• Mayor John Peyton talks about a new political model of public service. “You develop a skill. You serve. You do the best you can. You get your butt kicked. And you get out.”
• Speaking of Peyton, he was asked at the Women Business Owners of North Florida meeting last week which mayoral candidate could carry the city forward. Peyton said it was too early to discuss, but did say what could be expected. “It’s going to be a rough road for the next mayor. It’s going to be a rough road for the next Council, and they’re going to need our cover when they do the right things,” he said, referring to decisions about raising revenues and cutting expenses, especially salary and benefit cuts opposed by unions.
• Jacksonville-based EverBank is adding three Bank of Florida branches in Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Tampa. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation closed the Bank of Florida locations on Friday and named the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as receiver. Accounts were transferred to EverBank and the locations will reopen immediately as branches of EverBank.
• The Clara White Mission was featured on the “Today” show last week as part of weatherman Al Roker’s “Al Chooses a Charity” segment. The segment featured the mission’s culinary school, which won a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project, thanks to Roker.