Spring is back and so is the Beaches Trolley.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is relaunching the service the weekend of April 17, which coincides with the annual Springing the Blues festival. The service runs through Labor Day weekend.
The trolley operates Friday-Sunday and travels between South Beach Parkway Shopping Center on the south end and Atlantic Boulevard on the north end.
Trips are $1.50 each way or $4 for a one-day pass. Four trolleys operate on 15-minute frequencies with several stops along the way.
Times are 6 p.m.-2 a.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. Times for holidays are different — 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Memorial Day and Labor Day, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Fourth of July. For more information, visit jtafla.com.
Jazz Fest After Dark returning with hopes to double attendance
Jazz Fest After Dark organizers announced the event will return May 22-24 to Downtown Jacksonville, with a goal of doubling attendance.
Utilizing an expanded footprint, the event will have nine host venues, more than 60 acts and for the first time, will host its own parties in otherwise vacant spaces throughout the weekend.
“Following the success our venues experienced in 2014 and an increase in interest from attendees, we’re focusing in year three on giving festival attendees even more reasons to return to the core and explore all that Downtown Jacksonville has to offer,” said event founder Jason Huckleberry Lewis.
Headline acts will include Felix Peikli, award-winning trombonist Steve Swell, Jacksonville’s own Grandpa’s Cough Medicine and Inspection-12, who will perform in Downtown for the first time in more than 15 years.
Venues will include 1904 Music Hall, Burro Bar, Hourglass, Karpeles Manuscript Library, The Parlour at Grape & Grain Exchange, Rain Dogs, Underbelly, The Volstead and Downtown Cigar Lounge.
The free event is from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night.
Scott endorses Lenny Curry in Jacksonville mayor's race
Gov. Rick Scott endorsed fellow Republican Lenny Curry in the race to become Jacksonville’s mayor.
“Lenny Curry is a principled conservative who is committed to job growth and has what it takes to lead Jacksonville toward a prosperous future,” Scott said in a statement.
Curry, the former Republican Party of Florida chairman, expressed his gratitude for the support, saying he “worked side-by-side with him for his re-election.”
Both Curry and Mayor Alvin Brown have touted their relationships with Scott, specifically when it comes to economic development.
Curry and Brown square off in the May 19 general election.
Company files $75M defamation suit against city and JEA
Fluid Dynamics, a water-savings technology company, filed a $75 million lawsuit against the city and JEA charging the two with defamation, libel, slander and tortious interference.
The company built a patent-pending water conservation system called Precision Flow that reduces water and air flow without affecting pressure, resulting in a 15 to 25 percent reduction in water usage. It was installed at eight apartment complexes but later removed with accusations of meter tampering.
Fluid Dynamics claims the decision by the city and JEA to remove the system caused cancellations of other contracts and business relationships, “causing severe damage to the company,” according to a news release.
The suit was filed in December in federal court and is being heard by U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan.
Self, Howard appointed to state board
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Lynette Self to the Florida Inland Navigation District and Elizabeth Howard to the state Board of Professional Engineers.
Self is president and owner of Rose of Sharon Florist. She succeeds Aaron Bowman and is appointed for a term that ends Jan. 9, 2019.
The group performs the function of a local sponsor for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway project. It’s a special state taxing district.
Howard is a partner with Boyd & Jenerette. She succeeds Nola Garcia de Quevedo for a term that ends Oct. 31, 2018.
The 11-member board meets six times a year and is dedicated to providing quality service, assistance and information relating to the quality of engineering in the state.
Emma Kelly to lead Wexford Strategies international business division
Jacksonville-based Wexford Strategies is creating an international business development division that will be led by New Zealander Emma Kelly.
She most recently served as a communications director to a senior government cabinet minister and has been working in Washington, D.C., with a Wexford strategic partner.
Kelly will be responsible for international business development and government relations strategy for worldwide clients needing help in America and member countries of the British Commonwealth.
She’ll work from London over the summer.
Wexford Strategies serves corporate and business clients, advocacy groups, trade associations and others through business development, public policy advocacy, government relations and more.
Jacksonville University freshman makes finals in national drama competition
Brandon Paris, a Jacksonville University freshman theater major, is heading to the finals of a national drama competition in May.
Paris recently won the drama competition for the national Society of Arts & Letters’ Easy Florida Chapter, which also earned him $2,000 during the event at Lynn University.
He moves on to the national 2015 NSAL Drama Competition May 27-31 in St. Louis. Top prize is $10,000.
Armada FC wants to break league attendance record at regular season opener
With its last preseason contest in the books after a match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Jacksonville Armada FC will officially kick off its inaugural season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at EverBank Field against Edmonton FC.
As part of the launch, team officials and organizers are attempting to break the NASL attendance record of 14,593 set by the Ottawa Fury.
Part of the festivities around the event includes the Armada FC Can-Doo Kickoff Festival starting at noon at Metropolitan Park. O.A.R. is the headlining act for the event, which also has food trucks and craft beer.
For information and tickets, visit armadafc.com.