• The Jacksonville Public Library will offer a reading program for children and teens this summer. Beginning June 1, Duval County residents ages 12-18 can volunteer at any library and participate in an essay contest for a chance to win a $700 college scholarship from George Koury & Associates Insurance. Children 6-12 years of age can attend story times and after reading five books can enter to win a bicycle courtesy of the Jacksonville Suns. Other programs are also available so for more information, visit your nearest library, call 630-2408 or log on to jaxpubliclibrary.org. Last year, more than 2,000 youngsters participated in the programs at the Main Library and 21 branches.
• Alan Mosley, the Chief Administrative Officer in the mayor’s office, has joined the Jaguars season ticket sales team. He sent an e-mail blast last week announcing a partnership with the team by which City employees can have the price of season tickets automatically deducted from their paychecks during the months between June and Sept. “What could be easier?” Mosley asked in the message.
• The City’s Animal Care and Control is looking for helping hands... and paws. All this month, the department is holding a supply drive for needy animals and is asking for everything from paper bags and catnip to stainless steel bowls and bird cages. Volunteers and donations are also needed, and items can be dropped off at the department or one of its marked bins such as the one found at the entrance of City Hall. For more information, go to www.coj.net/pets.
• Mosquitoes aren’t the only bugs invading Jacksonville soon, as the Museum of Science and History will be featuring “Insect Giants” as its main exhibit beginning May 23 and running all summer long. This isn’t just a bug collection – all the critters will be up to 600 times their actual size, handcrafted with internal computers that simulate the looks and sounds of each. The features were made Japan-based Kokoro, the same company that created the dinosaurs for last years “Dinosaurs & Ice Age Mammals” exhibit, said Jen Grimes, public relations manager for MOSH. For more information, go to www.themosh.com.
• Speaking of MOSH, as of Wednesday, general admission will no longer include Planetarium and Extreme Science Shows. Instead, seats passes for each show will be available for $1 at the front desk, and will be available the day of the show. “There have been a lot of cuts in funding and this is one way of trying to ease the burden,” said Grimes. “We’ve lost almost one-third of funding, so hopefully this doesn’t frustrate people. It’s just part of the cost of doing business.”
“It ought to be remembered by all that the Olympic Games more than 2,000 years ago started as a means of bringing peace between the Greek city-states. And if a war was going on, they called it off. I wish we were that civilized.”
– Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President