• The FCCJ Artist Series will present “Mamma Mia” May 15-20 with eight performaces at the T-U Center. For tickets call 632-3373 or visit www.artistseries.fccj.org.
• The R. Roberts Gallery, 3606 St. Johns Ave. will host a 50th anniversary art exhibition to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat.” The exhibit will include special commemorative editions including the unveiling of a life-sized bronze scuplture of the “Cat.” The exhibit will run from May 4-14. An opening reception is 6-9 p.m. Friday.
• The Jacksonville Aviation Authority announced changes to its parking rates for all parking lots. The changes will go into effect June 1. All parking lot prices went up $2 except for the daily garage and special events lot, whose prices went up $1.
• Employees of The Dalton Agency have strapped on pedometers for the agency’s “Walk for Life” contest. The prize is $500 apiece for the male and female who have the highest number of steps by May 24. The “Walk for Life” kicked off in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s “Start! Walking at Work Day” on April 25. The winners will be announced May 25.
• City Council President Michael Corrigan is sponsoring a resolution that would declare next week “The Players Championship Week” urging local golf fans and residents to enjoy the “Downtown Experience” planned for next Friday. Council meets Tuesday night and the resolution will need to be passed on an emergency basis.
• Speaking of Corrigan, he and Council member Mia Jones have been appointed to the Tourist Development Council to replace Council members Lad Daniels and Gwen Yates, both of whom will be out of office June 30 due to term limits.
• There will be plenty of area law enforcement officials in town the week of June 23-28 when the Northeast Florida Law Enforcement Executives Association hosts the 2007 Florida Police Chiefs Association’s Summer Conference at the Hyatt. The group is the fourth-largest police chiefs association in the country and it’s comprised of more than 700 of the state’s top law enforcement executives.
• Beginning Wednesday, 30 members of the University of North Florida’s Chorale will tour Portugal and perform six concerts while they are there. The Chorale group, under the direction of Dr. Cara Tasher, will be in Portugal through May 19. One of the performances will be a joint concert in Lagos with the Grupo Coral de Lagos.
• According to the latest Florida Trend, Gate Petroleum is the state’s 19th-largest private company, with 3,500 employees and 2005 revenues of $1.046 billion. Tops in the state is Publix with 141,000 employees and revenues of $20.6 billion.
“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.”
– Barbara Tuchman