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 NEWS OF INTEREST |
Written by Jim Swaringen 7/5/08
Written by Jim Swaringen 5/19/08 After the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival (the first weekend in May), my wife and I flew to Ireland for 10 days of rest and sight-seeing. After jet-lag, we toured the Cliffs of Moher near Doolin, drove to Schull, Crookhaven and Mizen Head at the extreme southwest of the country, and then on to Kinsale with it's extraordinary harbor and restaurants, Waterford, home of the Waterford Crystal Factory, and New Ross where the ship 'The Dunbrody' is anchored, before heading up to the Rock of Cashel and to Bansha where we stayed in the Bansha House, an 18th century ranch house where the family raises race horses, before coming home. In so many ways, that country and it's people make for a "grand" time. We had the luck of the Irish with us as the weather was mostly sunny and cool. One lady who owned a B&B in which we stayed remarked that we were, "spoiled" because the mornings were a bit chilly and we asked for a little heat in the room. I thought then, "sure, we're spoiled ... after all, we are the ones who live in paradise". Written by Jim Swaringen 4/28/08 It's the weekend before "The Weekend" as the town gears up for the annual Shrimp Festival which welcomes visitors from all over the world for three days of Art, Antiques, Music and Food. Approximately 120,000 people will come to enjoy all the fun that one festival can provide. As a member of the Festival Committee and one who manages the Shrimp Festival website (http://www.ShrimpFestival.com), I can say thousands of people have been accessing the site to learn how to get here, where to park, what performers are appearing, and a host of other things in store on the first weekend in May. One suggestion ... come for the Pirate Parade on Thursday, May 1st. This is the essence of what small towns are about. It's when half the people of the town watch the other half pass by as they smile and wave and give out candy. Of course, over the years the parade has grown to the point that neighboring communities participate so we will see contingencies from Yulee, Callahan, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and folks from Georgia, too. Last year's parade lasted two (that's 2) hours, so come early (4:30-5pm) and bring a chair along with something to drink and maybe a snack. The fun starts at 6. Written by Jim Swaringen 4/19/08 The term "go fly a kite" was the theme at Main Beach on Saturday, April 19th as we saw the First Family Fun Kite Festival.  It was a perfect weather day with a nice southerly breeze coming off the ocean and several families with their kites in the field. A video of the day's activity is on the Fernandina Facts page. The Kite Festival is what makes living in a small town in paradise worth every day. Written by Jim Swaringen 4/5/08 The weather couldn't be better ... sunny days, highs around 80, and people are flocking to Amelia Island. Downtown is full of visitors as the Bausch & Lomb Tennis Championships are here. Even the birds seem to be chirping their approval. April brings a number of events to our town with a Book Fair at the library and yard sales, bake sales and folks looking like they couldn't be happier to be anywhere. Down at the docks, the charter fishermen have been cleaning up and painting up their boats for the season. Snapper and Drum are running and folks are taking advantage. The downside ... gas prices are eating into everyone's profit. Seems every time you turn around the gas signs show a larger figure per gallon. Steve Hair, owner/operator of Ye Ole Pirate quipped that those coming to fish should, "bring your own gas". I suppose it's the cost of enjoying life in a small town in paradise. One good thing, it doesn't cost a dime to step outside and take in the beautiful day. Written by Jim Swaringen 3/23/08 Easter Sunday was a beautiful day in F-L-A. Even after spending a couple of days in a bed & breakfast in Beaufort, South Carolina and taking in the sights of that grand old town of the South - steeped in history dating back to 1711, it was nice to come back home. You know you're living where you want to be when you can visit another location but still delight in returning home. Our home is a small town in paradise. The cap to Easter Sunday ... sunset in Old Town at the site of Plaza San Carlos. Written by Jim Swaringen 3/11/08 You know, it's ironic. In the last piece I wrote about how we need a sign erected at the foot of the bridges to remind those coming onto the island that they should follow the speed signs, follow the traffic signals (red means "stop", green means "go"), and remember that we are not in as big a hurry as the lifestyle they come from. Then I posted a sign on the article that looked like this:  Well, wouldn't you know someone didn't read this article as last weekend we were driving through the intersection at T.J. Courson and 8th Street and were hit by a lady driving with a dog in her lap. Everyone else had stopped at the light, but she didn't. Needless to say, she didn't see the red street lights (wonder why ...) and as a result destroyed not only her car, but ours. My wife's a little banged up and I was shaken up, we were wearing seat belts, so we're going to be OK. As for the lady ... she's paying for the infraction as she was sighted for failure to heed the traffic lights. For heaven's sake, and ours too, please slow down and follow the traffic signals. That's what they're there for. They help Fernandina continue to be ... a small town in paradise. Written by Jim Swaringen 2/15/08 Having lived all over the country, I can say with some authority that living in Fernandina is not quite like living anywhere else. This is an island town located on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Sunshine State with a laid back lifestyle that is much different than the lifestyle of land-locked small towns. Of course, our town has attracted a lot of interest from tour groups, vacationers and out-of-town weekend visitors. One reason is the mild winter we've been having. Another is because it's Florida, and that means paradise to the snowbirds. But I think we need a road sign placed in front of our bridges to remind these folks that when they come into town, they should follow the speed signs, follow the traffic signals (red means "stop", green means "go"), and remember that we are not in as big a hurry as the lifestyle they come from. Welcome to Fernandina ... a small town in paradise. Contained on these pages is information of interest to residents in Fernandina Beach. Written by Jim Swaringen 1/21/08 You know, much has been said about living in Florida. As residents of this state, we are fortunate that this is the location millions come to spend time getting away from it all. 
When I travel out of state, and am asked where I live, I mention Amelia Island in northern Florida just to watch their face light up and eyes brighten. It has a nice ring to it, "I live on an island in Florida". But I also live in a small town on an island in Florida. I live in Fernandina. I am close enough to the beach to hear the roar of the surf in the morning. Close enough to downtown to be there in ten minutes. Close enough to the barbershop that I can get a trim every so often. Close enough to everything Fernandina has to offer.
Having lived in Jacksonville, I am most happy to be away from the heavy traffic, but know that if I want to go shopping or see a performance at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, I can get there inside of an hour ... and that's plenty close enough. So where am I going with all this? Just that ... Fernandina Living is about being close enough. It's about all the things we enjoy in our town. All the things we enjoy about our town. And the fact that where we live is considered "paradise" to many who come to spend a little time here, only to turn around and go back to their piece of the world carrying memories of being where I live ... a small town in paradise. Contained on these pages is information of interest to residents in Fernandina Beach. |