Apalachicola Officials Lift Boil Water Notice

November 17, 2016

RECISSION OF PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE

City of Apalachicola PWS# 1190150

THE NOVEMBER 15, 2016 “PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE” IS HEREBY RESCINDED FOLLOWING THE RETURN OF CHLORINATION TO THE WATER SYSTEM AND THE SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY SHOWING THAT THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONTACT LEE MATHES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR AT 850-653-9319 OR VIA EMAIL AT leemathes@cityofapalachicola.com.

LEE MATHES

CITY ADMINISTRATION

850-653-9319

Main Street and Community Welcomed Trolley to Apalachicola

Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson set to take the
inaugural ride on the Main Street Trolley

At a brief ceremony held today at Riverfront Park, Historic Apalachicola Main Street welcomed the arrival of the Main Street Trolley to Apalachicola, followed by an inaugural ride through the city.

Main Street Trolley

The trolley was donated to Main Street by Greg Russell, a Tallahassee resident and an Apalachicola home owner.  Russell was thanked for the donation by Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson and Augusta West, Executive Director of Historic Apalachicola Main Street during their remarks at the ceremony.

Inside the Main Street Trolley

“I want to recognize and give a special thanks to Greg Russell for making this all possible… I extend my sincere gratitude and that of the City of Apalachicola to Greg for his unselfish generosity”, said Johnson.

Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson, City Commissioner Frank Cook
Tom Fugate and Valentina Webb enjoying the inaugural ride
aboard the Main Street Trolley

Main Street is an economic development partner with the City of Apalachicola and the trolley will be used by group at events, for special tours, and to promote Apalachicola as an exotic destination that will enhance the town’s economic sustainability for the benefit of both its residents and businesses.

Paulette Moss

“With the ongoing Water War between Florida and the State of Georgia over the Apalachicola River and with so many other uncertainties looming over the future of Apalachicola Bay and the local seafood industry. As Mayor, I wholeheartedly welcome Main Street’s initiative to provide this type of service and their ongoing commitment to enhance local amenities that will more than likely attract year-round tourism dollars to Apalachicola”, concluded Johnson.

Apalachicola City Commissioner Mitchell Bartley and Mayor Van Johnson

Photos by Pam Lewis

PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE

City of Apalachicola, PWS# 1190150

TO:  RESIDENTS OF CITY OF APALACHICOLA

A loss of water pressure has been experienced due to a water main break at the airport.

           

What should I do?

AS A PRECAUTION, WE ADVISE THAT ALL WATER USED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, MAKING ICE, BRUSHING TEETH, OR WASHING DISHES BE BOILED.  A ROLLING BOIL OF ONE MINUTE IS SUFFICIENT.  AS AN ALTERNATIVE, BOTTLED WATER MAY BE USED.  RESIDENTS ARE ALSO ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN BATHING, ESPECIALLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS, INFANTS, OR THE ELDERLY.

What happened?  What is being done?

A LosS IN SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD CAUSE BACKSIPHONAGE OF CONTAMINANTS, SUCH AS E. COLI BACTERIA, INTO THE WATER SYSTEM.  WATER CONTAINING E. COLI BACTERIA CAN BE CONSIDERED SAFE FOR DRINKING AND COOKING AFTER VIGOROUSLY BOILING THE WATER.  DISEASE SYMPTOMS caused by these bacteria MAY INCLUDE DIARRHEA, CRAMPS, NAUSEA, AND POSSIBLY JAUNDICE, AND ANY ASSOCIATED HEADACHE AND FATIGUE.  EPA HAS SET AN ENFORCEABLE DRINKING WATER STANDARD FOR E. COLI TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THESE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS.  UNDER THIS STANDARD ALL DRINKING WATER MUST BE FREE OF THESE BACTERIA.

THE WATER SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY COLLECTING SAMPLES TO DETERMINE IF THE PRESENCE OF E. COLI BACTERIA EXISTS WITHIN THE WATER SYSTEM.  THIS PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND A BACTERIOLOGICAL SURVEY SHOWS THAT THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK.  THE ANTICIPATED DATE FOR RESCINDING THIS NOTICE IS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONTACT:  LEE MATHES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR, PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM CITY OF APALACHICOLA, 850-653-9319, AND CITY OF APALACHICOLA, 1 AVENUE E, APALACHICOLA, FL.

LEE MATHES

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

850-653-9319

MEETING NOTICE: Oyster Restoration Research in Apalachicola Bay

November 15, 2016

From 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Apalachicola Community Center

1 Bay Avenue

Scientists from the University of Florida, and resource managers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will provide an update regarding the experimental research project that is on-going in Apalachicola Bay.  This five-year project is being funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.  The project is examining oyster health, productivity, reef structure and water quality to support the Bay’s oyster industry in the long-term. 

All interested persons from the Community are encouraged to attend. 

Meeting Contact: Erik Lovestrand

UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant

Franklin County Extension Director

elovestrand@ufl.edu

(850)653-9337

H’COLA To Hold 2nd Annual Senior Citizen’s Thanksgiving Lunch

The Hillside Coalition Of Laborers for Apalachicola, Inc., (H’COLA) will be holding their 2nd Annual Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Lunch from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at the Historic Holy Family Senior Citizen Center located at 203 Dr. Frederick S. Humphries Street in Apalachicola.

The luncheon is provided FREE to Senior Citizens thanks to the efforts of H’COLA and their sponsors: Big Top Supermarket (Eastpoint), City of Apalachicola, Community Churches, Franklin’s Promise Coalition, Inc., and Take Stock In Children (TSIC).

The Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce Holiday Decoration Contest

The Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce the Holiday Light Contest. The contest will comprise of two categories and four geographic areas. The categories are Business and Home. The four areas are Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island and Carrabelle (will also include any participants from Lanark Village and Alligator Point).  The businesses and homes will be judged on December 7-9 and the winners will be announced on December 10th at 3:00p.m. Each winner will receive a small lawn banner to display with their decorations.

Judges will visit the businesses and homes randomly during December 7th through 9th. Judges will be and will remain anonymous.  No participating business or home owner will be a judge.

If you wish to enter the contest or know someone that should be entered into the contest please submit the business and/or home address and telephone number so that participation can be confirmed by the Chamber.  Please email participant information to lights@Apalachicolabay.org.  Only participant addresses will be listed on the chamber website and a list will also be available at the visitor centers.

After December 10th, all winner addresses will be noted on the Apalachicola Bay Chamber Website and will also be available at the Apalachicola Bay Chamber Office.

The Apalachicola Bay Chamber has secured two Sponsors for this Contest they are Duke Energy and The Tin Shed. With these sponsors the Chamber will be producing a TV Commercial that will air on cable channels from Bay County to Leon County. Including the Hallmark Channel, HGTV and others.  Lets show our holiday spirit and light up our beautiful communities. 

Special Main Street Announcement

Please join us on Tuesday, November 15 at noon at Riverfront Park as Apalachicola Main Street welcomes a special new addition to our downtown…

What's Green and Red and drives all over?

What has 6 wheels and can ring your bell?

What can transport a bride to her wedding, buyers to a store, and children to a museum?

What do San Francisco, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Apalachicola now have in common??

What is Main Street bringing to town that will enhance the area in an historic way?

The Main Street Trolley!!!!!!!  The trolley will be used at events, weddings, for special tours, to help better connect all of the downtown district and more. Please help us welcome our trolley to town and join us for its inaugural ride in Apalachicola!

Augusta R. West

Executive Director

Apalachicola Main Street

1 Avenue E, Apalachicola, Florida 32320

www.DowntownApalachicola.com

Plein Air Exhibition: November 19 - December 17, 2016

From FSU Professor Noah Verrier's Fall Landscape Painting Class

Meet FSU Professor Noah Verrier and students at an opening reception Saturday, November 19, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Apalachicola Center for History, Culture and Art is honored to ​host this exhibit featuring Professor Verrier’s eight talented FSU art students.  Each will have five paintings on exhibit; totaling 40 paintings. All paintings are for sale. 

Professor Noah Verrier 

Professor Verrier has been painting since childhood and earned his MFA in Studio Art at Florida State University. He currently is a working artist, and adjunct Professor of Painting and Drawing at Florida State University. His work has been featured in many exhibits in the United States, and abroad. Professor Verrier was recently featured in New American Paintings #111 as one of 40 of the nation’s top painters among 800. He was also awarded the Emerging Artist of the year award in 2007 by the Von Liebig Museum of fine art and the Naples National Art Festival.

Many private collectors have invested in his work, and his popularity continues to grow by word of mouth. Professor Verrier is an artist because he feels it is what he is meant to do.  He says “If I don’t make art, I feel incomplete.” Some of his influences include contemporary artists Jennifer Bartlett, Rackstraw Downes, and the spiritual landscape painters of the past; Inness, Turner, and The Hudson River School. His philosophy is that “art is about emotion and beauty.”

For more information, call 855-APALACH (855-272-5224)

FDOT Traffic Alert for Big Bend Area

Chipley - Drivers are reminded to practice caution while traveling in and around the work zones in Northwest Florida Sunday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 19.

Franklin County:

• Bridge repair work is underway on State Road (S.R.) 65 over Cash Creek Bridge. All work is being performed under the structure, drivers are reminded to use caution driving through the work zone.
• Following a routine safety inspection, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) engineers have recommend closure of the Pine Log Road Bridge over Pine Log Creek and Gully Branch Road Bridge over New River in Tate’s Hell State Forest.

Gadsden County:

• Construction is complete on S.R. 12 from Yon Creek Bridge to west of U.S. 90, expect minor lane closures along the corridor.

Jefferson County:

• I-10 resurfacing from Mile Marker (MM) 225 to MM 236. Day time lane closures are taking place from the Madison County line to U.S. 19.
• I-10 resurfacing from MM 216 to MM 220. Construction activities are taking place along the corridor. Lane closures will remain in effect from Sunday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• I-10 Westbound Rest Area near MM 233 – Rest area closed for renovations.

Leon County:

• Nighttime work on S.R. 20 (Apalachee Parkway) from Monroe Street to Capital Circle NE from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 13 to Friday, Nov. 18 from Monroe Street to Magnolia Drive and from Blair Stone Road to Capital Circle NE.  Workers are paving, installing sidewalk and repairing curb and gutter repairs along the project corridor.
• Work to resurface and add paved shoulders on S.R. 263 (Capital Circle SW) from west of S.R. 61 (U.S. 319) to north of C.R. 2203 (Springhill Road) is underway. Drivers will encounter east and westbound lane closures Monday, Nov. 6 to Thursday, Nov. 17 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Sidewalk repair work will take place on Capital Circle SE from Apalachee Parkway Tram Road, Sunday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 17 and Sun. Nov. 20 through Tuesday, Nov. 22. Lane closures will remain in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Utilities workers will erect a new utility pole on S.R. 155 (Meridian Road) at John Knox Road, Monday, Nov. 14 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Lane closures will take place in the northbound travel lanes.

Wakulla County:

• Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Nov. 14 to Friday, Nov. 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on U.S. 319 (Crawfordville Highway) from south of Old Crawfordville Highway to U.S. 98 and from U.S. 98 north to Alaska Way.  Construction crews will construct the new southbound roadway and install westbound turning lanes onto Coastal Highway.

Temporary lane closures, delays and shifts may occur as workers perform construction activities. All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to pay attention and use caution when driving through the work zone.

For more information follow the Florida Department of Transportation District Three on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyFDOTNWFL.

Street Naming Ceremony Honors the Late Charles Watson

(L-R) Apalachicola Mayor Pro Tem Brenda Ash, Elinor Mount-Simmons,

President of H'COLA and Dolores Croom, H'COLA Member and MC at

Street Naming Ceremony.

At the behest of Alfred Goosby the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners moved unanimously at their June 7, 2016, regular scheduled meeting to rename a portion of 11th Street, from U.S. Hwy 98 to 21st Avenue after the Late Charles Watson.

Watson, a native of Apalachicola was a retired educator with 38 years of outstanding service within the Franklin County School District at the time of his passing. He is credited and most noted for helping countless of his former students excel and achieve success in life. One notable former student is Dr. Frederick S. Humphries.  Humphries, former President Emeritus of Florida A&M University said the following about Watson in a May 9, 1985 interview with Mike Radigan, a reporter with Capital Outlook:

"The greatest science teacher I had in high school was Mr. Charlie Watson. He taught me all my math and science courses. He was a very smart man and he cared about his students… When he realized your abilities, he pushed you to the limit. When I left Wallace Quinn High School, I didn't know how well-prepared I was."

In 1997 Watson was honored by Florida A&M University with a Doctor of Humane Letters Degree.  He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Franklin County Retired Teachers Association and the founder of the Apalachicola FAMU Black Male Explorer's Club.

On Friday, November 4, 2016, Seafood Festival weekend; visitors to the city along with members of the Apalachicola community, Apalachicola Mayor Pro Tem Brenda Ash, and the family of Watson all gathered at the Historic Holy Family Senior Center to pay tribute to Watson with a Street Naming Ceremony, followed by a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue and Charles Watson Street.

Dolores Croom acted as Mistress of Ceremony during the Street Naming Ceremony, with Myrtis Wynn providing the welcoming and Goosby speaking on the occasion. Mayor Pro Tem Ash provided greetings from the City of Apalachicola, followed by remarks from Watson niece, Cleo Gwendolyn Harris, his brother-in-law, Willie F. Tolliver, another niece, Rosa Tolliver and Watson’s nephew, Clarence Devon Williams IV.

Watson’s devoted niece, Marcia Thomas along with his brother Willie E. Clark and Willie Mary Joseph cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the renaming of 11th Street in Watson’s honor.