Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens welcomed the birth of another gorilla, the second in just over three months.
The infant’s parents are Madini, the mother, and Lash, the father. The baby was born at 8:35 p.m. Saturday.
Madini lost her first infant during labor in March 2014.
The parents were recommended to breed by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, a group of professionals who help manage the populations at zoos.
The Jacksonville Zoo has three males — Lash, 38, Rumpel, 30, and George, three months. It also has three females, Bulera, 26, Madini, 19, and Kumbaka, 19. The newborn’s sex is currently unknown.
First 'Call Me Mister' graduate ready to begin work
During its 2015 commencement ceremony Saturday, Edward Waters College and President Nat Glover celebrated the school’s first “Call Me Mister” scholarship graduate, Bernard Agurs.
The program is open to African-American males majoring in elementary education and pays for the last two years of course work. After graduation, scholarship recipients must teach in an inner-city elementary school in Duval County for at least five years.
Glover presented Agurs during the ceremony with a Call Me Mister blazer.
“I’ve had excellent role models in my life and I want to be the one that can make a difference in a child’s life,” Agurs said in a news release.
Atlantic Beach Country Club annexed by beach community
Mayors Alvin Brown and Carolyn Woods, of Atlantic Beach, hosted a bill signing ceremony Monday at Atlantic Beach Country Club, which has been annexed from Jacksonville to the beach community.
They were joined by City Council member Bill Gulliford, the bill’s co-sponsor.
Annexing the property allows for residents of the development to be served by the city closest to them, which will minimize time delays and confusion in providing services, according to a news release.
The land is 170 acres and is being turned into the country club that will have 178 homes and an 18-hole golf course.
EverBank Field job fair is Sunday and Monday
The Jacksonville Jaguars Guest Services Team will host an EverBank Field job fair for the upcoming NFL season from noon-4 p.m. Sunday and 4-8 p.m. Monday at the stadium.
Positions available include concessions, bartenders, ticket-takers, housekeeping, parking, security and merchandise.
The fair will be in the US Assure Club East, with participants able to apply for event-day positions on-site. Parking is available on the east side of the stadium in lots C and D.
Native Sun to open third local location
Organic grocer Native Sun is bringing a third location to the Jacksonville market with a Jacksonville Beach location slated to open in August. The company has selected Auld & White as the general contractor for the store at Third Street and 15th Avenue North.
The design and layout will feature mural artwork, indoor and outdoor seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
It also will have a full-service kitchen to help the retailer emphasize hot meals.
Native Sun has stores at 10000 San Jose Blvd. and 11030 Baymeadows Road.
Craft & Import Beer Festival Friday
The seventh annual Craft & Import Beer Festival is Friday at Veterans Memorial Arena.
The event has beer and food samples from 20 local restaurants and live music.
Forty breweries will be participating, including five locals: Aardwolf Brewing Co., Intuition Ale Works, Veterans United Brewing Co., Pinglehead Brewing Co. and Zeta Brewing Co.
VIP tickets are $60 and include admission an hour early at 5 p.m., a 5-ounce beer- sampling glass and access to limited and high-end beers.
General admission tickets are $45 and include admission to the event from 6-9 p.m. along with a beer-sampling glass.
All tickets include access to beverage and food samples, entertainment and a silent auction. They can be purchased at beerfestjax.com.
The Silverfield Group names new president
The Silverfield Group has announced that Leed Silverfield has been promoted to president of the full-service real estate, development, investment and brokerage company.
He’s been with the company for 13 years, most recently overseeing its development and investment activities.
Gary Silverfield remains as chairman.
Fresh Market to host charity sidewalk sale
The Fresh Market will celebrate the 21st anniversary of its annual “Hope Floats” Sidewalk Sale from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 29-31. The event benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Each store will offer picnic-style items, including root beer floats, for a $2 donation.
All funds raised over the three days go toward diabetes research.
The grocer has three locations at 13493 Atlantic Blvd. in East Arlington, 12795 San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin and 150 Riverside Ave., Suite 200, in Brooklyn.
Free country concerts return to Landing tonight
The annual Free Country Concert Series at the Jacksonville Landing returns tonight.
Michael Ray headlines the show, with Jordyn Stoddard opening the concert.
On May 20, Craig Wayne Boyd — last year’s winner of “The Voice” — performs. Chase Fouraker also is on the bill.
Frankie Ballard is the lead act for the May 27 show, which also features Brittney Lawrence and Amber Delacruz.
Opening acts start at 8 p.m., followed by the headliners.