• Akerman Senterfitt and Katz, Kutter, Alderman & Bryant, P.A. have agreed to merge, creating one of the largest law firms in Florida. Katz Kutter Alderman & Bryant has offices in Tallahassee, Orlando, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Akerman Senterfitt has offices in Miami, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. The merger will create a firm of 415 attorneys.
• There’s been an unexpected drawback to opening the east and west entrances at City Hall. Cigarette smoke is blowing into the hallways and offices just inside the doors, fouling the air. One worker keeps two cans of air freshener handy to combat the lingering smoke.
• The general manager for Tama Broadcasting, Inc., a minority–owned company that oversees several local radio stations, recently requested a meeting with Mayor John Peyton to discuss a larger role in the upcoming Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The company was invited to participate in the Piano Competition preceding the festival, but not the festival itself. “Is it acceptable for the City to have a major event (Jazz Festival) and omit Jacksonville’s only jazz station?” asked Linda Davis–Fructuoso.
• The location manager for feature film “The Manchurian Candidate” commended City park managers Claudia Waldo and Cristopher Winterman and Director of Military Affairs Dan McCarthy for help in shooting scenes for the film. Leah Soklowski told Mayor Peyton that noise from naval helicopter traffic would have made filming at Huguenot Memorial Park “impossible.” Soklowski said McCarthy helped divert the overhead traffic, allowing the film to shoot.
• Now that the City has taken over the Snyder Music Hall, former home of the St, Johns River City Band, developer Mike Langton has asked the City to review the use of a large air conditioning compressor in the building’s alley. Not only is the compressor an eyesore, Langton told mayoral aide Susan Wiles, but it makes so much noise that tenants in Langton’s neighboring W.A. Knight Building can’t sleep. Langton said three of the four loft tenants within range of the noise are not renewing their leases. The noise has stopped temporarily since electricity has been shut off to the building.
• Jacksonville University will dedicate on March 1, its new NROTC Building in the name of Tillie K. Fowler. A former U.S. representative and current Holland & Knight attorney, Fowler is leading a lobbying effort against Florida base closures.
• nGen Works on the Southbank won the Best of Show ADDY award for its animated Halloween e-card, which was distributed to clients and potential clients. The company won 10 other awards, including four golds and six silvers.
• After meeting with City Council members Sharon Copeland and Suzanne Jenkins, Council president Lad Daniels agreed to slightly alter the Council’s budget priorities for the next fiscal year. Now, the Council’s top objective will be to help keep local military bases, including NAS Jacksonville and NADEP, open.