• If you’re a 9-to-5er, you missed the bad stuff this morning. Big wrecks on both the Main Street Bridge and the I-95/I-10 intersection. Big mess.
• Gate stores have always been big pals with the T-U, working promotions that include free coffee with a newspaper. Now, the mayor’s family stores have a big deal with The New York Times. Coffee and paper at a reduced price.
• Christmas is coming. Toys in the shops? No, eggnog at ABC Liquors.
• The Gator Bowl Association board meets Tuesday evening and good news looms — the locals have gone way over their goal for sponsorships and tickets for the Jan. 1 game. GBA President Rick Catlett speaks Friday to the Downtown Council and may have a solid prediction on the teams coming here.
• More development coming in the Riverside area around the new Publix. Developers will announce some townhomes on Tuesday evening. They’ll be at Herschel and Goodwin. Says one: “The kids have Five Points; we have the Publix area.”
• The University of Florida’s band had an edge on their Georgia rivals Saturday night, just like the football team. The bands had to be in the stadium an hour and a half before the game and sweltered in their uniforms. But the Gators were in the South end zone and quickly found the Bud Zone to get away from the sun. Georgia could only sit.
• At Friday’s Hall of Fame luncheon, Mayor John Peyton certainly scored a big point with City Council member Sharon Copeland. The politicians were introduced and Copeland was overlooked; Peyton nudged the emcee and pointed out the omission.
• Times are good — the builders association will have its annual gala this weekend and 900 tickets (at $100 each) already have been sold.
• Peyton faces a tough crowd today; he’s speaking to the big hitters at the Rotary Club of Jacksonville.
• The Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that each of the thousands of visitors for Saturday’s Florida-Georgia football game spent $250 a day on hotels, dining, transportation, souvenirs and other items. The CVB estimated this year’s total economic impact at close to $20 million.
• About 75 people enjoyed an Evening With Teen Court last week in the offices of Holland & Knight, honoring the young graduates of the program. Attending were several judges from Circuit and County courts in Duval, St. Johns and Nassau counties. Also present were City Council vice president Elaine Brown, Council members Kevin Hyde, Sharon Copeland and Mia Jones and representatives from State Rep. Jennifer Carroll’s office. The students take part in pre-law programs at various high schools and are trained to represent and prosecute the accused during Monday night sessions.
• We’ve been passed over again. The M&M candy people are saluting NFL teams with candies in team colors, but no teal. But, if you’re out in Dallas, you can have silver and blue M&Ms.
• How good are the Levy Restaurant folks, who serve in the terrace sections at Alltel Stadium? They’re now running a restaurant in Downtown Disney: the one owned by famed chef Wolfgang Puck.