• The Ritz Chamber Players kicked off their 2009-10 season yesterday with its opening concert at the Times-Union Center. If you missed it, there are still three concerts left for the year: “In Remembrance of the Dream,” Jan. 20, its Spring Concert April 21 and its finale June 9. The group is the nation’s first African-American chamber music ensemble comprised of accomplished musicians founded in 2002. For more information on the season, go to www.ritzchamberplayers.org.
• Highlighting a renewed idea: Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed a proclamation acknowledging Sunday as “America Recycles Day.” The Department of Environmental Protection has a top 10 list of recycling tips available at earth911.org.
• Downtown Vision Inc.’s 3rd Annual Downtown Historic Church Tour is Dec. 5 from 1-5 p.m. This year’s tour includes 10 churches and the Main Library, complimentary trolleys from church to church and free parking in First Baptist’s garage on Laura Street between Church and Ashley streets. Tickets are $5 per person and may be purchased at www.downtownjacksonville.org or at the Main Library the day of the tour (cash only). Twenty percent of tickets sales will benefit the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition.
• The UF & Shands Cancer Center has a new director and chair of its Shands Jacksonville Cancer Committee. Dr. Carmine Volpe was recently named as both and joined UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville in October 2008 as an associate professor and division chief of surgical oncology. According to Jim Burkhart, president and administrator of Shands, Volpe will help develop strategic plans of the oncology program expansion as well as work with the UF Proton Therapy Institute.
• Jax City Cafe at the corner of Forsyth and Ocean now closes at 3 each afternoon.
• Tuesday the Economic Roundtable of Jacksonville presents Ken Simonson, Chief Economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. He will speak to the members and guests on the topic of “Will Construction and the Economy Rebound Again in 2010?” The program is at the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University from 5-7 p.m., with an hors d’oeuvres and cocktails reception followed by the presentation. Cost for guests is $30. To RSVP visit www.ertjax.org.
• Music@Main: Piotr Szewczyk, Futura II is a contemporary solo violin project created by Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra violinist and composer Piotr Szewczyk. The recital of 16 new short solo violin pieces is Saturday at 6:15 p.m. in the Hicks Auditorium at the Main Library. Admission is free.