• Jacksonville Port Authority Board member Tony Nelson made his leave of absence official Monday when he informed Mayor John Peyton of his resignation. “At this time I believe it is in my best interest and the best interest of the Port that I resign my Board position,” said Nelson.
• Chief Administrative Officer Alan Mosley has moved into the office formerly occupied by Chief of Communications Susie Wiles. Attending Monday’s budget presentation by the mayor was Wiles’ last official act in the Peyton administration.
• University of North Florida President and former Mayor John Delaney is the recipient of this year’s Hope Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He’ll be recognized during a Sept. 18 dinner at the Omni.
• Compass Bank President Bob White is the new president of the Dreams Come True board of directors. He’s joined by vice president Dave DeLuca of Merrill Lynch, treasurer Michael Muldroon of PricewaterhouseCoopers and secretary Jeffrey Conn of Hallmark Partners.
• Public relations guru John Deveney is the guest speaker at Thursday’s Public Relations Society of America luncheon at the UNF University Center. Deveney is the founder of New Orleans-based Deveney Communications which handled much of the post Hurricane Katrina PR.
• The EverBank Arena Club at the Veterans Memorial Arena is now offering a “First Right of Refusal” program that will give members the opportunity to purchase event tickets and parking before the general public. Tickets will be located in sections 112–116 in the lower bowl and offer access to the private bar and restaurant. Membership starts at $375. For more information call 630-3900.
• Looking for a deal on a new car? VyStar Credit Union is having a one-day repo car sale Saturday. Over 40 cars will be on sale with prices as low as $3,996 (2002 Ford 150, 2005 Ford Focus) and as high as $26,996 (2007 Ford F350). The sale runs from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at VyStar’s corporate headquarters at 4949 Blanding Blvd.
• Bad news for Riverside lunch patrons who frequented the Qdoba Mexican Grill on Margaret Street. It closed Saturday and movers were packing up and moving out Tuesday.
• Speaking of Riverside, according to neighbors of Qdoba, there will be a Five Guys moving in. The Washington, D.C.-based burgers and fries joint has an existing location on the Northside and two in the Southside area.
• One more from Riverside. Lee’s Ice Cream opened June 21 in the retail space previously occupied by Marble Slab Creamery. The first few weeks of business have been strong, according to manager-in-training Amanda Rady. She’s seen a lot of business coming from riders of the Riverside Trolley, which makes a stop nearby. “The most frequently asked question we get is ‘Can we take it back on the trolley with us?’,” she said. The answer: There’s no eating on the trolley, but you can put a lid on it and hope it doesn’t melt.