• Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White, known as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking comedian from the “Blue Collar Comedy” tour, returns to Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Times-Union Center Moran Theater with his new stand-up show, “Moral Compass.“ Tickets are $46.75 and $56.75, and are available at the Times-Union Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-745-3000. The show is for mature audiences.
• The Davidson Speaker Series brings back Paul and Jerome Fletcher of Fletcher Management Co., as well as developer Jim Davidson, to talk about the development of Sawgrass and Marsh Landing. Davidson is past president of Arvida Corp.’s Jacksonville Division and is president of Davidson Development. The presentation is free and will start at 7 p.m. Thursday at Nocatee Splash Water Park. For information, visit www.davidsonrealtyinc.com.
• The Jacksonville Aviation Authority received three “Excellence in Airport Marketing & Communications” awards at this year’s Airports Council International North America conference in San Diego. The JAA’s four-airport system received 2nd place in the websites category and 3rd place in the television advertising and video categories.
• Alhambra Theatre & Dining has a new player — Executive Chef DeJuan Roy, who succeeds Matthew Medure, who has been catering the buffet since Managing Partner Craig Smith took over the dinner theater two years ago. Roy will prepare the food in the theater’s renovated kitchen. Roy, previously executive chef at 95 Cordova in St. Augustine, brings along Sous Chef Christine Seely and Pastry Chef Cheryl Sheppard.
• Mayor Alvin Brown, JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot and other business leaders are Brazil-bound with Gov. Rick Scott. The trip will be Oct. 23-27 and the contingent will meet company leaders who might consider expanding or relocating to Northeast Florida. “You have to go where the growth is,” Brown said in an August Daily Record interview regarding the trip.
• The advance crew from ESPN parked the tour bus Thursday next to the Hyatt Downtown. The crew is here to set up for the Jaguars “Monday Night Football” nationally televised game vs. the Baltimore Ravens. As of this morning, there were 2,986 tickets available to avoid a local television blackout of the game, according to www.jaguars.com.
• The City issued a permit for Breaking Ground Contracting Co. to renovate 2,470 square feet of office space for the Child Guidance Center at 4595 Lexington Ave. It’s a $148,200 project.
• Dr. Nancy Mendenhall, medical director of the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute and associate chair of the UF department of radiation oncology, is the recipient of a James E. Lockwood Professorship. The newly created professorship is made possible by a $1 million endowment from the Lockwood Charitable Foundation and is the first of two $1 million professorships that will be announced by the Foundation for Proton Therapy.
• Jacksonville Suns President and General Manager Peter Bragan Jr. has stepped aside from general management of the team. Chris Peters, who served as assistant general manager, will become the new GM and Casey Nichols, director of sales and promotions, will move up to the assistant GM spot. Bragan has been general manager for 24 of the team’s 26 seasons and will continue to serve as president.
• Grab your flashlight and head to the Historic Cemetery Tour this weekend. The Port of Jacksonville Pilot Club and the Pilot Club of Orange Park will conduct the “Tales of Our City” tour tonight and Saturday night at Evergreen Cemetery at 4535 N. Main St. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and the last tour starts at 9 p.m. Guides will lead you on a designated path where dramatists will tell stories with a twist. Tickets are a $12 donation for adults and $4 for children under 12. Advance tickets are a $10 donation at Evergreen Cemetery, III Lions Gifts in San Marco, Avondale Gift Boutique in Avondale, Olde Green Cupboard in Mandarin and Patches Gifts in Orange Park. Proceeds will benefit ACE-Agency for Community Empowerment, North Florida School of Special Education and the Council on Aging of Clay County. For information, call 733-8352.