• Some changes in the local federal judiciary. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Covington is being transferred to Tampa while Bankruptcy Judge Paul Glenn is coming back to Jacksonville from Tampa. Also, District Judge Marcia Howard who has been on loan to Ft. Myers is also moving back to Jacksonville.
• Attorneys Brett Lucas and Michael Burnett opened the North Florida Mediation Center last week. Lucas and Burnett provide mediation and arbitration services in all areas of civil litigation including personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance, commercial litigation and nursing home neglect. The facility is offered as a neutral ground where both parties can meet to resolve their cases. The 3,300 square foot facility is located off of Old St. Augustine Road on Dupont Station Court.
• Donna Hulsey, wife of attorney Mark Hulsey III, retired June 30 after working for the Duval County Public School System for 40 years. Some of her positions in the system included teacher, principal and Executive Director of K-8 Education, Cluster 2, where she oversaw 59 schools. She was originally hired in 1968 as a teacher at Parkwood Heights Elementary School. Hulsey also mentored elementary school principals during her last 10 years with the school system.
• Boaters, be careful out there: Between July 4 and July 7, six manatees were recovered from Florida’s waterways and were determined to have died from watercraft collisions, including one manatee that was recovered from the Ortega River July 5. According to the Save the Manatee Club, through July 7, 54 watercraft deaths and 198 total manatee deaths have been reported state-wide, which are near-record totals.
• You never can tell when your 15 minutes of fame will occur. Attorney and future Circuit Court Judge Jeff Morrow found that out while sharing a drink with a friend during the Jacksonville Justice Association summer retreat in the Bahamas at the end of June. Morrow’s friend took him to the picturesque Reef Bar and Grill at the Hope Town Harbour Lodge on June 27 and they noticed something wasn’t right about the normally serene and relaxed atmosphere. Huge cables were strewn across the floor, screens were set up, big high definition cameras were positioned around the bar and the cast from the television show “Scrubs” were hanging out. “We got our drinks and they started filming,” said Morrow, “so we were in the scene. It was pretty fun.” A member of the crew told Morrow he would get an e-mail notifying him when the episode would air.
• Nicky G’s Brick Oven Pizza on Bay Street might be closed but it isn’t empty. Much of the furniture still remains and the owner of the building has let his new neighbors at the Ivy Ultra Bar use the space for interviewing potential employees.
• If you think you are seeing more Downtown Ambassadors these days, you’re right. According to Ambassador Lydia Colbert, there are 17 roaming the Northbank and Southbank these days (although Colbert is on her three-wheeler), a figure that is way from the five that were working about a year ago.
• Carolyn Ettinger, founding president of the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida, is retiring in September. Ettinger has been with the organization for 16 years and says she wishes to “explore another phase of my life.” According to Housing Partnership Chair John Whitner, the Maryland-based consulting firm of TransitionGuides will be retained to help find Ettinger’s replacement.
• Mayor John Peyton gave his budget address this morning and now he’s hitting the media circuit. His calendar this week includes two live TV interviews at noon today as well as interviews with Ch. 12/25, Folio, WJCT and Hola News.