Story by: Judd Barczak

Though from the outside, the North Florida Military Museum seems like nothing more than a small bunker just off state road 16. Though the land that this building is on and the Reynolds Industrial Park in general has much more to its story than what we see today. 

With Jacksonville’s vast military community, the Military Museum of North Florida is doing their best to offer a place where anyone can learn about the military history of the United States free of charge. With exhibits ranging from the Revolutionary War, to Operation Desert Storm there is something for every interest. 

Where the museum now operates was once the site of the Lee Field Naval Air Station, which is known for training notable pilots such as the “father of marine corps aviation” general Roy Geiger, Ed McMahon, John F. Kennedy’s older brother Joe Kennedy, and the Black Sheep Squadron pilots. The Lee Air Station was also the home to the US Navy reserve fleets affectionately referred to as the “Mothball Fleets.” 

Though the Naval reserve fleet no longer calls Lee Field its home, that doesn’t mean that the history that they have created left with them. The rich history that filled the skies above still lives on inside that same small bunker. With part of their mission statement being to “honor every branch of the military and those who fought for our country,” the historic nature of the site the museum is built on is symbolic and fitting. 

The museum has done everything in its power to keep information of our military past open and available to the public. With everything from free admission, to hosting reenactments of different battles. The museum staff are continuing to honor the history and spirit of the airfield that used to reside in their place. 

Story by: Delaney Akridge

Patricia Muniz is a multimedia artist empowering women through metalwork. 

Though traditionally being represented by men in long overalls, Muniz is overhauling the notion that metalworking is just for boys.

Patricia Muniz welding pencil-rod. Photo by Delaney Akridge

“I think a lot of my work stems from working in the metalshop and noticing that things aren’t really catered to women, and just in my life things aren’t really catered to women,” says Muniz.

Her newest piece is an armature-like sculpture made from metal pencil-rod. Each piece of the metal skeleton is taken from Muniz’s own measurements and will take the shape of her body. 

The final form will be draped in women’s clothing and cast in resin–representing the empty space that women don’t take up.

Early stage of Patricia’s sculpture. Photo by Delaney Akridge

Muniz’s sculpture is part of the Enliven Spaces exhibit at Yellow House, a community hub for artists to display their work and educate the public about causes that are important to them.

The exhibit will feature a cohort of artists, each with their own large-scale installation representing various social justice themes.

Story by: Grae Barron  

Femme Fire Books is built on the mission of spreading diverse joy to readers around Jacksonville, but it didn’t start with multiple employees and a store front.  

The small bookstore started online as a way to share books written by and for diverse audiences. As COVID continued to spread around the world, it became a way for founder Vanessa Nicolle to share her love of reading to like-minded people.   

As the world calmed, Femme Fire Books made its way into pop-up markets in 2021. Enjoying the face-to-face interaction is something Nicolle said sparked her interest in opening a brick-and-mortar location.   

“So just seeing the joy on people’s faces when they pick up a book is, like, really cool,” she said. “That’s what gets me into work every day.”  

When the storefront opened Jul. 2022, Nicolle needed help to continue fostering the community. Employees were hired to continue going to the pop-up markets and help run the store.  

Company logo inside the brick-and-mortar location. Photo by Grae Barron 

Lindsey Cotti is one of those employees. Cotti works as the event bookseller for Femme Fire Books. She saw the mission of the company as something she wanted to be a part of. To spread the love of reading, Cotti goes to the pop-up markets with a small selection of what Femme Fire has to offer.  

“I participate in the markets that we do, both here and off-site as well. A lot of pop-ups or big neighborhood markets and things like that,” she said.  

Cotti shared her pride in the community surrounding Femme Fire Books, because although it is a small store, it has shown so many people that they are represented in literature.   

Starting as an online store, Femme Fire Books has come a long way and continues to share a diverse and inclusive environment for everyone.