JaxPort to handle newest Acura models
American Honda Motor Co. has picked the Jacksonville Port Authority to export new Acura MDX and TLX models to the Middle East.
Port tenant AMPORTS will handle the vehicle processing, while Hoegh Autoliners will be the shipper.
It’s the first time new Acura models will be available in the Middle East through a dealership network, with Kuwait being the first market to receive the cars.
The number of Hondas exported through JaxPort topped 40,000 units last year.
“This new business illustrates the confidence that American Honda has in JaxPort and our service partners,” said Roy Schleicher, JaxPort executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Thanks to the superior work being done by our tenants, partners and employees, JaxPort continues to solidify our position as the nation’s No. 1 port for vehicle exports.”
Prasad leaving as DOT secretary
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad will be leaving the post Jan. 2.
The Florida Transportation Commission will start identifying candidates for a successor before sending those names to Scott.
“Secretary Prasad has been part of my administration since the very beginning, and he has been pivotal to making sure we could make a record investment of over $10 billion in our transportation system this year,” Scott said in a news release.
Cecil Airport opening new hangar
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning to officially open Hangar 935 at Cecil Airport, the largest single hangar construction to date at the facility.
Representatives from the authority and Flightstar Aircraft Services will be on hand, as will city and state officials.
The $27 million hangar broke ground in June 2013. The authority will lease the land and hangar to Flightstar for commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.
Library to host winter break happenings
When school lets out for winter break, students will have the opportunity to partake in more than 100 age-appropriate activities at the Jacksonville Public Library. Activities will vary at each library.
Highlights include “A Christmas Carol,” presented by the Hampstead Stage Co.; “Santa Story Stops and Photo Ops” with Santa Claus; a “Let it Snow” puppet show with cloud sheep Beep and Leap; and a teen art contest with a prize of a $30 gift certificate from Reddi Arts.
For a complete listing of events, visit jaxpubliclibrary.org/schoolbreakresources.
Crowley promotes Orben to general manager
Crowley Maritime Corp. has promoted Ken Orben to general manager of terminals operations.
A 27-year Crowley veteran, Orben was the director of port operations for the company in Pennsauken, Pa. He will relocate to Jacksonville and report to John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Puerto Rico services.
Orben will be responsible for land operations, including line and staff functions, ocean terminal and related container yard and container freight station operations. He joined the company in 1987 as a manager of port operations.
Delgado joins Ability Housing
Nigelle Delgado has joined Ability Housing of Northeast Florida as the nonprofit’s finance director.
She’ll be responsible for the direction of Ability Housing’s financial policies, long-term financial planning and financing of its affordable housing developments.
Delgado joins the nonprofit from the Ohio Capital Corp. for Housing, where she worked with properties nearing the end of their compliance period.
“Nigelle’s experience in housing development and permanent supportive housing are perfect fits for the work that we do,” said Shannon Nazworth, Ability Housing’s executive director, in a news release.
‘Home for the Holidays’ at Art Walk tonight
The final Art Walk of 2014 will be tonight with the theme of “Downtown is Home for the Holidays.”
Laura Street will be “snowy” and there will be arts and crafts along with seasonal beverages for children and adults. Hemming Park will have a snow slide and sounds from the Tuba Christmas from 5-6:30 p.m.
The monthly event starts at 5 p.m., rain or shine. Sweet Pete’s, located in the former Seminole Club adjacent to Hemming, will have a porch party with drink specials.
While the night’s events are transpiring, there is a protest and rally slated at City Hall for the controversy surrounding City Council President Clay Yarborough’s objection of a photograph at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. Mayor Alvin Brown, on advice from the Office of General Counsel, decided not to pull taxpayer funding from the museum.
Florida doesn’t fare well in giving
It’s the traditional season for giving, but Florida doesn’t rank so well among its peers, according to one organization.
Based on WalletHub’s “2014 Most & Least Charitable States,” Florida is the ninth least charitable state in the union.
Factors included volunteer rate, percentage of donated income, highest population who claim to have donated time and money, and the highest growth in charities per capita, among other factors.
Florida’s highest ranking among those factors was 18th for percentage of donated income. Its worst was volunteer rate, where it ranked 47th.
Utah was first on the group’s overall list, followed by South Dakota and a tie between Idaho and Kansas. Bringing up the rear was Nevada, West Virginia, Kentucky and New Jersey.
Memorial Hospital expanding services
Memorial Hospital is expanding its services to include emergency and inpatient care for children.
The hospital currently treats children in its family medicine practices and at all three of its emergency departments.
“Last year we treated more than 16,000 pediatric patients in our emergency services department and we know many of those patients who required hospitalization would have preferred to stay here at Memorial Hospital,” hospital President and CEO Jim O’Laughlin said in a news release.
Minor ailments and less severe emergencies can be handled by the ExpressKids program.
All rooms are private and include child-friendly artwork and other features to relieve any anxiety a child might have. Also equipped are touch-screen tablets so children can watch and play games while being treated.
For more severe conditions or needed monitoring, the hospital will have an Inpatient Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care early next year.
Bottle & Bottega to open Jacksonville store
Bottle & Bottega, a national wine and art studio, has signed an agreement with Melissa Anderson to open the first location in Jacksonville. The concept launches in January with “Pop Up” events, with the studio to open in the spring.
Anderson will first host private events in homes, restaurants, offices and community venues before the studio opens.
It will be 16th location in the U.S.
For more information, visit bottleandbottega.com.