• Gov. Rick Scott intends to work around the state as part of his “Let’s Get to Work Days,” similar to the workdays that former state Gov. Bob Graham, also a former U.S. senator, performed. Scott said he will work at businesses throughout Florida that mirror the jobs he performed on his journey from public housing to the governor’s mansion. He plans at least one a month. The first is today at a doughnut shop in Tampa. The governor’s office says to suggest jobs for his workdays, email [email protected].
• As the space shuttle program ends, so do jobs. Three companies filed layoff plans with the state. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne at Kennedy Space Center said it would lay off 67 manufacturing workers through Dec. 15; Space Gateway Support LLC in Cocoa Beach will drop 328 administrative, support and waste management jobs and United Space Alliance of Titusville will cut 75 similar jobs by Sept. 30. They filed the notices July 29.
• Planning ahead? The 35th Anniversary Art & Antiques Show “Deco & Diamonds” is planned Dec. 1-4 at the Osborn Center. It benefits Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
• Lyndsay Rossman was hired as director of marketing and business development at the St. Johns Town Center. Rossman formerly was with Visit Jacksonville as director of corporate communications. Visit Jacksonville eliminated her position in mid-July in budget cuts.
• The Police Athletic League’s 3rd Annual Sheriff’s Roast will honor Mike Hightower. Events start at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Hyatt Downtown.
• Learn to Read Jacksonville’s “Dreams taking flight!” celebration of success is 6-8 p.m. Aug. 23 at St. John’s Cathedral Downtown.
• A fundraiser to “Save Jax High School Tennis” is planned Aug. 13 at San Jose Country Club. It will feature Jacksonville-area former touring ATP pros Brian Gottfried, Todd Martin and MaliVai Washington, along with Amer Delic, Wolfson High School tennis standout and current touring ATP pro. It’s a full day of lessons and exhibitions. For information, visit www.firstcoasttennis.com.
• Jazoo, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens mascot, will turn 6 this month and he is giving presents to people attending the zoo Aug. 20. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., “Jazoo’s Birthday and Back to School Bash” will take place in the zoo’s Play Park area. The event will feature kid-friendly music, face painting, birthday games, giveaways, prize drawings, birthday treats courtesy of Sam’s Club, while supplies last, and free Stingray Bay admission.
• The Burdette Ketchum marketing, consulting and communications firm hired Rachael Callahan as interactive designer and Sharon Obeso as art director. The Jacksonville-based firm promoted Catherine Williams from traffic manager to account coordinator.
• Mayor Alvin Brown, businesses and community leaders joined to raise the money needed to keep Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs running in Duval County public high schools. Budget-cutting threatened to end JROTC at Mandarin, Wolfson, Englewood and Raines high schools. The effort raised more than $200,000, which Brown said shows the strength of public-private partnerships. There are 480 students enrolled in JROTC at the four schools. The program costs $417.76 per student, per year, to operate.