• The ninth annual “Guns N’ Hoses” event, pitting local police and firefighters in boxing matches is March 10 at the Arena. Bell time is 7 p.m. Proceeds go to Fraternal Order of Police charities and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Tickets are available at the Arena’s box office, Ticketmaster and at the FOP lodge at 5530 Beach Blvd.
• A word to the wise: If you’re looking for an office building to invade so you can steal something out of someone’s purse, don’t do it at City Hall. Friday morning, a man obtained a visitor’s pass to go to the call center on the first floor but a half an hour later, he was in an office on the third floor rifling through a purse. When he was discovered, a scream was heard throughout the atrium, prompting the security staff to head upstairs to find out what was wrong. The first guard to arrive on the scene said the perpetrator was surrounded by a group of about 10 women and one was wielding a coat rack. “The guy looked like he was really glad to see me,” said the guard. The man was arrested by JSO and taken to the Pre-trial Detention Facility.
• The Hyatt Regency Riverfront is opening an Einstein Bros. Bagels licensed store next month. It will be located in the space between the hotel and the City Hall Annex. The unit will serve bagels and coffee seven days a week beginning at 6 a.m. and will offer sandwiches and smoothies for lunch.
• City Council member Pat Lockett-Felder is sponsoring a resolution that would help senior citizens and disabled citizens with the impending rate hike by JEA. The legislation urges JEA to find a way “to protect” those citizens.
• The Friends of the Public Library’s annual Great Jacksonville Book Sale will be held Friday - Sunday in Exhibit Hall B at the Fairgrounds. Tens of thousands of books on all subjects will be on sale ranging in price from 50 cents to $2 and all proceeds will be used to supplement materials and programs at the library. Last year, the Friends raised $128,000 at the sale. Admission and parking are free. For information, visit http://jpl.cpj.net and click on the programs and events icon.
• The Small Business Administration has signed an agreement with India to create partnering opportunities for small businesses. U.S. companies exported $8 billion in products and service to India in 2005 while India’s exports to the the U.S. totaled $18 billion. The U.S. is India’s largest trade and investment partner. For more information, go to www.sba.gov.
“Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which, once you have got it, you may be smart enough to see it is what you would have wanted had you known.”
– Garrison Keillor