• Almost nine of every 10 stores surveyed in Northeast Florida didn’t sell alcohol to underage youth in April. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco released its monthly retailer compliance rates. The 107 stores surveyed in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties had a compliance rate of 87 percent.
• In thanking Capt. Jack Scorby Thursday for his almost three years in command at NAS Jacksonville and many awards, Rear Adm. Townsend Alexander also mentioned another accomplishment. “Jack realized he needed to do something to slow the flow of traffic,” Alexander said. “He introduced ‘speed-calming devices.’” Scorby, “overnight, became the most popular guy on base,” proven by the many helpful and informative suggestions and responses that flowed in.
• Numerous Downtown drinking establishments will pay homage to The Great Fire of 1901 that burned much of Downtown by throwing a party. The Great Fire Party tonight will feature fire-themed specials and entertainment at participating venues. (Wear red.) Visit www. downtownjacksonville.org for more information
• Clarification to a Thursday story about the City’s partnership with The Community Foundation: The City can accept donations now. However, according to Deputy Director of the City’s Recreation & Community Services Division Kelly Boree, many organizations and foundations don’t donate because the City is not a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.
• Nice gesture by City Council member and Jacksonville Waterways Commission Chair Reggie Brown at the start of Thursday’s Waterways Commission meeting. Brown asked for a moment of silence in honor of Waterways member Steve Nichols, who passed away last month.
• Speaking of Waterways, there are three openings and Brown said he’s reviewing applications to fill those spots.
• The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico hasn’t affected this area, but Quinton White of Jacksonville University talked about it Thursday. “The oil spill is one of the largest man-made disasters of all time,” he said, explaining the spill is 5,000 feet below sea level, but the oil — which is actually a mixture of several things — is coming from four miles into the Earth’s crust. “It’s an ecological disaster. The scary thing is we don’t know enough about deep water currents to fully understand (what’s going to happen). This will be a huge problem for years.”
• The law offices of Camerlengo & Brockwell will become The Camerlengo Law Group tomorrow. The name change is the result of partner Heath Brockwell opening the Brockwell Firm in Jacksonville Beach that day. Attorney Gregg Anderson has become an equity partner of the Camerlengo Law Group.
• Watching the mailbox can save attorneys more than $100. Attorney renewal forms for 2010-11 will be mailed at the end of the month to all active members of the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Members who do not receive a renewal notice can check their status at www.flmd.uscourts.gov. The renewal fee is $20, for two years, and is due July 15. Attorneys who are delinquent must reapply for membership at a cost of $165 before they can practice in the Middle District of Florida.
• Ralph J. Humphries and Kenneth C. Steel III have joined Boyd & Jenerette in Jacksonville as partners. Humphries practices in the workers’ compensation and employment defense department. Steel practices in the civil litigation department as a coverage, bad faith insurance defense attorney.