• The Main Street Bridge will be closed all day Friday as part of an accelerated construction schedule. Traffic will be diverted to the Acosta Bridge, according to Mike Goldman of the Florida Department of Transportation. The project, which includes a new coat of paint, should be compete by August.
• The head of communications for Florida’s Democratic Party said Jacksonville will be the number six in–state market targeted for presidential campaign commercials. She said the Interstate 4 market of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando would be the most sought after market in the country. Jacksonville follows Miami and Palm Beach.
• Local television affiliates will receive a financial windfall from all those campaign ads, but it’s not as substantial as it could be. John Rafferty, general manager for CBS affiliate Ch. 47, said the station is required by law to sell the ads to political parties and campaigns at the cheapest rates. Not so for advocacy and issue groups like Moveon.org, which have also been buying local ad time.
• Name change for a downtown salon: Ziba’s Salon is now Lonnie Lamar Studios.
• Apologies to Mack Bissette of SRG Homes and Neighborhoods. We misspelled his name in a photo cutline.
• Representatives from The Salvation Army met with City Council president Lad Daniels Friday. According to Daniels, the non-profit group was looking for ways to bridge an estimated $500,000 funding gap for an upcoming downtown assisted living facility. Primarily funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Daniels said the group would likely receive “in-kind” services from JEA and various other agencies while also receiving the City’s endorsement on any subsequent HUD applications for more money.
• “Fosse,” the 1999 Tony Award winner for best musical opens April 8 at the T-U Center as part of the FCCJ Artist Series.
• David Higgs, one of America’s leading concert organists, will play a solo recital on the Sunday at 4 p.m. at the T-U Center. Higgs’ program features music by Robert Schumann, César Franck, Maurice Duruflé and William Bolcom.