• Speaking of JU, tickets for the Athletics Hall of Fame class induction at the Arena April 18 have gone on sale. The night will honor former student-athletes Bill Jackson (soccer/baseball), John Petrakis (men’s rowing), Tommy Swindell (football) and Monique Tubbs (track and field), along with former JU play-by-plan man and current ESPN announcer Mike Patrick. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at judolphins.com. By the way, Patrick’s original last name was Fankhouser, and there’s no word on whether he’ll go into the JU hall as Patrick or Fankhouser.
• One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa celebrates its one-year anniversary in May and to mark the milestone the property is seeking local photographers interested in displaying their work in The Gallery at One Ocean. The first photographer chosen will have their work put on display beginning May 19, where it will remain through September. The call for entries is open to amateurs and professionals. Submission requirements are detailed in the call for entries, which is available online at www.oneoceanresort.com or by calling 249-7402.
• Karlene’s Deli & Bakery at the Landing is open for business. (At only three weeks after the new project was announced, that’s got to be a record.) So far the most popular items on the menu are the all-day breakfast, on-line ordering at www.karlenesdeli.com and free delivery to home or office Downtown.
• Joytel Wireless has moved out of its space in the lobby at Independent Square to consolidate data and communications operations at the Metropolitan Lofts on West Church Street. The phone number’s the same: 940-8858.
• Naval Station Mayport will host members of the armies and marines of several foreign countries April 25 as part of an amphibious demonstration. Military members from Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and the United States will participate in the demonstration.
• According to the latest update from the Police and Fire Pension Fund on the status of the Haverty’s Building renovations, the build-out of the interior is substantially complete. According to Pension Fund Executive Director/Administrator John Keane, the City should issue a Certificate of Occupancy the first week of May.
• The Cathedral Arts Project set a couple of records at its recent 5th Annual Spring for the Arts benefit. The event at Deerwood Country Club over the weekend raised a record $360,000 and was attended by 500, both eclipsing prior marks. The funds will continue to provide a means for the organization to provide its free after school programming in the visual and performing arts.
• It may take new Jaguar Sean Considine a little while to become familiar with Jacksonville, but he is very familiar with giving his time to help his community and looks forward to being a part of the Jaguars’ charitable efforts. He will host the Considine Cancer Classic in his hometown of Byron, Ill. June 29. The event was created to give back to his community and honor his friend, Amber Huber, who passed away shortly after being diagnosed with an atypical T-cell Lymphoma.
• The annual list of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers” by American Rivers, a river conservation organization, was recently released and the St. Johns River was nowhere to be found. In its similar list last year, the river ranked No. 6 with potential withdrawals and amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in the lower river basin cited as reasons.
• While the St. Johns River was able to avoid being on a negative list, Jacksonville managed to make it on to one that should make taxpayers take note. According to an MSN Real Estate article, Jacksonville ranked No. 6 in America’s tax friendliest cities. The criteria included income, property, sales and auto taxes.