• A group of community stakeholders has retained HOK architecture firm to scout sites for either an expanded or new convention center in Jacksonville. HOK built the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville and the Veterans Memorial Arena. The Dalton Agency is working to set up a series of meetings between HOK representatives and City and community leaders to get their input on how the City could improve its convention center.
• The Florida Chamber honored nine of our legislators for their “A” on the business-friendly report card. Sen. Jim King led the way with 115 points (that’s a perfect 100 plus bonuses,) and Sen. Steve Wise got 101. Others were representatives Jennifer Carroll, Aaron Bean, Terry Fields, Mark Mahon, Don Davis and Stan Jordan. The awards were presented at our Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee meeting Tuesday morning. Davis said it was the first time he ever got “an A in anything” and gloated that he was one point ahead of Jordan, 93-92. Photos of the winners were shown as their names were announced, and Jordan said he should have gotten bonus points “because my photo is current and Davis’ is so old that I didn’t even recognize him.”
• Mayor John Peyton invited his predecessor, University of North Florida president John Delaney, to join the Jacksonville Community Partnership for Literacy as a member of the Community Advisory Board. Delaney instead volunteered his new provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, Gerard Giordano. Delaney said Giordano would be “an extremely strong contributor” to the project and said UNF would continue to support Peyton’s literacy initiatives.
• Much of the Southbank was without electricity Tuesday morning because of a transformer fire. JEA fixed the problem and power was restored by lunchtime.
• The Jags open training camp July 30 and the first practice is July 31. Camp is open to the public and admission and parking are free.
• The Jacksonville Historical Society plans to publish a new book by Wayne Wood featuring vintage photos of Jacksonville.
• Former radio and television personality John Harrell is the new director of communications for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
• Members of the Jacksonville chapter of the Federal Bar Association are being reminded to make reservations by noon Friday for the July 21 luncheon at the Omni. J. Daniel McCarthy, director of Military Affairs for the City, will be the featured speaker. Make reservations by contacting Kathleen Griffith at 353-2000 or by e-mail at [email protected].