• World Affairs Council Jacksonville President Jonathan Howe, a retired Navy admiral, put council member Jeffrey Maclay to work Tuesday evening. Maclay was pressed into duty to introduce the keynote speaker, Adm. James Stavridis, military commander of NATO and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. But first, Howe reminded the audience that Capt. Maclay, executive officer of NAS Jacksonville, would become the commanding officer on May 13. Current Commanding Officer Jack Scorby is transferring to the Pentagon.
• Episcopal High School reports a first. Three seniors were accepted into three different U.S. Service Academies. Brent Laurint was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, Carson McKendree to the U.S. Military Academy and Paige Shirley to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
• The 2010 United States Navy League National Convention will bring more than 500 people to the Hyatt Oct. 21-24. Plans are under way to showcase Jacksonville’s military and maritime interests with “Salute to the Sea Services.” A festival is being planned on the banks of the St. Johns River Downtown to include a small fleet of military vessels available for tours, an open-air concert by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and fireworks. The event will coincide with the Oct. 23-24 air show at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
• Team Teal has been spreading the word about the visibility an NFL franchise brings to a city and that message has received some support from “Men’s Journal” magazine. The April issue may have listed St. Augustine as one of the “Best Places to Live in 2010,” but the entry finishes with “Oceanfront condos and golf-course homes start at $300,000, and Jacksonville’s airport and the Jaguars are just an hour north.”
• “Bueller. ... Bueller.” Ben Stein, the actor who portrayed the boring teacher in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” will take the stage with the Florida Forum speaker series at 7 p.m. April 6 at The Florida Theatre. Stein also is a newspaper columnist, television commentator and author, covering issues from comedy to economics. The Florida Forum benefits Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Info at www.thefloridaforum.com.