• Cathedral Arts Project recently got some financial help in the form of a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth Program. The grant was one of 171 awarded nationally and the money will help support the organization’s free, after-school visual and performing arts classes.
• Speaking of Cathedral Arts, its board of directors for 2007-08 has been elected. It includes Gregory Curry, Sandy Deardoff, Heather Duncan, Alan Fickling and Susan White. Duval County School Superintendent Joe Wise and Jim Winston were appointed to the advisory board.
• The Republican Executive Committee will meet Monday at 6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Police building on Beach Boulevard.
• It’s not just things from China: Check your cellphone battery because Nokia has announced the recall of more than 45 million of its BL-5C batteries. The faulty units were manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006 and may overheat while recharging. Nokia will replace all affected batteries. For information, visit www.nokia.com.
• Barnes & Noble, 11112 San Jose Blvd. is partnering with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Aug. 24-26 for a Bookfair. The schedule includes live performances by members of the orchestra, a live instrument zoo and a promotion for the JSO’s recording of “Carmina Burana.” A portion of the store’s sales during the three-day event will be donated to The Guild of the Jacksonville Symphony. For information, call 886-9904.
• Demolition continues at 140 W. Monroe St., which will soon be the new home of the Dalton Agency. As is the case with most Downtown structures with a history, workers are making some interesting finds as they peel back the layers of time. Items so far uncovered include a wallet at least 20 years old based on the dates on the driver’s license that was still inside and a lead-lined room, no doubt left over from when there was a medical clinic with an x-ray machine in the building.
• Single game tickets for the Jaguars’ regular season games will go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. Fans may order tickets at www.jaguars.com, call 633-2000 or 1-877-4-JAGS-TIX (then press 3) or by stopping by the ticket office from 9 a.m.-Noon on Saturday.
• Look for Nick G’s Pizza on Bay Street to open in about three weeks. Also, the owners say they’ll have outdoor seating.
• Dino Hicks was recently elected to chair the Congressional Dist. 4 seat of the Republican Party of Florida. Hicks is with England-Thims & Miller, Inc.
“Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.”
– Hubert H. Humphrey