Florida’s longest and arguably laziest river is the city’s visual centerpiece, but also its historical heart and soul. It’s been a place of commerce and recreation; it’s also been an abused repository of human and industrial wastes. In honor of Earth Day, the St. Johns Riverkeeper hosts the first ever “State of the Watershed” event, an opportunity for champions and stakeholders to celebrate progress in protecting the waterway, and to assess ongoing challenges. We talk to the Riverkeeper about the latest concerns over and opportunities for the liquid core of the River City.

Guest: Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper

100 years of Atlantic Beach

From land barons and railroad tycoons to the arrival of the military and the modern era, Atlantic Beach has reached its centennial milestone. A hundred years after the coastal city’s founding, the Beaches Museum offers a retrospective that runs through August. Atlantic Beach 100 includes a speakers series ranging from former mayors and architectural historians to local archivists and authors. The commemoration includes stories and photographs tracking the city’s evolution from remote wilderness to upscale beach town and vacation destination. We ask a director and historian at the Beaches Museum about ways to get involved.

Guests:

• Chris Hoffman, mayor of Jacksonville Beach, Beaches Museum executive director
• Johnny Woodhouse, historian and guide, Beaches Museum

Jax Poetry Fest

Complexity, connection and catharsis take center stage during Jax Poetry Fest, a monthlong celebration coinciding with National Poetry Month. Though April is half over, there are still plenty of events lined up, from readings and workshops to slams, exhibits and contests. We talk to a participant organizer about the power of poetry as a tool for helping children and adolescents reflect, explore and grow.

Guest: Aniah Heaven Washington, program director and poetry facilitator, Hope at Hand