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First Coast Connect

9/28/2017: Rick Wilson; The District; Learn To Read; Oktoberfest

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 Read Executive Director Judy Bradshaw talked about their upcoming fundraiser at the Jacksonville Downtown Main Library (40:48)

Client Focused Media CEO Mike White told us about this weekend’s Oktoberfest in Jacksonville (45:00).

     

Rick Wilson

Wilson has become the face of GOP opposition to President Trump. Nearly 240,000 people follow his Twitter account and he is a regular contributor to The Daily Beast and often appears on national news programs. The Tallahassee-based GOP strategist has been a long time critic of Trump. He is now co-producing a documentary on the Trump administration titled “Everything Trump Touches Dies.”

The District

The District, Life Well Lived Jacksonvilleis a proposed 30-acre mixed-use development on the Southbank created by Peter Rummell and Michael Munz. They have partnered with Jacksonville University for JU to serve as the Official Academic Partner of The District. It’s a way to research the District’s “healthy town” concept. Ground is expected to be broken on the project early next year.

Learn To Read

Around 50 percent of people in the U.S. read so poorly that they are unable to read prescription labels or help their children with homework. Adults in Duval County rely on Learn to Read for one-on-one tutoring to make their dreams, however simple, a reality. These life-changing services are made possible by dedicated volunteers and fundraising events like the upcoming Night at the Library gala.The organization is hosting its third annual Night at the Library at 7 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite literary characters.   

Oktoberfest

Jacksonville’sOktoberfestwill be held Friday and Saturday at the Anheuser-Busch brewery on Jacksonville’s Northside. About 15,000 people are expected to attend. It will feature several bands and other entertainment, food vendors, barrel rolling and a brat eating contest.        

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.