• Thursday, students who attend high schools located within the watershed of the St. Johns River can begin submitting their public service announcement (PSA) video entries in the St. Johns Riverkeeper “Conserving Water To Save Our Rivers” contest. The contest is sponsored by Riverkeeper and Team Gaia to raise awareness about protecting drinking water supplies and the St. Johns River. One winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize. The winner and some of the more compelling video PSA entries will appear in a half-hour water conservation program ready to air on PBS and network TV stations. Entry deadline is April 10. For contest rules and more information, visit www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org.
• In an effort to stress the failing condition of the County Courthouse, Chief Judge Don Moran has invited City Council members to take a tour of the building. Moran has offered a couple of dates and times and hopes a tour will convince Council members to pass legislation approving the new courthouse.
• Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals is asking Council President Daniel Davis for a 100 percent exemption for the pending stormwater service fee for all public schools. Pratt-Dannals said the fee would have an annual impact of almost $1 million, which, according to him, “equates to approximately 20 teachers lost to the classroom per year. DCPS is now opening more schools to meet mandated class-size requirements. With these added fees on top of losses due to property tax reduction, it becomes extremely difficult to sustain growth and quality education to meet our city’s growing needs.”
• Gov. Charlie Crist has invited Mayor John Peyton to the Korea Joint Conference set for April 12-14 in Tampa, during which senior executives from all over Florida and Korea will meet to discuss tourism, education and economic development. According to Crist, trade between Florida and Korea in 2006 was valued at $776 million.
“Space isn’t remote at all. It’s only an hour’s drive away if your car could go straight upwards.”
— Sir Hoyle Fred, British astronomer