• Mayor John Peyton will be rolling up his shirt sleeves May 11 to go to work for HabiJax. Peyton will be helping build a home dedicated to Jacksonville mothers and built by area women. HabiJax President Mary Kay O’Rourke said in a letter to Peyton that HabiJax has built more affordable homes than any other Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the nation.
• The Jacksonville Public Library’s Board of Trustees will vote next Thursday on how much to charge to rent out library rooms for after-hours functions. The rates currently proposed would charge $1,150 to rent out the main branch’s conference center while the lobby would cost $250. The City Council will likely approve legislation next week to allow the Board to serve alcohol at after-hours events.
• Speaking of the library legislation, Council member Art Graham expressed some concern that the Board of Trustees might later change its policy, which currently forbids serving alcohol during the library’s public hours. But mayoral policy director Lisa Rowe said the mayor’s office would take a dim view of such a move. “I think that’s something the administration would have a problem with as well as the Council,” she said.
• There’s something for everyone at Florida Community College this summer. You’ll find the usual college courses plus things like “Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay,” “Outdoor Survival Techniques” and, most alluring of all, “Get Paid to Travel.”
• Former Jacksonville Suns centerfielder Jason Repko was in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 11-10 opening day loss to the Atlanta Braves. Repko went 2-5 with a double.
• At Monday’s Jacksonville Bar Association Law Day luncheon, JBA President Alan Pickert realized he had a little problem when he went to recognize the circuit and federal judges in attendance. “There are too many judges here to count,” said Pickert, who asked them all to stand.
• Juliette’s restaurant inside the Omni may soon be a little more noticeable outside. The restaurant will get new signage Thursday.
• Speaking of the Omni, have you walked through it lately and smelled the sweet scent of lemon grass? For the last three months the hotel has installed air machines releasing the fragrance. Apparently, all Omni hotels are playing on the senses — 37 Omni hotels release the same scent.
• One more: If you stay at the Omni, you’ll be able to take your tunes with you. All of the guest room’s alarm clocks have a port for i-Pod or MP3 players.