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, DeLand. Noah won an award for his breaking news coverage at The Wakulla News and he went on to help 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 “Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine”

The St. Johns Cultural Council recognized Purcell Conway and Shed Dawson for their participation in the St. Augustine Beach wade-ins in June 1964. Their efforts to integrate a whites-only beach was part of a series of demonstrations during Freedom Summer. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine

Protesters Shed Dawson and Purcell Conway are honored as a new museum exhibit commemorates wade-ins at a whites-only beach.…

By Noah Hertz and Will Brown

Featured image for “St. Johns weighs $107,000 incentive for office developer”

This map shows, in yellow, where a proposed office space could be built near Interstate 95 and International Golf Parkway. | St. Johns County.

St. Johns weighs $107,000 incentive for office developer

St. Johns County says it needs more flexible office space, and it’s considering an incentive for a developer to help…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Are cell towers safe? RiverTown residents are worried”

Rivertown Mainstreet is the main thoroughfare in much of the Rivertown development in St. Johns County, south of Fruit Cove. Hundreds of homes lie along the road, as well as a planned K-8 school. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.

Are cell towers safe? RiverTown residents are worried

More than 500 people have signed a petition opposing construction of a cell tower in St. Johns County’s RiverTown neighborhood.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns restricts schoolbooks, including ‘Slaughterhouse Five’”

Jean Moore, seated at left, petitions the St. Johns County School Board to remove four books on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.

St. Johns restricts schoolbooks, including ‘Slaughterhouse Five’

Only the oldest students in St. Johns County Schools will have access to “Slaughterhouse Five” and three other books.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Son of ‘most arrested rabbi in America’ traces father’s steps in St. Augustine”

Rabbi Israel Dresner with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the early 1960s. | Wikimedia Commons

Son of ‘most arrested rabbi in America’ traces father’s steps in St. Augustine

Avi Dresner recently visited to film for a documentary about his dad who was arrested in St. Augustine during the…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “HGTV’s ‘Dream Home’ sweepstakes has a winner”

This is the 3,300-square-foot "Dream Home" given away as part of an HGTV contest. | HGTV

HGTV’s ‘Dream Home’ sweepstakes has a winner

Maria Fratta, a schoolteacher in New York, won a new home in Anastasia Island, a Mercedes Benz and $100,000.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Thousands offer ideas for World Golf Village”

This aerial view shows the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. | Visit St. Augustine

Thousands offer ideas for World Golf Village

A public survey found that the IMAX Theater, dining and green space are the most popular uses of the property.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “$400k a ‘low budget’ in Northeast Florida housing hot spots”

This three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in northwest St. Johns County's Shearwater community is up for grabs for $625,000. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.

$400k a ‘low budget’ in Northeast Florida housing hot spots

Families are getting priced out of high demand and higher-priced real estate hot spots in Duval County and St. Johns…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Augustine OKs Davenport Park carousel”

This concept image shows what Davenport Park,near San Carlos and San Marco avenues could look like once the new carousel is installed. | St. Augustine.

St. Augustine OKs Davenport Park carousel

St. Augustine’s “Carousel Park” has been without a carousel since 2019, but that’s about to change thanks to a local’s…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Hotelier has big plans for St. Augustine high-rise”

An illustration shows Cathedral Place as it may look if a luxury hotel is approved at the property. | City of St. Augustine.

Hotelier has big plans for St. Augustine high-rise

Jalaram Hotels of St. Augustine wants to turn the historic Cathedral Place into a luxury hotel with a parking garage.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County to sell off surplus property this weekend”

St. Johns County is selling off surplus property. | Frederick Warren, Unsplash.

St. Johns County to sell off surplus property this weekend

Items for sale include a number of pickup trucks and other vehicles as well as office equipment.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Affordable housing plan denied near World Golf Village”

An affordable housing complex was proposed on this land near County Road 16 and Silverleaf Parkway in St. Johns County. | Google

Affordable housing plan denied near World Golf Village

Citing traffic concerns, the St. Johns County Commission voted against a 288-unit affordable housing proposal called The Preserve at Ward’s…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Amelia recognized as ‘best island’ in US ”

Sailboats are moored on the Amelia River in Fernandina Beach's historic waterfront district. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Amelia recognized as ‘best island’ in US

Amelia Island was selected in a survey by Global Traveler Magazine. It topped destinations like Maui and Hilton Head.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Carousel might soon return in St. Augustine”

Davenport Park sits near San Carlos and San Marco avenues in St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

Carousel might soon return in St. Augustine

One man’s journey to restore a carousel to “Carousel Park” got a step closer to reality Thursday.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County to host public budget workshops”

St. Johns County to host public budget workshops

The county aims to make its budget-setting process more transparent this year by making public workshops more accessible.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns charity raises money to buy healthy food for seniors”

These are some of the custom birdhouses up for grabs as part of Pie in the Sky's For the Birds fundraiser. Proceeds will help fund the group's efforts to deliver healthy food to seniors.

St. Johns charity raises money to buy healthy food for seniors

Pie in the Sky is auctioning off artistic birdhouses in its annual For the Birds fundraiser.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Augustine civil rights landmark wins $750,000 grant”

The St. Augustine Beach Hotel was instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. | St. Johns Cultural Council

St. Augustine civil rights landmark wins $750,000 grant

Wade-ins at the St. Augustine Beach Hotel contributed to the passage of the national Civil Rights Act.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Sea turtle nesting season begins this week”

A leatherback turtle leaves Crescent Beach in St. Johns County. | St. Johns County.

Sea turtle nesting season begins this week

Local governments and environmental agencies are asking people to take precautions so nesting turtles aren’t deterred.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to close one year for renovations”

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, pictured this year. When it reopens next year, it will look different on the outside and will accommodate more people. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to close one year for renovations

Work will begin soon on $11 million worth of renovations that will enlarge the stage and seating.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns invites residents to learn about local government”

St. Augustine | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

St. Johns invites residents to learn about local government

The county is starting SJC 101, a citizen’s academy to educate people about how their government works.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Roger Bansemer and Lynyrd Skynyrd join Florida Artists Hall of Fame”

Roger and Sarah Bansemer of St. Augustine work on a shot for their public television program "Painting and Travel with Roger and Sarah Bansemer." They are near the Portland Light historic lighthouse in Maine. | Roger Bansemer

Roger Bansemer and Lynyrd Skynyrd join Florida Artists Hall of Fame

Bansemer is renowned for his public television series “Painting and Travel with Roger and Sarah Bansemer.” Skynyrd is known as…

By Noah Hertz and Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “St. Augustine breathes life into neglected West City”

West King Street is one of West City's main thoroughfares. New businesses have cropped up along the road in recent years, like Buena Onda Cafe, pictured here, filling in once-vacant spots. | Noah hertz, Jacksonville Today.

St. Augustine breathes life into neglected West City

The City of St. Augustine agreed April 22 to give some TLC to West City, a part of town that…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “One benefit of ‘attainable housing’ in St. Johns? Less traffic”

Traffic on St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

One benefit of ‘attainable housing’ in St. Johns? Less traffic

High home prices are forcing St. Johns County workers to live further from where they work. That inflates traffic, experts…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Black history museum backers escape bus fire on I-10”

Passengers flee a bus that caught fire Friday, April 19, 2024, as St. Johns County residents traveled to Tallahassee. | Photo provided to News4Jax.

Black history museum backers escape bus fire on I-10

No one was seriously hurt as the group headed to Tallahassee to lobby for a Florida Museum of Black History…

By Noah Hertz