• A big announcement is coming from the Jacksonville U. basketball program next week and here’s a hint — the people who run the Arena will be thrilled.
• BellSouth’s Jim McCollum gave this self-analysis at his retirement party this week: “I set out to make friends, build relationships, not BS anyone and always make sure that everyone knows where I stand.”
• Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich says that lots of football players have dangerous hobbies, just like the motorcycle riding that almost ended Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger’s career earlier this week. What’s Leftwich’s most dangerous hobby? “I’m keeping that to myself,” he answered brusquely.
• Council member Reggie Fullwood has enlisted the help of Larry Fairman in his pursuit of the state legislature and the first big event is a fundraiser at Fidelity National Financial. Fullwood is running against incumbent Audrey Gibson for Gibson’s House of Representatives seat.
• Speaking of Fullwood, he said win or lose his Council seat won’t be filled. Council will operate with 18 voting members until the ‘07 elections.
• Looking for signs that the Wal-Mart issue in Neptune Beach isn’t going away? There’s a big public meeting at 6 p.m. at Neptune Beach Elementary Tuesday where the beach town’s planning and development board will review Wal-Mart’s application and a hold a public hearing. According to flyer advertising the meeting, the review board will pass a recommendation for approval or rejection on to the Neptune Beach City Council after the meeting.
• Couple of corrections. In a cutline Thursday, we juxtaposed State Sens. Jim King and Steve Wise. Also Thursday, in our list of bank presidents we misspelled First Bank of Jacksonville President’s Cindy Delaparte’s name.
• Susan Pelter, the mayor’s director of public information, doesn’t like anything with Peyton’s name on it to slip past her without review. In an e-mail to military affairs chief Dan McCarthy, she wrote: “How in the world did an invitation WITH THE MAYOR’S NAME ON IT get printed and mailed without me (or Jackie) seeing it first? We’ve had this conversation before...”
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid consumer attorney Lynn Drysdale is gearing up once again for the Florida Gators annual football camp for women, scheduled for Saturday in Gainesville. Drysdale, a huge Gator fan, is a regular at the camps and last year even brought her mother along. This year, Drysdale has some ideas for coach Urban Meyer’s misfiring offense. “Should I ask Urban Meyer to let (Gator basketball coach) Billy Donovan run the offense?” Drysdale asked in an e-mail.
• Thought paying for parking in Downtown Jacksonville was bad? A quarter in the meters in Wilmington, N.C., doesn’t go nearly as far. One quarter buys 10 minutes of time there. A nickel will buy two minutes and a dime four minutes. And the tickets should you fall asleep in the sand and not pay the meter? $25.