• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office recently added 37 new corrections officers to the staff. Each graduate completed 552 hours of training and needs to put in 50 days of field training. They will be assigned to either the Pre-Trial Detention Facility or the Montgomery Correctional Center.
• Speaking of JSO, it has also added 23 new Police Emergency Communications Officers. Each spent seven-and-a-half months learning dispatch and receiving techniques.
• U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown sent Mayor John Peyton a calendar featuring Congress and there was a photo for the mayor: Brown with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle.
• Cindy Edelman is the new chair of The Community Foundation’s board of trustees. Edelman has been a trustee since 2003 and succeeds Dan Rice.
• Speaking of The Community Foundation, through donors the organization has established 13 new funds this year. Two of note are the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Senior to Senior Endowment and the Jacksonville Symphony Association Endowment Fund.
• If you attend the Jan. 1 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl and play golf, TPC Sawgrass has a good deal for you. Bring your ticket stub from the game to the course Jan. 2 or 3 and you get $50 off a round at Dye’s Valley Course.
• The City’s Office of Military Affairs is looking to secure over $134,000 for outside consulting and advocacy. Harrison Conyers of the Military Affairs office said the money helps pay for lobbying in Washington, D.C. that’s vital to keeping planes at NAS Jacksonville and ship at Mayport. The fund requires City Council approval.
• Wednesday the U.S. Census Bureau released its final population estimates prior to the 2010 Census which will be taken in March and Florida has placed fifth in terms of population growth between July 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009. The top finishers with population gained: Texas (478,000), followed by California (381,000), North Carolina (134,000), Georgia (131,000) and Florida (114,000).
• The Museum of Science & History’s new spring exhibit, “A-mazing Sea” opens Jan. 30. From 9 a.m.-noon the museum will also host the “Moon Walk Launch Party.” Anyone who registers that day for MOSH’s inaugural “Moon Walk” will receive free admission to MOSH for the day. “Moon Walk,” scheduled for April 23, is a 1.5-mile walk to raise money for space science education programming. Also, each Wednesday when school is in session students receive 50 percent off regular admission prices. Reduced rates are $4 for students 3-12 and $5 for students 13 and over. For details, call 396-MOSH.