The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of its “Python Challenge at Crocodile Crossing” exhibit. The 40-foot controlled free fall is the latest addition to the 7-acre zip line course that offers a different vantage to view crocodiles, alligators, birds and other animals.
Visitors will scale a ladder to the top of a launch tower before donning equipment and stepping off the edge of a platform.
The ceremony is 10 a.m. Friday and the exhibit will be open for Memorial Day weekend. Tickets to the attraction are $10 when purchased with a Crocodile Crossing course pass or $15 when purchased alone.
City, CSX team for electric charging stations
Downtown will be the latest site of two electric vehicle charging stations due to a partnership between the city and CSX. The stations will be inside the Water Street parking garage, a spot where several electric cars park. City Council approved legislation for the stations last week.
The stations will be free to the public.
The city purchased one station using federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds. CSX bought the other and will donate it to the city and pay for installation.
As part of the deal, CSX will be able to charge vehicles at no cost until Aug. 31, 2016, followed by the city charging a reasonable rate. The two years’ worth of free charging is expected to be under $2,000, according to the bill’s summary.
Jacksonville University to help ‘Identify the Signs’
Jacksonville University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will host a free event May 31 to help people identify signs of speech-language problems.
Called “Identify the Signs,” the event is 10 a.m.-noon in the university’s Lazzara Building lobby and is part of May being Better Hearing and Speech Month.
It will teach attendees about topics ranging from brain injury, dementia and hearing loss to autism, swallowing problems and stuttering. JU speech pathologists and audiologists, including Christine Sapienza, dean of the JU College of Health Sciences, will be on hand to answer questions.
Registration open for JAX Chamber Leadership Trip to Nashville
Registration is open for the 2014 JAX Chamber Leadership Trip to Nashville, Tenn. Attendees on the Sept. 30-Oct. 2 trip will look at the city’s best practices and quality-of-life improvements that have happened since the Jacksonville group visited in 2001.
For information on the optional tours and prices, visit myjaxchamber.com.
Dalton Agency veteran heading to Atlanta
Kevyn Faulkenberry, a Dalton Agency vice president and creative director, will be heading north to join the company’s Atlanta team in the same role. The promotion means he will lead the creative team at the Georgia office.
A Jacksonville native, Faulkenberry has developed brands and increased revenue for businesses including quick-serve restaurants, retail chains, banks, sports franchises, transportation companies and healthcare devices and providers.
“With this move, we are aligning our teams to provide a high level of creative and strategic support to our clients agencywide,” said Bill Coontz, Dalton’s Atlanta office president.
While there, Faulkenberry will work with Dalton’s chief creative officer, Pat McKinney, who will continue to be in Jacksonville.
He will be full time starting July 1.
Clements to headline JAXUSA Partnership luncheon
EverBank Chair and CEO Rob Clements will be the keynote speaker of the JAXUSA Partnership second-quarter event at 11:30 a.m. June 18 at the Hyatt Downtown.
Clements’ topic will be “Building the Financial Services Firm of Tomorrow Here in Jacksonville Today.”
Ticket prices range from $45-$70 for individuals and $450-$700 for corporate tables of 10.
For more information, visit myjaxchamber.com.
Stein, Korman, Adams, Fane headline awards
The 17th Annual Prime F. Osborn III Distinguished Business Leader Awards Luncheon will be 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today at The River Club.
This year’s event will honor Martin “Hap” Stein, CEO of Regency Centers, and Howard Korman, president of Jacksonville Greyhound Racing Inc., as distinguished business leaders.
Other nominees included Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and Blake Wilson, president and chief operating officer at EverBank.
Ronald Adams from the University of North Florida will be honored as distinguished professor and Mitchell Fane was selected as distinguished alumnus.
The awards were established in 1998 by UNF’s Coggin College of Business to recognize long-term career achievements of those who provide leadership in business and the local community.
Judah joins Tritt & Associates
Bryan Judah, a certified building contractor, has joined the firm of Tritt & Associates. He will focus on construction contracts and litigation.
Judah is a recent graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law after graduating in 2007 from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in building construction. After UF, he went to work at an Orlando-based Williams Co. before returning to school.
Prendergrast selected to represent North Florida at conference
Smith Hulsey & Busey attorney Leanne McKnight Prendergrast was chosen to represent the North Florida chapter at the upcoming leadership summit of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation.
The confederation is a global network of more than 1,200 women attorneys, bankers, corporate-turnaround professionals, financial advisers and others in the insolvency and restructuring professions.
Summer reading registration begins June 1
Jacksonville children can begin registering June 1 for the Jacksonville Public Library’s summer reading program that runs through Aug. 1.
The program is designed to help children and teens develop and maintain their literacy skills over the summer. Studies show that students who participate in such programs return to school in the fall better prepared, motivated and ready to learn.
More than 80 programs and activities focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math provide close to 400 opportunities to participate.
Summer reading guides and lists are available at jaxpubliclibrary.org/summerreading, with sign-ups available at any branch library. For more information, call (904) 630-2665.