Michael Tanner of Tanner Bishop was sworn in Sept. 8 for a one-year term as president of The First District Appellate American Inn of Court. Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston conducted the swearing-in ceremony in Tallahassee at Dorothy B. Oven Park. Peter D. Webster of Carlton Fields in Tallahassee was sworn in as president-elect.
• The U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida Jacksonville Division announced a vacancy for a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan.
• The Save Jacksonville Public Libraries group plans to rally in front of at least four libraries, including the Main Library Downtown, from 2-3 p.m. today to protest proposed City Council budget cuts.
• The Murphy & Anderson law firm will move by early summer from the Bank of America Tower to a building the firm purchased in San Marco.
• GrayRobinson shareholder Sidney Ansbacher in Jacksonville was appointed vice chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources Constitutional Law Committee. He will act as program chair for national seminars and webinars concerning current environmental topics.
• The Jameson Inn hotel brand was ranked No. 1 in customer service for the first half of 2011 by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index among its segment of hotels. Peggy Owens is general manager of the Jameson Inn in Jacksonville along Bonneval Road. “Even in a struggling economy, our commitment to an excellent lodging experience is our overriding goal” she said.
• The eight-day Chevrolet Fireball Run rally race to raise awareness in the search for missing children, completed the first day of the race Sunday at George Moore Chevrolet. More than 40 teams are competing in the event, which began in Melbourne and ends in Gulfport, Miss. Competitors include exotic vehicles. The rally continues this morning as the fleet leaves.
• Dane Leslie of Watson Realty will spend another year as president of the local real estate association. The president-elect, Stephanie White, is moving to the Panhandle but she didn’t resign until too late — the bylaws require a 30-day notice to inform the membership so nominations can be made. The association’s nominating committee decided to ask Leslie to take another year so he was nominated and will be formally elected at the January installation of officers.
• Joey Farah has closed his barbecue restaurant on San Marco Boulevard and moved the smoker to his Southern Grill site on the Southbank. “The road construction was too much,” he said. “Money was pouring out of my pockets and nothing was coming in.”
• Former Jacksonville University Chancellor Fran Kinne lost a longtime friend last week when Flo Davis, widow of Winn-Dixie founder J.E. Davis, died. In Mrs. Davis’s waning years, Kinne would play the piano for her almost every night ... over the telephone.