• Holland & Knight is hosting a group of panelists from the Urban Land Institute’s Water Program Sept. 22 for an evening reception and discussion about the future of the St. Johns River. The panelists include: Steve Seibert of the Collins Center for Public Policy and former Department of Community Affairs Secretary; Cynthia Barnett, author and Florida Trend reporter; Dr. Wendy Graham of the University of Florida; and Jim Murley of Florida Atlantic University and former Department of Community Affairs Secretary.
• Attorney Adam Regar has joined the law firm of Mathis & Murphy. Regar previously served in the State Attorney’s Office. The hiring pushes the staff at Mathis & Murphy to seven.
• Evergreen Cemetery on the Northside has been nominated for a listing in the National Register of Historic Places. According to Barbara Mattick, deputy state historic preservation officer, the nomination will be reviewed during a Sept. 30 public meeting of the Florida National Register Review Board.
• The college football kicked off over the weekend and City Council President Ronnie Fussell was busy. Fussell is an avid Georgia Bulldogs fan went to the Georgia/Georgia Southern game in Athens at 12:30 p.m. then make the hour-and-a-half drive to Atlanta for Saturday night’s Alabama/Clemson game.
• Quick update on Dona Maria’s at the Landing: The restaurant has been closed since April due to unpaid fines and administrative complaints, but now some movement has happened. The pink notice from the State of Florida is gone and the windows are covered in green paper, but no word from Landing officials if the space is vacant or if the Mexican restaurant is returning.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue will officially open the new Station No. 5 in Riverside Friday. Things get underway at 11:30 a.m.
• When he’s not telling you the weather or looking at this season’s hurricanes, Ch. 30/47 chief meteorologist Mike Buresh will take time to serve on the Salvation Army’s Northeast Florida Advisory Board. Buresh was one of two new members recently added to the board.
• Peninsular Pest Control Services is collecting used cell phones that will be donated for use by victims of domestic violence who are being served by Hubbard House. More than 7,200 domestic violence reports were filed with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2006 and statistics indicate more than 10 percent of the murders committed in Duval County are related to domestic violence. The donated phones will be programmed for 9-1-1 emergency use only. Used cell phones, chargers and batteries may be dropped off at Peninsular’s office at 2609 Phyllis St. near I-10 and Stockton Street in Riverside Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m.-noon.
• JTA is holding a public meeting Thursday to inform citizens in the Blanding Boulevard area about the current resurfacing project and JTA’s plan to implement a bus lane pilot project on Blanding from Morse Avenue to 103rd Street. The meeting is at JEB Stuart Middle School from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is bringing back the “Sound Check” discount card for the 2008-09 season. Here’s the deal: students of all ages buy the card for $25 and then may attend every JSO Masterworks, Discovery and Coffee series concert for the entire season. In addition, parents may accompany students with the cards for $10 per concert. The card is also valid for admission to the Sept. 18 rehearsal for the JSO-Alhambra Dinner Theater production of “West Side Story.” Last year, 800 students took advantage of the Sound Check Card program.