Career counseling for veterans
The city's Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services department will host its monthly free career and employment counseling seminar from 3-6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. The seminar is for veterans and active-duty military interested in career counseling, resume help, interview preparation and assistance in preparing for a post-military career. The monthly events are provided by Incepture.
Lawyers in Libraries this week
The Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and Three Rivers Legal Services have partnered for Pro Bono Week and the Lawyers in Libraries event. The one-hour workshops will feature attorneys who will talk about access to courts and justice. Attorneys also can provide information about referrals to legal resources. It's all in conjunction with National Pro Bono Week, Oct. 20-26.
The workshops are free and open to the public. They will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the West Regional Library; 7 p.m. Tuesday at the University Park Library; noon Oct. 24 at the Main Library; 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Highlands Branch and Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional libraries; 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Olga L. Bradham and Etta L. Brooks Library; 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Willowbranch Library; and 3 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Mandarin Library.
Two upcoming meetings for DVI
Downtown Vision Inc. has two meetings coming up over the next month. The first is a Downtown operations meeting 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Ed Ball Building. It is for stakeholders to learn about events, including safety and traffic issues. The organization's 13th annual meeting will be at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Tickets are $10 and include one drink at the reception and champagne toast during Art Walk. For information on both, visit downtownjacksonville.org.
JaxPort cleaner-air initiative up
Nineteen custom-designed oxidation catalysts that will reduce diesel emissions at the port are operational, JaxPort announced this week. The voluntary project was funded through a grant and work was completed over a three-month period at the Talleyrand and Blount Island Marine terminals. The catalysts will reduce diesel emission by 10 tons per year, particulate matter by 20 percent, carbon monoxide by 30 percent and hydrocarbons by 50 percent.
Blood for tickets this weekend …
With the annual Florida-Georgia game less than three weeks away, the Blood Alliance will be giving away six pairs of tickets to the game during blood drives this weekend. Participants can donate and enter the giveaway 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday at Nimnicht Chevrolet, 1330 Cassat Ave. and 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the Town of Orange Park Fall Festival, 2025 Smith St. in Orange Park. Winners also will receive a parking pass and catered tailgate party. For more information, visit igiveblood.com.
… and city preparations soon underway
The city also has laid out its preparations for the Nov. 2 game. It starts Oct. 30 when RV City will be open to campers beginning at 8 a.m. at Lot E in the sports complex. Cost is $125 per space each day. The Florida-Georgia Welcome Center also is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. near Lot K. On Oct. 31, the center is open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Also on Halloween will be a "Haunted Harbor" party at Metropolitan Park from 7-11 p.m. for ages 21 and up or 18 with college or military identification. Entry is $10 with a costume, $15 without. On Nov. 1, the welcome center is open 8 a.m.-midnight and the 18th annual Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame Ceremony will begin at noon at EverBank Field. For more information, call (904) 630-3600.
One Spark beats fundraising goal
The 2014 edition of the One Spark crowdfunding festival raised $70,556 dollars as part of its RocketHub fundraising campaign. The campaign began Sept. 1 with a goal of $50,000. The organization also beat its goal of 500 contributors, ending with 532. The average contribution was $133.
Last year One Spark's initial $106,689 in seed money was raised from online crowdfunding. It was reduced this year as the event shifts to a business- and community-based sponsorship funding model, according to a news release.
Laura Trio, Barnett Building recommended for historic designation
The state's Office of Historic Preservation made a recommendation to the U.S. Department of Interior to place four Downtown buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, the listing of historically significant sites throughout the country. The Laura Street Trio — the Florida National Bank, Bisbee and Florida Life buildings — and the Barnett Bank Building were the structures recommended. An approval would allow its developers to seek federal historic tax credits.
"This is a huge step in the redevelopment of these important Jacksonville landmarks," said Steve Atkins, SouthEast Group principal and managing director. The group owns the buildings and is seeking their redevelopment.