Noah Hertz Reporter email
Noah Hertz is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on St. Johns County. From Central Florida, Noah got his start as an intern at WFSU, Tallahassee’s public radio station, and as a reporter at The Wakulla News. He went on to work for three years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The West Volusia Beacon in his hometown of DeLand, where he helped the Beacon take home awards from the Florida Press Association. A Florida State University graduate, Noah is happy to be back up in North Florida. When he isn't writing, Noah likes reading, baking and playing video games.
Featured image for “Survey asks: How are the trails in St. Johns County?”
A 19-mile long paved trail runs from Palatka to southwest of St. Augustine. | Florida State Parks
1 day ago

Survey asks: How are the trails in St. Johns County?

A new survey seeks input from the public about paved walking and biking trails in St. Johns County.…

Featured image for “What’s new as Nights of Lights flips the switch this weekend”
The Plaza de la Constitución is lit up during Nights of Lights in downtown St. Augustine. l St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
November 13, 2025

What’s new as Nights of Lights flips the switch this weekend

There are only a few pages left in this year’s calendar, which means Nights of Lights is ready to shine.…

Featured image for “Bankrupt Marineland will be sold to local activists”
The ownership of Marineland Dolphin Adventure has been tied up in court proceedings for months. Now, a nonprofit organization run by local people will take over its operations. | News4Jax, LoopNet
November 12, 2025

Bankrupt Marineland will be sold to local activists

The group, #1 Apex Association, plans to keep Marineland operating with existing employees and animals.…

Featured image for “Nights of Lights parking worries some business owners”
St. Augustine's Uptown neighborhood is just north of the historic downtown. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 11, 2025

Nights of Lights parking worries some business owners

One change, in particular, is raising concerns about Nights of Lights. See what the debate is all about.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County seeks input from agriculture leaders”
The Wilson Family Farm in St. Johns County is among the producers in the local agriculture industry. | Submitted, Christine Wilson
November 5, 2025

St. Johns County seeks input from agriculture leaders

A new agriculture advisory board will give farmers a seat at the table during important county decisions.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County could charge developers a conservation fee”
A new fee on developers would conserve undeveloped land like this in St. Johns County. | Flickr, Justin Ellenberger
November 4, 2025

St. Johns County could charge developers a conservation fee

The impact fee, phased in over five years, would pay for acquiring sensitive conservation land.…

Featured image for “Cline’s butcher shop expands from San Marco to St. Johns”
Joe and Milouda Cline, owners of Cline's Custom Meats. | J. Brooks Terry, Jacksonville Daily Record
October 31, 2025

Cline’s butcher shop expands from San Marco to St. Johns

The butcher shop, Cline’s Custom Meats, is known for cuts of meat that include Jacksonville-raised cattle…

Featured image for “New road segment should ease traffic near World Golf Village”
Staff and elected officials from St. Johns County celebrate the opening of a new segment of County Road 2209 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 28, 2025

New road segment should ease traffic near World Golf Village

The new 3-mile segment of road connects Silverleaf Parkway with busy International Golf Parkway.…

Featured image for “Vilano Beach, Jax played key roles in TWEN’s new album”
TWEN band members Ian Jones and Jane Fitzsimmons on the beach in St. Johns County | Mego Lockett
October 27, 2025

Vilano Beach, Jax played key roles in TWEN’s new album

TWEN says Vilano Beach and Jacksonville played a pivotal role in their forthcoming album’s production.…

Featured image for “How can St. Johns County create more affordable housing?”
Nonprofit leaders and others discuss affordable housing during an event in St. Johns County. From left are Bill Lazar with the St. Johns Housing Partnership, Bob Porter with D.R. Horton, Malinda Everson with Habitat, Aliyah Meyer with the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and Erick Saks with Operation Lifeline. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 24, 2025

How can St. Johns County create more affordable housing?

Local leaders outline solutions for affordable housing at a time when it’s desperately needed.…

Featured image for “Purple Olive restaurant moves to former Gypsy Cab space”
In taking over the space that used to house the Gypsy Cab Co., Purple Olive owners Kristen White and Peter Kenney renovated the space. | Old City PR
October 23, 2025

Purple Olive restaurant moves to former Gypsy Cab space

Purple Olive will open Friday on Anastasia Island after 21 years in St. Augustine Beach.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine Airport Authority loses another commissioner”
The St. Augustine Airport, which is overseen by the St. Johns County Airport Authority. | St. Augustine Airport
October 23, 2025

St. Augustine Airport Authority loses another commissioner

Jennifer Liotta is the fourth Airport Authority board member to resign this year.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County will not join lawsuit over development law”
October 21, 2025

St. Johns County will not join lawsuit over development law

More than 20 municipalities are suing Florida over a new law that restricts local development.…

Featured image for “State CFO visits First Coast to reimburse police for ICE costs”
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia delivered reimbursements checks from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to sheriffs from Northeast Florida Wednesday afternoon. From left are Putnam County Sheriff H.D. "Gator" DeLoach, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Ingoglia and Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 21, 2025

State CFO visits First Coast to reimburse police for ICE costs

Local law enforcement received payments for the costs of helping ICE arrest illegal immigrants.…

Featured image for “Pedro Menendez field may be named after first principal”
The Menendez football program won its first district title in 2019. The Falcons hosted Ocala Vanguard on November 8, 2019, in their first home playoff game in school history. | Photo by Will Brown
October 10, 2025

Pedro Menendez field may be named after first principal

The football field at Pedro Menendez High School may be named for Bill Mignon, a longtime School Board member.…

Featured image for “State development law hits home in St. Johns County”
St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor wears handcuffs to illustrate what she says is an attack on home rule. | Screenshot from St. Johns County livestream.
October 8, 2025

State development law hits home in St. Johns County

A new law in Florida limits how local governments can respond to development after hurrricanes.…

Featured image for “Neighborhood grants now available in St. Augustine”
The Lincolnville Community Garden got its start with funding from St. Augustine's Neighborhood Grant Program. | Lincolnville Community Garden
October 3, 2025

Neighborhood grants now available in St. Augustine

Groups can apply for up to $3,000 in neighborhood grants to spruce up their communities.…

Featured image for “Amany Youssef: From refugee to rare female contractor”
AY Luxury Designs owner Amany Youssef is the youngest female contractor in Northeast Florida. When licensed at age 23, she was the youngest female contractor in the state. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 3, 2025

Amany Youssef: From refugee to rare female contractor

A Jacksonville business owner is the area’s youngest female contractor, and a trailblazing small business owner.…

Featured image for “DeSantis appoints 3 to St. Augustine Airport Authority”
The St. Augustine Airport, which is overseen by the St. Johns County Airport Authority. | St. Augustine Airport
October 1, 2025

DeSantis appoints 3 to St. Augustine Airport Authority

Gov. Ron DeSantis filled three vacancies after a controversy involving the Airport Authority board.…

Featured image for “Flagler College rolls out interactive historical exhibits”
Flagler College's main building originally opened as Henry Flagler's Hotel Ponce de Leon on Jan. 10, 1888.
September 29, 2025

Flagler College rolls out interactive historical exhibits

Flagler, St. Augustine’s private college, is enhancing its courtyard and rotunda areas with new exhibits.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Making sense of billion-dollar budgets”
One factor fueling St. Johns County's budget for the 2026 fiscal year is the need to keep the county's fire rescue services out of the red. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 18, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Making sense of billion-dollar budgets

Jacksonville and St. Johns County officials both talk about their $2 billion budgets, but what do the numbers mean?…

Featured image for “Tax rate falls in St. Johns County, but bills could rise”
September 17, 2025

Tax rate falls in St. Johns County, but bills could rise

The St. Johns County Commission approved a budget Wednesday that has a lower tax rate than last year.…

Featured image for “Two companies vie for World Golf Village development”
This aerial view shows the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. | Visit St. Augustine
September 16, 2025

Two companies vie for World Golf Village development

The two companies have distinct visions of what to do with World Golf Village, and St. Johns County wants to…

Featured image for “Sing Out Loud music fest shines on local artists”
Norah Jones plays during last year's Sing Out Loud headline showcase in St. Augustine. | Melissa Marcarelli, St. Johns County Cultural Events Inc.
September 15, 2025

Sing Out Loud music fest shines on local artists

One goal since the festival began nine years ago has been boosting the local music scene.…