• Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and Acosta Sales and Marketing partnered to donate $20,000 to Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and food rescue networks. The donation from the Jacksonville-based companies will benefit food banks in Winn-Dixie’s operating areas in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
• Speaking of Winn-Dixie, the Winn-Dixie Foundation also is giving $5,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank. A new food recovery program at its stores will collect and donate prepackaged produce, deli, bakery, meat and seafood items to Second Harvest for distribution to shelters, after-school programs and other feeding centers.
• The Symphony Guild has picked a home in Nocatee to serve as this year’s Designer Showhouse. It’s in the gated Coastal Oaks section of the development that spans parts of Duval and St. Johns counties and will be open for tours April 17-May 9.
• Did you know April 25 is National Thank You Day for elected officials? The day is organized by Hattie Harris Good Spirits International, based in Rochester, N.Y.
• Corporate executives are facing increasing risks in the wake of declining stock prices, workforce reductions and an increasing cost of capital. Calling it “an immediately relevant seminar,” the Association for Corporate Growth’s Jacksonville chapter will present “Covering Your Assets: The Personal Risks of Company Directors and Executives. Aon Corp. Senior Vice President David Payne, based in Denver, will lead the presentation. The event is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Morton’s Steakhouse on the Southbank. For information, visit www.acg.org/northflorida/events.
• Mac Holley, president and CEO of Florida Capital Bank of Northeast Florida, was recently elected chair of the Baptist Health Foundation board of directors. Holley has been on the board since 2003 and served as vice chair since 2008.
• Speaking of the Baptist Foundation board, there are other changes as well. Stacy Berg, Gary Kunkle and Robin Sorenson were added as trustees.
• Ever wonder why the parking price around the stadium, Arena and Baseball Grounds varies depending on the event? According to Jorina Jolly of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, “SMG is allowed to charge what it feels appropriate for the different events. The baseball parking fee of $5 is limited by the lease with baseball Jax. That can be increased to $7 if the City chooses to. The parking price is based on supply and demand.”
• The Bridge of Northeast Florida has reached its goal of raising $4 million for The Weaver Zone, thanks to a recent major donation from EverBank. The campaign began in June 2008 to renovate what was once Beulah Beal School into a state-of-the-art facility for children.
• The Duke University basketball team didn’t only clean up rebounds while they were in Jacksonville for the NCAA Tournament, they also cleaned their plates at Ruth’s Chris Steak House Saturday night for a team meal. Restaurant General Manager Eric Williams estimated 30 percent of the restaurant’s business from Thursday to Sunday came from people attending the games.
• Last weekend’s “Yappy Hour” celebration at the Landing for dogs and their owners was postponed because of the weather. It has been rescheduled to 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The theme “St. Paw-ty’s Day” will be observed and there are prizes for the best canine leprechauns.
• Next month, the Hyatt will host almost 1,200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors from around the country. They will be here May 11-14 for the National Internet Crimes Against Children Conference, which is part of the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
• The Hilton Oceanfront Resort Executive Committee just wrapped up its retreat at the Omni. It’s not the first time another hotel company has arranged for accommodations at Downtown’s only AAA four-diamond hotel. The Omni also was the site of Best Western’s 2009 Regional Conference.