• Firehouse Subs added Scott Schalk to its communications team as technical writer, in charge of designing, editing and publishing communications materials for the company. Schalk most recently worked for the national CBS show, “Let’s Make a Deal,” as the contestant producer. He also has worked with “The Price is Right” and “American Idol” and has a decade of restaurant industry experience.
• Best wishes for a fast and full recovery to longtime political strategist and consultant Mike Tolbert, who underwent a triple bypass Wednesday morning in Brooksville, where he resides.
• A new port CEO could be hired soon. The Jacksonville Port Authority Selection Committee is scheduled to meet at noon Friday at port headquarters followed by a board of directors meeting. The committee agenda lists “Recommendation for CEO Position” and the board agenda shows “Approval of Recommendation for CEO Position.” No candidate names were included. The authority contracted with Boyden Global Executive Search to find a new CEO after the August resignation of Rick Ferrin. Board Chair David Kulik told the Daily Record in August he expected a decision on a new CEO by Jan. 1.
• The Jacksonville Maritime Museum is about to land a new home. It’s moving out of the building at the south end of the Main Street Bridge next to the Museum of Science & History and into the Landing in the space formerly occupied by Discount Pro Wear. Landing Marketing Coordinator Blakeley Ainsworth said the space is about 9,000 square feet and she expects the museum to reopen before the Progressive Gator Bowl and New Year’s Eve crowds arrive.
• The Duval County Republican Executive Committee elected officers to serve through the end of 2012: Chair Lenny Curry; Vice Chair Robin Lumb; Secretary Rose Nettles; and Treasurer Kevin Hanley.
• Team Teal and the Jaguars Booster Club plan to host a send-off for the team’s trip to Indianapolis for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts. The gathering point is on the west side of EverBank Field near “Touchdown,” the bronze statue of the jaguar, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday when the players and coaches will board buses headed for the airport.
• Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library raised a record $250,000 for the Jacksonville Public Library and will release the money throughout the year as it’s needed. Friends President Harry Reagan presented a symbolic “big check” Wednesday to Jim Selzer, chair of the library board of trustees, and Barbara Gubbin, library director. The money will be used to supplement the library budget.
• Downtown Vision Inc. plans an update meeting at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Main Library for Downtown businesses, property owners and others. Downtown Vision will talk about what’s new in the areas of safety, events, traffic and development-related issues.
• The Association for Corporate Growth plans its “Ten Ahead: Predictions for the Upcoming Decade” program Jan. 20 at the Crowne Plaza. The lunch event will feature a panel of legal, financial, economic development and health care executives.
• Two more mayoral candidate forums are planned for early 2011. The Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Women, NAIOP and the U.S. Green Building Council plan one Jan. 27 and the Association for Corporate Growth has one scheduled Feb. 17.