Issue 352, September 27, 2026

Every sunset is an opportunity to reset.
Every sunrise begins with new eyes.
Richie Norton

Fall is here, and with it the welcome return of pumpkin spice lattes and the first stretch of cooler weather. After getting through hurricane season without a major hit, Jacksonville can finally exhale and step outside again with walks in the park, and weekend plans that don’t come with a weather app open in the other hand. Kids are back in school, routines have settled, and the season feels like an invitation to slow down and enjoy the outdoors while the air is actually pleasant.

If you’re looking for a simple way to mark the shift, join us at SBMC on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month for lunch. It’s an easy pause in the week for good company, with a chance to catch up, and a reminder that community is part of what makes this time of year feel like a reset that is greatly needed.

What are your plans for next week?

Mark Geil
2026 President

Issue 351, September 20, 2026

This past week was a special day in history. On September 13–14, 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. British ships in the Chesapeake Bay bombarded the fort throughout the night, firing rockets and explosive shells at the American defenders. Despite the intense attack, the American troops held their position and continued to defend the fort. When daylight came on September 14, the large American flag was still flying over Fort McHenry, showing that the fort had not been captured.

 Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer who had been aboard a British ship during the attack, watched the bombardment from a distance. When he saw the American flag still flying over the fort the next morning, he was inspired to write a poem about the sight. He called the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” and it was later set to music. The song eventually became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and, in 1931, was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States.

So, when we stand at a ball game taking our hat off and putting our hand over our heart, we remember the sacrifice our ancestors made. Making this the greatest country in the world.

Wayne Baker, 2026 1st Vice President