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:
Today on “First Coast Connect,” our weekly Media Roundtable panel included Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein, David Cawton from the Financial News and Daily Record, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and A.G. Gancarski (01:33) from Florida Politics. We heard about a rally Saturday in St. Mary’s, Georgia, to protest proposed development on Cumberland Island with Alex Kearns (33:41) with St. Mary’s EarthKeepers. Thrasher-Horne Center executive director Denton Yockey (41:10) told us
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman (01:02) about JAXPORT’s newly modified plan to deepen the river’s channel. Retired Captain Matt Tuohy from the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition and Pelocity CEO Stephen Pollan (33:04) talked about the company’s program to help veterans find jobs. Flamingo Magazine publisher Jamie Rich (40:31) told us about its summer edition and Kerry Speckman (45:16) let us know what’s going on around town this weekend.
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Jacksonville Historical Society board members Ed Booth and Wayne Wood (01:02) about its list annual list of the most endangered buildings in Jacksonville. President of One Spark Ventures Chris Carter (26:58) told us about the changes announced this week for the festival. City of Jacksonville Disabled Services Director Kevin McDaniel and Brooks Rehabilitation Director of Adaptive Recreation Alice Krauss (37:33) talked about the upcoming “Brooks
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Dawn Gilman (01:07), CEO of Changing Homelessness about a battling homelessness in the Northeast Florida. Our latest segment of “Moveable Feast” with Leigh Court of the Women’s Food Alliance featured Destination Planning owner Anne Urban (23:40). We remembered long-time Jacksonville attorney and environmental activist Bill Burton (37:16), who passed away Monday, and this month’s Women with Heart honoree is Nicole Thomas (45:16), CEO of Baptist
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with author Haroon Moghul (00:55) about his new memoir “How to Be a Muslim.” We were also joined by retired North Atlantic Treaty Organization commander Admiral James Stavridis (28:43), who talked about his new book “Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans.” Habijax CEO Mary Kay O’Rourke (40:27) gave us a preview of the 2017 Women’s Build, and Cole Pepper (47:26) brought us the latest sports news.
Today on “First Coast Connect,” it was our weekly Media Roundtable with blogger Fred Matthews, Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk (01:07).
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we discussed how Jacksonville helps refugees from around the world with Michelle Karolak, director of the Refugee Resettlement Program for the diocese of St. Augustine; Tracy Kovach, program director for the Children’s Refugee Program Project; Akbar Hakim Zoda, who immigrated from Afghanistan in 2001 and works with Catholic Charities; and caseworker Siamand Ando (01:08), who immigrated from Iraq in 2010. We also spoke with Michael Casey Kocijan (36:26) about a new
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we discussed a Jacksonville City Council ordinance to fund a opioid epidemic pilot program with Councilman Bill Gulliford a and Dr. Raymond Pomm (00:59), medical director with Gateway Community Services and River Region Community Services. Dig Local Network director Devon Rich and its board Vice President Brittany Norris (30:35) told us about their three urban gardens and an event coming up on Sunday. Actors David Girard and Terrence Scott (37:35) talked about the
Today on “First Coast Connect,” JaxPort spokesperson Nancy Rubin (01:08) told us about a new proposal by port officials for the deepening of the St. Johns River channel that would cut about $200 million from its cost. Founder and director of The Global Workshop Matt Colaciello (22:33) remembered the murder victims of an attack by a white supremacist in Portland. We spoke with author Bob Kealing (35:36) about his new book “Elvis Ignited.” First Coast Connect Book Club blogger Stacey Goldring was
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we marked the one-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting with director of the University of North Florida LGBT Resource Center Kaitlin Legg and Brendan Byrne (01:04), reporter for WMFE in Orlando. We heard how to be financially ready for hurricane season with Gerri Sexsion (22:24), president and CEO of Jax Federal Credit Union. We talked about June being Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month with Eldersource Institute Executive Director Linda Levin
Today on “First Coast Connect,” it was our weekly Media Roundtable featuring Florida Times-Union reporter Tessa Duvall, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth, Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk (01:08). Jacksonville’s Director of Military Affairs and Veterans Services Bill Spann, administrative aide Kenneth Johnson and Jeff Shuford (32:15) from Tech From Vets told us about the upcoming Jacksonville Vetrepreneur Summit. Florida State College at Jacksonville
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke about the dangers of President Trump’s proposal to slash funding for the State Department with former Deputy National Security Advisor Admiral Jonathan Howe, first commander in Afghanistan General “Buster” Hagenbeck and retired diplomat John Caulfield (01:07). Creator Tina Vaughn and cast member Adam Davis (28:50) talked about the upcoming “Coming Out Monologues.” Husband and wife organists Peter and Patricia Dewitt (37:40) told us about the upcoming
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with former CSX executive Dale Lewis (01:02) about his research into the pros and cons of dredging the St. Johns River. Robert E. Lee High School students Alan McCullough and Devon Brown, along with their teacher Amy Donofrio (28:55) told us about the Evacuation Movement program. Deb Chapin and Brian Anderson (36:51) with the Ponte Vedra Greenway Alliance discussed the upcoming “Palm Valley Storytelling Day,” and travel blogger Judy Wells (44:25) told us
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we talked about the future of Visit Florida with Robert Skrob (01:02), executive director of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations. We learned about the future of the use of drones with Jameson Rice (21:34), associate with the law firm Holland and Knight. Our latest edition of “Movable Feast” hosted by Leigh Cort of the Women’s Food Alliance features Lorna McDonald (36:40) from St. Augustine’s The Raintree restaurant. Dr. Arun Gulani (46
Today on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with two members of the group known as the “Hemming Park Five”: Dave Schneider and Willie Hager (01:05). We heard about an upcoming forum at Jacksonville University about patient safety in hospitals with Brooks Rehabilitation program director Roberta Christopher, JU associate professor with the school of nursing Teri Chenot, organizer of the group “Patient Safety America” Dr. John James and Dr. Robert Wears (27:55), professor with the University of
