• Kudos to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Principal Jackie Cornelius said she received a call Friday from The Grammy Foundation notifying her the school has been selected as the “Best High School Music Program in America.” The recognition includes a $5,000 grant. Cornelius said more than 450 students study in the public magnet school’s music department. The California-based foundation announced that Douglas Anderson is the 2010 National Grammy Signature School, followed by another 11 schools nationwide who won other honors.
• Unemployment in Duval County rose to 11.35 percent in February from 11.2 percent in January, according to state numbers adjusted for seasonality by the Local Economic Indicators Project at the University of North Florida. On Friday, the state reported the Duval unemployment rate was 12.6 percent in February and 12.7 percent in January, but those rates are actually lower when adjusted for seasonal effects when making comparisons between months. Duval’s unemployment rate was an adjusted 8.2 percent in February 2009, said UNF economist Paul Mason. To subscribe to the local indicators, visit www.leipjax.org.
• Update on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The Food Network show featuring Guy Fieri stopped by Sun Dog Diner, Metro Diner, Culhane’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 13 Gypsies and Singleton’s Seafood Shack in February and those stops should be aired starting in May. The locations will be spread out among multiple episodes and are expected to air any time from early May through summer.
• Speaking of local eateries, the recent menu addition of chicken and waffles has been a hit at the Metro Diner.
• One of Jacksonville’s oldest cemeteries, Oaklawn Cemetery and Funeral Home, is growing. It recently broke ground on a 9,000-square-foot center that will feature a chapel, visitation areas and staff offices. Services won’t be interrupted during construction, which should be completed in November.
• Details of this year’s Jacksonville Jazz festival will be released Wednesday during a news conference at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, including a first look at the 2010 commemorative poster. Mayor John Peyton, Council member Michael Corrigan and Visit Jacksonville Board Chair Dan King are slated to take part in the event. The festival will be May 27-30.
• Public education is the program this week at the Arlington Newcomers’ Club. Deborah Gianoulis Heald will talk about the grassroots “Save Duval Schools” effort to lobby for public funding. The Newcomers’ club, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Casa Marina at 691 First St. in Jacksonville Beach. For information or reservations, call Patricia Stanley at 646-1974.
• Teenage girls are invited to learn about entrepreneurship at the University of North Florida. UNF will host the Fifth Annual Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 at the UNF University Center for girls from 15 to 18 years old enrolled in high school. The free conference includes breakfast and lunch. Only 100 applications will be accepted. Forms can be downloaded at www.sbdc.unf.edu. For information, call Marice Hague at the center at 620-1071 or e-mail [email protected].
• This year’s ExZOOberation annual adult gala is scheduled April 17. It’s the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s largest fundraiser, raising more than $2.2 million the past 14 years. “Party with the Penguins” is this year’s theme. Tickets start at $175. The event includes auctions, entertainment and animal encounters. For more information, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org.
• Look for a couple of big ships to make stops at Mayport soon. According to Capt. Aaron Bowman, commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport, the USS Independence will be in port this week. Also, a German frigate, the SMS Hessen, will spend some time at Mayport.