• Fuddrucker fans won’t have to drive to Orlando any more: the hamburger chain’s first franchise in this area will open in September at the Landing. Construction will begin today to transform the former Musicland space and six additional spaces into a 6,200 square-foot restaurant that will offer what the franchise calls “The World’s Greatest Hamburgers” that have gained a cult following among those who like big burgers with the chance to add their own fixins. The restaurant will have a butcher shop and a bakery.
• It’s official. The board of directors at River Region Human Services has voted to rescind its lease of the old Job Corps Building in Springfield. The board cited insurance and renovation costs and security. The building will now go back to the Health and Human Services division of the General Services Administration.
• Vision is Priceless Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary June 8 at San Jose Country Club with a cash bar reception at 6 p.m. and a Dutch treat dinner at 7.
• Another local business is closing. WinCup Holdings, Inc. — a manufacturing facility on the Westside — will permanently cease operations by July 18. According to Senior Vice President of Operations Donald Walker, 67 employees will be affected.
• The settlement between the City and the firefighters still hasn’t been approved by City Council. Why? The bill had to be approved by Council by April 30 and was on the April 25 agenda. However, the legislation was postponed to May 9 and then again to May 23. According to Margaret Sidman of the General Counsel’s Office, because deadlines weren’t met, the document must now be modified and signed again by both parties. The new deadline is June 30.
• There’s a new information monitor in City Hall above the security guard station. The screen displays City meeting info to include time and location. The old one hadn’t worked in over a year.
• Correction. In our story last week about Jungle Runners Espress, we said they roast their coffee in part-owner J.J. Anderson’s garage. Not true. It’s roasted at a factory in St. Augustine.
• Interesting topic for Wednesday’s lunch and learn at City Hall — anger management.
• In addition to the Paw Prints project by the Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Council, the group is looking to see if they will be able to print a paw print in front of business doorways to help support Paw Prints. And these paw prints won’t have to be painted Florida Department of Transportation yellow like the ones on the road, they can be teal for the Jaguars.
• The St. Johns Bluff Road entrance to the University of North Florida is now open. It was closed for about a month due to construction on 9A.
• Amateur Night at the Ritz will begin again on June 2. Amateur Night is Jacksonville’s local talent competition where the audience decides on the winner. The show on June 2 will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.
• June 4 is Family Day at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. From noon-5 p.m. families can enjoy a day at the museum filled with art, gardens, fun and education. Admission is free and open to the public.
• Ch. 12/25 has hired Marty Van Housen as its new news director. Van Housen starts Tuesday and will come from the CBS affiliate in St. Louis. He’s replacing Mike McCormick, who headed to another Gannett-owned station in Cleveland.
• Inside Golf outside. Those two huge shipping containers you saw on the sidewalk on W. Monroe Street at Hemming Plaza this week were holding Mary O’Donnell’s second golf simulator. The crates arrived from Canada where the simulator was built – but there was no sign of the installers who had to unpack the crates and assemble the machine upstairs at O’Donnell’s new indoor golf course. On top of that, the day the 1,000-pound boxes arrived was Victoria Day, a national holiday in Canada, so getting anyone on the phone to answer any questions was pure luck, O’Donnell said.
• Looking for a family outing on Memorial Day? The St. Johns River City Band will be on stage at Metropolitan Park from 3-4:30 p.m. They’ll plan to play “patriotic favorites,” and hamburgers and hot dogs will be on sale.
• It’s a tough job, kid. The Christ the King Courier, a church newspaper, sent a third-grader to interview Mayor John Peyton for the May issue. When asked what was his most favorite thing and least favorite thing about being mayor, Peyton said that his favorite was the book club he started and that his least favorite was having to deal with the media.
• A second performer has been added to this year’s Spring Music Festival. Before Rob Thomas takes the stage, singer Anna Nalick will open the show. Nalick’s latest hit single is titled “Breathe.”