Former Jacksonville Mayors John Delaney, Jake Godbold and John Peyton have regular lunches together, including recently at Epping Forest Yacht Club. Delaney said Martha Barrett, who worked in Godbold’s administration, sets up the gatherings.
“Those two men really love this city,” Delaney said of his fellow former mayors.
Delaney said they always get a private room for their talks, which also remain private.
“But you can imagine that politics at all levels of government were discussed,” Delaney said. He said the three are planning to get together again in August.
Equality Florida opens local office
Equality Florida has opened a local office for Northeast Florida at 650 Park St.
The state organization is dedicated to full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
It recently worked with the Atlantic Beach City Commission that passed a resolution supporting the Florida Competitive Workforce act, which bans statewide discriminating against LGBT. It’s also working to build support for passing an Atlantic Beach Human Rights Ordinance, which recently moved forward to public hearings.
The local office will be staffed by Jessica Osborn, an Equality Florida statewide field manager, along with at least two interns and a team of volunteers. The organization has been working with the Jacksonville community since 1997 and has more than 10,000 supporters in addition to corporate support, according to a news release.
Maggie Hightower joins Nemours Fund
Maggie Hightower has joined Nemours Fund for Children’s Health as the organization’s corporate partnerships manager. The fund is the fundraising arm of the organization.
She formerly served as interim executive director of the Florida State College Foundation, which helps individuals in need of financial assistance to students at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Hightower will be responsible for managing the local development efforts in Jacksonville and to help guide national corporate relations and acquisition efforts of Nemours Fund for Children’s Health.
Kidney center to have grand opening
The NxStage Kidney Care Jacksonville center will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify its grand opening from 1-5 p.m. July 20. The center, at 2777 University Blvd., was created to expand patient access to dialysis therapy either in the office or at home.
Reserve officer receives national honor
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reserve officer Bill Coyle has been named the 2014 Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs’ Association. The honor was given to him Monday by Sheriff Michael Leidholt of San Diego, Calif., at the association’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Coyle was recognized for his help after a November 2012 traffic crash, when a van hit several people and sheared off a gas pump on West Beaver Street. He witnessed the crash, then helped those involved get out of harm’s way before a fire spread.
He contacted emergency officials and managed the scene until patrol and rescue arrived.
“We couldn’t be as effective as we are without the reserve officers who train and work beside our sworn officers,” said Sheriff John Rutherford in a news release.
The reserve officer program comprises community members who volunteer time and effort to help the office and city.