• Bailey Publishing & Communications, Inc. is expanding its operations. The parent company of the Financial News & Daily Record closed on a 17,000 square-foot facility at 6566 Commonwealth Ave. last week. Production departments from Bailey-owned companies will move into the facility, including: Digital Prep & Imaging, which specializes in full-color digital and large-format printing; The Printing Company, which provides commercial print and mailing services; and Florida Crown, a full-color newspaper printer presently located in Clay County that produces several of the publications in the North Florida area. “It’s an exciting opportunity in our rich history of 94 years in business,” said President James F. Bailey Jr. The administrative and corporate offices will remain in their 10 N. Newnan St. location.
• Although the Daily Record has been published for 94 years, the first newspaper in America was published in 1690. If you know what the city was, e-mail us at [email protected]
• The Florida bar is seeking nominations for several pro bono awards including The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Award, the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award, the Chief Justice’s Distinguished Judicial Service Award, the Chief Justice’s Law Firm Commendation and The Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award. The deadline for all nominations is Oct. 2.
• Speaking of The Florida Bar, the deadline to apply for board certification is Oct. 31 for 10 of Florida’s 22 legal specialization areas. They are: Antitrust & Trade Regulation Law; Business Litigation; City, County & Local Government Law; Construction Law; Criminal Appellate; Criminal Trial; Health Law; Real Estate; Wills, Trusts & Estates; and Workers’ Compensation. There are several qualifications lawyers must meet in order to qualify for board certification.
• A couple of big Jacksonville produce families have merged. Pitman & Sons, Inc., Pitman Produce of Jacksonville, Inc., Jon’s Tomatoes and The Garden Wholesale Inc. have combined to form The Garden Wholesale, Inc. The merger combines companies owned by the Pitman and Wasson families. The Pitman family has been in the produce business since 1927 while the Wasson family has been in it since the 1950s.
• Those going on next month’s Chamber Leadership trip to New Orleans will get a little pre-trip reading material. A copy of “The Great Deluge” — a book by Douglas Brinkley that outlines the days before and after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans — is a suggested read for those going. You’ll have to pick it up in person, though. The Chamber says it’s too big to mail.
• Good news for the local Drug Court. City Council is considering a bill that would appropriate $60,000 from the court’s office equipment account for a new computer system for the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Drug Court. The bill will be introduced at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.
• Speaking of funding, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is seeking approval to allocate $330,000 to build a third barn at the Equestrian Center at Cecil Field.
• The Main Library is hosting “Intermezzo Sunday Concerts” starting on Oct. 8. The first will feature Charlotte Mabrey’s University of North Florida Percussion Ensemble, featuring Matt Wardell, at 2:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
• The Florida Ballet is offering two classes outside of their professional training program. Stott Pilates is offered on Mondays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. They also have an intermediate/advanced ballet class that’s open for students high school age or above. The class is on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, call 353-7518.
• Clarification. The Miss Hawaiian Tropic model search and swimsuit contest is held inside Twisted Martini at the Landing. Preliminary rounds begin at 11 p.m. each Sunday until the finals, which will be held during halftime of the Georgia-Florida game. Twisted Martini’s winner will go to Hawaii for the international finals.
The new Downtown This Week is out and features the DTW fall entertainment guide. The magazine is free and available all over Downtown.