• JEA has released its 2008 annual report. According to the report, rising fuel costs last year were “unprecedented” and the rising cost of transporting that fuel forced JEA to pass those costs on to its customers. Over the past five years, the cost of petroleum coke has gone up the most at 292 percent followed closely by diesel oil at 277 percent.
• In the February report of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida, indications are job losses will end in 2010. Unfortunately, this is after 6 million payroll jobs disappear nationwide. That will push the February unemployment rate of 7.6 percent to 9.5 percent when the new year rolls around.
• At Wednesday’s grand opening of Meridian Technologies Development Center, Mayor John Peyton recognized State Attorney Angela Corey and noted that the murder rate in Jacksonville is down 50 percent from a year ago. He credited the Jacksonville Journey initiative and increased police presence in high-crime neighborhoods.
• Also at the Meridian event, Jackie Smith said a few words on behalf of U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, whom she said was in Washington, D.C. “trying to keep people from spending all (and she stressed all) of your money.”
• There was a place set — but unoccupied — at the head table at Tuesday’s Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership Quarterly Luncheon. It was reserved for departing Jacksonville Aviation Authority Executive Director John Clark. According to Chamber of Commerce staff, Clark was unable to attend because he was in Indianapolis, where he will take over airport operations next month.
• Also at the luncheon, the Cornerstone Chair Award was presented to David Brown, chairman and CEO of Web.com. The company specializes in designing Web site content for small businesses and has grown from 25,000 clients in 2006 to its current 265,000. Web.com also hired 100 new employees last year and now has a 330-person workforce in Jacksonville and more than 700 employees nationwide.
• Something most unusual has been added to the list of silent auction items at tomorrow evening’s 13th Annual Art After Dark at the Florida Theatre. It’s a 16-year-old Pintaloosa American Quarter Horse named “Apache” which stands 15.2 hands high. Other items up for bids include Jacksonville Jaguars tickets, The Players tickets and vacation rentals in the Cayman Islands, New Orleans, Beaver Creek and St. Augustine. Art After Dark tickets are $25. For details call 355-2787.
• The 3rd Annual John Rowan Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Justice Coalition is Monday at Hidden Hills Country Club. Former Jacksonville Jaguar and crime victim Richard Collier is the luncheon speaker at the event. Spaces are still available for $250 per golfer or $1,000 per foursome. For reservations or more information, call Terri Johnson at 783-6312.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. has launched a new Web site just for mobile users at DTJax.org. It’s a companion to www.downtownjacksonville.org. Mobile users can access information on Downtown restaurants, retailers and service providers as well as a calendar of events and contact information. Links to venue Web sites and Google mapping is also part of the package.
• The art work of Attorney Maggie Jo Hilliard, of The Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, will be featured at a show at the Bungalow on Park in Riverside on Sunday.
• Mark’s Downtown offers free happy hour appetizers on Thursdays and Fridays along with its drink specials.
• The stylings of musician and attorney Taylor Speer, of Ludwig & Associates, will be on display during a performance in the courtyard near Shelby’s in Atlantic Beach at 7 p.m. on April 3.
• The art that will be on display for the 2009 Legal Art Work Show during April Artwalk Downtown will be hung in the Zodiac Grill Friday afternoon and will adorn its walls through April. The money raised from the show will benefit Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.