• Henrietta the chicken, one of the unofficial mascots at the City Hall Annex, has died of an apparent broken neck. She leaves behind her companion, rooster Chanticleer, and nearly a dozen baby chicks that hatched a few days before her death. The hatchlings have been taken to BEAKS bird sanctuary near Amelia Island where they will be cared for.
• Another technological advancement at the Duval County Courthouse. The first electronically filed mortgage from Stuart Title was processed Wednesday morning. A work in progress for several months, the new “user friendly” system requires no paper work, is stamped automatically and can be returned to the sender in about 30 seconds.
• Word on the street is the Casbah in Avondale is considering a downtown location. Though nothing is definite, owner Jason Bajalia has reportedly looked at a few available spaces in the area. It’s unclear how the new tobacco restriction laws, which go into effect July 1, will impact the hookah lounge’s regular operation.
• In other restaurant news, the 4,400 square-foot commercial space on the first floor of the 11 E. lofts may be reserved as early as next week. According to the realtor handling the deal, two restaurant groups are competing for the space. One is out of Orlando, the other is locally based.
• Mayor John Delaney will participate in one more big Better Jacksonville Plan event before leaving office. On June 19 at 10:30 a.m. he’ll host a topping off celebration of the new Cecil Equestrian Center and Recreation Complex at Cecil Commerce Center. Per tradition, Delaney will place an evergreen on the last steel girder as it is set.
• Parking is back to normal in front of the Elks Building on Laura Street. The reserved parking bags have been removed from the meters, opening the spaces to the public.
• Former mayor’s office executive and current Dalton Agency VP Michael Munz has resigned as the Republican Party of Florida State Committeeman for Duval County.
• According to City officials, all six new branch libraries will be completed during the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. No word on exactly when, but the branches are: East Regional, South Mandarin, University Park, Argyle, Maxville and West Regional. The new branches and renovations to another dozen are being funded by $55 million from the Better Jacksonville Plan.
• Summer’s here and it’s time for the City to help the beaches for lifeguard and beach clean up services. Preliminary figures indicate Jacksonville Beach will get $485,716; Neptune Beach, $155,157; and Atlantic Beach, $151,569. The rest of the seasonal cost is being covered by the individual towns.
• If you haven’t heard, a Gainesville and UF student icon is no more. A few months ago the Purple Porpoise across from the stadium changed hands and names. It’s now Gator City and word is it just isn’t the same.
• Capt. John Furness will discuss, “Pakistan — The Next Hot Spot” at the June 20 First Coast Tiger Bay luncheon. Guests are welcome. Admission is $25 at the door and includes lunch.