• Samantha Alves Orender has joined the Rogers Towers Jacksonville law office as an associate in the commercial litigation department. She previously was an associate in Carlton Fields’ Tampa office. Orender received her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
• Cirque Dreams Illumination and The Artist Series have teamed up to offer a chance to “Run away with Cirque Dreams” and perform in a feature role when the show performs at the Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater Feb. 15-20. The casting call is 11 a.m. Jan. 29 at The Avenues Mall.
• Mayor John Peyton, who is term-limited in June, repeated one of his favorite sayings during his eight years in office at the release Tuesday of the JCCI quality of life indicators: “That which gets measured gets done.”
• While more than a half-dozen candidates in the spring election were on hand at the JCCI indicators presentation, Peyton noted that just one other elected official was front-and-center, Duval County School Board Chair W.C. Gentry.
• The deadline looms for Florida families to lock in this year’s plan prices for the Florida Prepaid College Plan. Families have until Jan. 31 to sign up for the program and the first payment is due April 20. For information, visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com.
• The first Jacksonville Fashion Week is scheduled March 23-26. Jacksonville Magazine is the title sponsor. Among a long list of other sponsors are Brumos Motor Cars, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Benz of Orange Park and New York Life. Community partners include Downtown Vision Inc., Visit Jacksonville, the City and The Fashion Group International Inc. of North Florida. Look for “Fashion Night Out” at Jacksonville area boutiques March 23; an emerging designer showcase March 24 at Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach: runway shows March 25 at the Jacksonville Bank Building Downtown; an industry panel discussion March 26 at the Ritz Theatre and the “Red Carpet Gala Finale” that evening at the Main Library. For more information, visit www.jaxfashionweek.com.
• The Jacksonville-based Suddath Companies opened a sales office and warehouse in The Villages, a retirement community in Central Florida. Suddath Relocation of The Villages has been designated “the preferred mover of The Villages” and is the only mover located within The Villages community.
• The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens kicks off its 50th anniversary year with a free community celebration 4-9 p.m. Jan. 25. It will include live music, art activities, scavenger hunts, tours and artists’ demonstrations. Guests will see the newly renovated Tudor Room and view The Cummer Legacy, the first exhibition that displays in one gallery the works of art that comprise the original bequest that formed the core of The Cummer Collection. For more information, visit www.cummer.org.
• The Cummer says planning continues to update the former Woman’s Club, now called the Edward W. Lane Jr. Building, as the future social center for the museum.