• John Rood, founder of the Vestcor Companies and former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, has been appointed Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Rood returned to Jacksonville in 2007 after his service in the Bahamas to form the JDR Companies which develops multi-family properties and manages Vestcor’s condominium communities. He was also named Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2001.
• Despite a weakened aviation industry, six airlines already serving Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) have resumed seven daily flights that had previously been eliminated. The added daily flights are AirTran to Atlanta, Continental Airlines to Houston and Cleveland, Delta Air Lines to Cincinnati, JetBlue to New York, Northwest to Detroit and United Airlines to Dulles. The seven renewed daily flights add a total of 461 airplane seats to JIA’s daily count. The airport now has a total of 19 carriers providing 99 daily departures representing 10,577 seats.
• Speaking of flying, word is a base-jumper went off the roof of Independent Square last weekend. Apparently, he landed on the roof of the parking garage across the street.
• PR firm BroadBased has completed its move to a bigger space. The company is now on the 18th floor of Riverplace Tower.
• The City has extended the deadline for bids on the Bay Street Town Center streetscape improvements project. Those interested have until Wednesday to submit their bids to the City’s Procurement Department.
• This year’s edition of the Jacksonville International Car and Truck Show sponsored by the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association will roll into the Osborn Center Feb. 13-15. More than 30 car and truck lines will be represented and one of the parking lots adjacent to the center will be filled with more than 1,000 tons of dirt for the “Toyota Behind the Wheel Adventure” off-road test drive course. For ticket information, visit www.jaxautoshow.com.
• Word is the Riverkeeper is looking to build or have built a floating dock at the end of Post Street in Riverside.
• Tiara Shoes & Accessories on Laura Street is no more. There’s no sign indicating what happened, but all of the inventory is gone.
• The Twisted Martini has a pretty good deal for Sunday’s Super Bowl. For $25 you can get all the beer, cocktails and wings you want. Also, pick a team at the door and every time your team scores a touchdown you get a free shot. No word on whether there are free rides home.
• According to Kirk Wendland, project manager of the Shipyards for LandMar, an audit of the riverfront public improvement expenditures in 2008 will be in the next quarterly report on the overall project. The audit will be prepared by Ennis Pellem & Associates, an accounting firm here in Jacksonville.