• The Executive Committee at the Omni Hotel has two new staff members: Director of Human Resources Renee Sparkman previously worked for Ritz Carlton Amelia Island and the hotel’s new Director of Finance, Mike Palloto, was previously posted at the Omni CNN Center in Atlanta.
• Today marks the 72nd birthday of the Police and Fire Pension Fund. It was started June 3, 1937 with zero assets.
• Former School Board member Martha Barrett has resigned from the Mayor’s Council on Fitness & Well Being. Barrett cited other commitments, which now include being a member of the City’s Charter Revision Commission.
• State Rep. Mia Jones will hold a public update on the recent legislative session Thursday and June 11. Tomorrow’s meeting from 6-8 p.m. is at the auditorium of Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s North Campus. Next week’s meeting is also from 6-8 p.m. in the auditorium of FCCJ’s Kent Campus. Jones represents Dist. 14.
• The mayor’s schedule doesn’t include time for dancing. The next edition of Jacksonville’s version of “Dancing with the Stars” is taking shape, but Peyton has declined to participate (even after an offer of lessons at City Hall) in the November fundraiser. But, so far, the Ch. 12/25 morning team has committed as has Miss Jacksonville 2008, Laurie Snyder.
• The Clara White Mission Culinary Arts and Janitorial Program will graduate another class during a June 12 ceremony at St. Johns Cathedral.
• In other Clara White Mission news, President and CEO Ju’Coby Pittman-Peele is looking towards the mayor’s office for help. According to Pittman-Peele, funding cuts will likely assure a 15 percent reduction in the number of meals the Mission will serve in fiscal year 2009-10 thanks to a 21 percent reduction in funding from the City’s Public Service grant program.
• Behind the educational curtain: The Graduate School at the University of North Florida will be holding its first annual Doctoral Research Symposium Saturday from 1– 4 p.m. at the University Center. The event is a chance for the academic community to showcase and discuss their doctoral research and will include round-table discussions on methodology and research proposals.
• Harry’s at the Beach is closing. The longtime Third Street restaurant is next to where the new Mellow Mushroom is opening. No word on what might replace Harry’s.
• Motivational speaker Pegine Echevarria will give her first public seminar in 14 years June 23 at Courtyard by Marriott in Orange Park. For more info, call 280-8806.
• Expect City Council President-elect Richard Clark to make his committee appointments in the near future. He said the biggest challenge is working around Council members’ availability.
• The bookstore at the Landing is still open, but an employee says not for much longer. Everything in the store is 60 percent off the marked price. Used bookstore owner Ron Chamblin has purchased the remaining inventory.