• It’s Aug. 10 and there hasn’t been a named storm during the 2009 hurricane season. The last time we went this long? It was 1992, the same year Hurricane Andrew slammed ashore in South Florida as a Category 5 hurricane.
• The Jaguars honored all of their 15-year season ticket holders Saturday night, but one in particular stood out. Lisa Collins bought six season tickets Dec. 1, 1995 — the day after the NFL announced Jacksonville was getting a team — making her the first to own Jaguars tickets. Collins is the registrar at Florida State College at Jacksonville. The tickets were in Section 104 near the goal line on the Jags side of the field. In fact, she and her sister have the same tickets today.
• Attorney Michael Orr recently opened The Law Offices of Michael Fox Orr, P.L., located in the Blackstone Building at 233 East Bay St. Formerly of Marshall, Dennehey, Waner, Coleman & Goggin, Orr will continue to focus his practice on civil and commercial litigation.
• Council will get a formal introduction to new Jacksonville Aviation Authority Executive Director/CEO Steve Grossman before Tuesday’s full Council meeting.
• Speaking of Council, Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland has put his legislation to change the dates of local elections into the form of a J-Bill (Local Bill J-1) that will be introduced tomorrow night. Council member Don Redman is the official sponsor of the legislation, which would amend six sections of the City Charter and change the date the mayor, Council and the five Constitutional Officers take office.
• Speaking of Holland, he’s sponsoring legislation that sets the dates of the special elections to fill the Council seat currently occupied by Art Graham, who is looking to replace State Sen. Jim King, who recently passed away. Qualifying will be from noon Aug. 24 to noon Aug. 25 followed by a Sept. 15 primary and an Oct. 6 general election, if it’s needed. There will be one week of early voting. Graham represents Dist. 13, which includes the Beach and parts of the Southside area.
• So far three people have filed to run for Graham’s seat: Atlantic Beach Mayor John Meserve, Richard Pait and Dave Smith and they qualify two ways. One, turn in 117 signed petitions or by qualifying fee: $2,700 for a partisan candidate and $1,800 for a non-partisan candidate.
• Michael Barker has joined the Jacksonville office of the national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson. Barker joins the office as a partner and brings experience representing clients in the real estate, construction, banking and hospitality industries in both transactional and litigation matters. The Jacksonville native is board certified in construction law.
• ARRA update: The City was notified last week that more American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds are on the way. A federal stimulus grant for $500,000 will be used to recruit and train Jacksonville residents in toxic ash-impacted areas to clean up their neighborhoods to meet environmental regulations. The City has partnered with Florida State College at Jacksonville to train the recruits
• The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s 60th anniversary season opens Sept. 18-20 with a concert-staged production of “Oklahoma!” featuring the cast from the Alhambra Dinner Theatre. Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” narrated by actor Clifton Davis opens the Fidelity National Financial Masterworks Series Sept. 25-26. For the complete season schedule and ticket information visit www.jaxsymphony.org.
• With the recent completion of the I-95 Trout River Bridge and other projects in the area, the Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin the landscaping of the area beginning with a proposal to construct perimeter walls — but not before the public has a chance to weigh in. Such walls are 8-10 feet high within FDOT rights-of-way and intended to shield the highway from adjacent properties. A public information meeting on the proposed walls is Aug. 25 at the Bradham Brooks Northwest Library at 4:30 p.m., with public comment scheduled for 6:30 p.m.