• Twiggy, the water skiing squirrel made famous by countless video highlights shown on ESPN and other networks, will be on hand at the Jacksonville Boat Show Friday-Sunday at the Osborn Center with a message about water safety. Lou Ann Best, Twiggy’s trainer, now makes the aquatic squirrel wear a life vest while performing. Best’s husband drowned a few years ago and the show will encourage the audience to be like Twiggy and wear a life vest.
• The Jacksonville Jam basketball team has discontinued its relationship with the Premier Basketball League and has suspended team operations. In a statement, co-owner and General Manager Felix Krupczynski said the team began the season in good faith but the decision to suspend operations was made due to “lack of adequate support from the league required to sustain viability.” The team’s office will remain open to address business-related issues while the team has discussions with other leagues.
• Couple of promotions at the engineering firm of England-Thims & Miller: K.T. Peter Ma and Buckley Williams have been promoted to principals and shareholders in the 30-year old company.
• CapitalSouth Bank will open its new San Marco branch Monday. Those attending the grand-opening will enjoy barbecue from Mojo’s.
• New face in front of the weather map: Meteorologist Dave Vanore is joining the staff at Ch. 12/25. He previously served as chief meteorologist at the CBS affiliate in Chico, Calf. and forecast for the USA Today weather page for the national and international versions. He will replace Kennie Berg, who has moved back to her home town of Shreveport, La.
• United Way will commemorate Monday (2-11-08) as “2-1-1 Day.” United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral hotline provides free and confidential services. Last year, United Way provided over 71,000 callers from 10 different Northeast Florida counties with information ranging from where to find child care to how to find a support group through the phone number and the Web site www.nefl211.org.
• The Early Learning Coalition will host an event to kick off registration for Florida’s free voluntary prekindergarten program on Saturday. The three locations for registration are Ed White Senior High, the Main Branch Public Library and Regency Square Mall, all from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Children who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 are eligible. Parents must bring one proof of child’s age and one proof of Florida residency to register. Eligible children will receive a free shirt and book when they enroll. For more information, call 208-2044.
• Dr. Claudette Williams will be inaugurated as the 28th president of Edward Waters College on March 15. A time and place has not yet been announced.
“Candor is a proof of both a just frame of mind and of a good tone of breeding. It is a quality that belongs equally to the honest man and to the gentleman.”
– James Fenimore Cooper, U.S. novelist