First Coast Connect

Tuesday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Visit Jacksonville CEO Paul Astleford (1:02) about THE PLAYERS Championship’s impact on the region and concerns about the funding of Visit Florida. Attorney Wayne Hogan, Donna Orender and Director of Development at the ALS Association Florida Chapter Carmen Stokes (21:24) spoke about May 21 ALS fundraiser at the Baseball Grounds. Our new segment “Moveable Feast,” hosted by Women’s Food Alliance founder Leigh Cort, spoke with Casa Marina Hotel

Monday on “First Coast Connect” it’s Sine Die in the Florida State Legislature. We spoke with Florida Times-Union Tallahassee bureau chief Tia Mitchell (1:09). We learned the warning signs of stroke with Dr. Nima Aghaebrahim (28:11), interventional neurologist with Baptist Health and the Baptist Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center. We discussed an upcoming trip to Jacksonville’s Sister City of Nantes, France, with Sheila Kloc (34:34) of Alliance Francaise and Richard Shieldhouse with the Nantes

In our weekly Media Roundtable, our panel included WJCT business analyst John Burr and Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth (01:21). We also spoke with Master Will (36:07) from the Last Council Saber Academy about Saturday’s Comic Con at the Beaches and Willowbranch libraries, and we spoke with The Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville’s music director and conductor Marguerite Richardson, as well as guest performers Rebecca Shorstein and Monica Pasquini (44:02).

Thursday on “First Coast Connect," we spoke with Dr. Raymond Pomm from Gateway Community Services and River Region Human Services and Dr. Christine Caufield (01:05), executive director with LSF Health Systems, about Gov. Rick Scott declaring the opioid epidemic an emergency health crisis. We also heard from B & G Educational Innovations CEO and co-founder Elizabeth Benson (26:44). Congregation Ahavath Chesed spokesman Robert Cohen (35:08) told us about the upcoming Jacksonville Jewish Food

Wednesday on “First Coast Connect," we spoke with Clay County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis (00:58). We also heard from the director of communications from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State Rob Boston (28:00) and we were joined by PS 27 managing partner Jim Stallings (45:12) .

Tuesday on “First Coast Connect," we spoke with North Florida Land Trust President Jim McCarthy (1:02) about the legislature moving to zero out Florida Forever funding despite the passage of Amendment 1, the law voters approved in 2014 to earmark preservation dollars. Vicky Gunning (24:24) , managing partner of the Dallas office of Locke Lord and co-chair of the firm’s real estate and real estate finance practice, previewed her talk Tuesday about closing the pay gap with Jacksonville’s

Monday on “First Coast Connect" we talked about education with Duval County School Board member Becki Couch and Jacksonville Public Education Fund executive director Trey Csar. We heard about telemedicine with Triage Logic CEO Charu Raheja. Cole Pepper reviewed the Jaguars selections in the NFL draft, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Piotr Szewczyk talked about an upcoming free concert during Wednesday’s Artwalk.

Friday on our “First Coast Connect" Media Roundtable our panel consisted of blogger Fred Matthews, WJCT business analyst John Burr and The Next Page podcaster Charles Griggs. Writer and director Durden Godfrey, and Third Man Entertainment owner Jared Rush talked about the locally produced film “Never Go Back.” Ryan Ali with the Jacksonville Cultural Council about the PNC Foundation’s “Arts Alive” program and organizers Cody Burton and Tim Kerr told us about the Intersections Festival Saturday in

Thursday on “First Coast Connect, we spoke with the new director of Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Caitlin Doherty. We heard about an upcoming seminar regarding cochlear implants from Dr. Elizabeth Selle of The Hearing Center at Jacksonville Hearing & Balance Institute. New York artist Michael Alan told us about his upcoming his live show Friday at Space 42 and Tree Hill Nature Center executive director Mark Mummaw told us about Saturday’s Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival.

Wednesday on “First Coast Connect, Virginia Hall, senior director for Advocacy and Community Engagement at St. Vincent’s HealthCare told us about Saturday’s Medical Mission at Home. Meghan Fiveash, the community relations manager for Native Sun Food Market, discussed the company’s new policy to stop offering plastic grocery bags. Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library’s president Sylvia Wren and board member Margaret Smith told us about the upcoming book sale, and travel blogger Judy Wells