First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross
Summary: Hosted by Melissa Ross, First Coast Connect is an hour-long call-in program that features local newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, along with spot news features and a weekly roundtable of local journalists.
Podcasts:
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with UNF political science and public administration Assistant Professor Josh Gellers and MOSH planetarium director Eddie Whisler about this weekend’s Earth Day (01:08). Northeast Florida Regional Council CEO Brian Teeple discussed the Elevate Northeast Florida regional development strategy (33:56). And Kerry Speckman told us about some of the events coming up this week (46:00).
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski regarding the JEA Board of Directors hiring Aaron Zahn as interim CEO (01:10). Local attorney Wayne Hogan told us about April being national Distracted Driving Awareness Month (28:15). Hope McMath from Yellow House talked about a new project at the house called Voices Unearthed (38:39). WJXT anchor Melanie Lawson told us about next week’s She is Fierce! Spring event (46:00).
Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews, Daily Record reporter David Cawton and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk (01:03). We spoke with Jennifer Harrison with the Amelia Island Museum of History about the upcoming Cottages and Courtyards tour. (46:00).
Thursday on First Coast Connect we discussed the future of the One Spark crowdfunding festival with Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons (01:01). We commemorated the local observance of World Holocaust Remembrance Day by speaking with second-generation Holocaust survivor Naomi Chase (26:51) . It’s National Donate Life Month, and we heard about the upcoming annual Katie Ride for Life with Mayo Clinic transplant specialist Dr. Martin Mai and Katie Caples Foundation spokeswoman Amy
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with JEA employee unions leaders Randy Hilton, President of the local Professional Employees Association and Valerie Gutierrez, President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2358 about their opposition to a possible sale of the utility (01:01). In our latest Going Green segment we spoke with Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas about the proposed Emerald Necklace (29:58). Donna Fenchel, the owner of several local Orangetheory Fitness
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we discussed Equal Pay Day with Paula Liang, Ellen Wiss and Melanie Patz from the Women’s Giving Alliance (01:12). Our latest segment of Moveable Feast featured Dea Sims from Your Pie (29:19). This month’s First Coast Connect Bookclub with blogger Stacy Goldring featured the novel An Unnecessary Woman . (31:51). We heard about this weekend’s Mosaic 2018 with organizers Jeanine Hoff from Where’s the Sunshine? and Carmen Joyce of I Still Matter (46:00).
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri (01:25). April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month. New CEO of Daniel Kids Lesley Wells (36:19) addressed the topic. Cole Pepper brought us the latest sports news including the winner of The Masters Patrick Reed (46:00).
Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured David Bauerlein from the Florida Times-Union , WJCT business analyst John Burr, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and First Coast Connect producer Kevin Meerschaert (01:06). We spoke with Generation W founder Donna Orender and guest speaker Shelley Diamond about next week’s big Gen W conference (46:00).
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Basma Alawee from the Florida Immigrant Coalition on recent national news regarding immigrants and what they are doing to help refugees in Florida (01:13). Our latest edition of Art Attack featured: Shawana Brooks with the Jacksonville Public Library Adonnia Toler, Ritz Museum Administrator and Curator Christa Sylla, director of Culture Moves101 Nan Nkama, Pan-African Drum and Dance Ensemble Hope McMath, former Cummer Museum director and founder of
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg about his support of looking into the possibility of privatizing JEA (01:01). We heard about next week’s Equal Pay Day with Patricia DeWitt, the Public Policy Director for the American Association of University Women. Co Chair of Equal Pay Day Jax Donna Kuldau also joined us (33:15). Ahead of this year’s Jax Poetry Fest kickoff Wednesday night at the Jacksonville Art Walk we spoke with Executive
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former Miami Beach Mayor and Democratic candidate for Governor Philip Levine (01:03). Ahead of this week’s One Spark festival we spoke with Board Chairman Peter Rummell and Florida Blue Market President Darnell Smith (31:38). We talked to Bob Boyd, counsel for the Professional Education Network of Florida (PEN), about HB 7055 which was recently signed into law by Governor Rick Scott (46:00).
Monday on First Coast Connect we commemorated the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month with Women’s Center of Jacksonville Executive Director Teresa Miles and Board President Lise Everly (01:03). We marked Public Art Week in Jacksonville with Director of Art in Public Places Christie Holechek and Patrick Fisher with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville (32:53). Cole Pepper talked about Monday night’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and the latest sports news (46:00).
Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union Reporter David Bauerlein, WJCT Business Analyst John Burr, Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons and WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs.
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Gillum (01:17). Our periodic commentator Jay Solomon spoke about the controversy around removing Confederate monuments on the First Coast (39:57). We heard about this weekend’s Mandarin Art Festival with Show Manager Krysten Bennett (46:00).
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis (01:16). Our Going Green segment featured Shannon Blankenship and Kelly Patton with the St. Johns Riverkeeper. They discussed their upcoming Great St Johns River Campout (29:06). This month’s Women with Heart for Volunteers in Medicine featured Dr. Estrellita Redmon, President of St. Vincent’s Medical Group (37:57). We spoke with local actor, producer and author Nick Loren about his latest children’s book
