Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with WJCT’s business analyst John Burr about the future of CSX in the wake of the death of CEO Hunter Harrison (00:55).
We discussed urban renewal in Jacksonville and the upcoming LISC awards with LISC Jacksonville CEO Janet Owens and City Councilman and LISC Community Development Awards Committee Chair Greg Anderson (12:49).
The latest segment of Moveable Feast featured Kelly Mabry who owns a number of Tropical Smoothies in town (33:26).
Sulzbacher Center CEO Cindy Funkhouser and Sweet Pete’s founder Peter Behringer told us about their partnership to produce and ship Sulzbacher Sweets (37:01).
927 Events owner Paul Sifton told us about a contest they are holding in connection to the Art Republic Festival (46:00).
CSX Future
Questions surround the future of CSX after CEO Hunter Harrison died suddenly on Saturday.
He took over the Jacksonville-based railroad giant earlier this year shortly after the company announced it would lay off 1,000 employees in Jacksonville.
Harrison was well known in the railroad industry and had a reputation for turning around struggling companies.
A caller to First Coast Connect on Tuesday said he was a CSX employee and part of the office renovations included a hospital bed for the ailing Harrison. A spokesperson for CSX also called in and denied the company installed a hospital bed for Harrison.
LISC Jacksonville Awards
Jacksonville’s urban core is in the midst of a renewal boom. Exciting things are happening in challenged neighborhoods like the Historic Eastside, Springfield, Brooklyn, LaVilla, New Town and the newly dubbed Railyard District just west of Downtown.
The nonprofit LISC Jacksonville is playing a big role in this urban renewal.
Nominations are open for the 2018 LISC Awards for Community Development. These annual awards honor theheroes of Jacksonville’s urban core development, including individuals, organizations and government leaders who have made significant contributions in urban core neighborhoods.
The deadline for accepting nominations is Jan. 5.
Moveable Feast- Tropical Smoothie
We all enjoy treats at the holidays but you still need to try to eat healthy when you can.
In Tuesday’s segment of Moveable Feast, our look at dining and hospitality trends around the region, Leigh Cort of the Women’s Food Alliance talked with Kelly Mabry of Tropical Smoothie.
Sulzbacher Sweets
Here’s a great gift idea.
The Sulzbacher Center, in partnership with the downtown candy shop Sweet Pete’s, has created the private-labeled “Sulzbacher Sweets” line of candies, just in time for the holidays. Pick up some of these and you are helping this area’s efforts to reduce homelessness. Half the proceeds of the candy will go to Sulzbacher. Also, Sweet Pete’s has hired some of the homeless being served at the center to work at candy maker’s shipping center.
Art Republic Festival
Have you noticed the amazing and huge murals that have gone up on downtown buildings over the last couple of years? That’s thanks to the Art Republic Festival.
One of those murals is painted on the wall of 927 Events, a unique event venue in the urban core and a sponsor of First Coast Connect.
They are holding a two-part holiday fundraiser contest related to the mural until midnight Christmas Eve.
The first part of the contest involves guessing how many colors are in the mural painted by Okuda San Miguel on the west wall of the 927 Events building located at 927 W. Forsyth Street. Each entry costs $5 and all funds raised go directly to the Child Guidance Center.
The winners receive two round-trip airline tickets on United Airlines to anywhere in the Continental United States.
Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.
