• The latest Jacksonville Community Council Inc. annual study, “Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville’s Future”, will be publicly released June 10 at the Main Library. The study took more than eight months of research, discussion and decision-making of volunteers of the practice and will have findings, conclusions and recommendations for financial improvement.
• The 2009 Jacksonville Jazz Festival has come and gone, but fans can still own a part of the show. Attorney and artist Thomas Farrell’s acrylic painting “Trio Jax” was chosen as the official image of the Jazz Festival and was reproduced on posters, buttons and banners. The original painting is now available for sale. Farrell can be contacted at 388-8870.
• Hanging up his pith helmet: Today is Mike O’Brien’s last day as a Downtown Ambassador. He’s been on the job for four years and a familiar face (with the silver mustache) at Downtown Vision, Inc.’s kiosk at the Friday Hemming Plaza Market and lately watering the streetscape flower baskets. O’Brien said he is “going fishing” but don’t be surprised if you see him Downtown occasionally even though he’s retired from ambassador service.
• Speaking of DVI, First Wednesday Art Walk next week will feature photographs taken by children living in LISC Jacksonville neighborhoods as well as graphic illustrations by students at the Art Institute Jacksonville. There will also be tango performances in Hemming Plaza courtesy of the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association and complimentary half-hour river cruises aboard the Jacksonville Princess. Art Walk is from 5-9 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month rain or shine.
• The Sulzbacher Center has named the following new members to its board of directors: Pamela S. Chally, dean of the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida; Rev. Deborah M. Jackson, canon for Liturgy and Administration at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral; Rev. Willie C. “Pete” Jackson II, senior minister, Westside Church of Christ; Heather Surface, owner, Surface Communications LLC; and Gary S. Whitmore, partner, ACG LLC Advisory Services.
• In the new issue of Florida Trend magazine, the top 350 public and private companies in the state are listed. Locally, CSX and Winn-Dixie come in at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively on the public company list. The ranking is determined by revenue last year and topping the list is Clearwater-based Tech Data, with revenues of $24 billion. On the private side, Crowley Maritime (No. 12) and Gate Petroleum (No. 16) are the only two local companies in the top 25. Tops in the state is Publix Super Markets with revenues of $24.1 billion.
• Speaking of Florida Trend, the magazine also reports that even with a 25.4 percent drop in compensation compared to 2007, CSX CEO Michael Ward is still the top paid public CEO in the state with a total compensation of $12.4 million. Peter Lynch of Winn-Dixie is No. 6 at $5.6 million.