• U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw says he’s bullish on keeping our military bases open as the Federal government starts another round of closures. The stated goal is to close 25 percent, which sounds bad because we have four installations, but Crenshaw says that Mayport, NAS, Blount Island and the Navy Depot at NAS are all vital and should withstand any test. Crenshaw made the remarks Monday to the Rotary Club of Jacksonville at the Omni.
• The board of directors of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association approved a resolution last week, supporting either Judge Waddell Wallace or attorney Christine Milton to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District. Both of the candidates were recommended by the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. A similar resolution was approved Feb. 12 by the Jacksonville Bar Association. Both resolutions were sent to the president, Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sens. Bob Graham and Bill Nelson. The vacancy was created by the death of Judge Ralph W. Nimmons.
• Tax Collector Mike Hogan told Mayor John Peyton that his office was ready to comply with proposed requirements on the City’s treatment of temporary employees. Hogan said he has opposed the “City’s long time abuse” of the temporary employment status and said his first policy change after taking office was to promote every qualified temporary employee to full–time status. Temporary status, he said, should only be used to evaluate a new employee’s skills and abilities.
• The Small Business Center will hold an open house and ceremony for inductions into the Wall of Success Thursday at Gateway Shopping Mall. The Small Business Center provides comprehensive support, training and assistance to anyone in the Jacksonville region who wants to start or expand a small business. The open house will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.; the reception, from 5 to 7.
• A local face was spotted on national television last week. Political consultant Burt Ralston made an appearance on C-Span’s “Bullseye,”giving a Republican perspective during a round table discussion.
• At a recent charity bachelorette auction, mayor’s office staffer Kerri Stewart didn’t come cheap. According to auction organizers, a dinner with Steward fetched a winning bid of $700.
• W.W. Gay will be honored as the Bernard V. Gregory Servant Leader recipient at Volunteer Jacksonville’s Celebration of Service ceremony April 1 at the T-U Center.
• Reminder: Jeffrey C. Crowe, chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and chair and CEO of Landstar System of Jacksonville, is the speaker at the Chamber’s Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership at the Adam’s Mark Hotel Thursday.
• A new accounting firm employing 25 people has opened in Ponte Vedra Beach, which the owners say will be the eighth largest CPA firm in Northeast Florida. Members of The GriggsGroup split from Ennis, Pellum & Associates, P.A. to form the firm. Partners include Eric N. Griggs, Peter J. Reynolds, Michael A. Schnell and Jeffery C. Walraven.