• According to a Landing representative, a formal agreement with Peterbrooke to put a chocolate factory and store in the riverfront mall hasn’t been reached yet. Also, don’t expect the long-planned Fuddruckers to happen any time soon. The developers say they are “waiting for the money” before completing the first-floor restaurant.
• Thursday’s quarterly Tourist Development Council meeting was the last for City Council President Ronnie Fussell as chair of the TDC. The next meeting isn’t until August and by then current Council Vice President Richard Clark should be Council president, therefore TDC chair. For his efforts as TDC chair, Fussell was given a plaque by Visit Jacksonville Board Chair Donald Harris.
• The Jacksonville Quarterback Club’s Captain for the 2009 football season is Drew Story and he has lined up an impressive list of speakers that includes Florida coach Urban Meyer and former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer. Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports writer and ESPN college football analyst Tony Barnhart will speak at the club’s August kick-off meeting.
• SMG, through its Web site JaxEvents.com, is trying to get fans to assist in luring one of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest names to Jacksonville. Makeup-clad KISS is having a fan-routed tour with destinations to be determined by online votes, with JaxEvents prompting site visitors to “Demand KISS in Jacksonville!” and vote. SMG manages the Arena, stadium, Baseball Grounds and other City-owned venues.
• The City of Jacksonville Recreation and Community Services Department public swimming pools will open for the summer season beginning tomorrow. City pools will be open on the weekends only until June 6, then will be open seven days a week through Aug. 14. Swimming pools associated with schools will be open weekends only, Aug. 17-21, to accommodate school swim practice.
• If you heard a lot of racket in the rain near the Ed Ball building Wednesday it probably came from debris shuttled down from several floors up via a tube slide into a parked dump truck on West Monroe Street. Remodelers were in and out of the building Wednesday working and the sidewalk around the corner of Monroe and Hogan streets was closed to pedestrians.
• The Blood Alliance is bringing a bloodmobile to the Hemming Plaza Market May 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Donors will be entered in a raffle to win one of two Nintendo Wii Fit gaming systems. Appointments are scheduled every 20 minutes but walk-ins are also welcome. A photo ID is required to donate. To schedule an appointment contact Tasha Tucker at 634-0303 ext. 225.
• RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds June 11. The RecruitMilitary Career Fair will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. All job seekers who have military backgrounds are invited to attend including veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves and military spouses. Firms offering opportunities include Bank of America, Delta Connection Academy, Military Sealift Command, National Oilwell Varco, Northrop Grumman, Schlumberger, SparkleWash, Target, Wackenhut Corporation, Westinghouse Anniston and Yuba Heat Transfer.
• The law firm of Marks Gray received the bronze level award for worksite wellness during the City’s inaugural fitness and well-being conference at the University of North Florida. Initially created as an initiative of Blueprint for Prosperity, the Jacksonville’s Healthiest 100 Award is now part of the Mayor’s Council on Fitness and Well-Being. Companies of all sizes and from any industry were encouraged to fill out an application highlighting worksite wellness programs and activities with company and employee participation.