• The Hyatt is firmly behind the Jacksonville Port Authority’s goal of putting a cruise terminal at Mayport. According to Hyatt General Manager Dan King, “the cruise industry has increased the economic impact generated by tourism to Jacksonville since its inception in 2003.” In a letter to City Council President Ronnie Fussell, King said when there wasn’t a cruise ship operating out of Dames Point from April through September, his hotel experienced a loss of $11,000 in room revenue.
• Here’s a way to help the United Way raise funds for the holidays that’s more than a little different: Volunteers are needed Wednesday evening to be part of the inaugural “Flash Mob” at Hemming Plaza. Participants are asked to arrive at the Main Library Laura Street entrance after 5 p.m. where they will be issued a United Way T-shirt and allowed to put it on under their clothing. At 6:20 p.m., the group will walk out into the plaza and disrobe en masse down to their UW shirts. Donations will be accepted from Flash Mobbers and from spectators. For information, call 779-2000.
• The “First Friday Lunch Bunch” for artists, arts advocates and lovers of art featured in last Friday’s Daily Record will be held at a different venue this month. Friday’s noontime gathering will be at “1171,” a restaurant at 1171 Edgewood Avenue in Murray Hill near Moon River Pizza. Unlike the usual “Clara’s at the Cathedral” price-fixed program at St. Johns Cathedral, 1171 offers an ala carte menu including a full bar.
• Couple of corrections to Friday’s story about Coastal Maritime. The company that went out of business was sending mobile homes to the Middle East in the early 1990s. It was not SeaBarge, which is now Sea Star and a current Coastal Maritime customer. Also, the Liebherr crane photo is on page 3.