• While it wasn’t Jenna Bush Hager’s first trip to Jacksonville Tuesday, her visit sparked a significant event in local history. The daughter of former President George W. Bush was the guest of honor at a party at the Avondale home of Sue and Mike Hightower, immediate past chair of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and vice president of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida Inc. “This is a historic moment at the Hightower household,” noted Hightower, a well-known lobbyist and fundraiser. “It’s probably the first party we’ve held where I didn’t ask for any donations.”
• While she hasn’t spent a lot of time in Jacksonville, and was disappointed she couldn’t stay for Georgia-Florida festivities, Jenna Bush Hager said she was impressed with the people of Jacksonville. “Jacksonville is a beautiful city, but what has stood out to me is that everyone I have met here is so kind. The giving spirit of the community is a tangible for Jacksonville,” she said.
• The City of Jacksonville became the 20th certified Florida Green Building Council “Green Local Government” in May, but a recent visit to City Hall left a citizen disappointed when she couldn’t find a recycle bin for her soda can. “Due to budgetary constraints, collection of recyclables, which was being performed by the cleaning crews was discontinued,” wrote Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, director of the City Environmental and Compliance Department, in an e-mail response to City Council member Ronnie Fussell asking about recycling of aluminum cans.