• At Thursday’s meeting of the City’s Professional Services Evaluation Committee, Better Jacksonville Plan senior project manager Dave Schneider gave the committee a brief presentation on an amendment to a canal project near Sandalwood High. It was apparent the project had been changed several times because Schneider told the committee, “This will be the final amendment for the project.” Committee chair Devin Reed responded, “You say that like you mean it.”
• The Jacksonville Port Authority is holding three workshops next week that will help small and minority businesses get involved in the Port’s Dames Point container terminal project. The Port has a goal of 30 percent small and minority business participation in the project.
• Remember Frank Lazaran, who was dropped as Winn-Dixie’s president a couple of years ago? He left with a nice severance package and is still around, living in a million-dollar condo at Villa Riva.
• Not a bad idea: the CPA firm of Patrick & Robinson wanted feedback on their service so they sent a survey to customers with the promise that they’d donate $5 to the City Rescue Mission for every survey that was returned. Result: about 30 percent came back and the mission has an extra $520.
• Saturday evening, you might consider a river cruise. The Chamber’s Downtown Council has room for 35 and they’ll sail from the gazebo behind the CSX Building with rides starting at 6 and 7. You’ll be able to hear the jazz concert plus a guide will talk about the history and ecology of the river. Ten bucks for adults, half that for kids. Info: 356-7967.
• Bobette Brown of the City’s Office of Special Events has left the City. Picked up and moved to San Diego, we hear.
• Times-Union political reporter David Decamp is leaving for the St. Petersburg Times where he will also cover politics. His wife, Jennifer Fish, is also joining the Times staff.
• Former Florida State quarterback Marcus Outzen is living in Jacksonville these days and he called a local radio sports talk show Thursday afternoon to shed some light on the offensive woes in Tallahassee. Outzen places the blame squarely on the offensive coaches, particularly offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden. He says there’s talent on offense, but “They are running on fumes over there.”
• Downtown Council is sponsoring Saturday Night River Floats in conjunction with Downtown Vision, Inc.’s Jazz in June on the Northbank Riverwalk. For $10 per person ($5 for children 12 and under), get on the boat near the gazebo at the end of Pearl Street and get a guided tour of Downtown landmarks from the Acosta Bridge to Talleyrand and back to the gazebo.