• The Jacksonville U. basketball schedule is due this week and includes an Arena game against Florida State on Saturday, Nov. 19, and trips to Florida, Georgia Tech and South Florida. Georgia Tech and Florida will be at the Arena next year.
• The New York Times’ off-and-on home delivery here apparently is off again.
• At Thursday’s Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Arena, Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Board Chair Mike Sullivan said this year’s game will be the 21st that he and UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley (an inductee this year) have worked on in some capacity together.
• Speaking of Sullivan, he gave a little insight as to why he’s no longer married. Seems his daughter was born on Nov. 9, 1973. The next day, much to the displeasure of his wife, Sullivan was in the stands at the Florida-Georgia game. “She’s still mad at me for going to the game.”
• Was that a JEDC meeting or a CIA intelligence briefing? The Thursday general meeting of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission unveiled several projects labeled “Confidential,” with code names like “Meridian” — a Volvo parts distribution center, “Believe” — a Craig Airport expansion for Sikorsky helicopters and the uninspiring “Mill” — an incentive package to build a manufacturing mill.
• Speaking of Volvo, the automotive company’s interest in building a factory in Jacksonville is good news for the local economy beyond the 52 jobs it would create. It also shows Jacksonville is gaining ground against other cities in the Southeast in the competition to land such jobs. Marcus Avenstam, Volvo’s executive director of logistics, said Jacksonville was the company’s first choice for expansion. The runner up? Atlanta.
• John Haymon was only recently promoted to head the JEDC’s small business development, but the project manager might already have some loftier ambitions. Prior to presenting a project at the Thursday general meeting, Haymon said into the microphone, “I’d like to take this opportunity to announce I’m running for..., sorry wrong speech.” Asked by commission chair Ceree Harden if he had political ambitions, Haymon said, “Not yet.”