• State Rep. Aaron Bean, Dan Quiggle and former State House Speaker John Thrasher have all filed to to run for State Sen. Jim King’s seat. City Council member Art Graham filed several months ago.
• Speaking of elections, several incumbent State Representatives have filed for re-election. They include Janet Adkins, Jennifer Carroll, Mia Jones, Lake Ray and Doc Renuart. In Dist. 19, Democrats Matt Brackett and Larry Jones have filed to run against State Rep. Mike Weinstein. Also, former Council President Eric Smith has filed to run for the Dist. 6 School Board seat.
• East Bay Street between Newnan and Ocean streets will be closed Thursday afternoon. The Ivy Ultra Bar is hosting the 2009 Jacksonville Poker Run Kickoff Block Party that evening and the City needs time to set up for the Make a Scene Downtown event. Plan on seeing fast boats, exotic cars, live music and $1 beers.
• Thomas Ingram recently started his own law firm of Thomas O. Ingram, P.L. Formerly of Pappas Metcalf Jenks & Miller, Ingram specializes in the areas of land use, environmental law and government relations. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1998.
• Attorneys, judges and their families will have an opportunity to showcase their performing talents at the second annual “There Oughta Be a Law” Lawyer Variety Show. Open auditions have been set for June 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., June 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and July 11 10 a.m-2 p.m. The auditions will be at St. John’s Cathedral at 256 East Church Street. The variety show is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Terry Theater in the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts.
• Thirteen World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans will join the Class of 2009 as they receive their diplomas at graduation ceremonies in Duval County. Last month, the Duval County School Board approved a recommendation to allow Veterans to participate in Duval County graduation ceremonies or be honored at a monthly School Board meeting. The veteran or the veteran’s family (if deceased) must have voluntarily submitted an application to the Florida Department of Education/Division of Workforce Education to obtain their diploma. While local school districts are not involved in the process of awarding the diplomas, they may choose to recognize the recipients at local graduations or other ceremonies.
• After taking some of its bonds off the auction market and moving them to fixed rate markets for about 18 months, the Jacksonville Port Authority, according to spokesperson Nancy Rubin, is looking for a bank to assist with those bonds.
• Beaver Street Enterprise Center will mark its sixth-year anniversary this month. As part of its “The $ixth $ense of Business $uccess” Beaver Street will honor three graduating companies that have generated $9.5 million and created 217 jobs. The event is June 17.