• Gov. Rick Scott appointed Sean Hall of Jacksonville to the Florida Elections Commission. Hall has been an executive business development manager and national sales manager for Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. since 2003. Previously, he was a manager with Exabyte Corp., Pomeroy Computer Resources and Ikon Office Solutions. He served in the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard from 1989- 2006. His term began Wednesday and ends Dec. 31, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
• Jacksonville-based Holmes Stamp & Sign Co. acquired Atlantic Stamp & Seal Corp. of Coral Gables. Atlantic Stamp & Seal has provided stamp and embossing products to customers in Miami, Homestead and Fort Lauderdale for 59 years. Bryan Croft is president of Holmes Stamp & Sign, based along St. Augustine Road.
• The Florida Department of Transportation scheduled a public hearing from 4:30-6:30 p.m. today about proposed improvements on New Kings Road between Interstate 295 and Dunn Avenue. It will be held at the Lincoln Villa Community Center, 7866 New Kings Road. New Kings Road will be resurfaced and will include operational and safety improvements.
• Ron Barton, former executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, starts work Monday as the economic development director of Hillsborough County. He held a similar job in St. Petersburg before coming home to Jacksonville in August 2005 to run the JEDC. In standard practice, Barton submitted his resignation when Mayor Alvin Brown took office in July, and Brown accepted it. Barton left the JEDC in September.
• Mayor Alvin Brown invites residents age 60 and older to join the annual Mayor’s Fish-A-Thon In Our Park. It’s scheduled for 10 a.m. March 23 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park and will feature fishing, games, lunch and an awards ceremony with trophies for most fish, largest fish, smallest fish, ugliest fish and prettiest fish. For lunch reservations or more information, call 630-7392 by March 20.
• Speaking of the mayor, he announced “Mayor Brown’s College Student Aid Workshops” to help aspiring college students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid at no cost to students or taxpayers. Seven workshops are planned throughout Jacksonville starting March 31. The Indo-U.S. Chamber will provide 10-12 trained volunteers at each workshop to help students complete their FAFSAs. The financial aid directors of all four colleges will train the volunteers. A financial aid director will be on hand at each location to answer questions.
• Mayor Alvin Brown has nominated former JEA CEO Walt Bussells to replace Jay Fant on the JEA board for a term to end Feb. 28, 2016. Bussells worked for the City utility for almost 30 years and was CEO for nine years before retiring in 2004. Bussells has been involved in real estate and public-private partnership consulting, among other businesses.