• Jacksonville has a rich variety of cultural and natural heritage assets, says J. Nicholas Shelley, director of the Jacksonville field office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Shelley recently asked Mayor John Peyton for help in designating Jacksonville a “Preserve America Community” under the U.S. Department of Interior. Shelley said Jacksonville could join other Florida cities like Coral Gables, Daytona Beach, Fort Meyers, Key West and St. Augustine that can apply for Preserve America Grants to support local preservation planning, education and heritage-related tourism. Congress allocated $7 million to these grants this fiscal year, according to Shelley.
• HBO has apparently discovered Jacksonville. In addition to choosing Jacksonville for much of the location filming of the feature-length made-for-cable film “Recount,” HBO is currently wrapping up post-production of a one-hour documentary about the life of boxer Joe Lewis. The local connection is Lewis’ son, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission member Joe Barrow, who appears in the documentary that will debut Feb. 23 as a presentation of HBO Sports.
• Correction: The “Serving Up Aces” exhibition tennis match between Pete Sampras and Todd Martin is March 6 at Veterans Memorial Arena.
• Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Deborah Pass, president of ATS Services, to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority board of directors to succeed John Falconetti. Crist also reappointed Jack Demetree, chairman of Demetree Brothers Inc. Both appointments require confirmation by the State Senate and, if approved, will expire Sept. 30, 2011.
• Speaking of the JAA, the agency is forming the Cecil Field Advisory Committee in an effort to keep communications open between the Authority and community as it develops Cecil. Airport Manager Rusty Chandler said the committee will meet quarterly and cover current airport operations, future activity, operational issues and concerns, among others.
• The Jacksonville Children’s Commission kicks off its “Fathers Make a Difference” campaign Thursday. The first meeting is at the JCC on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• The City’s settlement for a dispute with IKON Corp. for library services and equipment has dropped from $3 million to $2.2 million, according to revised legislation slated to go before the City Council Finance Committee at its next meeting Feb. 4.
“Of all debts men are least willing to pay the taxes. What a satire is this on government! Everywhere they think they get their money’s worth, except for these.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson