• The local Judicial Nominating Commission made its recommendations for the next county court judge to Gov. Jeb Bush, who has the final say. The JNC recommended attorneys Kevin Blazs, Mark Borello, Mose Floyd, Sheila Loizos, Virginia Norton and Tatiana Salvador from a field of 10 candidates.
• Attorneys for the Landing have sent a second letter requesting all the City’s public records leading up to Mayor John Peyton’s grand design for downtown’s riverfront. Peyton’s “big idea” has led to a stand off with Landing owner Toney Sleiman over the downtown mall’s lack of parking. The first request was sent Feb. 8.
• The Harlem Globetrotters were in town Wednesday night and, despite a new cast of characters, they were up to their usual tricks — with one alteration. The old confetti-in-the-bucket trick is a little different. The confetti has been replaced by water and plenty of folks get soaked.
• Speaking of the Globetrotters, a last-minute floor plan change left some fans wondering where to sit. The first three rows of sections 103 and 104 were removed and people with tickets in that area were given club seats down low in section 115.
• The Main Library’s book store will be closed through Sunday so the staff can work this weekend’s book sale at the Fairgrounds.
• Circuit Court Judge Fred Tygart has sold his Miramar home. The price tag? $1.1 million
• Most think Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach is a neat oceanfront locale to have lunch or dinner and a drink. The owners want folks to know the third-floor penthouse can also be rented out for daytime business meetings. Oceanview, Internet and catering.
• Local Atlanta Braves fans will be happy to know that season tickets have gone on sale. The best way from here is on-line at atlantabraves.com. The Braves open the 2006 campaign April on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The home opener is April 10 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Milo boutique in Five Points is closed. There’s a “For Rent” sign in the window and the inventory has been cleared out.
• The Supervisor of Elections Office set up a voter registration booth at the Landing Thursday. A few registered, but many stopped by for the free stuff. One of the items included a ruler with all 42 presidents of the United States on it.
• The director of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Jacksonville office is fed up with whining about America’s trade deficit. Jorge Arce said all the hand-wringing about cheap overseas labor isn’t going to solve America’s $700 billion-plus trade gap. “Of course low-cost labor is a factor. We can either tackle it by complaining or by figuring out how to compete,” he said.
• Einstein’s Kitsch-Inn in Five Points has stopped selling music, but a couple of downtown locations will fill the void. The neighborhood’s Heartworks vegetarian cafe is now selling hard-to-find music, including albums. And Razorblade Records is expected to open in mid-March a couple doors down from the London Bridge.