Happy New Year

A New Year’s Letter

To my fellow Apalachicolians:

I sincerely trust that each of you had a happy holiday season and you are looking forward to beginning a very prosperous new year.

As you well know, two thousand eight was a great year for the city of Apalachicola only because of the tremendous show of support from people like you.

Throughout the year, your city government had a lot to say about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers role in the reduction of vital freshwater flow down the Apalachicola River system, although we stood alone, we stood firm and challenged the legality of their decision.

We received honors from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for being a distinctive destination and the Florida Trust recognized the Apalachicola Museum of Art for their adaptive use of the Fry-Conter House.

We broke ground at both the Veterans Memorial Plaza the site of the Three Servicemen Statue detail and at the New City Square Community Garden at the corner of 8th Street and Avenue F.

Lastly, we celebrated the reconstruction of Lafayette Park Fishing Pier and witnessed the completion of the Battery Park pier and the commercial dock at Veterans Park.

Working together, we have indeed accomplished a lot for the residents of our city and I’m looking forward to even greater accomplishments in the New Year.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as Mayor of this beautiful city and please feel free to call me anytime you have a question or concern. I appreciate your interest and involvement, and as always, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor
The Historic City of Apalachicola

Reaching the goal

The Mayor’s Seasonal Campaign Fund is slowly reaching its goal of raising the $4,000 needed to assist the Franklin County Food Pantry with the purchase of a tractor-trailer load of food. The food is for distribution to those among us who through providence are less fortunate.

Checks are slowly coming in and to date the fund has raised $3,275. If you haven’t already done so, it’s not too late to get involved and contribute to the fund.

Please make your check payable to the Mayor’s Seasonal Campaign Fund, drop it off, or mail it to City Hall at 1 Bay Avenue - Apalachicola.

Merry Christmas Apalachicola

It is during this time of year, that our hearts and minds turn gratefully toward those over the past year, who have made the success of our City possible. It is in this spirit, that the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners and Staff say thank you and may God continue to bless our city through you.

Merry Christmas and the happiest New Years ever!

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor
The Historic City of Apalachicola

A High School Athletic Hall of Fame

The year almost slipped by without anyone mentioning that 2008 marked the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Chapman High School 2A Class C State football championship team.

I was only nine at the time but remember the year vividly, since having the events of that phenomenal season replayed repeatedly in my ears by my older brother Abe, who played fullback that year, as well as others who played on that team. I’ve also heard frequent recollections of that year by those who were on opposing teams and noted, whether teammate or opponent, all recall with fondness that exciting year.

The legendary William “Pop” Wagoner coached the team that year, leading the Sharks into the record books, and enshrining the Apalachicola team into the memories and hearts of the Florida Panhandle for many years to come.

Because of Wagoner’s leadership, the Florida High School Athletic Association currently list Chapman High School as holding the high school football record for allowing the fewest net yards on defense in any championship game. To underscore the timeliness of that year, in April of this year, I met newly elected Circuit Judge Charles Dodson and he shared his memories of how the ‘68 Chapman Sharks subjugated Sneads High during his second year of high school.

In their 22-0 win over Moore Haven High, the tenacious defense of Chapman allowed 0 yards rushing and only 20-yards passing in their route to the only State championship in the history of high school sports in Apalachicola. The Sharks traveled to Moore Haven with only 776 in attendance after advancing to the championship game with a 26-0 win over Sarasota’s Cardinal Mooney in the Class C semifinals.

As a tribute to those fine student-athletes of yesteryear as well as to all student-athletes (including cheerleaders) who played at Dunbar High School, Quinn High School, Chapman High School, and Apalachicola High School, the City of Apalachicola would like to establish a High School Athletic Hall of Fame for Apalachicola and we need your help.

The goal is to preserve the rich heritage of Apalachicola’s student-athletes and to establish a repository for all memorabilia acquired. Therefore, if you have any high school sports memorabilia that you would like to donate to the High School Athletic Hall of Fame for Apalachicola, we would really appreciate it. You can drop them off at City Hall at 1 Bay Avenue in Apalachicola. Staff will keep the items in a secured place while we finalize plans for a suitable location for the Hall of Fame.

Although, there will never be another prep game played in the City of Apalachicola because our schools are now consolidated into one and located in the Eastpoint Community, through this endeavor, the establishing of this physical tribute to the dedicated student-athletes of Apalachicola, the memories that each of us own of those days gone by, can be shared and preserved forever.

Carrabelle’s Holiday Season Celebration

My hat’s off to Mayor Curley Messer and the Carrabelle city commission for working with their local Chamber to put together such an elegant holiday season celebration for the citizens of their community. I have never seen the City of Carrabelle as energetic as I witnessed on Saturday Dec. 13.

However, I must admit that Saturday marked my first visit to the 16-year-old annual event sponsored by the City of Carrabelle, the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce, Carrabelle Cares, and the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Organizers expanded the event from previous years to include an all day festival that featured live music, food, and family fun capped with the traditional boat parade, where boats driven by Santa and decked out with Christmas lights traveled along Marine Street against a backdrop of fireworks.

In addition, the festival included a kayak race and a kayak-fishing tournament.

From noon to 9PM, downtown Carrabelle was bursting at the seams with both locals and visitors taking part in this unique Holiday Season Celebration.

According to event organizer, Randi Timm, the expanded event was the first of such planned for the City of Carrabelle, with the group contemplating holding their own version of a seafood festival.

Proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit the Carrabelle Food Pantry and Carrabelle’s Toys for Tots.

The Mayor’s Blog proudly present live footage of the City of Carrabelle’s 16th Annual Boat Parade, Fireworks & Music Festival.

Community Garden Update

Karla Ambos, coordinator for the City Square Community Garden reported that the garden project is moving ahead rather nicely. The committee is near 35% of their goal to raise the $10,000 necessary to purchase fencing, lumber, seeds, fertilizer, and the many other items needed to make the project a success. More funds are definitely needed and committee members have stated that they will accept and welcome donations in any amount.

Bill Kollar, George Watkins, and Karla’s husband Dieter have already built the first of several raised beds a featured part of the garden and are on schedule to build a couple more next weekend.

The committee has made plans to have the kids that are taking art classes at the museum create some temporary signage to place at each corner of the garden along with some yard art and maybe a sculpture or two.

For more information on the City Square Community Garden project or on how you can get involved, please email Karla at dambos@mchsi.com.

Photos provided by Karla Ambos

The Christmas Connection

After learning that the Martin House Dominican Sisters were not going to oversee the annual Toys for Tots distribution program, the Franklin’s Promise coalition stepped in to ensure that families and kids throughout the county would still be able to experience a bright and Merry Christmas.

Franklin’s Promise is a coalition of local concerned citizens, businesses, agencies, organization, and churches that promote positive youth development and coordinates available resources from within the county to address unmet and ongoing needs.

Dubbed the Christmas Connection, on Monday December 8, the coalition setup shop at the Fort Coombs Armory to sort through and prepare gifts and clothing for distribution to families that signed up earlier at both the Apalachicola and Carrabelle Health Departments.

According to Bob Connors, Franklin’s Promise past Chair. “This is a good year for gift distributions… we’ve served more than 180 families and over 400 children throughout Franklin county with toys, clothing, and a food box received from the Salvation Army”, Connors said.

Kay Wheeler, a retired Deacon at Trinity Church along with help from Beverly Connors and current Franklin’s Promise Chair Clarice Powell, coordinated the volunteers needed to sort and distributed the toys purchased using charitable donations received from throughout the community.

Member churches that participated in the distribution campaign were the First United Methodist Church of Apalachicola, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church. The local agencies included the Franklin County Sheriff Office and the Apalachicola and Carrabelle Health Departments. Harry Arnold’s donation of brand new clothing added to the distribution to help make the Christmas of several Franklin county families more joyous.

Even when faced with the truth

Yesterday internet news sources reported that a New Jersey man petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to declare President-elect Barack Obama ineligible to become president because Obama was not “a natural born citizen”, one of the Constitutional requirements to be president.

Lawyers for the petitioner Leo Donofrio of East Brunswick, N.J argued before the court that Obama had dual nationality at birth, his father was a Kenyan and a British subject, and his mother was American.

Unlike with the close Presidential election of 2000 that pitted George W. Bush against Al Gore, the court this time without comment simply rejected the New Jersey man’s argument to interfere with the ‘08 presidential election.

Allegations of Obama not being “a natural born citizen” first surfaced over the internet two years ago when he announced his candidacy for president.

However, officials with the Hawaii Health Department reported that department records indicate that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, the 50th State of the Union. In addition, on August 13, 1961, the Honolulu Advertiser published Obama’s birth announcement, in the notice, the Advertiser listed both his parents’ name along with their Honolulu address.

However, even when faced with the truth, some would rather believe that the President-elect was born in Kenya, with others believing him to be a citizen of Indonesia, where he lived as a child.

Water War Update

Just in from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Kelly Layman, FDEP Chief of Staff, periodically provides ACF stakeholders with updates on the ongoing water war between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

The City of Apalachicola joined the water war by filing suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in early January. The city entered the litigation out of concerns that the reduction of freshwater flow was causing irreparable harm to Apalachicola Bay and subsequently to our way of life.

The city’s filing was consolidated into the multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, where Judge Paul A. Magnuson announced in August that he would render a decision resolving the litigation as early as January 2009.

In her December 8 email correspondence, Ms. Layman reported the following:

Florida and Alabama filed a joint brief on Friday in the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition to Georgia’s appeal. The appeal asks the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, in which Florida and Alabama prevailed when that court nullified the 2003 agreement between the U.S. Army Corps, Georgia, and Atlanta area water suppliers, saying, among other things, that the agreement changed the purposes of Lake Lanier and required approval from Congress. We are hopeful that Georgia’s pending ask for writ of certiorari to have the case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court will be rejected. The joint brief by Florida and Alabama has been posted to the ACF area of the DEP web site: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/acf/timeline.htm.

While I’m here, we also look forward to a final decision in the pending “consolidated case” in the spring of 2009 and a ruling that would continue the momentum of the past year in Florida’s legal victories. We are very thankful to the ACF legal and scientific teams for their very hard work and multiple successes in 2008.

DEP wishes each of you a happy and blessed holiday season.

Kelly Layman
Chief of Staff, Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection

What could have happened… didn’t!

At the city commission, December 2 meeting, members of the audience vividly pointed out to the commission a myriad of things that could have happened during last month’s tragic fire that destroyed Apalachicola State Bank.

Specific items pointed out were that some of the fire hydrants in the downtown area didn’t work, and that the city needs to purchase a ladder truck to reach tall buildings similar to the bank building and a stern reminder that the downtown area has already burned to the ground at least twice during Apalachicola’s history.

While I readily admit, that our fire department is currently not the best-equipped fire department in the county, a dilemma that we must and will remedy in the near future. Unlike with other areas of the county, we have neither a ladder truck to reach the tall buildings nor a foam truck to extinguish a wide range of fires.

However, what we do have is a group of men and women who are definitely dedicated to the cause. I personally know of some in the department who would have used a garden hose to fight the bank fire if that’s all they had available.

The fact that we don’t have all the latest and greatest fire equipment speaks volumes for the volunteer that make up the department. To their credit, it was their quick response and dedication to duty that kept matters from getting any worse.

While our firefighters waited on the ladder trucks to arrive and the local pundits to awaken, they stood as the sole physical protectors between that fire and our beautiful city.

City commissioners are fully aware of the need to outfit the fire department with the necessary equipment to protect our city against future fires. However, until we are financially able to do so, I am thankful to God for the dedicated group of men and women that we do have and it's because of them, that what could have happened on that tragic morning... didn’t.

In Remembrance of Pearl Harbor

Sixty-seven years ago on December 7, 1941 the Japanese navy conducted a surprise military strike against the United States naval base located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. That fateful Sunday morning ushered in World War II after witnessing more than 2,400, Americans lose their lives, and another 1,100 receive injuries resulting from the assault.

In remembrance of that fateful morning and the pursuant war, on Sunday, December 7, 2008, thousands of Americans from all across this country will fly the U.S. flag at half-staff in honor of those who so valiantly died defending this nation during the World War II conflict. The purpose of this annual remembrance is to inspire a greater awareness and appreciation for all the men and women of our Armed Forces who have sacrificed for our liberty.

As with most Americans, if you have only a 6-foot flagpole mounted and extending from your home. To fly the flag at half-staff, flag etiquette calls for a long black ribbon to be draped from the top of the flag. Any black ribbon will suffice just as long as it doesn’t exceed the width of the stripes on the flag.

This Sunday, December 7, I encourage all Apalachicola residents to display their flags at half-staff and to set aside a quiet moment to reflect upon those who have died and those who continue to die so that this country can remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

A dedicated Youth Center

On Nov. 20, City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb and myself met with Franklin County School Superintendent Nina Marks, School Board Chair Jimmy Gander, and Sam Carnley, Director of Financial Services to submit a proposal for the city to obtain use of certain surplus properties owned by the school district in the Apalachicola area.

Properties requested for use by the city were the Apalachicola High School Gym, the adjacent baseball diamond, field house and football stadium. Should the school district accept the city’s proposal, the city will use the stated properties for an assortment of youth activities including turning the gym into a dedicated youth center to provide year round programming for our kids.

In addition, on Monday, Dec. 1 the city responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) advertised in the Franklin Chronicle by the school district for the contractual administration of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Federal Grant program.

This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

Should the school district select the City of Apalachicola to administer the program, the city will meet the existing goals of the program and utilize a portion of the $344,200.00 grant in accordance with grant guidelines and conditions to augment the development and operation of the youth center and its related activities.

Library Report: December 2, 2008

Members of the City of Apalachicola Municipal Library Board has requested a spot on the city commission regular monthly meeting agenda to report on library activities.

During the city's December meeting, library board member Susan Clementson reported that Carrie Kienzle, Barbara Holmes, and Darrell Smith provides staffing at the library Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and that during the month of November, the Library served 633 patrons twelve of which were children and 12 were new patrons.

Clementson further reported that volunteer hours at the library for the past month were at 69.15. Her report also included a list of short and long-term goals for the library, ranging from addressing their cash shortfall, drafting job description for library personnel to forming an active Friends of the Library support group. She concluded her report by informing the commission that funds from the Key Estate were intact and preserved for the future expansion of the library.

Mayor raise cash for Food Pantry

Over the past four weeks, the Mayor’s office has worked feverishly to raise needed cash to purchase food for the Franklin County Food Pantry through what the Mayor hailed as his Seasonal Campaign Fund.

The Mayor first detailed the need for the fundraiser Nov. 2 on this blog and then emailed letters soliciting financial support to some local businesses and a list of vendors that trade with the city.

At last night’s Dec. 2 city commission meeting, the Mayor presented to Clarice Powell, Chair of the Franklin County Food Pantry about a dozen checks totaling $2,675 collected to purchase food for those among us who by providence are less fortunate.

The Mayor would like to thank all the individuals, vendors and local businesses who contributed to the 2008 Mayor’s Seasonal Campaign Fund, the citizen of Franklin County appreciate your kind generosity.

Video footage courtesy of Gail D. Johnson

Mayor’s Proclamation

Recognizing and Honoring
Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin

WHEREAS, Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have been outstanding and respected residents of the City of Apalachicola, Florida, as loving parents , family advocates, spiritual leaders and friends; and

WHEREAS, Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have shown their personal and spiritual commitment to their Lord by virtue of their three years of spiritual leadership and guidance to their congregation and the community of Apalachicola and surrounding area as Co-Pastors of The Love & Worship Center Church; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Apalachicola desire to recognize, honor and express their pride and appreciation to Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin for their personal achievements, numerous community contributions and commitments to the City of Apalachicola as spiritual leaders and confidants, and most rewarding as activist in their service, dedication and commitment to our local youth and citizens.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, on behalf of the City Commission and citizens of Apalachicola, I, Van W. Johnson, Sr., as Mayor, have the privilege to give special recognition and honor to Pastors Leonard and Shelia Martin, and hereby proclaim that Friday, December 19, 2008 is The Love & Worship Center Church “Pastor Appreciation Day” in the City of Apalachicola and encourage all its citizens to express their appreciation for the many contributions Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have bestowed upon our community.

Dated this 2nd day of December, 2008

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor
City of Apalachicola

Commission Report: December 2, 2008

*The city commission held the final public hearing and adoption of Ordinance number 2008-07, which extends the grandfathered status by one year for renters using the Scipio Creek Mooring Basin.

*The Board adopted a Mayor’s Proclamation recognizing and honoring Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin, Co-Pastors of The Love & Worship Center Church.

*During the Chamber report, Anita Grove, Executive Director reported that the City of Apalachicola is currently receiving major interest from several magazines and organizations.

*Police Chief Bobby Varnes reported that the police department received 198 calls during the month of November. The department made twelve arrests, wrote twenty-six traffic citations, and investigated nine traffic accidents and cited ten golf cart violations.

*City Grant Writer Cindi Giametta asked for and received a motion approving the Mayor’s signature on the contract to purchase from James Holmes and Rob Peterson Bay front property located east on Hwy 98 using Florida Community Trust monies. The purchase price for the Holmes property is $335,000 and $349,900 for the Peterson property.

*City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb reported that no one submitted an application for a loan through the city’s revolving loan fund by the November 21 deadline. She agreed to re-advertise the loan cycle. Ms. Webb further reported that due to the fiscal challenges facing the State of Florida, that the Legislature will not be accepting any Community Budget Issue Requests (CBIRS) from Florida communities for the 2008-09 year. She updated the commission on the status of the Fire/Police station.

Regular Meeting: December 2, 2008

The regular monthly meeting of the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners is scheduled for 6:00 PM today at the Battery Park Community Center - 1 Bay Avenue - Apalachicola, Florida. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. Click HERE to review the agenda for that meeting.