• The Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar are hosting the inaugural Honorable Ralph W. “Buddy” Nimmons Jr. CLE Seminar Feb. 26 from 9 a.m-1 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse at Jacksonville. Cost is $50.
• Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art president Jane Craven added her name to the list of those opposing the proposed pedestrian bridge, linking the Main Library and an adjacent parking garage. She told Mayor John Peyton the museum would “be directly impacted by the presence of a pedestrian bridge,” and said the bridge would take away foot traffic from Hemming Plaza.
• The first round of interviews are complete to fill a federal judicial vacancy, and locals making the cut include Circuit Court judges Lance Day and Waddell Wallace and attorneys Christine Milton and Alexandra Hedrick. The next round of interviews are scheduled for Monday at the U.S. Courthouse at Jacksonville.
• City Council member Pat Lockett-Felder made good use of her trip to Houston for the Super Bowl, visiting the site of a YET Center (Youth Education Town) the NFL builds in every host city. Lockett-Felder says the NFL is building two centers in Houston, but she’ll be happy to get just one, hopefully in her district. While impressed with the center, Lockett-Felder said customer service at the airport was lacking when she asked for directions. “They told me to go a few blocks and turn left,” when she asked the way into town.
• During a review of the City’s permitting process, the City Council’s Rules Committee was told by several speakers that the mayor’s office had been “flooded with calls and letters of support” for the re–appointment of Inspections Chief Tom Goldsbury. However, after reviewing electronic and paper archives, mayoral staffer Kerri Stewart found just a few letters regarding Goldsbury. None of them vouched for his re–appointment.
• The Village of Key Biscayne wants Jacksonville’s help in earning a Sterling Award. Jacksonville was one of the first municipalities to receive the award, which recognizes efficiency and good management principles. The City offered the help of its Quality Office in filling out the rigorous application.
• All 25 Firehouse Subs locations are now official drop-off spots for “Operation Soldier’s Library — We Love Our Troops Book Drive,” an effort to collect books that will be shipped to soldiers and sailors overseas. The drive ends Feb. 14.