What is so wrong about wanting straightforward conversations regarding the housing, health care and education of not only Jacksonville residents, but for all Florida residents? That is the question Ben Frazier has for government officials, and he believes it’s time for answers.  A community activist, veteran journalist, news anchor, host, producer and narrator, Ben Frazier is a man who is not afraid to confront city and state leaders regarding the rights of the people. As founder of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Frazier has been fighting to give a voice to those who are repeatedly ignored ever since he was …

The History of Valentine’s Day So you want to celebrate your love on Valentine’s Day. Grab some flowers and chocolates and go to town on some fancy dinner with your significant other. Although, do we really know why this day is surrounded by love? I mean, where did the ideas we celebrate today even come from?  Feb. 14—or St. Valentine’s feast day, as it is viewed in the Catholic Church—is recognized as the day to commemorate martyred Saint Valentine, a priest who served the Church during the third century in Rome. What made him so important? While the origin is …

It’s a road known nationally as Florida’s “Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway.” As you drive along A1A through the Beaches and into St. Augustine, you get a perfect view of the coast with some of the most serene views in North Florida However, there’s a darker side to this famed road. According to the Jacksonville Beach Police, there is a greater amount of speeding and motor vehicle accidents on A1A (also referred to as Third Street by locals) than anywhere else at the Beaches. If you were to search “car accidents on A1A in Jacksonville,” the first links to come …

No one is sure what will happen when the eviction moratorium ends.  Last year’s difficulties following COVID-19 breakouts impacted so many around the world. Businesses, employees, students, and so many more had to face the effects of the pandemic’s hit to the economy. The housing market faced major issues when tenants who were financially impacted by COVID-19 were struggling to pay their rent. With unemployment hitting an all time high in 2020, people were wondering how they were going to afford to pay their rent, so the Center for Disease Control announced their first order on September 4, 2020 that …

For local restaurants, recovery includes coming to terms with a new service economy.  “It’s devastating because we want to be busy but we just don’t have the manpower to stay open later and get the food out fast enough,” said owner and operator Mary Jane Culhane. Culhane own’s Culhane’s Irish Pubs located in Atlantic Beach and Southside and 5 Sisters Spirit Vodka based in Atlantic Beach. She, among many other restaurant owners in the Jacksonville area, are facing a major shortage in staff.  Culhane has been making an effort to hire more staff for the past six months, spending lots …