One Spark entrants come together to create culture

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Though it might seem like a creative, new invention, the Elliptigo is just a vehicle for One Spark entrant, Anthony Duran to attract attention to explain his real creation.

"The Workout Navigator is an online platform for health and fitness professionals to brand, create and deliver custom workouts," Duran said. "So if I were to deliver you a workout, all I would have to do is text it to you or Facebook it to you or email it to you. You click, you open it and there's your workout."

But it's not just fitness gurus gracing the One Spark scene. The idea behind the event is that "game-changers" can emerge from anywhere!

"It welcomes people to the beach and it's blue and his cell phone antennas on it. It's really sort of a non-descript tower," said Kurtis Loftus.

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Parent refuses FCAT exam for her child

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's a required test one parent says her daughter is not going to take. This is how parent Sandy Bittner views the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT: "It treats the children unequally, based on their education, how they're expected to do on the test," she said.

Bittner told First Coast News she has decided to not allow her third grade daughter take the test.  It's a test that is mandated by Florida statutes for all students in the Sunshine State.  "My family has moral issues against the FCAT in that children are treated unfairly," she explained

While that may sound like a good argument, the current statute does not allow for any FCAT opt-outs.  "I decided then the stakes were too high.  It was explained to me, if you do not pass, you do not continue on to the fourth grade," she said.

100-year-old house set to be demolished

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The house is in historical Durkeville, but the city says the house is not an historical home.

"Our house is over one hundred years old," said Lynette Myers,"and we would like to keep it in the family."

Myers is now leading a fight to save their home from a wrecking ball.

"This is our family home this is all the legacy we have left of our family," she said.

The city's  Municipal Code Compliance Division cited the property as an unsafe structure in 1999, that was two years after it was damaged by fire.

The city said since then nothing has been done to improve the building. 

Myers said they tried but the first setback was a bad contractor, then someone tried to steal the aluminum siding off the building and then there were unexpected deaths in the family.

"We try to explain that to them," said Myers," but no one would listen."

One Spark lights up Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The One Spark festival is kicking off Wednesday after years of planning, and creators of the idea could not be more thrilled.

"This really started on a napkin at Panera one day with myself and a few friends," said One Spark founder Elton Rivas.

He helped bring the idea from a paper product to a festival with an expected crowd of more than 10,000 people ... and each and every one of them get to be part of it.

"It's one of those festivals where you really get to be engaged with the creators or the people who are part of this process," he said.

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Security tightens for Jacksonville events

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor Alvin Brown said his team has a plan for security at upcoming large events in Jacksonville. 

"I do want to make sure that if people see something suspicious, call the Sheriff's office, if it's an emergency, call 911," the Mayor said.

Since yesterday's explosions that rocked Boston and sent shockwaves all throughout the world, Brown and his staff say they have been busy planning security for this week's One Spark event, and other big gatherings in town. 

"Obviously, you'll see the increase of security, you'll see people more visible," he explained.

Security review underway for One Spark festival downtown

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A security review is underway for the first ever One Spark festival in downtown Jacksonville this week.

Festival organizers and city leaders want to ensure the safety of the event after the deadly bombings in Boston.

David DeCamp, spokesman for Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, gave First Coast News this statement on behalf of the mayor:

After Boston Marathon explosions, security tightens in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There are a number of large scale events coming to the Jacksonville area in the near future. The question -- are they going to tighten security after the Boston Marathon explosions?

The event that will probably get the most exposure is The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass next month. First Coast News spoke with the general manager at TPC. He said he was "horrified" to hear what happened in Boston. He referred us to the PGA.

A PGA spokesperson said security procedures are confidential, but they are confidant in their security policies.

We are also in contact with the City of Jacksonville. There are many large scale events at their facilities. Singer Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at the Jacksonville Arena April 20th.