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:
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with local FEMA official Gerald Hammink and Small Business Administration representative Shanna-Kae Mallett about Friday’s deadline to file for Hurricane Irma relief (01:07). The most recent segment of Moveable Feast visits with Jeanne Maron of St. Augustine’s Gifted Cork (32:00). The Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Joy Wolfram and Nena Shukla told us about their recent cancer research and getting more women to join the field (37:20). Composer and producer Alex Silva,
Monday on First Coast Connect we talked about a staggering increase in opioid-related deaths on the First Coast and what is being done about it with Gateway Community Services Medical Director Dr. Raymond Pomm and River Region Human Services and Addiction Specialist Dr. Amit Vijapura (01:09). Daughters of the British Empire spokesperson Ann Robards told us about the Jacksonville arm of the organization, the Clarence House Chapter (32:30). Native Sun founder Aaron Gottlieb told us how to pick out
Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski and WJCT’s Ryan Benk (01:10). We heard about the upcoming Tour de Farm event with Slow Food First Coast Chapter Leader Kurt D’Aurizio and Farm Tour Coordinator Kyle McBride (38:52). St. Augustine-based folk/rock band Wingfield performed live in-studio (46:00).
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with University of North Florida pollster Mike Binder on a newly released poll regarding Mayor Lenny Curry’s popularity and opinions on several issues in Jacksonville (01:09). To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month we spoke with Dr Laila Samiian from UF Health Jacksonville and Dr. Kathryn Pearson Peyton, founder of Mammosphere (21:51). Managing Partner of PS27 Ventures Jim Stallings spoke about their upcoming Leadership Week at UNF (32:54). Suwannee
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we heard about a new location to assist survivors of sexual assault in Jacksonville with Executive Director Teresa Miles of the Women’s Center of Jacksonville and Marcus Pollard, who is Director of Player Development and Youth Football with the Jacksonville Jaguars (01:11). Blogger Stacey Goldring from our our monthly First Coast Connect Book Club gave us the story behind “Killers of the Flower Moon” (33:10). Friday is White Cane Safety Day. We spoke with
Former Jacksonville Jaguar Rashean Mathis was a guest on Tuesday’s “First Coast Connect,” along with Vee Bird, associate director of diversity and social change at Florida State College at Jacksonville regarding their Bridging the Divide initiative (01:17). Tuesday is the 90th anniversary of a visit to Jacksonville by aviation legend Charles Lindbergh that he made a few months after his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Ed Booth Jr., past president of the Jacksonville Historical Society
Monday’s “First Coast Connect” examined a Tampa Bay Times story that states Jacksonville could experience severe flooding if it takes a direct hit from even a weak hurricane. Corey Johnson of the Tampa Bay Times, Nate Monroe from The Florida Times-Union and WJCT’s Ryan Benk (01:07) joined in on the discussion. We spoke with the new CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, Kay Ehas (37:08). Cole Pepper brought us the local sports news, including the Jaguars big win in Pittsburgh (44:01).
Friday on “First Coast Connect,” we had our weekly Media Roundtable. David Bauerlein from The Florida Times Union, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons (01:46) took part. We heard about the upcoming Sulzbacher Center’s “Transformations” event with co-chair Darnell Smith and Sulzbacher Chief Development Officer Eileen Briggs (40:41) We also spoke with the editor in chief of the new local publication, Salty at Heart, Kirstin Thompson (47:25).
Thursday on “First Coast Connect,” we heard about the 2017 edition of the State of the River Report with co-authors University of North Florida Chemistry Professor Dr. Radha Pyati and Associate Research Scientist Dr. Gerry Pinto at the Jacksonville University Science Research Institute (01:07). We were told about a new partnership between UNF and the Peace Corp called Peace Call Prep with UNF Peace Corp Prep Advisor Dr. Tim Robinson, and UNF alumnus and returned Peace Corp volunteer Frances Luna
Wednesday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Chad McIntrye, manager of Trauma Flight Services with Trauma One at UF Health Jacksonville hospital and Dr. David Yorkgitis, who is a trauma acute-care surgeon. Yorkgitis heads up a mass casualty group in Jacksonville that prepares the local trauma team for crisis situations (01:12).
Tuesday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with former Congressman Jason Altmire about his new book “Dead Center” (01:15). Dr. Takaya Jones with Baptist Health talked about this weekend’s Pink Ribbon Symposium (29:41). This week’s segment of “Moveable Feast” featured Lauren Titus of “Edible Northeast Florida” magazine (36:16). Players By The Sea Production Manager Jereme Raickett and Creative Marketing Manager Bradley Akers told us about this Saturday’s end-of-season fundraising event, “The
Monday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke about the shootings in Las Vegas and National Mental Health Week with interim President and CEO of Mental Health America of Northeast Florida Tara Wildes and Norma Basford, the former program director for National Association of Mental Illness of Jacksonville (01:17). Consumer law attorney Leslie Goller told us about the dangers of water-damaged cars that could hit the used car market after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and warning signs a car may have been
Friday on “First Coast Connect,” our weekly Media Roundtable featured Mark Woods from The Florida Times-Union, Charles Griggs from the Jacksonville Free Press and WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride (01:53). We heard about an event this weekend at the Jacksonville Landing to help Puerto Rico victims of Hurricane Maria and also spoke with author Steve Werlin , who wrote “To Fool the Rain: Haiti’s Poor and Their Pathway to a Better Life.” Jacksonville Historical Society president Alan Bliss and
Thursday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Florida GOP operative and President Donald Trump critic Rick Wilson about the administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the documentary he is co-producing about the Trump presidency (01:13). We heard an update on the proposed mixed-use development on Jacksonville’s Southbank , The District, with developer Michael Munz and Jacksonville University’s Associate Dean of Applied Health Sciences Heather Hausenblas (32:25). Learn to
Wednesday on “First Coast Connect,” we hear about September being National Recovery Month with Lakeview Health’s Juan Deas and alumni manager Ashley Harris (01:03). Author and former land manager Terri Mashour joined us to talk about her new book, “Backcounty Trails of Florida: A Guide to Hiking Florida’s Water Management Districts.” (32:47) Creator Keith Marks joined the show to discuss the launch of Avant Radio on 89.9 on Sunday (41:49).
