• This week is Traveler Appreciation Week at Jacksonville International Airport. Tables and displays will be set up in the terminal by Visit Jacksonville today and Wednesday. They include the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Peterbrooke Chocolate and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Traveling customers will also be offered discounts from participating vendors and airlines. Also, nonperishable food items will be collected for local military families during the holidays.
• Fire fighters at the Liberty Street station (better known as “The Rock”) working on Thanksgiving won’t be alone. They will be preparing and serving dinner to the nearby Davis Center. Anthony Douglas came up with the idea while visiting the homeless shelter while on duty.
• Jaguar fans are getting a little too entrepreneurial these days. Security guards were checking parking passes because some fans have been parking their cars and then selling the parking pass. This has led to an overabundance of vehicles at some of the parking areas. Fans with parking passes may want to schedule a little extra time to get to parking spaces when the team returns to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Dec. 14 to play the Green Bay Packers.
• Just in time for colder weather, people attending the Jaguars games can enjoy three new flavors of Chill Smooth Ice. The brain-freeze-inducing treat can now be enjoyed in double lemon, very berry and watermelon.
• If you’ve heard of the Feb. 7 Climb Jacksonville event you know it’s a run straight up all 42 floors and 838 steps of the Bank of America Tower. What you may not know is that it’s also a fundraiser for the American Lung Association and all entrants are required to provide proof they have raised at least $100 for the ALA. For more, log on to www.climbjacksonville.org.
• Once rumored, now official: The Jacksonville University basketball game Dec. 4 against conference rival Belmont will be the MPS Group Buyout night, similar to last year’s game against East Tennessee State. With the sponsorship, the game will be free to the public.
• Transportation of ideas: the Northeast Florida Women’s Transportation Seminar is hosting a panel discussion featuring Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos, Jacksonville Port Authority Director Rick Ferrin and CSX Vice President Lisa Mancini Dec. 3 at the Cruise Port Terminal. The discussion will focus on the region’s current and future modes of transportation and will begin at noon. Seats are $30 and space is limited. For more information call Ed Morales at 363-3133.
• The Seaport and Airport Special Committee canceled its Nov. 25 meeting. The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Dec. 9.