• The Jaguars covered lots of seats at Alltel Stadium to avoid blackouts (it didn’t work for tonight’s game) and they’re now going to make a few bucks from it. The coverings only had Jag logos at the first game, but fans tonight will see big ads for the TNT technology company. And, they’ll note that the covered seats in the North end zone are higher.
• Former Raines High and Florida State wide receiver Laveranues Coles (he’s now with the New York Jets) still calls this area home and what a home. He’s building a nearly 250,000 square foot house off State Road 210. Full gym and basketball court is included.
• The London Bridge Pub may soon have a sister establishment. The pub’s owners, Martin and Virginia Readion, have teamed up with former Downtown Ambassador Victor Rodriguez and are working on plans to open a smaller pub in Springfield near 6th and Main streets tentatively called “The Springfield Tavern.” No opening date has been set in stone yet.
• Some say it’s all in a name, but in real estate, it’s all in the address. That’s why you’ll see The Golf Club of North Hampton and its surrounding residences listing Fernandina Beach addresses, even though the development sits in the middle of Yulee.
• One of the best athletes in town is at Jackson High. His name is Curtis Harper, who will put his 6-foot-2, 242-pound frame in a football game Friday night against Fletcher, then will go into the boxing ring less than 24 hours later on a card at Raines High. He’s 4-0 in amateur fights.
• A longtime icon will soon be history. Terry Buick, started by major league baseball great Bill Terry on Park Street, has been sold. The dealership is now on Blanding Boulevard and was split up, with one group buying the Buick franchise and another the Hyundai side. It has been operated in recent years by Ray Terry, Bill’s son.
• Jeannie Fewell, the City’s director of planning and development, has been appointed by the Florida Department of Transportation to serve on a technical advisory committee. The committee will serve as an advisory group to the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research team.
• The University of North Florida is the 54th best college in the country, according to a list just released by U.S. News and World Report. The magazine ranked 570 schools.
• There’s a new lunch time delivery service downtown. It’s called Working Lunch. For more, see page 3.