• After almost 35 years, Florida Department of Transportation District 2 Secretary Aage Schroder is retiring. His retirement dinner is May 5 at the Quality Inn in Lake City. Word is he won’t actually retire from work, but do some consulting work.
• Jacksonville Day will take place in Tallahassee today and Thursday. Hosted by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the event is a time for Duval County politicians and business people to meet, greet and eat with Capital City lobbyists and legislators and other government officials including Gov. Jeb Bush and Lieut. Gov. Toni Jennings. Local names making the trek include Mayor John Peyton, City Council President Elaine Brown, most of the Council, BellSouth’s Jim McCollum and Chamber chair Bob Helms of Wachovia.
• Real estate guru Ray Rodriguez is expanding his organization to include Flagler County. He’s the guy who analyzes the market for builders and developers.
• Whalebone Grill in Five Points has a newly expanded menu. Look for more seafood and steak dishes.
• The covering for Alltel Stadium seats won’t be installed until just before the season starts. The team is looking over several ways to do it.
• How’s this for honesty? A Ohio resident who recently stayed at the Hanna Park campground sent a $72.32 check back to the City. Seems he got sick while camping out and had to go to the hospital, but he stayed in Jacksonville. The City sent him a refund for the time he wasn’t at the park but, since relatives had used the spot, he sent the refund back.
• The opening of the new Town Center mall certainly prompted the area’s other big malls to renovate. The Avenues recently held a big bash to show off its renovations and now the Orange Park mall is doing the same. There’s a groundbreaking ceremony next Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
• On hand for the unveiling of plaques for the new sportswriters/sportscasters hall of fame in the Alltel Stadium pressbox: widows of Bill Kastelz, the T-U sports editor, and Walt Dunbar, the first Ch. 12 sports director.
• Jaguar Coach Jack Del Rio may have a bit of trouble selling his Ortega riverfront home (he’s moving to the beach.) There are two other biggies for sale within a quarter-mile.
• A gas company survey named Jacksonville as the 13th best city for cars in the nation. Somehow, New Orleans and its narrow streets is No. 1.
• No more honor system at the parking lot next to the Main Street bridge ramp on the Northbank. The Chamber bought the lot and has installed a gate and a credit car, machine for payment.
• The Trolley Tour of Neighborhoods is Monday from 3-5 p.m. They will meet on the river side of Independent Square and tour the neighborhoods of Eastside, Metro North and 29th and Chase.
• The 2005 Eve Awards are set for June 3 at noon at the Osborn Center. The 36th annual awards honors outstanding women in the fields of education, volunteer service and employment. It’s $30 per person and the deadline to purchase a ticket is May 26.
• Mayport Road is getting a much-needed facelift. The state Department of Transportation is going to resurface the road from Atlantic Boulevard to Mayport Naval Station and upgrade the traffic lights to the tune of about $6 million.
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National League
San Diego 5
San Francisco 2
Southern League
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Jacksonville 1