• J. Randall Evans has retired as president of FreshMinistries USA but will stay active with the organization and its board. Rev. Dr. Robert Lee III, chair and CEO of FreshMinistries, indicated a search is underway for a new president and has decided to postpone the spring board meeting until fall when a new president will likely be in place.
• Paul Ivice has moved to Jupiter, Fla. but has left his “Working Lunch” delivery service in the hands of Paul Haslett, who can be reached at 631-6076.
• The local office of CitiMortgage, Inc. plans to close down completely by July 1. According to a notice sent out by Michelle Greenstreet, 557 employees will be permanently laid off.
• Duval County Medical Society President Dr. John Montgomery is urging Mayor John Peyton to reinstate $500,000 that was put into contingency from the Duval County Health Department. “There is no good time to reduce funding for public health in Jacksonville, but this year is especially difficult,” said Montgomery, who would like to use the funds to combat and treat several diseases including HIV/AIDS.
• The Main Library lunched its “Not Just for Baby Boomers” movie series last night in the Hicks Auditorium with the showing of “Psycho” and wraps up Dec. 27 with “American Graffiti.” The next classic is “Splendor in the Grass” June 14. Other movies on the slate include “High Noon”, “Easy Rider” and “On the Waterfront.” All of the films are from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
• Speaking of the library, the University Park branch is holding a self-defense class for mothers and daughters Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
• City Council member Lynette Self is sponsoring legislation that would name the senior citizens center at Ed Austin Park after Jim Fortuna, who used to head the Council on Elder Affairs. The grand opening of the center is slated for June 7 and Self is trying to get the bill passed in time to present a framed resolution to the Fortuna family at the opening.
• The spring plant festival begins Saturday with a presentation at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens by Linda Van Beck titled “Daffodils in Florida.” The event starts at 1:30 p.m. and continues through the weekend. Other topics of discussion include how to grow and contain herbs as well as care for a container garden. For more information, call 757-4463.
“Truth lives, in fact, for the most part on a credit system. Our thoughts and beliefs ‘pass,’ so long as nothing challenges them, just as bank-notes pass so long as nobody refuses them.”
– William James