Lewis, Longman & Walker attorneys Dan Richardson and Melissa Gross-Arnold have been elected shareholders of the firm. Richardson joined the firm in 2004 and has been practicing law for over 32 years. Gross-Arnold joined the firm in 1993 as a paralegal and as an attorney in 2000. She is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in City, County and Local Government Law. Also, F. Joseph Ullo Jr. has joined the firm as an associate. He represents private clients, local governments and special districts in the areas of environmental, land use and administrative law.
• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office may be getting almost $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice and the funds will help make the corrections facility safer and allow investigators to listen in on cell phone calls. Part of the funds are for the purchase and installation of security cameras at corrections facilities. The rest is for cell phone triangulation equipment for criminal investigations.
• On Tuesday night, City Council will recognize the surf team from Sunrise Surf Shop in Jacksonville for winning the 2006 “Surfer” magazine Quicksilver Surf Shop national championship. The team — consisting of Ryan Briggs, Adam McGill, Dane Jefferys and Jason Motes — beat surf shops from all over the country during the Sept. 11 event in Oceanside, Calif.
• Artist Steve Williams’ “Inside the Vacuum Chain” will be at the Stellars Gallery Annex in Neptune Beach Jan. 19-Feb. 23 and he has sent out unique invites for opening night. They look like boarding passes for a flight and are called “part-e-tickets.”
• A chocolate lovers’ Mecca will come to town Feb. 8 when the Hyatt hosts “Chocolate Lovers of the World 2007.” The event benefits the International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville. International cuisine, music and a live and silent auction are on the agenda. Call 346-3942 for more.
The new Downtown This Week is out and it previews the upcoming annual meeting of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The magazine is free and available all over Downtown.