• State Rep. Dick Kravitz was spotted in a Downtown sandwich shop Wednesday morning having a meeting. When ribbingly asked if the gathering was in the “sunshine,” Kravitz, who will soon leave office due to term limits, said, “I don’t have to worry about that anymore.” He added his new private sector career will be working with former City Council president Alberta Hipps’ consulting company, The Hipps Group.
• Fifth Third Bank is holding a community initiative Friday in Hemming Plaza. At 10:30 a.m. bank representatives will be on hand to talk about homeownership opportunities.
• At last week’s meeting, the Taxation, Revenue and Utilization of Expenditures Commission reviewed proposed legislation that would provide $430,000 to the Gator Bowl Association to make up for ticket sales the first three years of the ACC Championship game. The Commission voted 11-0 against the funding, saying it “is not a wise use of City resources at this time.”
• Speaking of the Gator Bowl Association, it’s holding its “Take a Child to the Game” program again this year. For $50, local corporations and individuals can purchase a ticket to the Jan. 1 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl and donate the ticket to a local children’s organization. Kids will then get transportation to the game and a healthy meal.
• An interesting note regarding the annual Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Trip, which is in Seattle this week: For the first time in years, there are no City Council members participating.
• Tickets for President-elect Barack Obama’s Jan 20 inauguration have yet to be released, but they’re already a hot item. Tickets are distributed by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to members of Congress with the intention of distribution to constituents – but due to the level of interest, all requests can’t be fulfilled. Both U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. have set up Web sites for people requesting tickets. Both Nelson’s (http://billnelson.senate.gov/2009inauginfo.cfm) and Brown’s (http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/inauguration_info.shtml) Web sites are now up and running. According to U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s Web site, requests have already fulfilled potential available tickets from his office.
• Ch. 47 anchor Dawn Lopez and Northeast Florida foster parent Joyce Andrews both received recognition during the recent Florida Coalition for Children’s annual conference. Both were nominated by Family Support Services of North Florida, with Lopez receiving the “One Person Can Make a Difference,” award for her part as host of “Jacksonville’s Children” and volunteer efforts. Andrews received the “Foster Parent of the Year” award for being a foster mother to more than 60 teenagers.
• Three new members have joined to the City’ Taxation, Revenue and Utilization of Expenditures (TRUE) Commission meeting: Joe Andrews, Steve Jarecki and Robert Jones. Andrews said he joined the Commission because one year ago he was part of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County and was interested. Jarecki has been a Jacksonville resident since 1989 and was in the Navy. Jarecki was also classmates with TRUE Commission Chair Palombi. “I’m a local tax attorney,” said Jones. “Hence my interest.” Jones added that he is interested in learning more about the City’s fiscal policies.
• Two Jacksonville residents have been reappointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities. Carol Ann Christopherson, president of Florida Service Dogs, Inc. and Remer “Chip” Wilson, assistant general counsel with the Department of Children and Families, were reappointed for terms that started Wednesday and end July 1.