• Even though Marilyn Peyton, the mayor’s mom, had to decline a recent invitation to serve Thanksgiving dinner at The Salvation Army, she donated a “huge” turkey. Estimated weight: 43 pounds.
• The airport may have a deal to resume flights to Toronto, says director John Clark, and he’s also hoping to have some JetBlue flights by spring.
• The Chamber’s Downtown Council still has some tickets for its Light Parade party Saturday evening. They have the Adam’s Mark Hotel terrace and will have a cookout. Tickets are on sale at the Chamber.
• Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant on Atlantic Boulevard opens today at
11 a.m. It’s the second one in the area, and a third is planned for Orange Park.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. is looking for some new Downtown Ambassadors. If interested, call 634-0303.
• The Adam’s Mark Hotel has a big
ballroom and it’s drawing more events downtown. The local builders association will have its annual biggie there in January, rather than out at the Morocco Center.
• The Omni Hotel Corp. has honored Bob White, general manager of the Omni, as the “People’s Choice” General Manager of the Year. The award is given to the general manager with the highest overall score and growth combined in the Associate Satisfaction area for the company. White has been in Jacksonville since February 2002.
• The name of an important sponsor of the Major B. Harding Center for Justice was inadvertently left out of a Nov. 10 story about the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Equal Justice Awards. Joe Milton, and the firm of Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea, Charek & Milton, are Legacy Sponsors, the top level of giving.
• This is the last week the Caribbean Mercy ship will be docked in front of the Adam’s Mark Hotel. The ship will be leaving Nov. 30 for a public relations journey to Mobile, Ala. Its next mission trip will be to Honduras in the spring. Those who wish to take one of the free 40-minute tours that are given throughout the day may just show up or call 421-5181 for more information.
• A 23-piece exhibition by Atlanta-based photo-realist Thomas Arvid went up at Mitchell’s Gallery in San Marco Friday. The show runs until the end of November.
• Mayor John Peyton made sure two who got the new arena project going had good seats at Friday evening’s opening concert. In his box were immediate past Mayor John Delaney and Delaney’s chief administrative officer, Sam Mousa.
• This goes in the “better safe than sorry” file — performer Elton John may have sung those songs a jillion times, but he still has a teleprompter in front of him which scrolls the words.