• The Library Guild has announced its new officers, committee structure and committee chairs for its 2004 Much Ado About Books literary event. Officers are Paula Buss, chair; Robin Albaneze, vice chair; Jessica Pate, secretary; Rita Cannon, Anita Geiger, Dodie Hutchinson and Jeanne Ward, members-at-large. Committee chairs are Anita Geiger and Joanne Sehnem, author procurement; Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, host committee; Jeanne Ward, literary group discussion committee; Susan Kelley, luncheon committee; and Penelope Geismar and Victoria Alexander, publicity committee.
• Southpoint Baptist Church is hosting a Gospel Sing Friday at 7 p.m., featuring The First Baptist Quartet, Southern Grace Quartet and the Southpoint Sanctuary Choir. For details, call 731-0333.
• “Expressive Impressions: Three Decades of American Abstract Prints,” opens at the Cummer Museum May 15. The exhibit features 81 works from the 1940s to the 1960s collected by Charles Randall Dean.
• Angie Palmer has been named vice president and loan portfolio manager for the Jacksonville Economic Development Company.
• There will be a meeting of the LaVilla Convention Center subdistrict planning committee today at 1 p.m. in Committee Room B on the fourth floor of City Hall. Officials from the Downtown Development Authority will review the consultant’s latest draft of the LaVilla/Osborn Center Plan, present it to selected stake holders and make suggestions prior to the production of the final draft.
• Sixteen local manufacturers and associate members of the First Coast Manufacturers Association have been recognized for work ranging from community service to the environment. Award winners are Barbara Fochtman, Education Award; Steve Jenkins, Myra Carpenter, Brad Russell, Michele Rundlett and Gene Tonn, Environment Award; Roger Chubin, Individual Environment Award; Pattillo Construction Company and Naval Aviation Depot, NAS Jacksonville, Economic Impact Award; Ilika Resources, Inc., Community Award of the Year; Dr. Barbara Darby, Individual Community Award; Patricia Hill, Individual Founders Service Award; Haynsworth, Baldwin, Johns & Greaves, LLC, Associate of the Year Award; Pete Helow, Individual Associate of the Year Award; Medtronic Xomed, Manufacturer of the Year Award; Mary O’Brien, Individual Manufacturer of the Year Award; The Ronco Group, Newcomers Award; Esther Bullard, Individual Newcomers Award; Mayor John Delaney, Special Recognition Award.