• Mercedes-Benz USA will open a 415,000-square-foot center in July near Jacksonville International Airport to centralize 160 employees and its sales operations southern regional office; parts distribution center; quality evaluation center; and learning and performance center.
• The Northeast Florida Chapter of Women in Transportation will put on its 2010 fashion show and fundraiser, “Going Places,” with a little help from some recognizable names in the transportation industry. The catwalk will feature Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin and other “local celebrity models” from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the port’s cruise terminal. For information, call Kathy Walsh at 363-3133 or Shawna Scott at 357-3021.
• Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals will appoint Richard Townsend, a 35-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, as chief of the district’s Police Department.
• The 2010-11 Florida Forum opens Oct. 19 with former President Bill Clinton, followed Jan. 21 by author Greg Mortenson and concluding March 1 with former President George W. Bush. The forum is sponsored by the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
• JaxBiz, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce political organization, endorsed several candidates Monday: John Thrasher, Florida Senate, District 8, and Florida House of Representatives candidates Reggie Fullwood, District 15; Charles McBurney, District 16; Lake Ray, District 17; Ronald “Doc” Renuart, District 18; and Mike Weinstein, District 19. It also endorsed Duval County School Board candidates Fred “Fel” Lee, District 2; Irvin “PeDro” Cohen, District 4; and Becki Couch, District 6.
• Clarification: Mark Rimmer of Realistic Transportation Alternatives explains the city is not “picking up the tab” for summer interns to park in a downtown garage, as a City Note reported on Monday. He says the deal is part of a cooperative program that has been around for several years that started when the Mayor first made the push for downtown businesses to hire summer interns. “The parking is ‘provided’ at the downtown garage for these interns at no cost based on availability of spaces,” says Rimmer.