• The City will spend about $200,000 over the next eight months to lobby the State government. The City will pay Tidewater Consulting and Southern Strategies $8,334 monthly to consult on the City’s behalf with the legislative and executive branches. Fiorentino and Associates was hired for a monthly fee of $5,556 to consult on changes to the State’s funding of its courts. The contracts run through Oct. 31.
• No cellular phones period at this year’s Player’s Championship. Tournament organizers tried to check the phones at the entrance last year but said it put too great a burden on volunteers at the gate. This year, patrons will be required to leave their phones in the car.
• The new face at the law firm of Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. is Michael Cavendish, a shareholder in the commercial litigation practice group.
• Mayor John Peyton recently sent letters to Clerk of Courts Jim Fuller, Supervisor of Elections John Stafford, Property Appraiser Jim Overton, Sheriff John Rutherford and Tax Collector Mike Hogan, supporting the modified Living Wage ordinance passed by City Council. Peyton said the ordinance would have “significant impact,” on the City’s relationship with temporary employees and said a plan for implementation would be developed over the next few weeks.
• Former National Football League All-Pro Johnny Rembert will be named the new athletic director at Edward Waters College during a news conference this morning. He replaces Bob Alan, who moves to a fund-raising position at the college. Rembert will oversee the activities of the athletic department, with fund-raising as his main responsibility.
• There apparently will be an overflow crowd for Thursday’s inaugural Hon. Ralph W. “Buddy” Nimmons Jr. CLE seminar at the U.S. Courthouse at Jacksonville. There’s some doubt that there will be enough space in the jury assembly room to handle everyone who wants to attend during the day, beginning with an 8:45 a.m. tribute to Judge Nimmons by U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger. Judge Timothy Corrigan will lead a lunch hour ethics discussion entitled “I can’t believe he said that,” culled from his experiences on the bench.
• The Safari Club’s “Sportsmen Against Hunger” will be serving a hearty evening meal of wild game stew today to residents of The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Lodge, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
• Neptune Beach residents shouldn’t be looking for a new Sonic restaurant anytime soon. The hamburger chain has yet to approach the City Council with its plans for the former May’s Dragon site, which it purchased several months ago.
• It might look like downtown is under attack today, but it’s only a drill. The Florida Department of Health and local emergency responders will simulate a bio-terrorist incident involving pharmaceutical stockpiles. The drill will be conducted at FDLE’s downtown headquarters and at the fairgrounds.
• State Senate president Jim King and developer Toney Sleiman are hosting a reception Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Beaver Street Enterprise Center to introduce local business executives to entrepreneurs at the center.