• Officers from the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) last Friday intercepted 35 pounds of marijuana at the northbound I-95 interdiction station in Nassau County. The drugs were discovered during a routine inspection of a truckload of furniture and the two men in the truck were arrested and charged with a first-degree felony. In the past four years OALE officers have seized an estimated $23 million in drugs, stolen goods and other contraband at 23 interdiction stations. More than 10 million commercial vehicles that enter or leave the state annually are inspected by the department.
• The Dept. of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation is now accepting applications from local artisans for booths at JaxParks’ “Art in the Park 2007.” Art media are limited to drawing, painting, photography, pottery and sculpture. If selected, artists will be provided display booths free of charge. Those wishing to sell their work at the event will be required to pay a $75 vendor pad fee. This year’s event will be held Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverside Park near Five Points. For more information or to obtain an application, call 630-3538 or visit www.jaxparks.com.
• Learn to Read Jacksonville has received a $1,000 Wal-Mart Foundation grant from the store at Beach Blvd. and San Pablo Road for the improvement of LTR’s computer lab. The facility also received a donation from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The two grants allowed LTR to double the size of the lab and update educational software for students. For information about programs, services or volunteer opportunities, call 399-8894 or visit www.LTRJAX.org.
• Mayor John Peyton has established the Jacksonville Early Literacy Endowment, which will be administered by The Community Foundation. Peyton signed the agreement last week. Funds raised for the endowment will help support and promote early childhood literacy.
“The people shall not be restrained from peacefully assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or remonstrances for redress of their grievances.”
– James Madison. (First draft of what became the First Amendment, June 8, 1789.)