• Jacksonville-based AXIA Public Relations hired William Duke Jr. as director of client engagement. Duke will develop new national client relationships for the national public relations firm. He previously worked for WJXT.
• Home prices in Jacksonville, including distressed sales, declined by 12.6 percent in March 2011 compared to March 2010 and declined by 11.6 percent in February 2011 compared to February 2010, according to CoreLogic HPI, a provider of information, analytics and business services. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined by 2.4 percent in March 2011 compared to March 2010 and declined by 5 percent in February 2011 compared to February 2010. The March Home Prices Index showed home prices in the U.S. as a whole declined for the eighth consecutive month.
• A green lawn isn’t necessarily a sign of vanity. Sometimes it is required by law, even of JEA’s Managing Director/CEO Jim Dickenson. “I’ve gotten 3-4 letters from my homeowner’s association about not keeping my grass green, so I understand what people are going through as far as water usage,” said Dickenson at a JEA Finance and Audit Committee meeting Monday.
• The First Coast Wind Ensemble will observe Armed Forces Day at 4 p.m. May 21 with a Downtown concert at the Landing. It’s a joint performance with the Navy Band Southeast and will include military and patriotic music and video presentations by the Jacksonville Historical Society highlighting the role of Jacksonville’s service personnel during the different phases of World War II.
• It’s The Players week around Northeast Florida, but across the country Saturday is National Miniature Golf Day. So while people flock en masse to see the pros at Sawgrass over the weekend, Adventure Landing is offering the first 100 guests who purchase a round of miniature golf Saturday a free mini-golf season pass, valued at $60. For the price of a two-game ticket, mini-golfers will also get unlimited golf for the day.
• Visit Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and regional tourism attractions will be set up at Jacksonville International Airport 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday to greet visitors arriving for The Players Championship. It’s part of National Tourism Week May 13-20, which recognizes travel and hospitality employees and tourism’s contributions to economic development and quality of life.