• Rogers Towers has been selected by the Mayor’s Disability Council as a 2003 Corporate Disabilities Employment Award winner. The awards are given to companies that excel in employing people with disabilities. In December 2002, James Neal, office services representative with the firm, was hired through The Arc of Jacksonville.
• Up for a second reading before the City Council tonight: a resolution to reappoint attorney Stephen Busey to a full three-year term on the Jacksonville Waterways Commission.
• At the request of Chief Judge Donald Moran, a bill allocating over $250,000 to fund the expansion and renovation of a courtroom in the Duval County Courthouse has been drafted and will be introduced at tonight’s City Council meeting. If passed, the money will be taken out of an existing Court Facilities fund.
• During his three-day stint as mayor while John Peyton was in Dallas, City Council member Michael Corrigan organized a satirical “Get to Know You Luncheon” for all of the executive council assistants. Making reference to Peyton’s hectic schedule, Corrigan was late to the luncheon, but showed a video of himself at the Landing, explaining his tardiness. To make up for it, each ECA was given a 15-minute parking pass in Peyton’s coveted space that expired the same day.
• Pelican Cleaners is scheduled to open this week in Independent Square.
• Al’s Pizza in Market Square in Riverside is now open.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. is sponsoring a Downtown Art Walk Nov. 5 from 5-8 p.m.
• That purple building in the CSX parking lot is the Kaleidoscope traveling creative art exhibition for children. It’s being sponsored locally by the Junior League and CSX. It will be in town through Nov. 15 and is open to the public from noon-4 p.m. for the next three weekends.
• Any Georgia fans staying at the Adam’s Mark Hotel had better be careful about badmouthing Florida players. Gators running back Ciatrick Faison’s mother works there.
• Speaking of the Adam’s Mark, the hotel will host a riverfront street party Friday and Saturday, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. both nights. Outside bars will be open and there will be a DJ playing tunes under the main decks facing Coastline Drive.
• Edward Waters College athletic director and former Ch. 30 meteorologist Bob Alan was spotted having a little fun at the Uptown at LaVilla jazz restaurant. Alan asked the waitress for a bottle of ketchup. While she was gone, he borrowed one from the next table for his fries, before returning the bottle. The unruffled waitress played along.
• The Jacksonville Symphony Guild will hold “Picnic at the Pops” at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club. A concert by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra follows dinner.
• Happy birthday to two circuit court judges who will be celebrating Saturday. They are L. Page Haddock and Michael Weatherbee.