• Clarification to a City Note last week about The Port Authority’s 2005-06 annual report. The reason there were about 10,000 fewer passengers boarding cruise ships in Jacksonville in 2006, was because the ship “Celebrity” had its last sail in 2005.
• Mike Lancashire, vice president of claims for the Jacksonville-based Main Street Insurance Group, has been appointed to the Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution by Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. The group is directed to develop recommendations for citizens to complete remaining claims from the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. Lancashire has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial and residential proerty insurance markets.
• It’s easier than you might think to dial a phone and get Mayor John Peyton on the line. His is the new voice that greets callers at 630-CITY, the City’s central information line. After Peyton explains, “We’re here to help and look forward to serving you,” the call is transferred to a live operator.
• Landstar System, Inc. has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year in “Fortune” magazine’s list of “America’s Most Admired Companies.” The publication describes the list as “the definitive report card on corporate reputations.” Rankings are based on innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment and quality of products and services. Landstar ranked third in the transportation category.
• Jim Towey, former secretary of the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services and legal counsel to the late Mother Teresa, will be at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Mandarin April 10 and the next day at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach. He will share “Lessons Learned from Mother Teresa” and will discuss how he was inspired to carry on her legacy of dignity at the end of life. The free events are presented by Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. For times and reservations, call 407-6998.
• The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will host a gardening class, “Getting Rid of the Dirty Work: A Guide to Low Maintenance Landscaping,” Saturday from 9:30-11 a.m. Laurie Prescott of Green Schemes, Inc. will talk about how to design and install low-maintenance landscaping with emphasis on how the proper selection of plant material makes a difference. The cost is $15 per person for Zoo members, $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited. For information or registration, visit www.jacksonville.org.
“It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to.... The feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures.”
– Vincent Van Gogh