• Can’t wait to see the creative commercials that accompany the Super Bowl? Anheuser-Busch is offering the public a sneak peek a the five minutes of ads it bought during the NFL’s biggest game. Go to biggameads.anheuser-busch.com to see the previews.
• Court reporter L. Marie Splane was honored with a retirement party yesterday in the Jury Room at the Federal Courthouse. Splane has provided daily, real time transcription for numerous judges throughout her 28-year career. Her last day with the Federal Court is today, but she intends to continue her court reporter career in the private sector.
• A coalition of government officials and civic groups will unveil a new civics program in February to help inform citizens about their City government and how they can interact with it. The civics training will consist of four online modules with the first available in February. Citizens can access the modules through the League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast’s Web site, www.lwvjacksonvilleleague.org. The Jacksonville City Council and League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast in partnership with Young Republicans, Young Democrats, Democratic Women Informational Network, Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated, JCCI and Leadership Jacksonville were involved with the development of the program.
• The “How Can I Afford Retirement” investor education seminar at the Main Library Tuesday was attended by more than 100 future retirees. If you missed it there are two more free financial seminars on the calendar at the Main Library. “Investing Wisely to Avoid the Financial Risk of Longer Life Expectancy” is Monday and “Protecting Your Investments: The Best Defense is a Wise and Safe Investor” is scheduled for Feb. 16. Both seminars begin at 5:30 p.m. Call 630-0495 to register or get more information.
• HandsOn Jacksonville has announced its 2010 board officers and members: Bob Spohrer of Spohrer Dodd, board chair; Dan Macferran, University of Phoenix, vice-chair; Kathy Orr, Incepture, secretary; Holly Cleveland, Wachovia, treasurer; and Dr. Judith A.M. Smith, president and CEO, HandsOn Jacksonville. Other board members include Mark Bajalia of Brennan, Manna & Diamond; Nicole Bowden, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers; Laura Brown, PGA Tour; Nelson Cuba, Fraternal Order of Police; James Farah, Farah Law Firm; Susan Hamilton, CSX; Andrus Healy, Healy Foundation; Bill Houston, Jacksonville Jaguars; Travis Hutson, The Hutson Companies; Roslyn Mixon Phillips, City of Jacksonville; Mary Stutts, Aetna and Pam Wilson, City of Jacksonville.
• It might not be optimal boating weather at the moment, but St. Johns Riverkeeper is expecting April to be a little more pleasant. The organization recently announced April 8-9 and 10-11 as the dates for its two-day eco-heritage boat trip tours along the St. Johns River between Palatka and Sanford. The trips include overnight accommodations, boat travel, ground transportation and lunches during the trip where passengers will make a number of stops along the river. Tickets are $325 for each two-day trip, which will be the only trips offered for the year. For more information, go to www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org.
• The construction and redevelopment projects on Main Street are complete and the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council wants to celebrate them. The organization will host a “Celebrate Springfield” day Feb. 13 that will feature a parade and tour that begins at their offices and will end at Klutho Park, stopping by the Florida Proton Therapy Institute at Shands Jacksonville and other commercial entities. The event is from 1–4 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.