• The Economic Roundtable of Jacksonville opens its 2011-12 season with Mayor Alvin Brown as the keynote speaker at lunch Sept. 29 at the Jacksonville University Davis College of Business. Cost is $25 for guests and $20 for members. The roundtable is an affiliate of the National Association for Business Economics. Reservations can be made by email to [email protected].
• The Jacksonville Humane Society, a nonprofit animal welfare and education organization, is offering free adoptions today through Sunday for all cats and kittens 4 months and older. The society wants the “Feline Free Fur-All” adoption to find homes for 29 cats rescued in June from hoarders in Gainesville. Officials rescued almost 700 cats from Haven Acres, which was zoned to house about 200 felines. The Humane Society of the United States said the Haven Acres case was the largest cat-hoarding case the organization ever worked. Adopters must buy a mandatory City license for $20.
• Among the resolutions up for first reading at City Council Tuesday were two to confirm the reappointments of Cyrus Jollivette and Dr. Chester Aikens to second terms on the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
• The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System of 11 universities across the state, appointed Rogers Towers Managing Director Fred Franklin Jr. to serve on the University of North Florida board of trustees. His five-year term began Thursday. Franklin is a member of the Rogers Towers litigation department. He served as City general counsel from 1995-97.
• Another resolution on the first reading honors and thanks former Planning and Development Department Deputy Director John Crofts for his “39 years of dedicated service to the City and its citizens.” Mayor Alvin Brown accepted Crofts’ resignation, made as standard practice among City department leaders when a new administration takes office. Council member Warren Jones sponsored the resolution, which was introduced by Council member John Crescimbeni.
• The League of Women Voters of Florida offers “League University” Oct. 1 at Jacksonville University for young professionals interested in running for office or otherwise becoming politically active. The 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. event features two tracks of workshops: “So, You Want to Run for Office?” and “So, You Want to Serve on a Board or Be Politically Active?” Registration is $75 and need-based scholarships are available. For information, email [email protected].
• Jacksonville-based Availity named Kelly Heape Parsons as chief financial officer, senior vice president and corporate secretary, replacing Margaret Gomez, who is retiring after more than 10 years with the company. Most recently, Parsons was CFO for Mosaic Sales Solutions, a privately held marketing and merchandising company based in Dallas. She is based in Availity’s Dallas office. Availity is a health information network.