• Guess we can’t take a joke. A radio station announced Thursday morning that the Super Bowl was being moved from Jacksonville to New York City and lots of people fell for it. The Super Bowl Host Committee’s phones rang all day and callers included hoteliers, restaurant operators and even Ch. 4. April Fool’s day, you know.
• While in the Dominican Republic last week, City Council member Sharon Copeland was the recipient of the country’s highest honor for non-natives. Given by the Dominican secretary of state, the senate vice president and the mayor of Santo Domingo, the award is given to individuals who have exhibited exemplary humanitarian efforts. Copeland was selected because of her efforts to help facilitate local trade with the country’s newest port. Copeland is only the third woman in the world to accept the award and also the first American woman to do so.
• The City Council could soon start posting notices for their town meetings on the City’s website, although some members are concerned the listings could be a bit overwhelming and confusing for their district residents.
• A new bed and breakfast is opening in Riverside this month. The eight-room Riverdale Inn also features a full service pub, The Row Restaurant, that offers continental cuisine with Southern undertones.
• It’s football season. Edward Waters College has its spring game Saturday at Stanton.
• Wachovia Bank has donated 40 computers to the Beaver Street Enterprise Center.
• Construction on a new Whataburger on Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach is underway.
• Jacksonville Bar Association president-elect Reginald Luster recently returned from Chicago where he spent some time with American Bar Association president Dennis Archer and ABA president-elect Robert Grey Jr.
• The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra closes its Masterworks season with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5.” Performances are scheduled for April 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and April 16 at 11 a.m. at the T-U Center.