• A movement is being started by two local Naval officers to have the USS Stark scrapped and sunk as an artificial reef off of Mayport (the Stark was the ship attacked by Iraq in 1987, killing 37 soldiers and injuring another 21). They’ll need help, though. The Navy can’t just donate a ship to a city, they have to give it to the Florida Wildlife Commission first, who then decides the ship’s fate. Also, in 1995, 30 potential artificial reef sites offshore of Jacksonville were repermitted, but those permits expired on March 9. The City is in the process of renewing those permits, but it may be years before the Stark’s final resting place is determined.
• One of Downtown’s strongest supporters is leaving town. Lyn Briggs, Downtown Vision Inc.’s director of marketing, is moving to North Carolina in August. Her husband Shannon has accepted a position at the corporate offices of Lowe’s Home Improvement near Charlotte.
• The Women’s Board has announced the schedule of speakers for this year’s Florida Forum and some heavy hitters are coming to town. Gen. Colin Powell will be here Oct. 11, Sen. Bob Dole will speak Nov. 9, Bill O’Reilly of Fox News will be here Jan. 21 and Pulitzer Prize winning historian and biographer David McCullough is scheduled for Feb. 21.