• Don Moran has been re-elected to another term as chief judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He was elected by the other judges in the circuit and his two-year term begins July 1.
• The mayor’s office may not be in favor of putting the Trail Ridge Landfill contract out to bid, but the City is taking bids on a new scale at the facility. Bids are due to the City’s Procurement Department Feb. 25.
• Speaking of the City, its IT Department has issued its first “TechValue” internal newsletter. The three-page newsletter highlights the department’s major accomplishments with an accompanying code to indicate how those accomplishments helped the City.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2009 board of directors, which includes: Chamber Chair Mike Hightower, Chair-elect Kelly Madden of Wachovia; Treasurer Cindy Stover of Mercantile Bank; Vice Treasurer Rick Cox of Fidelity National; Gen. Counsel John Thrasher of Southern Strategy Group; and Immediate Past Chair Ron Autrey of Miller Electric.
• With weather in the mid-20s for much of the night, Wednesday’s ArtWalk didn’t attract as many people as usual, according to several regular participants. The next First Wednesday ArtWalk is scheduled for March 4.
• Northwest Jacksonville is the first testing ground for the Building a Health Community – Childhood Obesity Prevention Project from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida. The group is the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. The effort will bring educators, parents, business and religious leaders together to make changes that will help children eat healthier and regularly exercise. The program is led by War on Poverty – Florida, Inc. and is funded in part by a $100,000 grant from The Blue Foundation
• JTA will soon begin its Bus Rapid Transit North Corridor Environmental Assessment. The project is an environmental review of the planned 10.5 mile BRT planned for north of Downtown. The corridor will include, among other things, branded bus stations, priority signals and currently unused lanes.
• Pet lovers will have the chance to create a special Valentine’s Day Card during a fundraiser for First Coast No More Homeless Pets. The City of Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Control Department is teaming up with Dailey Photography to produce the 4x6 Valentine’s Day pictures for $15 Saturday at the Adoption Center in Mandarin at 10501-2 San Jose Blvd. from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. All proceeds will got to First Coast No More Homeless Pets. Also, license fees will be waived on any pet adopted that day.
• Animal Care and Control is also offering specials for senior citizens and canines. Potential pet owners who are 55 years or older are eligible for a no-cost adoption for senior dogs six years old or older and senior cats three years old or older. Anyone younger than 55 may adopt senior pets for one-half the regular adoption rate of $95, which includes a license.
• Road work that has recently coned off and bogged down lanes of traffic on Riverside Avenue between Post Street and the I-95 overpass should be completed by the end of February. The work has already resulted in a new stop light that’s not yet functional, in front of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
• David Josserand, executive vice president at the Dalton Agency, rang the bell to open trading this morning at the NASDAQ stock market in New York City. He’s also National Board Chairman of the American Heart Association and his invitation was part of promoting the “Go Red” campaign, AHA’s initiative to save women’s lives.
• The Jacksonville Children’s Commission will host “The 7 Habits of Successful Families in Jacksonville,” a series of workshops designed to help families learn positive habits, set realistic goals and establish priorities. The program is based on Dr. Stephen Covey’s book “7 Habits of Effective Families.” The first two-session program will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 17 and Feb. 19. Three more opportunities are available through the last week of March. The workshops are free of charge but each is limited to 20 participants. For details, visit www.jaxkids.net or call 630-3647.
• The inaugural First Coast Kids Triathlon is May 2-3 at the University of North Florida. Children ages 6-10 years may enter to swim in the UNF pool, bike on a closed course and finish with a cross-country run. Organizers are currently seeking corporate and private sponsors for the event. Call Mandy Gildersleeve at 613-0502.
• Flutist Lisa Schroeder and classical guitarist Michael Nigro, faculty members at Vanguard University in California, will make a stop in Jacksonville as part of their national tour. They will present a concert focused on South American composers Feb. 17 in the Hicks Auditorium at the Main Library. The program will begin at 6:15 p.m. and admission is free.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida will head into March like a Lamm. Jacksonville sports radio pioneer David Lamm will lend his time and energy to the children’s organization to launch its “Sports Buddies” program. Jill Johnston, manager of the organization’s Public Relations and Stewardship, said the program will help match kids with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters through common interest in sports. Johnston hopes to get area athletes involved with the program.
• Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Shannon Miller will be on hand Saturday to inspire participants in the American Lung Association of Florida’s Climb Jacksonville race. Cheryl Pearson of the Lung Land Climbers team is the top fundraiser as of Thursday evening. She has raised $2,205, which is close to her goal of $2,500.