• A local Florida Trend list named the top general contractors in the area for the current year. The Haskell Co. tops the list with $740 million in revenue. Next is Stellar with $559.4 million.
• Speaking of Stellar, if you see theier employees today, you might be surprised to discover they’re wearing jeans. Don’t be jealous – it came with a price tag of $5. It’s part of the “Jeans for Donna Day” and all proceeds go to the Donna Foundation, which provides financial assistance for medical and living expenses to local women being treated for breast cancer.
• Football fans will have more room to walk on Bay Street as they make their way to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sunday to watch the Jaguars take on the Cleveland Browns. The stumps have been removed from the river side of Bay Street and the holes have been filled with cement.
• Speaking of football, Bourbon Bayou at the Landing is no more. It’s now Coaches Corner Sports Bar and the staff wears football jerseys instead of black dress shirts.
• It’s a bit away but you can start training on those StairMasters now: The Climb Jacksonville run up the 42 floors – 838 steps – of the Bank of America building to benefit the American Lung Association will take place Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. For more information go to www.climbjacksonville.org.
• Good news for Marty Senterfitt, the City’s director of emergency management. He was recently notified by the State Division of Emergency Management that the City’s comprehensive emergency management plan meets State criteria. The plan must now be adopted by the County Board of Commissioners within 60 days.
• If you’re around St. Clair Evans Academy (SCEA) on Oct. 29 at 9:15 a.m. you might witness the “Stomp Out Drugs” parade. The parade is being put on by SCEA students along with Raines High School, Northwestern Middle School, A. Philip Randolph Academy’s Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It’s part of National Red Ribbon Week which aims to raise awareness about drug abuse and prevention.
• Correction: The purpose of the Duval Delegation meeting on Nov. 24 is to elect a new chair and vice chair and take public testimony on general issues.
• Some changes at Bay Street Town Center. A new pizza joint will soon go in the space formerly occupied by Nicky G’s and Foolish Boutique has closed.
• City Council President Ronnie Fussell has moved another Council committee meeting due to the Nov. 4 general election. The Recreation & Community Development meeting is now Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers.
• The presidential debates might have concluded but McCain vs. Obama will be debated 6 p.m. Monday evening at the University of North Florida’s Robinson Theater. In the candidates place, though, will be Council member Kevin Hyde representing McCain and Terrell Hogan attorney Chris Hand representing Obama, with UNF President John Delaney acting as moderator.
• The Rose Agency, the men’s custom clothier on Laura Street, is moving. Owner Tim Rose said he has decided to consolidate operations at his shop in Atlanta and will close the Jacksonville showroom Dec. 5.