• State Attorney Harry Shorstein’s last day is Jan. 5 but he won’t be unemployed long. He’ll join his son Paul and partner Jeremy Lasnetski at their firm on St. Augustine Road in mid-January. Shorstein said he’s been “anguishing” over the decision since he announced a year ago that he didn’t intend to seek re-election.
• Circuit Court Judge Waddell Wallace is one of five finalists for an open seat on the Florida Supreme Court. He was one of 18 who applied and all were interviewed Monday. Gov. Charlie Crist has 60 days to make the appointment.
• The dedication ceremony for the Don Davis room at City Hall set for Tuesday has been postponed. No word on when it will be rescheduled. Davis was a Gate Petroleum executive who served as an at-large City Council member from 1987-99 (he was Council president in 1993 and ‘99) before being elected to the State Legislature in 2000. He passed away earlier this year.
• Congratulations to Bailey Publishing editorial consultant Fred Seely. Tuesday he qualified for next week’s Gate Senior Open by shooting 83 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Ocean Course. The tournament is Monday-Wednesday at the Ocean and Lagoon courses.
• The City will get a nice check from the Florida Inland Navigation District during Thursday’s Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting. Each year, the City performs FIND-approved projects on things like boat ramps and other water-related projects and FIND reimburses the City. Thursday the check is for just under $1 million.
• City Council member Art Graham is sponsoring legislation that would require the Jacksonville Port Authority to continue operating the Mayport Ferry through Sept. 30, 2018.
• Speaking of Council, member Glorious Johnson is sponsoring a bill that will honor Public Defender Bill White for his years of service to the Fourth Judicial Circuit. White was defeated in November by Matt Shirk.
• After the official announcement of the college football bowl selections Sunday evening, Landing officials set up a display featuring attire from both Gator Bowl-bound schools, Nebraska and Clemson. Also in the window? National championship game attire featuring Florida and Oklahoma.
• Speaking of the Landing, French Novelty, the formal and upscale attire vendor on the first floor, has closed. A sign in the door is directing customers to visit the 3000 Dunn Ave. and 3520 Blanding Blvd. locations.
• You’ll have to take the stairs or the elevator at the Ed Ball building, as the escalator is broken. It’s been out of service for about three weeks, according to a security person, but the parts have been ordered for it to be fixed.
• Sandy Bartow, executive director of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Center, is among 100 women from around the world who have been named to the inaugural list of the International Alliance for Women “World of Difference 100.” She has served on the board of Women Business Owners of Northeast Florida and currently serves on the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the City of Jacksonville’s Small and Emerging Business Advisory Board and the Davis College of Business Advisory Board at Jacksonville University.
• A few interesting notes from this year’s Konica Minolta Gator Bowl pre-game calendar. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast is Dec. 29 at First Baptist Church. The next day, the players from Nebraska and Clemson will tour the zoo. Finally, the parade is set for Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. Winn-Dixie is sponsoring it and it’ll be shown live on cable Ch. 7.