• Local leaders will get a sneak peek at the future of the PGA Tour and the Players Championship next month. Commissioner Tim Finchem is holding a big gathering Feb. 2 in the Commissioner’s Hospitality area at TPC at Sawgrass where he will outline the future plans for the Stadium Course and the tournament.
• Clarification. In our story Monday about former U.S. Sen. John Edwards speaking at this year’s Law Week luncheon, we said previous speakers have charged. Not true. Jacksonville Bar President Alan Pickert said Edwards usually charges a fee (somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000 per engagement), but he’s waiving that fee for the JBA Law Week luncheon.
• Plaza III The Steakhouse in the Hyatt is now open for lunch at 11 a.m. weekdays. Owner Bard McLean said the lunch menu offers salads, soup, steak sandwiches and prime rib with prices comparable to other restaurants downtown and at the Landing.
• From subs to City Council? Perhaps. Firehouse Subs CFO Stephen Joost has tossed his hat into the ring for Council member Lad Daniels’ Group 3 at-large seat. Joost opened his campaign account at the Supervisor of Elections office Tuesday for the 2007 election. Daniels cannot run again due to term limits.
• Speaking of Council, Tuesday’s dinner before the first regular meeting of the year is being sponsored by the Jacksonville Chamber Regional of Commerce.
• Apologies to Tom Slade Jr. and his wife Linda, who recently made a major contribution to the University of North Florida’s Coggin Business School. In our City Note Monday, we said the donation was made by Slade, the former head of the local Republican Party. The donation was actually made by Tom Slade Jr. and his wife.
• Couple of big local runs coming up soon. The Winter Beach Run is Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. in Jacksonville Beach while the Gate River Run is set for March 11 and starts and ends at the Fairgrounds.
• The Jacksonville Public Libraries Foundation will hold its 20th anniversary bash Jan. 27 and it could be an expensive evening. For $2,500 you get two tickets to the party and your name engraved on a plate that will be placed on one of the reading tables in the Grand Reading Room.
• City Council member Art Graham has dropped his pursuit of the Council’s vice-presidency for the 2006-07 Council year. Daniel Davis was the first to announce his candidacy and Graham has offered Daniels his full support.
• City offices will be closed Monday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. This includes City Hall, the Annex, the Courthouse, the Yates Building and all public libraries.
• The jazz festival is still a few months away but the City’s Office of Special Events is accepting applications from amateur pianists for the April 6 Great American Jazz Piano Competition at the Florida Theatre. Those interested can apply at www.jaxjazzfest.com. Also, previous winners are not permitted to enter the contest.