• U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has paid for the controversial sand bags she received last week. In a letter to Mayor John Peyton, Brown said she called 11 “different retail outlets” looking for sandbags and acted “out of fear for my home and my physical well-being.” The letter included a personal check for $886.04 and an invoice for the work. According to the invoice, Brown got 200 sandbags, a crew of 10 spent 15 hours on the job (at $25.48/hour) and there was an “administrative cost” of $102.99 added to the bill. The invoice is dated Aug. 25 and Brown wrote the check the next day.
• Speaking of Peyton, he got an invite to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. next week. He’s got a full calendar, so it doesn’t look like he’s going.
• Big anniversary next month as WJCT marks its 50th year of broadcasting. The official day is Sept. 10, but the big bash is two days later at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse.
• City Council Finance Committee Chair Michael Corrigan has rescheduled Friday’s budget hearings to next Thursday. Friday’s were originally set for last Thursday, but got washed out by Tropical Storm Fay.
• Speaking of the storm, with much of last week a washout, many of the participating restaurants in the Eat Up Downtown promotion are extending their $25 prix fixe menu through the end of the month. Bourbon Bayou, bb’s, Cafe Nola, Juliette’s Bistro, Koja Sushi, Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill, Plaza III Steakhouse, The Wine Bar, The Wine Cellar, The Twisted Martini and University Club are all still running the offer. For more information, go to www.downtownjacksonville.org.
• Where in the world is Robert Powell? The recent Lottery winner that took home over $6 million could not be reached for comment on his winnings by the Daily Record staff. However, he reportedly tried to give some of his winnings to his own church only for it to be rejected by the pastor, who is against the Lottery.
• Interesting stat from a comparison of the 50 states published by the Tax Foundation. Florida ranks 39th in the country in percent of personal income that goes to local and state taxes. At 10 percent of income, Florida is well below top-ranked Vermont, where 14.1 percent of all personal income goes to local and state taxes.
• The Women’s Center of Jacksonville is holding an ArtTalk Tour at Artists’ Square at noon on Sept. 12. The property is in the process of being renovated into an outdoor artist mall with space available for vendors, public restrooms, an outdoor auditorium and public parking. Though it is scheduled to be finished later this summer, Melody Bishop, the lead designer of the Riverwalk project will be giving a tour of the property free of charge. For more information, call the Women’s Center at 722-3000.
• Hallmark Partners is holding a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as part of the Sept. 21 Jaguars game against the Indianapolis Colts. The party starts at 3:30 in the Terrace Suite and the nationally-televised game kicks off at 4:15. There are various levels of sponsorships. Call 733-3560 for more.
• The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens project is nearing completion. The new City park in Arlington near Mill Cove Road and 9A now has a new parking lot and the grand opening to the public is scheduled for Nov. 15. The 118-acre preserve also has a 25-foot-deep ravine that was left over from a mining operation years ago and a loblolly bay tree that ties the state record for size.
• During Wednesday’s ArtWalk, several area elementary schools will have art on display in the Main Library on the third floor. The schools will be there as part of the Cathedral Arts Project, which provides free arts-based after-school programs for area kids.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has new hours that reflect visitor patterns and help the institution reduce operating costs. Effective Tuesday, the museum will be open Tuesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Admission is still free each Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. and the Cummer is always closed on Monday.
• JaxParks is currently taking applications for display booths for Art in the Park 2008. The event is Oct. 18 on the Northbank Riverwalk but the application deadline is Sept. 26. Applications are available at www.jaxparks.com or you can e-mail to [email protected]. There is a $75 vendor pad fee.
• Some big names are not happy with the Finance Committee’s recent decision to vote against $75,000 for a fifth counselor for The Jacksonville Commitment — an initiative that involves a partnership between area colleges and universities to provide scholarships to college-eligible kids who can’t afford to go. Former Sheriff Nat Glover — who now a special advisor to University of North Florida President John Delaney as well as an ambassador for higher education at the school — sent Council President Ronnie Fussell a four-page letter expressing the need for the funding. A separate letter of similar content was signed by Delaney, Jacksonville University President Kerry Romesburg, Florida Community College at Jacksonville President Steven Wallace and Edward Waters College President Claudette Williams.
• The Gator Bowl Association will hold its September meeting Thursday at 5 p.m. in the East Touchdown Lower Club section at the stadium.