Happy 45th Annual Seafood Festival

Welcome to this year’s festival and have a safe and joyous weekend.

Humphries Scholarship Programs

At the 2007 Annual African-American History Festival and during the ribbon cutting ceremony dedicating the renaming of Seven Street to the Dr. Frederick S. Humphries Street, Dr. Humphries, a native of Apalachicola was on hand and announced that he had established a series of scholarships to award college bound high school seniors.

According to an email received today from April Wynn, Dr. Humphries will be in town during this year’s Seafood Festival to detail his scholarship programs.

All interested parents and or students are encouraged to meet with Humphries outside the Prudential Hill office, at the corner of 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue at 2PM on Saturday the day of the Festival.

From more information, email April Wynn at aprilwynn@aol.com.

This time, it’s the Apalachicola Times

The City of Apalachicola will hold its final public hearing to adopt its annual operating budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Staff has rescheduled the hearing for our regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 6:00 PM, at City Hall, 1 Bay Avenue, in Apalachicola.

Yes, you read it right!

There has been an ongoing problem with getting the City of Apalachicola’s legal advertisements published by the Apalachicola Times in a timely manner.

The problem first surfaced back in July when the city’s planning and zoning board (faced with a room full of concerned residents) had to reschedule a public hearing, because the legal notice advertising the hearing did not appear in the Times.

Afterwards, a call to then Times advertising director Ron Isbell, revealed that city staff at times submitted the notices after the papers Friday’s deadline. The paper would then try with or without success to run the ads. However, I was guaranteed 100% likelihood that if all future ads were submitted on or before the deadline, the ads would run in the next edition of the Times.
That didn’t happen here!

The Times mishandled the city’s legal advertisement-notifying residents of the Sept. 23, budget’s final public hearing. As a result, the Florida Department of Revenue has found the City of Apalachicola to be in non-compliance with TRIM statues 200.065, F.S. and has ordered the re-advertisement and rescheduling of the budget’s final public hearing for the city to become compliant with the statue.

During that Sept. 23 hearing, I wondered why only three people bothered to show up, especially given current economic conditions.

At our upcoming Nov. 4 meeting, I will recommend that City commissioners start immediately investigating other avenues or media outlets to advertise the city’s legal notices.

Given the age of the internet, perhaps we could petition our State Legislators to introduce a bill allowing local government to use their websites to post legal advertisements. This would not only ensure that all legal notices are advertised in a timely manner but it would also be cost effective.

The City of Apalachicola could arguably demonstrate that our website qualifies as a means of general circulation as it receives approximately 13,000 hits per month.

I know that the first argument would be, not everyone has a computer or access to the internet. My answer to that is, everyone has access to a newspaper, but not everyone reads the newspaper.

Anyway, to review the documents received from both the Department of Revenue and the Apalachicola Times concerning this matter, CLICK HERE.

School officials dedicate new school

Franklin county school officials together with a small group of local residents showed up for yesterday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Franklin County Consolidated School. The school located, at 1250 U.S. Highway 98 in Eastpoint, opened in August 2008 for grades K-12 and cost the district approximately $52 million to construct the new facility.

During the ceremony Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Gander told those gathered that, “people from throughout the district and from all over the panhandle, when they come by are impressed with this building… my dream, is for them to be impressed with the educational delivery that we are providing for our children”.

The ceremony started promptly at 7PM in the schools media center and ended with the superintendent and school board members cutting the ribbon and serving refreshments in the schools brand new cafeteria.

You can view a portion of the dedication ceremony and pictures of the new school by clicking the video below.

Crist Extends Early Voting Hours

Early today Governor Charlie Crist signed an Executive Order that will extend the hours for early voting during the 2008 General Election throughout the State of Florida.

According to Executive Order 08-217, effective immediately early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

The governor has made this move because Florida is expecting a historic voter turnout in this year’s election and the governor feels that election officials will be unable to conduct orderly elections, thereby depriving residents of meaningful opportunities to exercise their rights to vote.

An estimated 2 million Floridians have already cast a ballot over the last eight days, now with the extended hours; thousands more will have the same opportunity.

All voters are permitted to cast their ballots at any designated early voting location within the county, regardless of where they live. Here is Franklin County the location are at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Apalachicola at 47 Avenue F and the other at the Courthouse Annex on the outskirts of Carrabelle at 1647 U.S. Highway 98 East.

Click HERE to review Governor Crist’s Executive Order

Calendar Girls Cabaret was a Huge Success

By all accounts, last night’s Calendar Girls Cabaret was a huge success with a cross section of Franklin County residents in attendance. More chairs were needed to seat the standing room only crowd that showed up to support this worthy cause.

The non-profit organization Franklin Needs, Inc. hosted this amazing cabaret Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Fort Coombs National Guard Armory in Apalachicola to help raise funds to fight Breast Cancer throughout Franklin County.

A short video of the event can be seen by clicking below.

Another missed opportunity

Once again, Carol Barfield, Director of the Franklin County Public Library Youth Program made available another opportunity to educate local elected officials, parents and the community concerning issues surrounding zero tolerance policies in Franklin County.

This past Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Battery Park Community Center in Apalachicola, Barfield convened a panel of representatives from the Franklin County School system and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to provide a workshop to discuss the issues surrounding zero tolerance.

The panel comprised of Rhyna Jefferson, Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Coordinator, Randy Nelson, Ph. D., President and Founder of 21st Century Research & Evaluations, Inc., Greg Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Prevention and Victim Services, Deputy Carlos Hill, School Resource Officer, Denise Butler, Franklin County School Board Member and Nina Marks, Dean of Franklin County High School.

Both Butler and Marks are candidates in the 2008 race for Franklin County Superintendent of Public Schools.

The panel imparted some vital information to the small gathering of less than a dozen (including members of the local press) concerning the role that education play in keeping our children from entering into the Juvenile Justice system.

One of the problems associated with zero tolerance as explained by panelist Greg Johnson is, “we have went from misbehavior to a misdemeanor on our children”, Johnson said. Once a child receives a charge, that charge follows him/her for the rest of their lives, preventing them from finding gainful employment and while in the system the child is not receiving an education. Johnson also pointed out, that in economic hard times the first programs to suffer the budgetary axe are training/education programs and programs designed for the elderly and children.

A kid without an education is more likely to commit crimes against the community as opposed to a child with an education.

According to Dr. Nelson, 70 percent of the kids coming into the Juvenile Justice system leave never to return. However, the remaining 30 percent trickles into the Department of Correction. “Franklin County needs this type of dialogue and discourse more than funding”, said Nelson.

Click on the video below to review more of what you missed.

H’COLA’s Final Political Forum

There was no October surprise as undecided voters living in the North side community of Apalachicola aka “The Hill” attended a political forum Thursday night hosted by the Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola (H’COLA).

The forum was a series of two hosted by the group over the past three months. On July 31, H’COLA hosted a similar forum aimed at educating Hillside voters concerning the issues facing them in the 2008 primaries elections.

On hand last night and eager to share their platforms with the near capacity crowd, were candidates running for Franklin County Sheriff, Property Appraiser, and Superintendent of Public Schools. As with the July forum, David Walker, Pastor of the Covenant Word Christian Center moderated the event.

With eleven days left until the General Election, the candidates made no missteps or gaffes. Some read from prepared text while others stuck to their campaign rhetoric heard over the course of this election.

Up first were the two candidates vying for the office of Sheriff, Bruce Barnes (Rep), and his opponent Skip Shiver (Dem). The winner of the race will serve a four-year term and receive an annually base salary of $99,307.

Candidates for Sheriff discussing Community Policing Programs.

The two candidates seeking the office of Property Appraiser, Incumbent Doris Pendleton (Dem) and Richard Harper (Rep) were up next. The winner here will advance to become the next Franklin County Property Appraiser and earn an annual base salary of $90,721.

Candidates for Property Appraiser discussing Duties of the Office.

Considered by many to be the most important race in Franklin County this political season, the three candidates running for the office of Superintendent of Public Schools, Denise Butler (Rep), Nina Marks (Dem) and Will Kendrick (NPA) took center stage to answer a wide range of questions from the audience. The winner of this contest will enjoy but certainly earn the annual base salary of $90,721.

Candidates for School Superintendent making their Opening & Closing remarks.

Footage and photos by Gail D. Johnson

Early voting starts today

Leading up to the November 4, General Election, early voting has started today in the City of Apalachicola and across the State for all local, state, and national races.

According to the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections website, early voting will begin at 8:30 AM and end at 4:30 PM today and each day through Saturday, November 1, 2008.

When appearing to vote early, you must present a Florida drivers license, a Florida identification card, or another form of picture and signature identification, if you have no identification, you will be required to vote a Provisional Ballot.

The election office has setup two Early Voting Sites throughout Franklin County, one at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Apalachicola at 47 Avenue F and the other at the Courthouse Annex on the outskirts of Carrabelle at 1647 U.S. Highway 98 East.

They came, they saw, and they liked

This past weekend, members of the Florida Humanities Council traveled to Apalachicola for a prearranged educational tour of our area and City. Anita Grove, Executive Director of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce arranged for the tour several months ago and facilitated the group’s weekend visit.

According to their website, “the Florida Humanities Council is dedicated to building strong communities and informed citizens by providing Floridians with the opportunity to explore the heritage, traditions and stories of our state and its place in the world.”

The group arrived in town late Thursday, Oct 16, and setup their headquarters at the Gibson Inn and from there proceeded to tour the area and the City of Apalachicola.

Guides from the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve provided the group with a tour of the Apalachicola River and the site of Historic Fort Gadsden aka “Negro Fort”. They met with local beekeeper George Watkins and Tommy Ward, owner of 13 Mile Oyster Company and learned the process of harvesting Tupelo Honey and Apalachicola Bay Oysters.

Bill Spohrer, President of the Apalachicola Historical Society, and Anita Grove, lead the group on a tour of Historic Apalachicola, while local TV personality Dolores Roux, guided the group on an excursion through Chestnut Street Cemetery.

The Council wrapped up their visit with a Q&A session, which included a panel made up of Michael Jepson, Ph. D., with the Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Anita Grove, and myself. The Q&A session centered on the group’s visit, and how City Officials plan to maintain Apalachicola’s identity and sense of community, while battling the reduction of freshwater flowing down the ACF River Basin, high fuel prices and a host of other major concerns facing this small community.

Members of the group stated that they reside in communities that once resembled the uniqueness of Apalachicola, but over the years have undergone major transformations brought on by the push for undesired development.

Afterward, some of the group members pleaded with me not to let Apalachicola lose its historic charm, and I agreed.

Think Local First

The City of Apalachicola together with the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce and local merchants are embarking upon a campaign to increase the awareness among Apalachicola residents of the benefits of shopping locally.

Fifty years ago, the City of Apalachicola had a vibrant local business economy that provided almost all of the goods and service the community needed. However, in the latter half of the 20th century, retail changed dramatically. Easy access to automobiles, abundant fuel, and big box stores created economic leakage in small communities like Apalachicola. Dollars formerly spent at home were leaving the community and were-spent in Panama City, Tallahassee, and in other communities.

Large national retailers dominate the market place with cheap prices and endless choices. Small mom and pop stores closed their doors or had to reinvent themselves to survive the changing market place. Retail became, based on price rather than community relationships or product knowledge and service.

Thirty years later American consumers are starting to change. Limited time, high fuel costs, a desire to leave a smaller footprint on the planet are forcing consumers to examine their shopping habits and many are returning to their local marketplace for the goods they purchase. They realize that they can play a role in designing their community’s economic landscape.

When your dollars are spent at home, more of your money re-circulates in the community, creating a more vibrant and sustainable economy.

Local businesses pay local property tax which fund schools, police, emergency services, and recreation programs. They also provide jobs, and they contribute to local charities. Locally owned businesses provide more than goods and services. They provide relationships with consumers in the community. A wide variety of locally owned businesses contributes to a stronger local identity and cultural diversity, creating an attractive place to live and visit.
Economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

The holidays are around the corner. Instead of making your purchases out of town, we challenge our fellow residents in Franklin County to Think Local First.

If you would like to become involved, please telephone the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce at (850) 653-9419 or email info@apalachicolabay.org.

Obama supports Apalachicola Bay

On Thursday, October 16, the Barack Obama Campaign for Change announced the Presidential candidate’s plan to protect the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint (ACF) River System.

At the St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida, residents, commercial fishermen, elected officials and other local stakeholders were on hand to hear the Campaign for Change announce Obama’s plan.

The plan first acknowledged, that the reduction of freshwater flow of the Apalachicola River before it empties into Apalachicola Bay – threatens the livelihood of the local commercial fishing industry, which is responsible for $134 million in economic output and an additional $71 million in value-added impacts.

Obama has pledged that if elected President he will make protecting Florida’s water resources a priority.

His plan calls for ending the 20-year old Water War between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama and the subsequent lawsuits by utilizing sound science to help stakeholders reach an equitable solution. The difference this time is that as President, Obama would direct the National Research Council (NRC) to conduct a study to assess the water availability, supply options, and demand-management alternatives that factor into ACF River System usage, as well as the impact of freshwater flow on the ecology of the Apalachicola River and Bay.

In early January, after no signs of resolution and no leadership coming from our elected County and State Officials, the City of Apalachicola felt alone and restricted, so we took the only action we felt necessary for the continued existence of the Apalachicola River and Bay. The City petitioned the courts to declare unlawful the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers actions in reducing freshwater flow as a response to the drought in Atlanta.

As Mayor, I find it encouraging and inviting that Barack Obama has brought to the National forefront, this vital economic issue that is important to more than 800 Franklin County families who make their living from the waters of the Apalachicola River and Bay.

Happy Columbus Day Apalachicola

As our nation celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, let us continue to pray God’s blessing on this great nation.

Dr. Robert “Skip” Livingston’s Report

Attached, is a must-read report titled, “Importance of River Flow to the Apalachicola River-Bay System”, the report commissioned by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and written by Dr. Robert “Skip” Livingston of Florida State University’s Department of Biological Science.

Kelly Layman, FDEP Chief of Staff sent the report to all stakeholders, elected officials and interested parties along the ACF River Basin, and asked that we review the contents of the report.

In addition, Layman stated in part, “that the report is an important and comprehensive summary on the ACF (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint) River Basin.

She futher stated, “that the report provides a summary of the broad, extensive research conducted and peer-reviewed over many years on the Apalachicola River and Bay ecosystem, and that the report includes research results and scientific modeling on how flows affect nutrient transport, river and bay productivity and diversity, and individual species”.

Click here to review the Report:

Could our Future be Brighter?

The Franklin County Interagency Partners hosted a Youth Summit last night Oct. 11, at the Battery Park Community Center in downtown Apalachicola.

The partnership includes the Franklin County Public Library Youth Development Programs – KIT and TIGERS, Friends of Franklin County Public Library, Franklin’s Promise Coalition, and the Franklin County Community Partnership for Children and Youth.

Due to recent complaints aired by residents at meetings of the Franklin County Commission and at meetings of both the City of Apalachicola and Carrabelle. The Partnership responded by organizing the Summit to give the youth of our community an opportunity to speak freely and directly with local elected officials about the issues that matter to them and their peers.

However, prior to the Summit and brought on by the complaints. Franklin County officials installed security cameras at the Carrabelle Beach Wayside Park as a way to discourage vandalism, public drunkenness, and rowdy behavior by teenagers visiting the park late at night.

The City of Carrabelle has come aboard and is considering establishing a curfew to deter teen rowdiness, vandalism, and burglary in the downtown area of Carrabelle. While the City of Apalachicola is in a constant battle with teenagers over late night loitering and weekend fighting.

A diverse crowd of city and county officials, representatives from the health department, State Attorney’s Office, School Board, Sheriff Office, local Pastors, candidates running for office and concerned parents attended the Summit and received an earful from the panel of 10 Franklin County students.

The students ranged in age from 13 to 17, embraced dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, and journalists voiced their feelings of frustration and hopelessness at the apparent lack of after school and awareness programs and recreational activities designed specifically for them.

The kids talked about their desire to have recreational activities such as a skating rink, bowling alley, game room, movie theater or swimming pool located in the center of the County for all Franklin County kids to utilize. They discussed the need for youth awareness programs to teach them about the dangers associated with illegal drugs and teenage pregnancy.

Most of the kids agreed, that if things didn’t get any better for them, upon graduation from high school they would leave Franklin County never to return. They pleaded with the adults in attendance to listen to what they had to say and act upon their suggestions.

Event coordinator Carol Barfiled told the crowd that her agency sent out invitations to every City Commissioner from Carrabelle to Apalachicola, to each School Board member as well as to each Franklin County Commissioner. However, the only elected officials in attendance were County Commissioner Cheryl Sanders, School Board Member Denise Butler and yours truly.

Scott Shiver, Youth Pastor at the Eastpoint Church of God, Kevin Ward, Area Director with the Franklin County Boys and Girls Club, Temolynn Wintons, with the Love Center’s Project Impact, Ryan Sandoval with the Sheriff’s Youth Programs and again yours truly shared with the teens the assortment of youth programs and activities provided by the agencies.

However, Joel Williams, who sat on the panel, summed it best when he said, “if you would just consider some of the suggestions from this panel, our future could be brighter”.

Photos courtesy of Carol Barfield

A call for Civility

It’s been more than 16-years since Rodney King appeared in public before television news cameras and asked the now famous question. Can we all get along?

King asked the question to appeal for calm after the news of the acquittal of the group of police officers that beat him led to riots in the Streets of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. The casualties of the riots included more than just the reported 53 deaths, the 2,383 injuries, and the 7,000 fires and nearly $1 billion in financial losses.

The lasting and most important causality of the riots was civility.

I am becoming increasingly fearful that the 2008 Presidential election will end in civil unrest similar to or worst than the 1992 Los Angeles riots, regardless of who wins the Whitehouse.

The shouts of “Terrorist” and “Kill Him”, emanating some of John McCain’s Country First rallies are polarizing this country almost to the point of no return and one has to be concerned for Barack Obama’s safety.

This win at all cost campaigning must stop; the eyes of the world are upon America, the same America that’s trying to spread democracy and freedom abroad.

In other words, do as we say, not as we do.

Edmund Burke an author, and philosopher once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

There is a growing sense that the vast majority of American people are annoyed by these senseless personal attacks.

With that said. I’m calling upon all Americans, but specifically residents of the City of Apalachicola to telephone, write, or email both John McCain and Barack Obama and demand for the sake of our country, civility in the remaining days of their campaigns.

Our Local Economy

With the national economy in financial crisis, the City of Apalachicola is struggling with its own economic troubles.

The economic strengths of the City are tourism, seafood, and construction, with tourism starting to play a major role among the three. However, tourism has its peaks and valleys and the industry is especially vulnerable during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. Further, sporadic fuel prices are also having a depressing effect on the local tourism industry.

In 2003, the seafood industry employed roughly one in five jobs throughout the county, however today the industry is suffering from a reduction of fresh water flowing down the ACF River System, cheap imports, high fuel cost and over regulation.

Our once booming construction industry experienced a spiraling decline right after the devastating hurricanes of 2005 slammed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Further, according to the August 2008 unemployment figures, 4.6 percent, or 233 people were out of work in Franklin County. And just the other day I noticed that a restaurant I frequent has changed it hours of operation. The restaurant is now open only six-hours per day. In addition, a local convenient store is now closing early as opposed to staying open around the clock.

As a result, more and more residents and business owners are now turning their attention to our local economy.

In early July, local resident George Mahr requested that the City of Apalachicola update the Economic Development Element within our Comprehensive Plan. In fact, Mr. Mahr has agreed to pay for the update himself.

Others have joined in, such as local business owner Joe Taylor. Taylor asked the City Commission at our October meeting to schedule a community conversation under the umbrella of the City of Apalachicola’s Community Pride Partnership Program. The purpose of the conversation is too engage the community into a discussion concerning the economic health and sustainability of businesses located within the City of Apalachicola.

The City listened, and the conversation has been scheduled for 5:30 PM the afternoon of Thursday, October 16, at the Battery Park Community Center.

Invited to attend are members of the Chamber of Commerce, individual business owners, the City of Apalachicola’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Community Redevelopment Agency and anyone interested in the economic health of our community.

Apalachicola Mayor Endorses Barack Obama

On Saturday, Oct. 4, I received a telephone call from Jon Wright, Deputy Political Director for the Obama North Florida Campaign for Change. The purpose of Wright’s call was to solicit my support as Mayor for the Obama/Biden ticket and to ask would I lead a parade here in Apalachicola.

During our brief conversation, Mr. Wright had stated that the Obama campaign would be making a big push for the early vote in Franklin County, which will conclude with a parade on Oct. 27.

I initially agreed to both requests.

However, after thinking about it further, I decided to visit Obama’s campaign website (www.barackobama.com) to find out where Obama stood on the issues. Something that I suggest that each of you find time do before the election.

After browsing the website, I learned that part of Obama’s plan for education calls for making the teaching of Math and Science a National Priority, and providing funding for the “No Child Left Behind” law. I also read where he has pledged to provide help for working families by raising the Federal minimum wage to $9.50 per hour by 2011, and that he is committed to encouraging job creation by providing tax relief for small businesses. The website also stated that Obama and Biden would protect homeownership by cracking down on fraudulent brokers and lenders.

Although, I didn’t look at where Obama stood on every single issue, I am definitely in support of what I did read and I’m glad that I took the time to find out. I now have a clearer understanding of the issues that’s important to me.

Moreover, I personally feel that an Obama presidency will bring a fresh outlook and determination to the challenges facing our country and I truly believe that Obama has the ability to bring the nation together after the election is over.

In the past, neither political party would have bothered soliciting support in the small coastal community of Apalachicola , we only have a little over 1,600 votes to offer. However, the telephone call made me realize that small town America is important to Obama’s bid to become president and he is right not to overlook our value.

This is just another reason why I am endorsing Obama’s candidacy for President.

For more information on what you can do to help or participate in the parade contact Jon Wright, Deputy Political Director for North Florida Campaign for Change: Tel: (850) 855-9416 or Email: jwright@floridaforchange.com.