BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST/WORST LOCAL COLUMNIST: RON LITTLEPAGE, FLORIDA TIMES-UNION This is Ken Amaro’s 11th trip to the winner’s circle, having been picked yet again by Folio Weekly readers as the area’s best investigative reporter. His allure lies in his almost-daily fight for regular people in tough situations, which a lot of folks can relate to. He often goes to bat for those who have been wronged by businesses, contractors or other entities. Kudos, Ken, for standing up for the little guy. FINALISTS: Jim Piggott (WJXT), Vic Micolucci (WJXT)
BEST LOCAL TV SPORTS ANCHOR Sam Kouvaris (WJXT) Has there ever been a time when Sam Kouvaris wasn’t on Channel 4 dishing out the daily sports news? He’s expanded to covering the Jaguars, even doing announcing during their games and hosting a weekly talk show. Kouvaris is one of the most familiar living room fixtures in Northeast Florida and keeps on plugging away, showing no lack of enthusiasm. Folio Weekly readers haven’t missed that. FINALISTS: Dan Hicken (WJAX), Chris Porter (First Coast News)
BEST LOCAL TV NEWSCAST/ BEST LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE
BOJ8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 15-21, 2014
pretty large pool of adoring fans. FINALISTS: Shannon Ogden (First Coast News), Donna Deegan (First Coast News)
BEST LOCAL TV MORNING SHOW WJXT TV-4 The Morning Show Tune in to Channel 4’s The Morning Show and you’ll just about always see someone cutting up — unless there is serious news, in which case they effortlessly switch gears and work hard to bring viewers the latest information. That diversity has not gone unnoticed by Folio Weekly readers, who picked the show as the best pick-me-up and a.m. news provider. Anchors Bruce Hamilton and Nikki Kimbleton lead viewers through the morning reports, along with the requisite traffic (Ashley Mitchem) and weather (meteorologist Richard Nunn). Staci Spanos, a Jacksonville news fixture since the late ’90s, produces special reports and other material to round out the morning editions. FINALIST: First Coast News’ Good Morning Jacksonville
BEST LOCAL TV WEATHER FORECASTER
WJXT, news4jax.com Constantly topping the ratings for decades, News4Jax is the 800-pound gorilla in the local TV news market, and the outlet Folio Weekly readers have deemed the best around. With a staff that includes numerous longtime familiar anchors like Tom Wills, Rob Sweeting, Mary Baer and Sam Kouvaris, it’s a tough act to beat. The station also has been focusing on a lot of investigative reporting and heavy weather coverage led by meteorologist John Gaughan. BEST LOCAL TV NEWSCAST FINALISTS: First Coast News, Action News BEST LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE FINALISTS: FirstCoastNews.com, Jacksonville.com
Tim Deegan As the chief meteorologist for First Coast News, the loveable and oh-so-orange Tim Deegan has amassed quite the following throughout Northeast Florida. Whether he’s reporting on the latest storm surge, recapping a wildfire or just wishing us all a sunny and happy weekend, Deegan is the best. He’s a hard worker — bringing us the weather every weeknight at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. (He’s also an avid surfer, marathoner and skygazer, and we’re guessing he doesn’t sleep much.) Who says they’re not looking forward to a Category 4? More Tim Deegan, please. FINALISTS: Richard Nunn (News4Jax), Mike Buresh (Action News)
BEST LOCAL TV ANCHOR
BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT
Bruce Hamilton (News4Jax) As co-anchor of The Morning Show on WJXT-TV 4, that Bruce Hamilton could not be any more full of spunk and charisma. He’s also pretty easy on the eyes, if you don’t mind us saying. Hamilton got his start while in high school in Philadelphia, working for a local radio station. Today, he’s an Emmy Award winner who’s in his element hobnobbing with former Jags great Marcus Stroud or on-air surrounded by Miss Florida contestants. Whatever the daily beat, Hamilton’s proved he has longevity and a
First Coast No More Homeless Pets In 2002, when First Coast No More Homeless Pets got started, some 23,000 animals were being euthanized in Northeast Florida each and every year. Today, that number is down by nearly 90 percent, and FCNMHP is leading the charge to make Duval a nokill county. They focus both on keeping dogs and cats from entering shelters — notably, by operating the country’s largest spay and neuter clinic (more than 25,000 surgeries a year!) — and helping find shelter animals forever