• The Clara White Mission has temporarily moved its Friday lunches from St. Johns Cathedral to the First United Methodist Church across the street on East Duval. The kitchen at St. Johns Cathedral is undergoing renovations and should be done by September.
• Orange Park dentist Dr. Ted Haeussner was recently appointed 2007–08 president of the Florida Dental Association. He’s been president of both the Clay County Dental Society and Northeast District Dental Association and also served as an alternate and delegate on the Florida Delegation to the American Dental Association. Haeussner will pull double duty this year, as he’ll continue to practice while serving as president.
• Wednesday’s July ArtWalk will be presented by Fidelity Investments and the company will be giving away bottles of water and other gifts at a booth in Hemming Plaza. Across Laura Street at the Main Library, the St. Johns River City Band’s Brass Quartet will perform patriotic music and a few blocks south at the Landing, jazz trumpeter Teddy Washington will be performing in the courtyard. Award-winning artist Ingrid Maturin will have her work on display at 122 Ocean: The Library which will also host a performance by the Spoken Word Workshop. ArtWalk begins at 5 p.m. rain or shine and is a program of Downtown Vision, Inc.
• Speaking of ArtWalk, it didn’t show up on the official agenda, but Chamblin’s Uptown on Laura Street is getting in on the act for the first time with a book signing by Jacksonville author Therese Tappouni, who has written four books including “The Promise.”
• You may think the temporary covered walkway around the JEA parking garage on Laura Street is part of the Haverty’s renovation. That would be wrong. JEA is in the process of renovating the exterior of the building it owns and wants to protect pedestrians.
• This week’s “Where are they now?” series features former Independent Insurance Group Chairman and CEO Wilford Lyon. In addition to his business involvement, Lyon was active in the community as president of the Gator Bowl Association, chair of the YMCA and many others. For more, see page 4.
• The Republican Party of Florida will open its “Jacksonville Victory Office” next Saturday at 9 a.m. State GOP chair Jim Greer will welcome fellow Republicans to the office, which is at 4963 Beach Blvd. Anyone with an RPOF bumper sticker gets free breakfast.
• Linda King, wife of State Sen. Jim King, is resting comfortably at Putnam Community Medical Center, in Palatka, after suffering a snake bite Tuesday evening. She stepped on the snake shortly after getting out of the car near the couple’s Welaka home. They were returning from dinner and Linda wasn’t able to see the water moccasin in the darkness. The date of her release was not available.
• Attorney Bruce Fletcher got an interesting phone call Thursday morning. The former chair of the Planning Commission was notified he was being recalled for that day’s commission meeting because several current members expected to be absent and that meant no quorum for the meeting. Former Planning Department Director Mike Saylor got a similar call. Two hours later, the phone rang again and Fletcher was informed the Office of General Counsel had decided he could not serve temporarily without his approval as an alternative commissioner by the mayor and the City Council. Ultimately, the crisis was averted as enough commissioners attended and the meeting was held as scheduled.
• Two awards were given out during Thursday’s City Council Installation ceremony. Council Member Bill Bishop was awarded the “Charlie Webb Award”, given each year for outstanding Council Member service. Alice Newman of the Mayor’s Office was given the “Bob Johnson Award” for being the City Employee of the year. The awards are named after Webb, a former Council Member, and Johnson, longtime City Auditor who had 35 years of service with the City.
• Also seen and heard from Thursday’s City Council Installation.... With the idea of a short ceremony, the event went just slightly over the hour mark... Technical problems cut Tim Davis’ rendition of “God Bless the U.S.A.” in half but he was given a standing ovation.