the K-9 Squad was called into action. A private security guard noticed a suspicious vehicle parked in the loading dock at the Courthouse Annex, but a bomb-sniffing dog returned a verdict of “no threat.”
• Poll parties: If you’re looking to get out of the house during tonight’s election returns, you have options. The Republican Party of Duval County is hosting its poll results watching reception at the Southpoint Marriott beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Duval County Democratic Party is hosting two such receptions at the Landing, in Mavericks and Twisted Martinis, beginning at 8 p.m. Both are open to the public.
• Debbie Verges, former executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, is now with the City as project director for the Jacksonville Journey, Mayor John Peyton’s early learning/anticrime initiative.
• Speaking of the Journey, Peyton has appointed a nine-person oversight committee that includes several well known folks including former State Sen. Betty Holzendorf, former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Paul Perez, Peyton’s former chief of communications Susie Wiles and attorney and School Board candidate W.C. Gentry. The rest of the committee consists of: Dr. Edythe Abdullah, president of Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s Downtown Campus; Jeff Chartrand, executive director of The Chartrand Foundation; Terrance Freeman, principal and head baseball coach at Eagle’s View Academy; Charles Griggs, communications director of the Duval County Health Department; and Curtis Hart, vice president of The Collins Group.
• Finally from the Journey, the mayor’s office has released the first 30-day progress report. Since the fiscal year started Oct. 1, the oversight committee has been appointed, five requests for proposals have gone out through the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, and the ex-offender re-entry RFP is in the final stages.
• Circuit City Inc. announced Monday the planned closings of 155 stores nationwide due to deteriorating liquidity and weak economy and two Jacksonville stores – 6155 Youngerman Circle (Orange Park) and 9625 Crosshill Blvd. (Oakleaf Town Center) – are on the list. There are seven planned closings in Florida. Additionally, the company will further reduce new store openings and renegotiates certain leases, according to a release.
• The 4th Quarterly Cornerstone luncheon is set for Dec. 16 at the Hyatt and there isn’t a keynote speaker on the agenda. Instead, the topic is “Jacksonville’s Life-Saving Billion Dollar Industry” and several area health care executives will be on hand. According to the release, the presidents of Baptist Health, Brooks, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Health. St. Vincent’s Health Care and Shands Medical Center will talk about the local health care industry. Cornerstone is the economic development arm of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
• Speaking of the Chamber, President Wally Lee has stepped down as a member of the City’s Council for Fitness and Well-Being. Lee cited “various conflicts” and asked Peyton to appoint Bob Baldwin, the Chamber’s vice president for community relations, to replace him on the council.
• Anheuser-Busch has promoted from within to fill posts at its Jacksonville Brewery. Steve Foppe has been promoted to senior plant manager at the Jacksonville brewery, effective Nov. 1. He replaces Steve McDaniel who retired after nearly three decades with the company. Foppe has been senior brewmaster at the Jacksonville brewery since 2004.
• Senior Assistant Brewmaster Keith Hodgins has been promoted to resident brewmaster at the Jacksonville Brewery. Duties of the new position include overseeing the process of brewing the company’s core brands throughout the Southeast.
• Correction. Last week’s trade show at the Osborn Center was misidentified. It was the “Realtor-Builder Trade Show.”
• A “Go Jaguars” banner adorned the 11 E. Forsyth building this weekend, but was removed by Monday. Not to worry Jaguars fans, the venerable apartment building Downtown is still in support of the hometown team. The sign is normally taken down at the end of the weekend since the tradition started last season.
• The Nov. 11 lunch crowd will be able to take in a show Downtown. The City of Jacksonville’s Veteran’s Day Parade will stroll through Water and Bay Streets on its way to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium from the Prime Osborn Convention Center starting at 11 a.m. As of press time Monday, about 3,000 people were scheduled to take part in the parade.
• The YMCA’s 2nd Annual Marine Cpl. Joshua C. Watkins Memorial Tennis Tournament, benefitting the Y’s Strong Kids campaign and Marine Cpl. Joshua Watkins Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund, has been set with an auction Thursday and a tennis tournament this weekend. For more information, go to www.firstcoastymca.org.