• The City’s “Clean it Up, Green it Up” division and the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol are looking for volunteers to help clean up the beaches July 5, the day after the July 4 celebrations when the beaches tend to be covered with bottles, cans, food trash and thousands of fireworks. To get involved, show up at Atlantic Boulevard and the ocean, Beach Boulevard and the ocean or 16th Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach and the ocean. Litter bags and gloves will be provided.
• Congratulations to Lois Ragsdale of the Public Defenders Office. She was named the Jacksonville Women Lawyer’s Association’s “Lawyer of the Year” last night at the JWLA “Judicial Jive.”
• A “longtime member” of the Jacksonville Maritime Museum wrote Mayor John Peyton with fears that Peyton’s “big idea” to revamp Downtown could displace the riverfront museum. “It appears the current building might be in line for demolition,” the member wrote. “This would create a real hardship for the museum.”
• In keeping with the theme of keeping kids busy for the summer, The Northside Church of Christ will run a night basketball program open to all males from 12-25 years old from June 5 to Aug. 4. The program is titled “WIN” for Working to Improve Communities. And, no, that’s not a misprint.
• The folks at Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Forward are having a summer bash at Mark’s Downtown Club & Lounge June 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. New JCCI Forward committee chairs will be there and it’ll be a chance to pick up the 2006 issue forum reports. One of the reports focuses on Downtown and the issue of design standards.
• The Florida Democratic Party is gearing up for a visit from President Bill Clinton who will be in Orlando June 12 for the “Florida Victory ‘06 Reception” at the Orlando Marriott Downtown.
• Condolences to Katrina Fisher of the City Council director’s office. Her mother passed away Wednesday morning.
• More City Notes, page 4.
• Following in the footsteps of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw: Another act coming to Jacksonville has added a second show due to tickets selling out for the first show quickly. Comedian Dave Chappelle will perform a second show June 20 at 11 p.m. following his first appearance that evening at the T-U Center. Tickets will be available for $55 and $65 Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster outlets.
• Ground has been broken for the new Dunkin’ Donuts in Atlantic Beach. It’s in front of strip mall with The Tree Steakhouse and Atlantic Beach Theater.
• Couple of the city’s most prominent businesswomen will co-chair The Arc Jacksonville’s “Dinner with Bill” fundraiser. It’s set for Oct. 25 at the Hyatt and AmSouth City President Marty Lanahan and ATS Services, Inc. CEO Deborah Pass will host the event. Out of Sight from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind will perform.
• Change of command for the local Coast Guard station. July 13, Capt. Paul Thomas will take over for Capt. David Lersch.
• Time has cost the City nearly $400,000 in regards to the San Marco Town Center project. According to a legislative summary, City Council member Art Shad is sponsoring a bill that would appropriate another $400,000 for the project that was allocated $1 million from the 2004 Excise Tax Revenue Bond Fund. Due to the time it took to get from Phase I — the vision process and bids — to Phase II and actual construction, there’s a funding shortfall of $400,000.
• Looks like Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe will move into the Main Library after all. A bill is working its way through Council that would approve a four-year lease with the Neptune Beach coffee shop and the City intends to provide a start-up allowance of $260,000. The shop will include 2,400 square feet of interior space and 10,000 square feet of exterior courtyard. The opening date is vague: “a window between June 1 and December 1.”