• When Access Public Relations leased space on the second floor of The Carling on West Adams Street, the Arts Center Cooperative had to vacate the space the painters, sculptors and photographers had been using for their studios. They have found a new studio space at 111 E. Bay St. The bottom floor will be a second gallery location for the co-op, while the floor above the Ivy Ultra Bar will be converted into studios. If you were on the VIP list for Super Bowl XXXIX, you may remember it’s where Reebok held their parties. Or, if you had a new picture made for the Jacksonville Bar Association section in the 2008 Daily Record Professional Directory, the gallery is where you sat for your portrait.
• The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Law League four-sport season is over. Tritt & Franson won the softball title; Arnold Law Firm won season 1 in basketball while Heekin, Malin, Wenzel & New won seasons 2 and 3; Camerlengo & Brockwell won in flag football; and in golf there was tie between the team of Shawn Arnold and Rick Britton and Paul Dick and Kevin Hemphill.
• Speaking of the Law League, Arnold has retired as commissioner and is succeeded by Gordon Fenderson, who will serve during the 2008-09 season. For more on the league, contact Fenderson at 854-4222.
• Jacksonville Legal Aid is looking for pro bono lawyers to help out the developmentally disabled. Thousands of people are having their services reduced since the Agency for Persons with Disabilities changed to a tier system that sets caps for services to all but the most severely disabled.
• Openings: the new Holiday Inn at Jacksonville Beach next Tuesday and the Best Buy at the St. Johns Town Center on Oct. 3.
• The Beaches Trolley ended its run after Labor Day but the system carried more people than Jacksonville Transportation Authority officials expected. A total of 32,421 people were officially counted as riding the service from June 27–Sept. 1, blowing away JTA projections of just over 14,000. Studies are underway to look into potentially bringing back the service next year.
• Locked out: The first official Gator Bowl Association Committee meeting at the Stadium last week meant a “team” picture with all the 150 or so members who were present. It was taken outside in the stadium seats and went off without a hitch except for one thing: the door locked behind them. After a few minutes of waiting under the sun and several laughs, someone did manage to come to the rescue.
• Tidbits is expanding its operations and now you’re able to get their potato salad and chicken salad in Gate stations. Tidbits, the Hendricks Avenue eatery under I-95 on the Southside, will deliver fresh every day, says owner Clara LeBlanc.
• Mayor John Payton and Sheriff John Rutherford have been named the honorary co-chairs of the McCain/Palin 2008 Committee effort in Duval County. Co-chairs are the City Council’s Daniel Davis, Drummond Press owner John Falconetti and political consultant Susie Wiles.
• New single-family home permits issued in Northeast Florida totaled 349 in August, down 47 from July’s numbers, accpording to the local builders association.
• New commercial realtors at Cushman Wakefield: Buddy Register and Bob Retherford, who closed their Property services Inc. company.