• President Barack Obama nominated Roy Dalton Jr. Wednesday for a judgeship in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida. Dalton is a partner in the law firm of Dalton & Carpenter in Orlando and of counsel in the Carlyle Appellate Law Firm in The Villages. He has practiced 33 years as a civil litigator, primarily as a sole practitioner and in small partnerships in the Orlando area. He also served as counsel to former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez from 2005-06. Dalton received his J.D. in 1976 and his B.A. in 1974 from the University of Florida.
• President Obama also nominated William Berger Sr. on Wednesday for U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida. Berger currently serves as the chief of police for Palm Bay. He began his law enforcement career in 1974 with the Miami Police Department. He worked his way through the ranks to become police captain before becoming chief of the North Miami Beach Police Department until 2004.
• Mayor John Peyton announced a couple of personnel changes Thursday within the senior management team of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Dan Klemen, current JFRD director and fire chief, will be a part of the transition team to assist the next administration when it begins leadership in July. In his place, Peyton selected Charles Moreland to serve as JFRD director and fire chief. Moreland currently serves as JFRD chief of rescue. Moreland’s appointment is subject to City Council confirmation.
• Native Sun Natural Foods Market will host its annual Fall Food Festival from noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Both locations, 10000 San Jose Blvd. and 11030 Baymeadows Road, will have fall dishes, sides and snacks for customers to sample as well as face painting and activities for kids. From 5-7 p.m., Native Sun’s Baymeadows location will offer live jazz music and a free all-natural and organic beer, wine and appetizers tasting for customers 21 and older.
• One of the latest additions to businesses at St. Johns Town Center will be Pollo Tropical, known for its citrus-marinated grilled chicken and Caribbean flavors, will bring a taste of tropics to Jacksonville with the grand opening of its first restaurant in Duval County at 4863 Gate Parkway, next to CVS. The first people in line for the grand opening at 10:30 a.m. Monday will receive a voucher for a free family meal, which includes a whole grilled chicken, choice of two sides and rolls.
• Bubba Burger continues its support of NASCAR this weekend by serving its burgers at Homestand-Miami Speedway where the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Bubba Burgers have been served at Talladega Superspeedway, Darlington Raceway and Richmond and Daytona International Speedways during the 2010 season. Bubba Burger, and its parent company Hickory Foods, has corporate headquarters in Jacksonville.