Spend your Memorial Day weekend in the heart of downtown with incredible jazz performers like Herbie Hancock, Natalie Cole and Eddie Palmieri. Other highlights of this year's Jacksonville Jazz Festival include Art in the Heart Downtown, Wine Down Brew Town Tasting Experience, Generation Next Youth Talent Competition, 'Round Midnight Jazz Jams, Sunday Jazz Brunch, a Jazz Jamboree through the festival streets and more.

Promising to deliver the “most complete, most transparent transition” ever, Mayor John Peyton stood on the steps of City Hall and welcomed his successor, Mayor-Elect Alvin Brown. Mayor Peyton and his senior staff spent all morning with Brown’s family – wife Santhea and sons Joshua and Jordan – and the new mayor’s transition team. 

On May 9, 2011, national recording band, Theory of a Deadman, filmed a music video in Downtown Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Actor Donal Logue (Blade, The Patriot and Zodiac) was featured in the video along with the band members. The video will air on MTV this summer.

After nearly 18 months of discussions with the Police and Fire Pension Fund, Mayor John Peyton and Peter Sleiman, chairman of the Police and Fire Pension Fund’s (PFPF) Special Committee on Pension Reform, announced today a pension reform plan that will save approximately $700 million over the next 35 years. The proposal will be presented to the full PFPF Board for consideration next Wednesday and requires approval by the Jacksonville City Council.

Activites and opportunities for fun with friends will be available across the city again this year for Jacksonville kids.  Click here for information on city-sponsored summer activities and camps for young people.

The City of Jacksonville's Blueprint for Prosperity committee has released its 2010 Blueprint Annual Report. The document provides a snapshot of the city's progress as measured against set benchmarks in nine key areas: education, infrastructure, leadership, economic development, quality of life, and racial opportunity and harmony.

Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and David Sanborn are among the jazz stars who will perform at the four-day jazz festival downtown, May 26-29.

Jacksonville City Council President Jack Webb (District 6) announced today the formation of a committee to review the nominations for the 2011 “Robert O. Johnson Good Government Award”.  The award was established by the Jacksonville City Council 2003 in honor of former City Council Auditor Robert O. Johnson.  Each year, the award is bestowed upon an employee who has demonstrated a sustained and significant contribution to the increased efficiency and effectiveness of the City of Jacksonville or its Independent Agencies.

The Jacksonville Maritime Museum has moved to a 9,000 sq. ft. first floor space inside the Jacksonville Landing. Previously located on the Southbank Riverwalk, the museum began the move in December and had its official grand opening on April 9, 2011.

At a brief ceremony immediately preceding the March 24th meeting of the City Council, Doyle Carter was sworn-in as the representative for District 12.  The oath of office was administered by Fourth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Donald Moran.  Council Member Carter’s wife Trish held the family bible, while daughter Heather and son DJ looked on.