• Condolences to City Council member Bill Bishop and his family. Bishop’s daughter passed away over the weekend.
• U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, ranking minority member of the Senate Subcommittee on Seapower, has received the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. It is the highest civilian honor allowed by the Navy and was bestowed in recognition of Martinez’s service as a member of Congress and the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• If Jacksonville University can get by Florida Wednesday night in the NIT in Gainesville, school officials expect to play a home game in the Arena in the second round this weekend. The Dolphins would get the winner of Miami and Providence, who play on the Hurricanes’ home court.
• U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and Mayor John Peyton will host an economic stimulus summit Monday at the Florida Community College at Jacksonville Technology Center on West State Street. It will begin at 8 a.m. and attendees will be briefed by federal officials on the fine points of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and how it may impact Jacksonville. Admission is free, but space is limited. RSVP to 354-1652 to reserve a seat.
• Crawford Wilcox Optical on Adams Street is closed until further notice “for personal reasons.”
• The City is looking for volunteers for the 14th Annual St. Johns River Celebration cleanup event — which is part of the Florida Great American Cleanup — Saturday. Participants will pick up litter and debris from more than 20 riverfront locations from 8–11:30 a.m., followed by a volunteer appreciation event from noon–2 p.m. at Metro Park. Last year’s event had 1,334 volunteers who picked up more than 20 tons of bagged litter. For more information, go to www.coj.net, keyword St. Johns River Celebration.
• Coach’s Sports Bar at the Landing is no more. There’s a sign that says Karlene’s is “coming soon.”
• The Stanton High class of 1949 will mark its 60th anniversary this year. According to class president Clarence Von Bostick and reunion chair Alyce Lynch, a September cruise to the Bahamas is planned to celebrate the milestone.