The atrium at City Hall is decorated for today’s Holiday Open House hosted by Mayor John Peyton. It runs from 4-6 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. The open house will feature holiday entertainment, including a performance by the Ritz Voices and complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides around Hemming Plaza.
• The cutbacks at CSX were done in deep secrecy with the help of a consulting firm. No one knew until last Thursday — Black Thursday, to some — when all mid-level execs had appointments to hear their fate. The next round is the low level managers, and they all have six weeks or so before a decision is made.
• Two popular bistros have been affected by the state’s no smoking ban. The West Inn in Avondale opted to quit selling food so smoking could be allowed, and R.P. McMurphy’s, which made at least half its take from food, closed due to the slower business.
• The City’s deputy director of public works says The Shipyard Riverwalk will not be complete in time for the Super Bowl. Ed Hall said site development issues will likely postpone the development of some segments until after the February 2005 game.
• The capture of Saddam Hussein had a special importance for Ray Fernandez, director of security for the Landing. It was his son’s military unit that found the toppled dictator. Fernandez’s son, Andy, was killed in action earlier this year.
• The Sales and Marketing Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association is taking applications for Laurel Awards. Now in their 10th year, Laurel Awards celebrate the “best of the best” of Northeast Florida’s real estate industry. For information and applications, call (904) 996-8959.
• We misspelled the name of the law firm Liles, Gavin, Costantino & Murphy in a recent profile on Niels Murphy. It’s Costantino, not Constantino as we said.
• St. Johns Town Center owner Ben Carter Properties of Atlanta proposed the City develop a committee, similar to the Super Bowl committee, which would focus on attracting retailers to Jacksonville.
• The City met with Enterprise Leasing of New England to discuss restructuring the City’s vehicle procurement process. Mayor John Peyton said during his transition that he thought the City could save millions through such a venture. Enterprise has done similar work for Chicago and will soon work with Pittsburgh.