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First Coast Connect

4/24/2017: The Outpost; OneJax Humanitarian Awards; Darnell Smith; Dining Out For Life; Cole Pepper

Monday on “First Coast Connect” we spoke with Save Guana Now co-founders Nicole Crosby and Gary Coulliette, who are fighting against a development next to the Guana Preserve named The Outpost. We heard about Thursday’s OneJax Humanitarian Awards with Executive Director Nancy Bronner and Audrey Moran, Senior Vice President with Baptist Health who will emcee the event. This month’s First Coast Success featured Florida Blue’s Darnell Smith. We heard about Dining Out for Life with North Florida AIDS Network Executive Director Donna Fuchs and spokesman Action News Traffic Derrick Odom. Cole Pepper talked about the week’s sports news. 

The Outpost  

It’s a battle over one of the few remaining natural parcels in Ponte Vedra Beach. A group called Save Guana Now is fighting plans to build a 77 home housing development on a piece of land called The Outpost. The 99.3 acres of undeveloped land is currently zoned conservation. The Outpost is adjacent to the reserve. Save Guana Now says the Outpost is an important ecological preserve too. However the Ponte Vedra Corporation, a division of Gate Petroleum, is challenging the property’s designation as conservation land. And they’re accusing St. Johns County of dragging its feet in approving its application to build on the site.

OneJax Humanitarian Awards

The OneJax Humanitarian Awards honor those who have demonstrated personal and professional integrity, have given extensively to our community, and have been dedicated to the improvement of human relations among diverse groups in our community. The event will be held Thursday at the Prime Osborn Center.

First Coast Success- Darnell Smith

He’s the market president for Florida Blue, and also chairs the JAX Chamber. In today’s edition of First Coast Success, Karen Brune Mathis of the Financial News and Daily Record speaks with Darnell Smith.

Dining Out For Life

Dining Out For Life will held Thursday at 19 local restaurants and food trucks. At least 25-percent of the bill will be donated to help HIV and AIDS victims in Jacksonville.   

Cole Pepper

The NFL Draft begins Thursday in Philadelphia and the Jaguars have the fourth pick. The Armada remain undefeated, its next match is Saturday at home against the Indy Eleven. The Sharks are also undefeated. They play Monday night in Monterrey, Mexico.

Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.