• State Rep. Charles McBurney has a new title and role heading into the 2010 legislative session. House Speaker Larry Cretul named the local representative as the new vice-chair of the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee, in addition to his role on four other committees. The first committee meetings start Oct. 5.
• There are signs, literally, that the long-rumored Publix move from Atlantic Beach to Neptune Beach is happening. Plans are to tear down the structure just east of Aqua East on Atlantic Boulevard and build new. The new center will be called Seminole Shoppes and it’ll be a year or two before the store opens.
• Remember when the Dunkin Donuts on Atlantic next to the Harley Davidson closed about a year ago? Remodeling work is underway for a new ... that’s right, Dunkin Donuts.
• Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is featured in this week’s Sports Illustrated in the magazine’s “pop culture” section in which four athletes are asked a variety of questions. One of his answers is kind of odd. When asked who on the team should have their own TV show, Jones-Drew’s answer was “[teammate] Paul Vance.” The problem is, Vance is the team’s general counsel and salary cap guru.
• Florida A&M University will honor the late Bob Hayes Oct. 23 for his recent induction into the pro football Hall of Fame. The Tallahassee school also plans to create a scholarship for Duval County students in Hayes’ name.
• Chef Tom Gray of Bistro Aix will visit Ch. 4’s Morning Show Monday. Host Bruce Hamilton and Gray will dish up signature Bistro Aix dish steamed mussels with white wine, garlic and saffron aioli during the 8 o’clock hour.
• The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus has moved its offices from Boulevard Center Drive on the Southside to Downtown at 225 E. Duval St. The new digs occupy the first and second floors of the Boyd Education Building at First United Methodist Church. The phone number is the same so call 346-1636 for audition and performance schedules.
• Good news on home sales: Compared to a year ago, pending sales for July were up 42 percent and closed sales 16 percent higher than a year ago according to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. Not as good of news: The median sales price for July was $159,800 — down 12.2 percent from a year ago.
• Sea Star Line, LLC has earned the top score for ocean carriers in the 2009 Quest for Quality Awards conducted by “Logistics Management” magazine. The results are based on shippers’ ratings of carrier performance in on-time performance, value, information technology, customer service and equipment & operations. Sea Star Line received the highest combined score for all ocean carriers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Sea Star Line offers cargo transportation services from North America to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands.