• Boaters beware. Before the official start of boating season May 22, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will issue a verbal warning to boaters traveling on the St. Johns River through Downtown. The warning will take place at a press conference at 10 a.m. April 23 on the fire docks behind Kids Kampus. The City was notified that manatee deaths during boating season last year exceeded acceptable limits and this will trigger a stricter enforcement of no-wake zones, said Sgt. Leonard Propper of JSO’s Marine Unit.
• Speaking of boating, the City of Jacksonville will team with the Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard to welcome the official opening of boating season from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22 and May 23 at the Sisters Creek Joe Carlucci Boat Ramp. The Coast Guard will conduct its life preserver program. Vessel safety inspections will be conducted as well as flare and search and rescue demonstrations.
• The ballots are out for the 2010 inductees to the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame. Notables from the Florida ballot include former coach Doug Dickey and players Nat Moore, Scott Brantley, Wilbur Marshall and Jacquez Green. Georgia notables include Rex Robinson, Knox Culpepper, Richard Seymour, Zeke Bratkowski and David Greene. Two from each team will be inducted during the Oct. 29 ceremony.
• Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland will ask that legislation be drafted to eliminate 11 polling locations in Duval County. According to Holland, those who own or operate the polling locations within the voting precinct have indicated they “will no longer be available as a polling site.” Those precincts will be relocated.
• The Ad Hoc Financial Impact Statement Committee meets at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Conference Room B of the Council offices. The committee includes Council President Richard Clark, Council Auditor Kirk Sherman, CFO Mickey Miller, Peggy Sidman of the Office of General Counsel and a fifth member chosen by those four. The group will meet to discuss the financial impact of moving next year’s City elections from spring to fall.
• Another “Off the Grid” artist is moving into the Landing. Lamar Smart will have his studio and gallery open on the first floor by the May 5 First Wednesday Art Walk. It’s near the Visit Jacksonville welcome center.
• Joe Berardino, owner of the Tonsor barber shop at The Carling on West Adams Street, has hired a new barber who starts Monday. That will allow the shop to offer classic, old-fashioned straight-razor shaves in the chair. The facial is optional and no appointment is necessary.