* Dr. Jerry Vines of First Baptist Church announced his retirement several months ago, but the big going away ceremony will be Jan. 29 at 10:20 a.m. in the church's main auditorium.
* Times-Union reporter Greg Richards is leaving for a position with the Virginia Pilot. Richards covered the City Council and there's no word on who will pick up that beat.
* As part of its grand opening, Plaza III The Steakhouse in the Hyatt will make a donation on behalf of patrons during January and February to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
* Rare sight Friday: BlueCross BlueShield's Mike Hightower in a plaid button down shirt (no tie) as opposed to his traditional blue oxford with white collar and a yellow tie. Had a Library Foundation meeting at City Hall, he said.
* Signs of progress at the Barnett Building already. There's internal demolition going on and a sign that says "coming soon, another landmark Kuhn Companies project." Cameron Kuhn of Kuhn Companies in Orlando bought the building about a month ago.
* The Mayor's Literacy Summit will be Jan. 24 at the new Main Library from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. This year's keynote speaker is Arthur Rolnick, the senior vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Rolnick is also an expert on economics and early childhood development.
* Tower Cards & Gifts in the Bank of America building is back open this week after being closed all last week.
* Evergreen Paper and Energy Company has come up with an interesting proposal to help get rid of and use yard trash in Jacksonville. The company would like to build a plant on Tallyrand Avenue that would process mulch and convert it to "green" energy that the company would, in turn, sell to JEA as a renewable energy source. If approved by City Council, the deal could mean a savings of about $399,000 a year for JEA.
* Approval from City Council for specific projects may get a little easier. An ordinance sponsored by Council President Kevin Hyde would require two rather three readings before Council, provided two-thirds of the Council approves the project, for such projects that pertain to qualified target industry businesses and defense contractor incentives.
* Apparently it's tough to get full-time lifeguards for the Cecil Aquatic Center, so the City is working to make it easier. A new bill would provide some flexibility in the hiring process. The City would like the ratio of lifeguards to patrons be 1-to-25, but the aquatic center isn't busy all the time and finding guards willing to work 25-hour weeks has proven difficult because many of the guards are leaving for full-time jobs.
* The Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority is in the process of securing a $15.5 million bond to acquire and rehabilitate the Regents Apartments on Caravan Circle. The Authority will repay the Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds through the sale, operation or lease of the 304 units.