• Sail Jacksonville has been canceled this year due to timing and ship availability. The event with the tall ships was set for May 26-29. Christina Langston, public relations manager with the office of special events for the City of Jacksonville, said even though the event has been canceled they are going to try and bring in some tall ships if they are on route and nearby for other events — like last year’s 4th of July celebration when “The Bounty” was here.
• Another note from the office of special events. Rob Thomas, the former lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty, will be performing at this year’s Spring Music Festival on May 27 at Metropolitan Park. Admission is free and open to the public.
• The Great Jacksonville Book Sale, hosted by the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, generated $91,000 in sales at this year’s event in March. All of the money raised is given back to the library.
• The Maritime Museum on the Southbank may not have the funding for a new building, but several local architects will produce models of a possible future building. John Allmand, president of the Jacksonville chapter of the Emerging Architects, is hosting an architectural competition for the new building May 8 at the gallery in 11 E.
• A job at the port just got easier. The Jacksonville Port Authority is launching a new Port Jobs Web site for openings at the port and private companies that do business with local ports. The launch celebration is May 3 at the Jacksonville Landing at 10 a.m.
• City Council members and staff could receive a payroll deduction but for a good cause. The American Heart Association and American Cancer Society are asking for donations for the “Gift of Health” City of Jacksonville Giving Campaign 2006 through pledges directly out of pay checks. Donations will fund research for better treatment of diseases. Council members and staff are asked to turn in paperwork indicating whether or not they chose to participate.
• Thanks but no thanks. The director of athletics for the University of South Alabama, Joe Gottfried, recently sent a letter to Mayor John Peyton expressing his excitement about playing in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament here in March. However, he added he “would have enjoyed playing someone else other than Florida.” The USA Jaguars lost 76-50 to the Gators, who went on to win the national championship.
• Former Chicago Bear William “The Refrigerator” Perry is dining in Jacksonville May 11. Perry will be a special guest at The Police Athletic League 2006 Recognition of Service Ceremony for “Inspiring Future Stars.” Sheriff John Rutherford and the PAL Board of Directors are hosting the event and have invited the mayor as well.
• Little Talbot Island State Park’s Ranger Brian will host a one-hour beach walk discussing the importance of the undeveloped beach and dunes habitat April 29 at the Sisters Pavilion. The walk starts at 2 p.m. No reservations are necessary and the program is free, but non-campers will need to pay the park entrance fee ($4 per vehicle) to attend. Good walking shoes are suggested. Talbot Island State Park opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at sunset every day of the year. Call the Talbot Islands Ranger Station (904-251-2320) for more information.
• One of this summer’s biggest conventions will be July 8-15 when the American Council of the Blind comes to town. Executive Director Melanie Brunson is assuring “several thousand of our members and friends” will meet at the Hyatt for the week-long event. Mayor John Peyton has been invited to speak to the group.
• WJCT Public Broadcasting is bringing research on best parenting practices into the lives of parents and caregivers on the First Coast with a series of workshops April 29 and June 24, 9 a.m. until noon, at WJCT Studios. Parenting Counts: A Focus On Early Learning is a training session with goals of stimulating greater awareness of early learning (ages birth to five years), promoting more effective parenting and caregiver techniques and enhancing parent/child relationships. The workshops are free and open to parent education professionals, caregivers and those who work with children under the age of five. Seating is limited; contact Beth Culkeen at WJCT at 358-6391 for more information.
• The new Downtown This Week is out and the cover story features this year’s World of Nations festival May 4-7 at Metro Park. The magazine is free and available all over Downtown.