• Monday night the Duval County Republican Party elected Drummond Press President John Falconetti as its next chairman. Falconetti topped former City Council candidate Ray Pringle by a 104-44 vote. He’ll take over July 2, succeeding Mike Hightower. The Republican Party also officially endorsed Angela Corey in the race for State Attorney. Corey was approved by an 89-18 vote. Her only opponent to date is Chief Assistant State Attorney Jay Plotkin, who entered the race last week.
• The law firm Peek, Cobb, Edwards & Ragatz has moved from its former location on the Southbank to the sixth floor of the new Harden & Associates building on Riverside Avenue. Other tenants of the 13-story building include EverBank on the top two floors, the law firm Fisher Tousey Leas & Ball and, on the first floor, Chives Restaurant.
• PineRidge Film & Television Company won its second Daytime Emmy award last week during the annual ceremony in Los Angeles. The Jacksonville-based company won for Outstanding Lifestyle Directing for its “Passport to Europe” show on the Travel Channel hosted by Samantha Brown. The show topped “Easy Entertainment” on the Food Network, “This old House” and Martha Stewart’s show.
• Bonita Bay Group recently announced three major changes or promotions. David Tullis was named regional general manager/new market areas; Dennis Church was named vice president of planning and development; and Margaret Emblidge was named director of entitlements and governmental affairs.
• Junior Achievement has formed a trustees group and the formal announcement will come during Friday’s 8th Annual Thomas S. Baker Solid as a Rock Award luncheon at the Hyatt. The trustees include: Bruce Barcelo, Walt Busells, Barbara Darby, Mike Guyette, Steve Halverson, Bob Helms, Betty Holzendorf, Wally Lee, Joseph Wise and Charles Zink. W.W. Gay is the recipient of this year’s Solid as a Rock Award.
• McGarvey Residential Communities will break ground on its Old San Jose on the River development June 29. Mayor John Peyton is scheduled to speak during the lunchtime ceremony.
• Florida’s Secretary of State Ken Browning informed the City last week that the Legislature recently approved a $350,000 historic grant for Brewster Hospital. The old hospital is vacant and has been moved around the LaVilla area a few times the last several years.
• Thursday isn’t just the first official day of summer, it’s also national “Flip Flop Day” and international surf day. Locally, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is getting in on the act today by bringing 150 kids and 30 counselors and staff at the Otis Smith Foundation’s Citi DREAM Camp smoothies and brand new flip flops. Also, Tropical Smoothie is giving away 500 smoothies Thursday to those who wear their flip flops into one of the 10 stores in Jacksonville. The closest Tropical Smoothie Cafe to Downtown is on Hendricks Avenue, just past Panera on the right.
• Correction. The unveiling of retiring Circuit Court Judge A.C. Soud’s portrait is June 28, not this Thursday.
“Destruction, hence, like creation, is one of Nature’s mandates.”
— Marquis de Sade