• The Fourth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) held interviews Monday for a vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Court Judge Michael Weatherby, who will step down in February. The commission had previously interviewed 24 of the applicants for the opening created by the passing of Judge Peter Fryefield, so it elected to only interview four new applicants, plus an applicant that interviewed via teleconference previously. The Governor’s Office will interview the first group of applicants suggested to fill Fryefield’s seat Thursday. With no one taken out of the applicant pool currently, the JNC decided to send the same list of names to be considered to fill Weatherby’s seat. That list includes Duval County Court Judge Roberto Arias and attorneys Thomas Beverly, Alan Chipperfield, Corinne Hodak, Harvey Jay and Donald Lester. The Governor has 60 days to select from the second pool of applicants.
• The Meninak Club of Jacksonville recently announced its elected 2010-11 directors, with Mike Grogan, Dawn Motes and Downing Nightingale taking the honors. The civic organization met Monday for the last time in 2009. Mark Hand was elected as vice-president elect and will serve as president in 2011.
• Shands Jacksonville Vice President of Public Affairs Penny Thompson has invited the entire City Council to take a tour of the facility early next month. She says hearing about the campus and seeing it are two different things.
• The University of North Florida has created a pilot continuing education initiative called “Foundations of Local Government.” UNF President John Delaney has invited virtually every local elected official, as well as the boards of the city’s independent agencies, to attend the two-day event set for Feb. 5 and 6. The meeting is subject to the State Sunshine Laws and UNF professor Dr. Michael Corrigan is coordinating the event.
• Thursday’s agenda of the Charter Revision Commission will focus on an appointed sheriff and School Board. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals and School Board Chair Brenda Priestly-Jackson will address the issues. The meeting is at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers.
• Bay Street Cafe will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 4.
• Representatives from AmeriHealth Administrators have informed the City it plans to close its Deerwood Park office and lay off 111 employees starting Feb. 12.
• The law offices of Camerlengo & Brockwell and Maggie Jo Hilliard are teaming up to host “Merry Charity,” an event to benefit The Sanctuary on 8th Street, Sulzbacher Center and Guardian Ad Litem. Teams of up to five people have been formed to gather needed items for these organizations, and every item donated earns a raffle ticket at the holiday celebration from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at One Ocean Wednesday. Ugly holiday sweater attire is encouraged and could earn the wearer a prize. For more information go to www.merrycharity.com or call 247-7600.
• Not too many creatures may be stirring at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville now that the Jacksonville Suns have gone into hibernation, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t get Jacksonville Suns gear at the stadium shop. Anyone interested in shopping at the stadium store can stop by the office at the stadium and be escorted up to the shop for all of their gift giving needs. For more information call 358-2846.
• Speaking of the Suns, look for new uniforms and colors when they open the 2010 season.
• The first day of winter, Dec. 21, is also $2 day at the Jacksonville Zoo.