• The City’s Small & Emerging Businesses program recently delivered its monthly summary to City Council and much of the news is good, but not all of it. According to the report, the program has a loan pool total of $1.065 million with loans being made in the amount of $848,585. However, of that amount, $449,075 “remains outstanding in payments” as of April 30.
• PGA Tour Productions has created a DVD of this year’s Players Championship — the first of its kind for the tournament — and the DVD is available for $19.95. But, if you are a “preferred” customer — as in the City — the DVD is only $12.95, a 45 percent discount.
• Debra A. Braga and Cherry Shaw have been appointed as Assistant General Counsels with the Office of General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville. Braga will work in the Government Operations Department and Shaw will work in the Land Use Department. Braga’s and Shaw’s first day was last Tuesday.
• Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville has announced additions to its board of directors. They include: Michelle Bradford of Wachovia, Curt Cunkle of EverBank, Kara Citrano-Leonard of Vision Care Franchise of Johnson & Johnson, O. Wayne Young of JEA and community volunteer Katharine Lovett Loeb.
• As part of the regular summer schedule for Branch Libraries, all locations will be closed on Sundays in June and July. The Main Library will stay open on Sundays in June and July.
• The owners of Riverside’s Mossfire Grill, Drew and Scooter Cavins, have opened a new upscale dining spot in Avondale. The Preservation Tap and Chop House is located on St. Johns Avenue and is a 1930s-style New York chophouse that offers more than 18 different beers on tap along with a wide selection of fish, chicken, duck, chops and Angus beef. For more information, call 387-5700.
• July’s Art Walk lands on the July 4th holiday and therefore there will not be an Art Walk in the month of July. After this week’s Art Walk, the next one will be Aug. 1.
• Mercedes Homes and Davino Construction are partnering with the St. Johns County Habitat for Humanity. They are building homes for two local families in need. Both of the homes are expected to be completed and occupied by the end of the month.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & Garden’s exhibit “Traditions in Transition: Russian Icons in the Age of the Romanovs” is opening June 12. The exhibit will be at the museum through Sept. 2.
“We must proceed with our own energy development. Exploitation of domestic petroleum and natural gas potentialities, along with nuclear, solar, geothermal, and non-fossil fuels is vital. We will never again permit any foreign nation to have Uncle Sam over a barrel of oil.”
– the late Gerald R. Ford, in a speech while he was vice president.