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First Coast Connect

12/14/2017: #MeToo Jacksonville; Dangerous Toys; Kerry Speckman; The Big Orange Chorus

Kevin Meerschaert
/
WJCT

Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke about the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in the workplace with attorney Elizabeth Bowen and Dr. Brooks Dunbar, the consultant and business coach for Jacksonville’s Center for Confidence. (01:17).  

Attorney Wayne Hogan told us about an annual list of the most dangerous toys on the market (34:41).  

Kerry Speckman told us about some upcoming events while the Big Orange Chorus performed live in-studio (46:00).   

#MeToo  Jacksonville

PBS will no longer distribute The Tavis Smiley Show, following what a spokeswoman called "multiple, credible" allegations of sexual misconduct uncovered by a recent investigation into the late-night show host's behavior.

Smiley is just the latest in a long line of men to lose their high-profile careers after multiple allegations of harassment are leveled against them.

We’re seeing this play out in media, in entertainment, in the corporate world, and even in our politics. The latest example is the upset in Alabama Tuesday as Democrat Doug Jones narrowly beat Republican Roy Moore in that state’s Senate race after Jones faced many accusations of harassing and molesting teenage girls.

The #MeToo movement has swept the nation, as women finally start telling their stories of being harassed and assaulted in the workplace.

Dangerous Toys

The holidays are upon us and many of us are scrambling to buy the hottest toys for the kids. But not all toys are alike and some could be actually be a danger to children.

The group WATCH, or World Against Toys Causing Harm puts together an annual list of dangerous toys.

Wayne Hogan demonstrated some of the toys that are a choking hazard and could cause serious injuries.     

Kerry Speckman and the Big Orange Chorus

Kerry told us about several events coming up this month including Thursday’s Totally Lit Hanukkah Party at Hemming Park, Sunday’s Luminaria in Riverside Avondale and Tuesday’s Horton’s Holiday Hayride and the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. The Big Orange Chorus will be performing The Sounds of the Season, 3 p.m. Saturday at Munnerlyn Center Theatre at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville.

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.