• Florida’s best-known highway patrolman has retired. Malcolm Jowers, who was the guardian of University of Florida football coaches on game day for over a decade, finished his 30 years on the force recently. He’ll be back on the sidelines this year, though.
• The Episcopal Church’s annual convention starts in two weeks with a major controversy over seating of an openly gay bishop-elect from New Hampshire. Our local bishop, Steve Jecko, is among those opposed to the seating.
• The No Panhandling signs that went up around the Landing a few weeks ago may be working as designed . . . or, perhaps, panhandlers have started paying more attention to all the security details. “We really haven’t noticed much difference,” said Andy Fernandez, security director for the Landing. The weekend reports, Fernandez said, included the arrests of two people for panhandling, both of whom had been charged before. “Two arrests . . . that’s not bad,” said Fernandez. “We do a pretty good job keeping them away down here. We have a lot of people out, watching. The panhandlers do hang out around the perimeter, though.”
• City treasurer Shari Shuman is leaving her position for a job in the private sector. New Risk Management Division Chief Mary Arditti, a CPA, will step in on an interim basis.
• Rumors are floating around the beach again that First Street Grille in Jacksonville Beach is closing. “No,” says one restaurant staffer, “we’re definitely not closing.”
• Connie Overton, wife of Property Appraiser Jim Overton, is the new chair of the Jacksonville Airport Authority Arts Commission. She replaces Peggy Cornelius.
• Arbus Magazine has a new sign outside of its headquarters on San Marco Boulevard.
• Scott Teagle, Mayor John Peyton’s chief of staff, cleaned out his office Monday. Not another resignation; Teagle moved into former chief operating officer Sam Mousa’s office across the hall. Interim COO Lynn Westbrook moved into Teagle’s spot. Mousa has relocated to the Better Jacksonville Plan offices in the City Hall Annex where he’ll stay until at least the end of the month.
• Speaking of Mousa, he’s going on leave at the beginning of August.
• Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Brad Thoburn has been named director of state and federal affairs. Thoburn will split his attention between the State Legislature and City Council.
• Magellan Academies and Child Development in the Bank of America tower recently opened a branch in New Delhi, India. Why India? Because quality child care is in high demand in that country, says owner Tom Blitch.