• The Jacksonville Landing recently made national news. According to a report published in USA Today, it’s among the best places to tailgate before a college football game. No doubt the Landing’s role in the annual “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” before the Florida/Georgia game helped with making the list.
• More good news for the Landing. The waterfront mall has reported the highest summer sales in more than five years.
• Traffic rules at the intersection of Phillips Highway and J. Turner Butler Boulevard are about to change. Before the end of the month, U-turns there will be restricted.
• The second year of RALLY Jacksonville is ramping up. Tomorrow, pre-kindergartners can register for the Mayor’s Book Club at various library branches across the city. New members will also receive a backpack filled with the first book in the year-long series as well as other reading tools.
• Former Ch. 4 anchor Deborah Gianoulis is the facilitator for the next Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Five O’Clock Forum. It’s Sept. 20 from 5-7 p.m. at JCCI’s offices on Atlantic Boulevard.
• Rain may be a nuisance for downtown workers and visitors, but it’s financially good for the City’s parking enforcement division. One parking enforcement officer said he writes many more tickets when it rains because people don’t come out of meetings to put money in the meter.
• Bad sign? The Jaguars’ ice cream/ticket van was spotted being towed Wednesday afternoon.
• The University of North Florida and Father & Son Moving & Storage are helping kids affected by Hurricane Katrina by collecting toys today and Saturday at UNF’s arena and the Father & Son on Stuart Lane South on the westside.
• The Gator Bowl committee is having a weekly college football pool for current committee members and past chairmen. The pool starts this weekend and wraps up with the Nov. 23 games.
• Next year’s Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island are set for April 3-9.
• The 22nd Annual Caring Chefs event is Oct. 23 at The Avenues Mall. Approximately 50 restaurants have agreed to participate in the food fest that raises money for Children’s Home Society.
• Habijax is shifting its look a little. The organization that builds homes for the needy has a new logo that resembles an architectural drawing. They’ll unveil the new look at a big luncheon next Monday.
• The Jacksonville Bank is adding a new branch, its fifth. Located at 4343 Roosevelt Boulevard near the intersection at San Juan Avenue, the new office was formerly occupied by SouthTrust Bank.