• Most City offices will be closed Monday for President’s Day. That includes City Hall, the Annex, the Ed Ball Building, the Yates Building, the Tax Collector, the Property Appraiser’s Office, the Courthouse, and all public libraries.
• City Council Pres. Michael Corrigan has appointed Council member Glorious Johnson to the Council’s Audit and Economic, Community and International Development committees. Johnson filled the void created when Reggie Fullwood resigned from Council.
• The Commerce Department reported this week that business inventories in December were $1.37 trillion, a decline of $147 million from November. Sales at department and general merchandise stores were up 1.3 percent in January, the largest gain in a year and sales at both furniture and hardware stores increased 0.8 percent. Despite a 1.3 percent decline in auto sales, overall retail sales improved by 0.3 percent for the month. Spending by consumers accounts for two-thirds of all economic activity.
• Sandra Lane, executive assistant to City Council member Glorious Johnson, is also a model. You can see her consulting with a doctor in a full-page ad for UF and Shands on the back cover of the current issue of Women’s Digest magazine.
• The Salvation Army’s Cold Night Shelter at 15 East Church St. is likely to be open over the next week with predictions of cold temperatures. The shelter opens when Jacksonville’s temperature is forecasted to fall below 40 degrees. The shelter, which is only for men, is equipped to handle about 100 people a night.
• There are indications the Murray Hill Town Center project may not happen. According to Dave Schneider, a senior project manager with the City’s Department of Public Works, the City got five bids for the project last week and all were “well over budget.” The lowest bid was $1.2 million and the City only has $700,000 worth of funding. There are two possible solutions: “get more money” or begin post-bid negotiations with the low bidder and trim the scope of the project to match the available funding.
• Due to severe weather in the Northeast, performers Tom Chiu and Joan LaBarbara’s flight into Jacksonville was canceled. Their performance scheduled for Wednesday night at the University of North Florida (UNF) was canceled. UNF is attempting to reschedule the concert in March or April for ticket holders. If a new date cannot be confirmed, refunds will be issued. For more information, call 620-1895.
• Valentine’s Day was a sweet day at Shugar Shack Chocolatiers. Between their home location on West Adams Street, their two kiosks at the Landing and two banquet tables they set up for Wednesday in the lobby of the Bank of America building, Owner Susan Marino said they sold out of their three most popular items, including their signature Chocopop, Shoo-fly pizza and chocolate-covered Shugarberries.
• Staff writer Liz Daube has left Bailey Publishing and Communications to work in Flagler College’s public relations department. Staff writer David Chapman has recently joined the company to write primarily for Reality/Builder Connection.