• There is visible progress these days on the Atlantic Boulevard/Kernan Boulevard overpass. Pilings are going in the ground and temporary lanes have been paved.
• Bob Dallari, chair of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners, is hoping last Monday’s decision by the St. Johns Water Management District to allow Seminole County to withdraw water from Yankee Lake puts an end to the issue. Dallari, in a letter to Mayor John Peyton, said he realizes the City may “seek recourse,” but he’d like both parties to instead focus on the health of the river. “We share commitment to protecting the river and we share the need to provide for our people,” he said.
• Someone sold what turned out to be a book borrowed from the Jacksonville Public Library at Chamblin’s Uptown one day last week. After becoming suspicious, the store’s staff contacted the library’s security department which provided a list of other books currently on loan to the individual. When the seller returned to attempt another illegal transaction, as luck would have it, there was a police officer in the book store, who was summoned to the cashier counter. The perpetrator was questioned and arrested as a result of the investigation.
• This summer Douglas Anderson School of the Arts will mark its 50th graduating class with a reunion June 12-14 at the Marriott Southpoint. If you graduated in the class of 1959 and need more information, call Barbara Flynn-Tolliver at 282-8879.
• The bells ringing at First Presbyterian Church on East Monroe Street had an interesting repertoire Thursday morning. The playlist included “We Shall Overcome” followed by “God Bless America.” The bells, which are actually recorded on CD and broadcast on loudspeakers, sound every 15 minutes throughout the day during the week and on Sunday.
• Dr. Steven Wallace, president of Florida Community College at Jacksonville, is getting serious about his role as a competitor in Learn to Read’s “Kiss the Pig” contest. Wallace sent out letters seeking votes/dollars and reminded everyone their donations are tax deductible. The deadline to vote/contribute is May 1 with the winner kissing a real pig at the May 3 Jacksonville Suns game.
• The Law Offices of Lee Lockett is changing places from its current 4741 Atlantic Blvd. location to a bigger office at the Riverfront Professional Center at 644 Cesery Blvd. It will continue to practice in the area of criminal defense, family and appellate law, said Lockett, and the locale change was due to needing additional space.
• Joe Louis Barrow Jr., CEO of The First Tee and executive vice president of the World Golf Foundation, has been elected to the Baptist Health Board of Directors. He has served on the Baptist Medical Center Downtown Board of Director since 2006 and will continue to serve on that board. Barrow has worked in the Jacksonville community since 2000, when he was named executive director of The First Tee. He was later promoted to chief executive officer of the organization. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a job fair Wednesday and Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. The Jacksonville District of the Corps is hiring several professionals for positions throughout Florida. Experienced civil engineers, biologists, project managers, contract specialists, lock & dam operators, lock & dam mechanics and construction representative technicians are invited to attend. Visit www.cpol.army.mil for specific vacancy announcement information.