• Retired attorney Noah Jenerette Jr., 86, founder of the law firm Boyd & Jenerette and member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, has recently fallen ill. His former law partners are preparing a notebook of fond memories for him from those who practiced with and against him. Letters and notes may be e-mailed to [email protected]; delivered to the office of Circuit Judge Karen K. Cole in room 227 of the Duval County Courthouse; or e-mailed or delivered to attorney Kristen Van der Linde at the offices of Boyd & Jenerette at 201 N. Hogan St. #400 or [email protected].
• According to Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson, per a decision made by the State Legislature this year Duval County is no longer considered a “fiscally constrained county” and therefore is no longer eligible for funding from the Division of Forestry.
• If you paid — or will pay — your JEA bill in person Downtown this month, you will get a $2 charge on your bill in November. Yes, you were informed of this on your October bill, but you probably didn’t think the Downtown office was considered a “branch.” JEA does. There are now 48 third-party retailers all over town that will process your bill without a charge.
• Four people have been added to the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Motion Pictures, Television and Commercial Production. They are: Heather Duncan, regional director of Corporate Community External Affairs at AT&T Fred Franklin, an attorney with Rogers Towers; Dr. Nadia Ramoutar, director of film at the Art Institute of Jacksonville and Tony Haines, president of Digital Video Arts.
• Oliver Barakat, first vice president of CB Richard Ellis, has released a third quarter review of the Jacksonville commercial office business. He says of the few sales, prices are down about 30 percent from this time last year and that won’t improve until the local unemployment situation improves.
• The City fared well in this year’s First Coast YMCA Corporate Games. The volleyball, softball and doubles tennis teams all finished first.
• The Jacksonville Public Library has announced the appointment of Brenda Simmons, Ph.D., to the Board of Library Trustees. Simmons has worked in higher education for more than 35 years beginning with her first position at Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly FCCJ) as an administrative intern. She retired after more than three decades with the school; her last 10 years were spent as the highest ranking academic dean for more than 30 workforce programs. The Board is composed of volunteers who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
• The public is invited to attend the sixth annual “Art in the Park,” an interactive art and multicultural entertainment event Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Northbank Riverwalk between the Landing and the CSX Building. In addition to art exhibits the event will feature performances by CEROC Swing Dancers, Grupo Bantu Beira Mar Brazilian Entertainment Troupe, Tribe Vestah Belly Dance Troupe, Taylor Crystal Bells bell ringers and the Aerial Tribe Band. Admission is free. For more information call 630-CITY or visit www.jaxparks.com and click on the Art in the Park link.
• Effective Saturday, Museum of Science & History admission will increase by $1. New admission prices will be $10 for adults, $8.50 for military and senior citizens, $8 for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and under and MOSH members. Beginning at noon each Wednesday during the school year, students receive 50 percent off MOSH’s regular admission prices. Reduced rates are $4.00 for students 3-12 and $5.00 for students 13 and over. Students under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Dr. Barry Albright, a professor in the Department of Physics at the University of North Florida and one of the discoverers of a new species of dinosaur, will share his findings at a lecture Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Museum of Science & History. “Cretaceous Park: Paleontology Adventures in Southern Utah” will be geared toward all age levels and is expected to last 45 minutes. The presentation, which will include a slide show featuring pictures taken during his excavations, is $5 for the general public and free to students. For reservations, call 396-6674, ext. 240.