Joshua Gellers, a University of North Florida assistant professor of political science, has been awarded a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Award.
Gellers will conduct research on public participation in the environmental decision-making process through work with the geography department at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka.
The awards are open to U.S. scholars who have completed their doctoral degree in the past five years.
Grantees are expected to engage with graduate students in host countries and continue research, along with possibly providing public lectures and mentoring.
Gellers will analyze the practices of government officials and attitudes of Sri Lankans about their experiences with public participation for three major foreign-funded development projects.
He’s been at UNF for almost two years after earning his doctorate in political science from the University of California, Irvine.
400 businesses support expanding local law for LGBT
The Jacksonville Coalition for Equality on Tuesday announced 400 businesses and nonprofits have signed on in support of updating the city’s anti-discrimination laws to include the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
The goal of the coalition is to prevent the LGBT community from being discriminated against in employment, housing and public accommodations.
The list of organizations that have signed on ranges from large companies, like CSX Transportation and Florida Blue, to small businesses, including restaurants Black Sheep and Burrito Gallery.
“From a business perspective, the only (way) we can do this is to make sure that no one is discriminated again,” said Michael Miller, vice chairman and co-founder of Brightway Insurance. Brightway also signed on.
After a failed attempt in 2012, the issue most recently was resurrected when Mayor Lenny Curry addressed the topic in a series of public forums. He issued a directive for the city’s employment policies to align with federal requirements, which prohibit such discriminations.
Contrasting bills by City Council members Bill Gulliford and Tommy Hazouri were debated through February but ultimately were withdrawn, with Hazouri saying he would bring the issue back up.
Suns and Armada start seasons over the next week
It’s a season of starts for two Jacksonville professional sports teams this week.
The Jacksonville Suns begin their first season under new owner Ken Babby this week with a homestand that starts at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Mayor Lenny Curry and his son, Boyd, will be on hand to throw out the first pitch and the Navy will present the colors before the national anthem. The series lasts through Sunday.
The Jacksonville Armada FC begins its season Sunday against the New York Cosmos at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.
The Armada debuts at home at 7 p.m. April 15 against Miami FC at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds.
For information on the Suns, visit jaxsuns.com. For the Armada, visit armadafc.com.
New principal leading Daniel Academy
Daniel Academy, a private elementary school for children with learning disabilities and emotional issues, named Kerry Flanigan as its new principal.
Flanigan has more than 20 years of experience in education, spending the last three years as assistant principal at Joppa View Elementary in Baltimore, where she supervised more than 75 staff members and 750 students.
She also piloted a laptop initiative and coordinated a complete digital conversion while at the school.
In 2011, she received the outstanding educator award from the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce.
Flanigan has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Goucher College and is pursuing her master’s degree. A native of New Hampshire, she resides in St. Johns County.
For more information about Daniel Academy, visit danielacademyjax.com.
Eagle View Windows move to Northside almost complete
Eagle View Windows will celebrate moving to its North Jacksonville manufacturing facility during a grand opening event April 14.
The 82,000-square-foot warehouse at 13340 International Parkway is more than four times the size of its former Westside facility, with the extra size letting the company better service builders and homeowners.
The company is the only local window manufacturer in Northeast Florida and uses high-grade vinyl and glass.
The facility is within the Jacksonville International Tradeport and includes an office and showroom. CEO Terry Tuten in a news release said he expects the company to eventually outgrow the space and expand to employ more people.
FSCJ center receives $5,000 grant
The Florida State College at Jacksonville Center for Economic and Financial Education has been awarded the 2016 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Education grant.
The $5,000 grant will help the center expand a financial literacy initiative to a college-wide program that will reach FSCJ students, faculty and staff.
Workshops will provide students with economic skills to help make responsible financial decisions.
In the 2016-17 education year, the center intends to help educate 200 students and 50 faculty members on topics such as borrowing wisely and decision-making regarding higher education.
Spring is serving as a planning period for topic evaluation and scheduling. Seminars will be scheduled for the fall and spring 2017.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to present ‘On Broadway’
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will present “On Broadway” on April 15-17, a show that’s part of the Fidelity National Financial Pops Series.
The acts will feature the music of well-known Broadway classics like “West Side Story,” “The King and I,” “Wicked” and “Carousel.” It will feature guest conductor Steven Reineke and guest artists Carrie Manolakos and Ryan Silverman.
The concert is sponsored through a special gift in honor of City Rescue Mission staff.
Shows are 8 p.m. April 15-16 and 3 p.m. April 17.
Reineke is music director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and principal pops conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Manolakos is a recording artist and Broadway performer and Silverman is a singer. Both have starred in several productions.
Shows will be at the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts.
For information, visit jaxsymphony.org.