• The local real estate association has been moving its meetings around the community in recent years but it’s headed back to a central spot in ‘06. It appears that most meetings will be at the Southpoint Marriott.
• Former JEA spokesman Ron Whittington is the man behind all the publicity that the Plaza III steakhouse in the Hyatt is getting. After leaving the JEA, he started his own public relations firm.
• Interesting letter from Mike Weinstein, former Jacksonville Economic Development Commission executive director, to City Council Finance Chairman Daniel Davis about the direction the JEDC is headed and how incentives should be used. Weinstein, who was the first JEDC director when former Mayor John Delaney created the commission, believes the JEDC should be selective in awarding any type of incentive and that if the company isn’t looking to increase the quality of the local workforce, then the deal should by highly scrutinized before approval. “It is time we become more selective with our investments,” said Weinstein.
• One of the area’s best golf pro jobs is at the municipal course in Fernandina Beach and veteran Scott Womble landed it. He formerly worked at Long Point on Amelia Island Plantation and at Royal Amelia.
• No buyers yet for Jaguar Coach Jack Del Rio’s home in Ortega. We hear the asking price is in the $4 million range and Prudential Realty Network ace Elizabeth Hudgins is handling the sale.
• Plenty of tickets remain to our two New Year’s football games. The Jaguars play at 4:15 p.m. on Jan. 1 and the Gator Bowl is at 12:30 p.m. the next day.