• The Landing Book Store and Newsstand has closed its doors. There’s a sign out front that says “Thank you 2 all our customers.”
• Speaking of the Landing, the Orange Tree will open and serve its first hot dogs today in the food court.
• Jazzing the place up: City Hall is gearing up for the 2009 Jazz Festival that’ll be held on nearby Laura Street with framed pictures and posters in the first floor windows facing Hemming Plaza. You’ve got a couple weeks to see them, as the festival is held on Memorial Day weekend.
• Today’s meeting of the City Council Special Committee on Pension Sustainability has been canceled. The committee will next meet May 19 at 3 p.m. in Council Chambers.
• A law career of almost 60 years came to an end Friday for attorney John Paul Howard. The father of County Judge Sharon Tanner passed away at St. Vincent’s Hospital. “He loved practicing here,” said Tanner. Howard was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1950 and was a solo practitioner with expertise in business, elder, family and real estate law; wills, trusts and probate; and appellate practice. His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Johns Park Baptist at 4300 St. Johns Avenue.
• You can get to this year’s Jaguars games by car, bus, and... boat, but only if you hurry. The City’s Waterfront Management and Programming Division recently opened online registration for boat slip reservations for this fall’s games and are available on a first-come, first served basis. For pricing information and to register, go to www.jaxparks.com.
• Local insurance executive Fitzhugh Powell is urging elected officials to include American history and civics as part of the “No Child Left Behind Law.” According to Powell — who has contacted Mayor John Peyton, State Sen. Tony Nelson and U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, among others — the only mandatory academic requirements under the law are English, math and science.
• Looking for a lunchtime bargain? Juliette’s at the Omni Hotel is offering a “buy one lunch get one lunch free” dine-in special on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Wells Fargo plans to close it Baymeadows Way office and the layoffs will begin July 3. According to Vice President of Human Resources Stacey Eggers, 154 people will lose their jobs.
• The Taxation, Revenue and Utilization of Expenditures Commission meets Thursday at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers in the TRUE Commission’s regular monthly meeting.
• The next meeting of the Tourist Development Council is May 21 at 10 a.m. also in Council Chambers. Council President Ronnie Fussell chairs the TDC.