• The Council Auditor’s Office recently released a report on the City’s Public Buildings Division. According to the report, the custodial services and security services are both being administered in an “efficient and effective manner.” However, there are issues with operating supplies and building maintenance. According to the report, one of the biggest issues is “no physical inventory count is performed on a regular basis.”
• Cornerstone, the marketing arm of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Enterprise Florida Inc. are teaming up today with government, business, education and economic development leaders to game plan for the state’s economic future. The planning workshop is being held at World Golf Village and the ideas and recommendations that come from it will be used to enhance the “Roadmap to Florida’s Future: The 2007–12 Strategic Plan for Economic Development” study being developed by Enterprise Florida.
• Speaking of the Chamber, chairman Mike Hightower is the guest speaker at Friday’s Sales & Marketing Council meeting at the University of North Florida. SMC is the marketing division of the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
• Speaking of UNF, the school is showing off its newest digs during an open house for its College of Education and Human Services Building June 24 from 3–5 p.m., with President John Delaney speaking during the event.
• Lee Brown will take over as chair of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Forward during the organization’s annual meeting June 24 at Theatre Jax in San Marco. Brown owns Eleven July, an arts and entertainment promotions company. He’ll succeed outgoing chair Marcus Haile. JCCI Forward will also introduce its next executive committee.
• For those who want to voice their opinions in person on the City’s charter and what changes should or shouldn’t be made, June 30 is the day. That’s the Charter Review Commission’s next — and first working — meeting, which is also a public hearing. The general public is invited to attend and provide comments during the 4–6 p.m meeting at City Hall.
• Tonsor full-service men’s barbershop at The Carling is open for business. Owner and barber Joe Berardino is originally from Queens, New York and came to Jacksonville via Ft. Lauderdale. He said the shop will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Jordan Center was at the Supervisor of Elections Office Downtown yesterday filing to run for the Duval County School Board Dist. 6 seat. He’s a retired Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office helicopter pilot.
• Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew and Thomas Williams are among 24 current and former NFL players who have signed up for the annual Broadcast Boot Camp June 22-25 at NFL Films in New Jersey. Former Jaguar Kyle Brady is also participating in the seminar. They’ll learn about all aspects of radio and television broadcasting as they explore a possible post-football career. The program is directed by the NFL Broadcasting Department and covers a range of topics with instructors from each of the NFL’s broadcast partners — CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Westwood One Radio. Of the 40 players who took part in the Broadcast Boot Camp in 2007 and 2008, 21 have earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their participation in the program.
• Here’s an odd pairing from City Council e-mails — the new Ford Taurus and wine. Ford Motor Company has invited members of Council to view the 2010 Ford Taurus at The Grape at St. Johns Town Center on Monday from 4-7 p.m. Wine tasting and live entertainment will also be available.
• The king may have left the building, but Smoothie Break is serving up fruit smoothies and other healthy snacks in San Marco Square. The store is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.