• State Sen. Jim King is up for re-election this fall and he’s asked Mayor John Peyton to serve on his finance committee. In a letter to Peyton, King said at 66 years old he’s been told he’s too old to serve. King’s response? “I can only assure you that though I may be deemed an ‘old walrus’ by some, I still command my portion of the beach.”
• It costs money to run in an election and Duval County Public School Board member Nancy Broner is seeking it through a June 13 fundraiser at The St. Joe Co. The host committee members for the event include Preston Haskell, chairman of the Haskell Co., Peter Rummell, CEO of The St. Joe Co., and Lynn Pappas of Pappas Metcalf Jenks & Miller, P.A.
• The Florida League of Cities has chosen Jacksonville as the site for its 80th annual meeting. It’s Aug. 10-12 at the Hyatt.
• Council Vice President Michael Corrigan is holding a town meeting Monday at Riverside Presbyterian Church from 6-7 p.m. where the topic of discussion will be the Post and College streets two-way conversion project.
• New manager at the World Golf Village’s hotel: Mark Schwantner, who moves up from Marco Island. He replaces Terry Crawford, who was transferred to Virginia by the Marriott chain.
• As the hurricane season gets under way, the City of Jacksonville isn’t forgetting its four-legged friends. Three shelters have been designated pet-friendly including Landmark High School, Mandarin Middle School and Chimney Lakes Elementary School. Dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits and birds will be allowed into the shelters, but reptiles will not. The animals must be crated or caged and have proof of vaccination and registration with the City. A pre-registration form is available for download online, and the City Web site says online registration will be up soon.
• Want to make sure Fluffy or Fido is prepared for an evacuation? The City also has an online emergency kit checklist. Items on the list include: three days’ supply of food and water, first aid kit, collar with identification tag, City license and rabies vaccine tag, plastic bags to dispose of waste and wet wipes.
• City Hall has discovered the Italiano restaurant on West Adams Street. Council member Suzanne Jenkins and her aide Shirley Dasher were spotted there having lunch Monday.
• More West Adams Street restaurant news: the former Ieyasu is being transformed into “Chew” by co-owners John Insetta and Jason Parry. They said they plan to open in August and will offer a menu of gourmet salads and sandwiches.
• Koja at the Landing will open its Baymeadows location in about a month. It’s going where Yoshi’s was for the past 17 years.
• According to the FCCJ Artist Series, 40,796 people bought tickets for the “Phantom of the Opera” while the show was at the T-U Center. The touring production also celebrated its 5,500th performance while the troupe was in Jacksonville.
• Pete Helow is departing Empire Communications Group (he’ll be a “consultant”) and Les Loggins has taken the title of managing partner. Helow plans to start a photography business.
• The big RiverTown development in St. Johns County gets really started today with a groundbreaking. The 4,170-acre riverfront project belongs to the St. Joe Company.