William Murtagh, American historian and the original recordkeeper for the National Register of Historic Places, once said, “At its best, preservation engages the past in a conversation with the present over a mutual concern for the future." That conversion can get contentious when it comes to changing or destroying places and artifacts of historical, cultural or tribal significance. But the conversation itself could be muted under sweeping changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Among the proposals put forth by the Trump-aligned (and largely Trump-appointed) Advisory Council on Historic Preservation are revisions that would eliminate the traditional "avoid, minimize, and mitigate" standard for changes to historic properties and replace it with a vague (and only self-enforceable) standard to “address” adverse impacts following a change. We discuss how historic preservation advocates are responding and how community efforts to save the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine remain a case study in the application of stricter Section 106 provisions. A public information session on the proposed changes will be held at 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Pablo Creek Regional Library on Beach Boulevard.
Guests:
- Theresa Segal, historic preservation advocate, president Save Our Bridge
- Rhianna Bennett, anthropological archaeologist, doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida
School Board candidate Jillian Tozer
Two first-time political candidates face off in a November runoff for the District 4 seat on the St. Johns County School Board. Tammie McClafferty fell short of the 50% threshold to win the race outright in the August primary, earning 46% of the vote, while opponent Jillian Tozer received 28%. The district, which includes Nocatee and Ponte Vedra Beach, has been represented since 2022 by Kelly Barrera, who is not seeking reelection. Tozer has distinguished herself from her opponent in part on the fact that she has children currently in the school system, something that no current St. Johns County School Board member can claim. We welcome your questions for the candidate. You can join the conversation on air by calling 904-549-2937, email comments and questions to firstcoastconnect@wjct.org or go to firstcoastconnect.org to connect with us on social media. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage here, and you can find detailed information about upcoming races in the Jacksonville Today voter guide.
Guest: Jillian Tozer, candidate for St. Johns County School Board District 4
Festival of lights
A religious celebration rooted in centuries of tradition is also open and accessible to modern practitioners — and even those just interested in expanding their cultural geography. Widely known as the “festival of lights,” Diwali symbolizes the spiritual triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Though its origins are in Hinduism, it is also observed globally by practitioners of Sikhism and Jainism. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, (the Hindu temple on Merrill Road) is the epicenter of Jacksonville’s Diwali celebration on Nov. 10. The theme this year is "Light Beyond Lamps: A Journey Through Hindu Culture" and will reorient attendees to the enduring values of Indian culture. The event also features a range of vegetarian dishes, Indian folk art, known as rangoli, and opportunities to connect with community leaders.
Guests:
- Bhumika Patel, volunteer, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jacksonville
- Shivani Kanji, volunteer, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jacksonville
Topics and guests subject to change.