• Look for a new, politically-based initiative from the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. It’s the Jacksonville Regional Political Leadership Institute and it’ll be under the JaxBiz umbrella. The non-partisan, nonprofit initiative is led by Preston Haskell with Ed Burr and Marty Fiorentino serving as vice chairs.
• Speaking of the Chamber, its big annual Business & Career Expo is May 27 at the Osborn Center from 3:30-5 p.m.
• Also, the Chamber will honor Council President Ronnie Fussell June 23 during its annual Council Appreciation Luncheon. This year it’s at the Wyndham and it’s invite-only.
• The City’s Director of Finance Mickey Miller has released the six-month budget review and forecast for the rest of the year. Miller is expecting just under $962 million in revenues and expenditures. However, he also says in his report there may be about a $15.8 million unfavorable variance which he attributes to “lower than anticipated revenues from the State” with most of the shortfall coming from low sales tax revenues ($10.7 million).
• Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is looking to make changes to 26 voting precincts in Jacksonville. According to Holland, the change will reduce the number of precincts without reducing the number of polling locations. The changes affect nine Council districts and also require Council approval.
• Add the Salvation Army to the list of those opposed to the City’s efforts to remove pay phones from sidewalks and parks.
• According to Players Championship Executive Director Jay Monahan and CEO Henry Hughes, this year’s tournament got the highest TV ratings in the past five years.
• The University of Georgia Alumni Association is collecting nominations for 100 Best Bulldog Businesses, a new program created to spotlight companies owned or operated by UGA alumni. The top 100 businesses will be revealed at the program’s inaugural event Jan. 30 in Atlanta. Nominations are being taken now through Sept. 30. To be considered in the program, an organization must have been in business for five years, have revenues of $100,000 or more for the last calendar year, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student. For information on entering a business, visit www.uga.edu/alumni.
• Following up last year’s strong ranking, Jacksonville again ranks No. 4 in Forbes.com’s “America’s Best Cities for the Outdoors” for 2009. Ranking criteria included spending per resident ($57), park land as a percentage of city (19.3 percent), Forbes.com recreation index rank (9th), average annual percentage of sunny days (63 percent) and days with unhealthy air quality (five days). Tampa again came in at No. 5, with Miami jumping from No. 21 in 2008 to No. 16.
• If you’ve ever thought about adoption, a seminar tonight at the University of North Florida might answer any and all questions you have. The “North Florida Partnership for Adoption: Building Relationships to Build Forever Families” free seminar will run from 6–8 p.m. at the school’s University Center and have neighborhood agencies, foster parent associations and private adoption attorneys available to lend assistance on the process.
• City Council will recognize Ch. 4 Chief Meteorologist George Winterling for his 47 years of service with a resolution commending his efforts at its May 26 meeting.
• Speaking of honors, 14 year-old Tony Hasberry II of the Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School, the county’s medical arts magnet school, will be recognized by resolution from Council for developing a new technique for suturing hysterectomy patients that shortens the time needed for the procedure and reduces the chance of complications. Hasberry developed the technique during his summer 2008 internship at the University of Florida’s Center for Simulation Education and Safety Research at Shands Jacksonville.