• The Christmas tree at the Landing will be in the courtyard for a while longer. The company that erected the artificial tree also has to disassemble it and their workers are currently busy taking down a similar display at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Landing officials don’t expect the crew to arrive in Jacksonville before Monday. Until then, the tree will be lit each night, but no more dancing light shows — the last one of those was at midnight New Year’s Eve.
• Charles Wilson, president of Elks Building Partners which owns The Elks Building on Laura Street, has asked City Council President Ronnie Fussell to help push the planned Laura Street improvement project. Wilson says the project will help increase foot traffic in the area and could help convert the Laura Street Trio — which he calls “eyesores” — into productive buildings.
• International rugby action returns to Jacksonville on Jan. 17 with the Rhinos Stampede 2009. The World Champion Leeds Rhinos return to Jacksonville to face the National Champion Salford City Reds at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida. Gates open at 1 p.m. and general admission tickets are $10 per person. For more information, go to www.jaxaxe.com.
• The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has several shows coming this winter, including the National Team Roping League Finals Jan. 29-Feb. 3. Annually, this event is the largest roping competition held east of the Mississippi River. The public is invited and admission is free. Other events on the schedule include the Sunshine State Alpaca Expo Feb. 6-8 and the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Competition Feb. 19-22. For details, visit www.jaxevents.com.
• There was one wrong turn in the directions to the Carmike Amelia Island 7 Theatre reported in the Thursday article titled “Small theatre hosts big show.” After turning right onto Sadler Road from Hwy. 200/A1A, turn left at the next light onto South 14th Street and follow the road for about a mile. The theatre is on the right.
• Also, the the date of the “MS Mud Run” in the Dec. 23 Nonprofit News was wrong. It’s Feb. 28.