• Architect Jack Diamond recently received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Ohio State University’s College of Engineering. Diamond, who is with Rink Reynolds, has been responsible for the design of several Jacksonville projects including the Prudential Tower and Complex, SunTrust Tower, Southern Bell Tower, and multiple projects at the University of North Florida including the Business School, the Performing Arts Center, the Library and the Student Union Facility.
• Florida State fans will remember Bob Thomas for covering the Seminoles for the Florida Times-Union for several years. These days, he’s with the school as head of public relations for the football team.
• East Coast Hydrofoils and the Southeast Hydrofoil Club will bring the second annual “Last Fling Til Spring” event to Victory Lake Oct. 24 and 25. Brad Schmidt of East Coast Hydrofoil has indicated he’d like to bring the nationals of the sport to Jacksonville next year.
• The Skinner YMCA on Belfort Road has been sold to Seafarers Building Corporation. Grafton Addison III, president/CEO of Addison Commercial Real Estate, brokered the deal.
• With Thursday’s budget meeting looming, it’s a safe bet Sheriff John Rutherford will go before City Council to lobby to get back some of the cuts made to his budget. Rutherford has touted the $12.7 million in cuts he made before the hearings began. In a breakdown of those cuts, most were in the form of salaries ($6.5 million) and gas and parts for his fleet ($2.4 million).
• The Hall of Terror returns in less than a month. Starting Oct. 9, Adventure Landing will host the Jacksonville Jaycees 34th Annual Hall of Terror Haunted House in its laser tag arena. The two groups joined forces in 2005 and the amusement park also offers a haunted river ride during the 16 days the Hall is open. For more information contact Lisa Frint, marketing manager for Adventure Landing 246-4555
• The Jacksonville Suns aren’t the only title holders at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced Monday that Ed Attalla of the Jacksonville Suns has been named its “Groundskeeper of the Year,” as selected by the league’s field managers and umpires. The 2009 honor marks the fifth time Attalla has been selected as Groundskeeper of the Year for the Southern League.
• An annual tradition for the football season, the Jaguars Foundation recently announced 4,598 youth will participate in the “Honor Rows” program this season. The Foundation partners with close to 40 area nonprofit agencies to provide goal-setting programs for economically and socially disadvantaged youth to earn a seat to a Jaguars game. Since 1995 when the team began play, more than 51,900 such seats have been awarded. The students are also recognized during the game.
• The season hasn’t officially changed, but The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is looking ahead by recently announcing its fall and winter concert series. The series runs from October through February and showcases artists through concerts. Each concert begins at 3 p.m. and is included in the price of museum admission. The concert dates are Oct. 4, Nov. 8, Jan. 10 and Feb. 28. For more information on each, call 899-6038.
• Condolences to the family of attorney C. Harris Dittmar, who passed away Sunday. Condolences also the family of trial lawyer Robert Beckham, who passed away Monday.
• September was proclaimed “Florida Barber Month” by Gov. Charlie Crist Monday. Within the Sunshine State’s borders are 11,854 barbers, restricted barbers and barber assistants. These business people work in 2,801 barbershops and can be trained in 66 barber programs.
• Barbers will share the month with Florida’s Hispanic community. Crist also proclaimed Sept. 15-Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month Monday.