By: Lily Mitchell

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The Jacksonville Pottery Studio is a welcoming space that offers workshops, classes and memberships to anyone no matter the skill set. Three years ago, the studio moved into a larger 7,350 sq. ft building allowing them to expand their operation and grow with the community. 

Peyton Delaney has been the retail manager at Jacksonville Pottery Studio since they moved to the new location. Delaney felt burned out from her corporate job and wanted to try something new, so she took a wheel-throwing class. She fell in love with pottery and working on the wheel because it became therapeutic for her to use her hands. When she saw a position open, she applied and hasn’tstopped making cups, planters, and bowls since.  

Wheel-throwing is hard though. There are several moving parts, like your hand placement and pedal speed, that take time to get used to. Hannah Middlebrooks is a studio assistant and teaches a 5-week beginner course. She coaches her students and helps them become one with the clay until eventually they reach a “flow state” where you experience a mind and body synchronization that makes your movements ‘flow.’  

“Just like any other skill …you gotta practice, practice, practice.” —Hannah Middlebrooks 

For those suffering from stress or feeling drained from work, it can be beneficial to have a creative outlet such as ceramics. Research shows that making art increases happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, while decreasing cortisol, the stress hormone. The Jacksonville Pottery Studio has become a place for people to escape their worries and create something to use in their daily routine.  

“I think mentally it’s just a good break. When you’re throwing on the wheel you can’t think about anything else.” —Hannah Middlebrooks 

Pottery incorporates art into everyday life and for people to have an idea, bring it to life and use it all the time can be quite special. Not to mention being a part of a community like the one at Jacksonville Pottery Studio helps with the creative process. The people who work there and their members have created a relaxed atmosphere that allows guests to feel inspired without judgement. 

 The Jacksonville Pottery Studio encourages everyone to slow down and dig into their creativity. 

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To book a class at the Jacksonville Pottery Studio, click here.  

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By: Katelynn Wright

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In downtown Fernandina Beach, there’s a new paid parking policy that is raising concerns for some small businesses, including those that rely on the weekly farmer’s market. According to the city’s website, the paid parking program is intended to improve parking availability in the downtown area while also generating funding for future city projects. Vendors and organizers say the change could affect customer turnout during some of the market’s busiest hours. 

The event has long been a popular stop for both residents and tourists to get fresh produce, handmade goods, and niche plants. Every Saturday morning, North 7th Street fills with tents selling tomatoes, fresh-cut flowers and herbal medicines. However, with a paid parking policy now in place, some vendors worry the added cost could make visitors think twice before stopping by. 

Market Manager Judie Mackie said many residents have expressed frustration about the change. She said some community members have already indicated they may avoid the area because of the new parking fees, which could lead to fewer customers walking through the market. 

The new policy is also affecting how vendors are setting up. To avoid added costs, some sellers who travel outside the city limits are now trying to park closer to their tents or keep their vehicles nearby rather than using traditional parking spots. In some cases, vehicles are now being parked behind vendor’s tents—something Mackie said had never been done before. 

The goal, Mackie said, is to help reduce the financial burden on vendors who already travel to participate in the weekly market because many rely on the market as a steady source of income. 

Paid parking runs Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. These seem like reasonable times, but on Saturdays it creates a conflict for sellers. The market’s busiest period typically falls between 10:30 a.m. and noon, when foot traffic is usually at its peak. 

Some sellers say they have already noticed smaller crowds shortly after the paid parking hours begin, raising concerns about how the policy could affect business if the trend continues. 

The market has become more than just a weekend event for vendors. It’s an important place for small business owners, farmers, and artisans to connect with customers and earn part of their monthly income. Some say the market can account for a significant portion of their income, as much as one third of it. 

The farmer’s market has historically depended on steady foot traffic from locals and visitors exploring downtown Fernandina Beach. Vendors say they will be watching attendance closely in the coming weeks to see whether the paid parking policy leads to lasting changes in turnout. 

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By: Tristan Larrabee

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St. Augustine, one of the oldest cities in the nation, has a long history dating all the way back to the 1565. During the 1960s it became a hotbed of racial injustice during the American Civil Rights Movement which was history largely unknown to the public until storytellers, like artist Lenny Foster, began to uncover it. 

Foster’s career has taken him all over the United States. For over 20 years, he maintained a gallery in Taos, New Mexico, and his work has been displayed in permanent collections across the country, including Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Indiana. Now based in St. Augustine, where he owns and operates Gallery One Forty-Four. He relocated to North Florida to be closer to family and the alure of St. Augustine’s rich civil rights history captured his photographic eye. 

Through his series, Where We Stand, he tells the city’s story one shoe at a time. He drew inspiration after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling before football games in protest of the national anthem. Shoes act as reoccurring imagery, representing both the individuals and the places tied to African American experiences in the area. As an African American himself, Foster feels a personal connection to the city’s past.

“This history is vast and rich, and we have stood, sat, and knelt for many a high and honorable cause, not to mention, the struggle for everyday existence,” Foster said.

Foster’s work is often featured at the Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, which curates a collection of historic civil rights artifacts and artwork that are central to St. Augustine’s role in the movement. The museum serves as both a testament to local history and a space to continue the dialogue- highlighting the importance of preserving the stories that might otherwise be overlooked.  

Together, monuments like the Lincolnville Museum and artists like Foster are ensuring the history of the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine stays relevant and accessible for everyone. 

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