• The cover art for the 2008 Legislative Delegation Guide is a break from tradition. The document that provides all the contact information for the 11 local members of the Florida legislature usually has a government building or Jacksonville’s Downtown skyline on the cover. This year, however, the cover features portraits from the Heart Gallery of children available for adoption. The new look was suggested by his staff because this year’s Delegation Chair, Rep. Aaron Bean, is an advocate for foster children.
• The second installment of JaxParks’ “Movies in the Park” series on the Southbank was a bigger hit than the debut. Last Friday, 800 people at Treaty Oak Park saw “Ghostbusters,” a 33-percent larger crowd than at the April 4 screening of “Madagascar.” This Friday night is “Hook,” and the last film is “Goonies” on April 25. The movies start at 8 p.m. Admission is free, parking is free in the Suddath Building garage and picnic baskets are encouraged (no alcohol allowed in the park). For more information, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org.
• The City did some preventive maintenance at the Florida Theatre Building over the weekend. Forsyth Street between Ocean and Newnan streets was closed for several hours Saturday in order to move in a crane and lift nine new commercial air conditioning units onto the roof. The AC was shut off to four floors Friday at noon so mechanics could remove the old units, but no one who works in the building got the afternoon off.
• The NFL is releasing the 2008 schedule today. Insiders are saying the Jaguars may have as many as five nationally televised primetime games this season including — possibly — the traditional Thanksgiving afternoon game at the Detroit Lions. The Jaguars are hosting the annual “Open House” season ticket event, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, when fans are invited to roam around the stands at Municipal Stadium and try out the seats that are still available. For details, visit www.jaguars.com.
“There is an enormous chasm between the relatively rich and powerful people who make decisions in government, business, and finance and our poorer neighbors who must depend on these decisions to alleviate the problems caused by their lack of power and influence.”
– Jimmy Carter, U.S. president