• In the November Police and Fire Pension Fund newsletter, Fund Administrator John Keane talks about the October activity of the stock market on both a national and worldwide basis. Locally, the news wasn’t good either. Keane said the Fund’s “master custodian” reported the value of the Pension Fund was reduced by over $95 million during October
• If you’ve been expecting an e-mail from the City or any city employee and haven’t received it, don’t be alarmed. For some reason, the City’s e-mail system has been on the fritz. “The e-mail server is blocking certain domain names,” said Jeff Clements, chief of research.
• More than 115,000 military personnel and their families’ quality of life will be enhanced thanks in part to a grant to Greater Jacksonville USO from THE PLAYERS Championship. As part of THE PLAYERS “Giving Back Week,” the tournament’s past chairmen – the Red Coats – will deliver the funding on Monday to Greater Jacksonville USO and 15 other First Coast charities during their “Red Coat Ride Out.” THE PLAYERS grant will go toward distributing USO Care Packages to deploying service members, operating three cybercafés to keep families in touch with loved ones, distributing over 12,000 calling cards, participating in deployment and homecoming events, providing United Through Reading literacy program for children of deployed personnel, hosting free bi-monthly dinners and providing a “home away from home” airport center for over 1,500 personnel traveling through Jacksonville International Airport each month.
• The Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity honor recital will be performed Friday at 7:30 p.m. at 645 Oak St. It’s a presentation of the Friday Musicale and marks the first time award-winning musicians from both fraternity chapters at Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida will perform together on the same stage. Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Riverside Guitar Quartet will take the stage for a program titled “Classical to Country.” Both performances are free and open to the public.
• In recognition of Saturday’s designation as “America Recycles Day,” K-12 students are participating in a commitment to sustainablilty, the 5th Annual Florida Schools Recycling Pledge Card Contest. The three schools that submit the most pledge cards will receive a refurbished computer. Last year, more than 86 percent of the Floridians who signed a pledge to recycle were elemetary, middle and high school students. Gov. Charlie Crist has signed House Bill 7135, also known as the Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008. The legislation sets a statewide goal of 75 percent recycling by 2010.
• Turns out last month’s midnight cult film screening at the Florida Theatre should have been billed as “The First Annual Make a Scene Downtown Rocky Horror Picture Show and Street Festival.” The date hasn’t been determined, but Florida Theatre President Erik Hart said he’s been notified by the City’s Special Events Office to expect a return engagement in 2009.
• The kickoff time for the Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans game Sunday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium has been changed from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.