• One of President Bush’s top advisors is here tonight. Karl Rove is the speaker at the annual GOP dinner at the Omni.
• Former Mayor John Delaney — now the UNF president — will speak at the next Cornerstone Luncheon on May 27 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
• Former Jacksonville U. librarian Dale Taylor can’t stay away — she’s working at the Willowbranch Library’s early voting site this week.
• Win or lose, this is the last season that Council member and Supervisor of Elections candidate Jerry Holland will coach the Paxon High varsity baseball team. Despite serving on Council and running a campaign for elections supervisor, Holland has managed to lead his Eagles to a 7-5 record.
• Keep your eyes on San Marco because a new sculpture may be installed in front of Theatre Jacksonville soon. The bronze statue titled “The Entertainer’ stands just over seven feet tall and its $50,000 cost will likely be covered equally by the theater and a recently passed City bond.
• Despite its prime location on West Adams Street, there are no prospects for the remaining first floor retail space in the W.A Knight Building. Japanese restaurant Ieyasu, who has been open next door in the building for months, has first right of refusal there. However, for now, restaurateur Robert Humphries has expressed no interest in expanding.
• Congratulations to Public Work’s Marcy Cook. She recently completed a series of courses offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for public information officers. Cook said she hopes to move onto some advanced level training before next year.
• A follow up to a City Note we ran earlier this week regarding EverBank president David Strickland saying he would like to see the Wonderwood connector named for Tillie Fowler: the Wonderwood Bridge is already named for former Rep. Charlie Bennett. Word from around town suggests that another structure would be better suited for Fowler.
• At least one City Council member says they have no issue with Bank of America not contributing to the City’s Small and Emerging Business Program. Council member Suzanne Jenkins said the bank has already done enough for Jacksonville. “I know, from first hand experience, that they have always been very good to the area in so many ways,” she said. “If they aren’t involved with (the SEB program), that’s fine with me. They’ve done enough.”
• Correction to last week’s story on the sale of the Adam’s Mark. The City’s assistance doesn’t total $121 million. The land, at a value of $8 million, was donated to the hotel and land was cleared for another $1 million. The hotel was also given a $13 million grant this is being paid back through a 1 percent room surcharge and property taxes.
• Speaking of the Adam’s Mark, the hotel now has 566 employees.
• The Symphony Showhouse’s opening party on April 29 will have an “Under Venetian Stars” theme.This year’s Showhouse is the VillaRiva condos on Riverside Ave. and will take up 21 rooms.
• St. Vincent’s Medical Center has two new faces on its administrative staff. Bert Wilder has been hired as the hospital’s director of construction and Jaimie Wilson is a new public relations specialist.
• They are still tallying up the totals, but this year’s daniel golf tournament at Timuquana was a big success. They had a full field and raised more money than last year.
• Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith will serve as the chairman of this year’s Morton’s, Medicine & Miracles dinner to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The event is May 3 at Morton’s Steakhouse. Smith has asked Mayor John Peyton to be a “celebrity waiter” during the event.
• The River Club will host this year’s Prime F. Osborn Distinguished Business Leaders Award Luncheon on May 19 at noon.