• CNNMoney.com ranked Florida the fifth-best state in the country for starting a business, the only eastern U.S. state in the top five. Advantages cited include no personal state income tax, a 5.5 percent corporate state income tax rate and low energy costs.
• If you’re looking to join one of those businesses, All Florida Job Fairs is hosting a job fair at the University of North Florida’s University Center on Thursday from noon-4 p.m. Over 40 Jacksonville companies will be in attendance and admission and parking are free. For more information, call 407-260-8250 or go to www.allfloridajobfairs.com.
• Wednesday’s Art Walk will celebrate African American History Month. The London Bridge Pub, Legit Recording Studios and Poppy Love Smoke are throwing a block party at Ocean and Adams streets. Also, Gold’s Gym on Forsyth Street will be “filling the tub” for the Clara White Mission. Art Walkers who donate toiletry items will receive a free ticket to the Jacksonville Home & Patio Show. Hemming Plaza will be filled with art as well as antique and classic cars from the International Car and Truck Show and the Mopar Club. Art Walk is held the first Wednesday of each month from 5-9 p.m. rain or shine.
• Maybe next time. Former Eaton, Ohio Mayor Patrick Taylor sent a letter to Mayor John Peyton informing him that the Adam’s Class Veterans Association reunion would not be convening in Jacksonville, though the city did make the final two. Instead, the association is heading to Annapolis, Md. The reason? “I can say without reservation, that had the USS Adams DDG 2 (a guided missile destroyer) been moored in your town, the $120,000 plus dollars our membership invest during the reunion would have definetly(sic) been spent in your fair city,” Taylor’s letter read. The letter said the association will be returning to the East Coast in three years and “it sure would be a positive factor for Jacksonville, if indeed the Adams was there.”
• Speaking of Peyton, he will host a portrait unveiling this week of former Mayor Lou Ritter. It’s Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in lobby area at the mayor’s office.