• It looks like one of Downtown’s Starbucks will be closing after all. According to an off-duty employee of the Starbucks Corporation, the 11 E store is on the chopping block and is one of four in Jacksonville. The employee, who requested anonymity, was told the news by a manager. The employee hit the streets with a cameraman on Thursday to tape traffic along Ocean Street, interview customers and others in an attempt to show the Downtown store was successful. “We’ve only been open for a year,” said the employee. “For a lot of us who work there, it’s all we have. I don’t think the people in charge actually ever stepped foot in the store, but we’re trying to show them it’s a busy and growing store.” The employee is encouraging patrons of the 11 E Starbucks to use receipts and file comments on the company’s Web site in an effort to save it.
• City Council member and Land Use & Zoning Chair Art Graham has changed the time of the committee’s agenda meetings. They are now the first and third Tuesday at each month at 3:30 p.m. The regular meeting of the committee is set for 5 p.m.
• Speaking of Council, if you noticed Daniel Davis’ portrait was missing Thursday there’s a good reason. Seems a visitor to the Council offices wasn’t happy with Davis and took his portrait down, caused damage and threatened Davis. While you must have ID to get in to City Hall, a log of visitors isn’t kept, so the portrait was kept down in order to get fingerprints.
• Ad agency Spark is so pleased with the response to its “Goons on Call” campaign agency president Rich Davis will continue the campaign. Davis said the calls his agency have gotten about the off-humor ads have been “memorable” with most people quickly hanging up “when they realize we’re not really going to rough somebody up for them.”
• There’s no such thing as a free lunch... unless of course you’re a child and go to a Duval County public library this summer. As part of the promotion from the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, children are able to enjoy lunch at any of the area libraries from noon–1 p.m. and a snack from 3–3:30 p.m. The program began June 9 and will run through Aug. 15.
• The area closed to vehicles and pedestrians at Huguenot Park has been extended by 100 feet in response to increased activity among a number of bird species nesting and foraging in the northern part of the park’s beach. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. All wildlife in the park is protected by City Ordinance Sec. 28.818 which states, “Hunting or disturbing animals prohibited. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or disturb in any manner any of the fish, water fowl, birds, reptiles or any animals whatsoever present in, belonging to or preserved in any park or other recreational facility.” In addition, federal law prohibits disturbing migratory birds under any circumstances and provides for fines up to $15,000.
• Jaguars training camp may not open back up until July 26, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any sacks Downtown until then. The Winn-Dixie store at 777 Market Street handed out reusable shopping bags to residents of the Cathedral Towers, 11 E, The Carling and Berkman Plaza to celebrate its grand reopening Wednesday.