• Regions Bank North Florida Area Executive Marty Lanahan can add a new title to her resume. She was recently unanimously elected chair of the Florida Transportation Commission for the year. The Commission was established in 1987 as an oversight into the performance, production and fiscal duties of the Florida Department of Transportation, with Lanahan first being appointed by former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2005. She was reappointed by Gov. Charlie Crist and will serve on the board until 2013.
• The City’s Chief of Staff Adam Hollingsworth was in Pasadena, Calif. at last night’s BCS national title game between Texas and Alabama. Hollingsworth is an Alabama grad.
• The Police and Fire Pension Fund has added two to its Advisory Committee. Sgt. Robert Burns III has been with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office since 2000 and Chief Jimmy Holderfield is chief of JSO’s Human Resources division.
• Here’s something that will put the growth of the United States in perspective. In 1810, the population was 7.2 million, a jump of 36.4 percent from 1800.
• The Jacksonville Port Authority has unveiled a traveling photography show called “Women of the Port.” It opened Wednesday at the Main Library and features photos of women who work various jobs at the Port. Other stops for the exhibit include the First Coast High media center, R. Roberts Gallery and Ponte Vedra High.
• It might not be a new year for City Council, but in the first meeting of the calendar year Tuesday, 31 new ordinances will be read into the record. And, there are 10 new resolutions. One of those resolutions will recognize the entire Gator Bowl Association for its success with last week’s Konica Minolta Gator Bowl.
• Speaking of those ordinances, three are high-budget items that have been on the agenda of the mayor’s office for a while. There’s $3.16 million for renovations to Friendship Fountain, $8.24 million for Metropolitan Park and $11.89 million for improvements to the Southbank Riverwalk.
• The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast was this morning, but along with it will come the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. 2009 Race Relations Progress Report. The report, now in its fifth year, examines progress in racial disparities and improvements in race relations.
• Thinking ahead: Yesterday in Tallahassee, the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, a group that helps state leaders and citizens prepare for Florida’s needs in the future, met to begin compiling its 2009 annual report and addressed technical, scientific, biological and economic impacts associated with oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. (via News Service of Florida)
• Correction- In the article “Vehicle advertising not just for buses anymore” in Wednesday’s paper it was incorrectly reported that vehicle wraps last 3-6 months. The product can last 3-6 years.
• The mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women is accepting nominations for the 2010 Women’s History Month Poster. Nomination forms can be found at www.coj.net. Deadline is Feb. 5. The 2009 honorees included Sandy Barata, administrative director of the department of pediatrics, University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville; Carol Hladki, director of police services, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; Dawn Lockhart, president and CEO, Family Foundations; and Roslyn Mixon Phillips, chief community officer and director of Recreation and Community Services Department, City of Jacksonville.
• A blood drive will be hosted by the Public Defender’s Office, 25 N. Market St., from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 22. The Public Defender’s Office is partnering with The Blood Alliance for the event and information and an appointment can be obtained by contacting Marleen Keehn at 630-1505 or www.thebloodalliance.com. A government issued photo ID is required to donate.
• The Jacksonville Sharks, an Arena Football 1 team, held its first open tryouts this morning at 8 a.m. at Plantation Park on Racetrack Road. The team’s first home game is April 16 against Orlando at the Arena. They open the season April 3 at Oklahoma City.
• Speaking of the Sharks, the team will also hold the final tryouts for its Shark Attack Dance Team beginning at noon in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods in the St. Johns Town Center Saturday. The tryouts are open to the public and more information is available by contacting Kimberly Newbern at 621-0700 or [email protected].
• The Art Center Cooperative on East Adams Street keeps a head count of people who come to the gallery during Art Walk. Even though the cold weather kept many people away Wednesday evening, the final tally of visitors was more than 500. They also sold a few paintings.