• Mayor John Peyton is listed as keynote speaker to the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce at its luncheon April 1 at the Hyatt Downtown. That will be about six weeks before the May 17 general election to determine his successor. Information at www.downtowncouncil.org.
• Saft America Inc. will move its U.S. headquarters to Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The company, based in France, built a $200 million lithium-ion battery manufacturing factory in Cecil Commerce Center, where it has added almost 300 jobs and intends to start production in July. “Saft currently has six sites in the U.S. This is a great addition to our headquarters list and will only help Northeast Florida attract more headquarters to the region,” said a chamber newsletter. Headquarters employment will be seven or eight executives.
• In Florida Bar voting news for president-elect, Jacksonville attorney Jake Schickel came in third behind Tampa lawyer Gwynne Young, and Fort Lauderdale attorney Walter Campbell Jr. It was a great experience. There are a lot of good lawyers in this state and I want to thank everyone who voted for me,” said Schickel. Young and Campbell are in a run-off. Ballots will be sent on or before April 1.
• Also in Florida Bar voting news, Jacksonville attorneys Mike Tanner and Reginald Luster are in a run-off for the board of governors Seat 2 in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in the circuit on or before April 1.
• The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation awarded Mayo Clinic a $1 million gift over four years to help continue its work in Lewy body dementia, which combines aspects of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and is the second most common form of dementia in the United States. Dr. Dennis Dickson, a neuropathologist who is credited with being among the first to recognize the impact of Lewy body dementia in the elderly, said the gift will fund three projects that will involve scientists at Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville and in Rochester, Minn.
• Wells Fargo & Company said Tuesday that Wachovia signs and systems in North Florida, Central Florida and the greater Tampa area will officially change to Wells Fargo in June. Wachovia became a part of Wells Fargo on Dec. 31, 2008.
• The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation raised about $200,000 Friday night at its Wine Tasting Gala, selling more than 800 tickets.
• Three workshops remain for Jacksonville residents who want to learn more about the 2011-12 City budget. Workshops are 6-8:30 p.m. today at the Jacksonville Beach Community Center, 2508 South Beach Parkway; 9-11:30 a.m. April 9 at the Clanzel T. Brown Community Center, 4545 Moncrief Road; and 9-11:30 a.m. April 16 at the Cecil Recreation Complex, 13611 Normandy Blvd.
• Jacksonville home sales rose while median prices dropped in February compared to the year before. The Florida Realtors reported that single-family existing sales in the Jacksonville area rose 21 percent to 1,017 while the median price fell 11 percent to $126,300. Existing condo sales jumped 67 percent to 234, while the median price dropped 22 percent to $69,500.
• Duval County residents age 60 and over are invited to the annual Mayor’s Walk for Senior Wellness at 9 a.m. Saturday at Metropolitan Park. The 2-mile walk starts at the park and continues around EverBank Field and the Baseball Grounds. Seniors who participate will receive a T-shirt, lunch and a chance at door prizes. Register at www.makeascenedowntown.com or call 630-7392.
• Also Saturday, the Sulzbacher Center will host its fifth annual racing event at the Landing. This year’s event will feature an 8K run and 1-mile walk followed by a party at the Landing’s courtyard. Action News Anchor Mark Spain will be the master of ceremonies. The walk starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the run at 6 p.m. A health fair will be 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit www.sulzbachercenter.org.
• While fans are still left guessing if there will be an NFL season this year, they are at least guaranteed an NFL draft. And again with the event, the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the 17th Annual Bud Light Draft Party presented by PRI Productions at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at The Markets at Town Center. Visit www.jaguars.com for more information.