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A rash of shootings in the Grand Park area of Jacksonville has devastated the community. Lloyd Washington, president of the Grand Park Community Association, and Donald Foy, President of the Jacksonville chapter of MAD DADS, joined us today to discuss what is being done to weed out crime in our area.

Also this morning, Jacksonville church choirs sing out! Gospel legend Donald Lawrence joined us by phone to introduce a new competition to find the “Best Church Choir in America.” This is the chance to win up to $50,000 and prizes through Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound National Gospel Music Competition. For more information, go to www.HowSweetTheSound.com.

And In the Pink, a non-profit boutique and salon in Ponte Vedra, is dedicated to helping women heal, cope, and survive the effects of cancer. Polly Mingledorff spoke with the founder and creator of the boutique, Jeri Millard.

Finally in the hour, an increase in the mosquito population in our area has residents buzzing. Adam Holt, Education Specialist with the Anastasia Mosquito Control Department, spoke about the effects of the increase in mosquito population, the health risks, and how to deal with the effects. The Anastasia Mosquito Control Department has a new website now taking online service requests. Just log onto www.amcdsjc.org for more.

You can add comment right here on our blog to continue the discussion.

WJCT-TV is pleased to support science learning for preschoolers by joining the nationwide premiere of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! The much anticipated series joins the WJCT kids’ lineup on Monday, September 6 on WJCT-TV 7.1 (Comcast 8, 440).

Voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short, the animated series features Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, a curious, compelling character who guides friends Sally and Nick on fun-filled adventures where they make natural-science discoveries, from how bees make honey to why owls sleep during the day. Based on Random House’s bestselling Beginner Book franchise, “The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library,” the series is designed to appeal to preschoolers’ natural curiosity and engage them in the process of scientific exploration and discovery.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! joins WJCT’s preschool block, airing seven days a week at 8:30am beginning September 6. The series kicks off with a two-episode mini-marathon on September 6 at 8:30 and 11am. Beginning September 7, Sid the Science Kid moves to 11am, immediately following Sesame Street. On weekday afternoons, Dinosaur Train and Curious George rebroadcast the morning episodes at 3 and 3:30pm, respectively, with Cyberchase moving to 6:30am where school kids can watch in the mornings.

WJCT’s TV schedule is available online at wjct.org/tv. Kids can also watch programs online by linking to PBS websites at wjctondemand.org.

-Natalie Tomola

He’s here to talk about FCAT scores, school budgets, and new challenges facing our school system. Duval County Schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals joined us to answer your questions and comments.

We also heard from humorist Brian Thompson of the Florida Times-Union, who gave perspective on spending time with his child.

Slow Food First Coast, a nonprofit organization working toward sustainable agriculture and eating, is offering three teachers
the opportunity to receive a school garden kit valued at over $250. The initiative hopes to instill healthy eating habits for students by giving them the means to plant a garden. Richard Villadoniga, the founder, joined us by phone.
To qualify for the kit, a completed application form, found attached and at
www.slowfoodfirstcoast.com must be
received by Monday, September 20, 2010.

THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS AND MUSIC

TODAY @ 2 ON WJCT ARTS HD RADIO 89.9/2 

 encore TONIGHT @ 11 ON 89.9 FM

Executive Director, Ron Barton of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission joined us in studio today to discuss the JEDC’s new projects around town- from the stalled Shipyards project to Cecil Commerce Center.

Our resident Wallet Doctor, Ron Allen discussed how important it is to check your child’s credit score and why a child’s social security number may be an attractive tool for identity theft. You can email Ron Allen at thewalletdoctor@aol.com.

And this weekend, it’s the Great Southern Tailgate Cookoff! The event takes place in Amelia Island, featuring free entertainment and barbeque from some of the top competitors in the country.

Friday, August 27, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Main Beach on Amelia Island, on the
Corner of Atlantic Avenue and N. Fletcher Avenue

Contact (904) 277-0717 or visit www.gstailgatecookoff.com.

And finally, we had a quick preview of all the events downtown this weekend with Jacksonville Magazine’s Kerry Speckman.

You can add comment to continue the discussion.

Yesterday’s votes have been casted and reflect wins for Republican, Rick Scott and Democrat, Kendrick Meek. We started off this morning with a review of those primary election results! We were joined by Matt Corrigan, who heads up University of North Florida’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and Abel Harding, columnist for the Florida Times-Union. The two engaged in a discussion analyzing yesterday’s polls and began to look ahead into the general election in November.

In 1964, Johnnie Mae Chappell, a Jacksonville native and mother of ten, was brutally shot and killed by a group of white men. Lee Cody is a former sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office who worked to solve the hate crime. Mr. Cody came onto the show to recount his experience and to promote his new book, The 14th Denial, which documents the murder case.

Next, Stacy Ridenour, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and Sales Director, Josh Schwerdtfeger, both joined the show to discuss the symphony’s 2010-2011 concert season and explained that the audience should expect renowned artists and performers, such as Bernadette Peters and Leon Fleisher, along with many others. The symphony is opening its doors this weekend for an Open House for the entire community. Find out more by visiting symphoneasy.com.

Later in the show, Sergeant Barbara Weber of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, is a High Liability Instructor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, specializing in Defensive Tactics. She came onto the show to share her expertise in arming women with valuable self-defense tips. She will be at WJCT’s Speaking of Women’s Health event this Saturday, August 28th at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Jacksonville. To learn more, visit our website, wjct.org.

Please continue to add your comments!

If you missed this show or any of WJCT’s other shows, you can catch them on www.wjctondemand.org.

The Duval County School Board breaches its contract with the teacher’s union. Union bus drivers ask the JTA for a contract extension. And the city is at odds with the fire department union over pensions. On today’s show, we discussed the rising tensions regarding unions, labor, pay, and benefits. Attorneys Steve Combs of Combs Green McLester and Gregg Anderson of the Camerlengo Law Group joined our discussion.

And Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland joined us by phone to give us a preview of tonight’s primary.

Also, did you know that African American men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as whites? Dr. Folakemi Odedina, Director of Community Outreach at the UF Prostate Disease Center, joined us by phone to discuss why. Levi H. McIntosh of the 100 Black Men of Jacksonville also weighed in.

If you would like to add to the discussion, just click add comment.

We kicked off this morning with attorneys, Mark Hulsey and Sam Garrison, who will face each other tomorrow in the open seat for Circuit Judge in Florida’s Fourth Judicial District, one that covers Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. The two respected candidates were both in the studio answering questions regarding the position, their stances on ranging topics, and their next move if elected.

Next, Rodney Hurst, author of It was Never About a Hotdog and Coke, came into the studio to recount the civil right era, and more specifically, “Ax Handle Saturday.” Mr. Hurst, who was there for it all, noted the violence and confrontation over civil rights that took place here, in Jacksonville, 50 years ago this weekend. Mr. Hurst, along with other noted civil rights activists, will gather this weekend to headline the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1960 sit-ins and Ax Handle Saturday. You can visit NAACP’s website here to learn more about the event or call their office at (904) 764-7578.

Later in the show, Dr. Pamela Rama, cardiologist at the Jacksonville Heart Center, came on to address the topic of women’s heart health. Commonly misconstrued with breast cancer, heart disease is actually the deadliest threat American women face. Dr. Rama gave insight into the warning signs of heart trouble and the best habits to keep a woman’s heart in shape. Dr. Rama will also be addressing the topic at Speaking of Women’s Health 2010, an event sponsored by WJCT and Baptist Health, this Saturday, August 28th. To learn more, visit our website at wjct.org.

If you missed this show or any of WJCT’s other shows, you can catch them at www.wjctondemand.org!

This morning was our Week in Review: Media Roundtable! We were joined by Matt Coleman from the Florida Times-Union, John Burr, editor of the Jacksonville Business Journal, Steve Congro of Metro Jacksonville, and our very own senior staff reporter, Kevin Meerschaert. They discussed all of this week’s hot news, including Duval County teacher pay raises, Police and Fire pension reform, and the looming bus driver strike.

Next, award-winning comedian and professional speaker, Jeannie Robertson joined us on the show by phone. She commented on her own sense of humor and comedy shows. She will be speaking next Saturday in Jacksonville at WJCT’s annual Speaking of Women’s Health. You can find out more information at our website, www.wjct.org.

Later in the show, JJ Grey from the band, Mofro, came in to the studio to promote his new album, “Georgia Warhorse,” and gave us a taste of his music by playing one of his songs, “Hide and Seek.”

If you missed this show or any of WJCT’s other shows, you can catch them at www.wjctondemand.org.

This morning, Rick McCallister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, joined us by phone to speak about Florida’s Sales Tax Holiday which occured last weekend, August 13-15. McCallister acclaims and supports the holiday saying it was a boom for retailers around the state. He has already seen figures and numbers from the holiday and says it was very successful.

Next, Shannon Miller, gold-medalist in gymnastics and most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, came into the studio to discuss her career and her new program, Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women. She explained that it is essentially an effort to increase healthy lifestyles for women. To learn more, visit her website www.shannonmiller.com.

Later in the show, Judy Walz from Vystar Credit Union came on to speak about identity theft, a looming problem across the nation, and even the world. Walz gave advice on staying fiscally fit and protecting yourself against identity theft. Next Saturday, August 28, WJCT will be hosting an event called Speaking of Women’s Health at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Jacksonville. It is a series of sessions and speeches on a range of women’s topics, and Walz will be there speaking about this very issue of identity theft.

If you missed this show or any of WJCT’s shows, you can catch them on www.wjctondemand.org!