• Damon Olinto, president and CEO of the Jacksonville division of Synovus Bank, was appointed a “Blue Coat” for The Players Championship, joining the four existing vice chairs who, along with 2013 Tournament Chairman Robert Davis, lead the 2,000-plus volunteer force of the event. In addition to Davis and Olinto, the volunteer leadership for the 2013 tournament includes First Vice Chair Andy Baggs and vice chairs Brian Franco, Michele McManamon and Kevin English.
• The Sister Cities International 56th annual conference is gearing up for this weekend in Jacksonville, its first time here. It connects citizen diplomats from the United States and around the world. The three-day event will bring together more than 300 individuals from 20 countries. Attendees will include mayors, local elected officials, city managers, business executives and educators, as well as nonprofit and community leaders. Guests include Mayor Alvin Brown, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Goli Ameri and Amy Liu, co-director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. The event starts today and concludes Saturday at the Hyatt Downtown. For information, visit www.sistercitiesconference.org.
• Correction: The cost estimates to operate the St. Johns River Ferry were provided by the City Council Ad Hoc Committee to fund the St. Johns River Ferry. Because of an editing error, a story Wednesday incorrectly said the estimates were from the Jacksonville Port Authority.
• WJCT has hired Anthony Padgett as senior vice president of content and operations. Under the direction of WJCT President and CEO Michael Boylan, Padgett will oversee and manage all content produced for use on WJCT’s media and service platforms, plus its promotion and delivery. Along with Boylan, he will represent WJCT on the board of FPBS, the Association of Public Media in Florida. Padgett joins WJCT from WBCC-DTV (Brevard Community College), where he served as chief engineer and acting general manager.
• Simon Property Group Inc. named Lindsey Von Hoven as director of marketing and business development for The Avenues mall. She will work to create, develop and implement the strategic marketing direction of the shopping center and also is responsible for staff supervision of customer service, sponsorships and business development, budgeting and monthly marketing analysis, along with maintaining community, tenant and public relations.
• Shelley Kulchin of Senior Solutions at Jewish Family & Community Services and lawyer Robert Morgan of Robert Morgan & Associates are scheduled to speak today at the fourth of six Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Summer Series sessions about “Am I My Parents’ Keeper?” The discussion is 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at JCCI at 2434 Atlantic Blvd. Today’s topic is “Paperwork 101: Navigating and Organizing it All.” For information, visit www. jcci.org.
• The St. Johns River Water Management District governing board approved a tentative budget that holds steady on its tax rate. The tentative 0.3313 millage rate would result in $80.1 million in revenue that would be part of a total $120.8 million budget. The budget also is slated to be funded with state, federal and other district sources (including timber sales, cattle leases, interest earnings, permit fees and fund balances). Under the millage rate, which is 33.13 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value, the owner of a $200,000 house with a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $49.69 in the coming year in property taxes to the district. The board also approved a revised budgeting method that provides funding to support only the expenditures anticipated during the fiscal year. The 2012-13 year starts Oct. 1.