• Last week’s county-wide student voter registration drive conducted by the Supervisor of Elections Office registered 5,133 Duval County high school and college students. Their first opportunity to cast their ballot will be in the March 20 Consolidated Government First Election.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is hosting an art of collage workshop Feb. 8-March 15. Students will learn the art of collage by using different materials and color inspired by “The Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art” exhibit. The classes are Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $96 for members, $116 for non-members and $48 for docents. For more information or to register call 355-0630.
• The Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau is holding an open house and networking event March 15 from 5-7:30 p.m. in the CVB offices in the 550 Water St. building. Those invited will have an opportunity to network with area business and tourism-related industry officials.
• Should former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani throw his hat into the ring for President, McCormick Agency President Paul McCormick has expressed interest in helping with the campaign locally. Over the years, McCormick has worked on behalf of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and United States Sens. Ed Muskie and Phil Gramm.
• The local National Association of Industrial and Office Properties is having its annual awards dinner Feb. 15 at the Omni. They’ll honor several in the commercial real estate industry for their work last year as well as Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin as the winner of the 2006 Jessie B. Smith Community Services Award.
• Qualifying for all candidates for office for the spring elections begins today at noon and runs through Feb. 6 at noon. Mayor John Peyton intends to sign his paperwork at 12:01 p.m.
• Local Republican Party Chairman and Blue Cross Blue Shield executive Mike Hightower was unanimously elected chair for the Congressional District 4. The district includes Baker, Clay, Duval, Hamilton, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Nassau and Union counties.
• If you can, please do: The American Red Cross Blood Services has announced that its shipments to local hospitals all over the country are being cut as blood donations remain at low levels. Even though schools, which account for about 20 percent of blood donations, are back in session after holiday breaks, inventory levels are still inadequate to meet all needs. The Red Cross expects that due to bad weather in some parts of the country and many people being unable to donate due to having colds and the flu, inventory levels nationwide will continue to decrease. According to the organization, current supplies of types O positive and O negative are at less than a one-day’s supply. Most healthy people over the age of 17 who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate every 56 days. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-448-3543 or visit www.givebloodredcross.org.