Now . . .
Town Council Agrees to Fund Main Street Initiative
By Emery Quinn
Editor-in-Chief
The Sea Blue Beach town council recently approved measures to establish the first-ever Main Street initiative with architect Caleb Ransom heading up the project.
“While we’ve enjoyed the westward expansion of our town, we’ve neglected the original settlement east of the Starlight,” said Mayor Simon Caster. “This section of Sea Blue Way, along with the business owners, needs some attention.”
Main Street America, a nationally recognized organization, has helped small towns across the country to revitalize for more than forty years.
“We hope to learn from those who’ve gone before us,” said Caleb Ransom. “But we also want to do what’s right for Sea Blue Beach. We’re a unique city. We want to capitalize on the things that make us special.”
The first Main Street meeting will be held Thursday, January 23, at the Starlight Museum, 7 p.m.
“We’re looking for volunteers,” Ransom said. “Come on out, Sea Blue Beach. We need your creativity.”
Developers Looking at Development
in the East End
By Jane Upperton
Thorndike Alliance, one of the largest real estate investors on the Eastern Seaboard, is looking at Sea Blue Beach.
“We see so much potential in this town. Our goal is to bring revitalization and industry to the gem of the north Florida coast,” said Terry Burton, CEO of Thorndike Alliance.
“We have a lot of confidence in Thorndike,” said Alfred Gallagher, owner of Gallagher Realty, a multimillion-dollar company. “The shacks on the northwest corner of the East End, the Org. Homestead Neighborhood, are beyond repair. With or without Thorndike, we need to modernize the East End.”
Mac Diamond, owner of Diamond Dog Golf Courses, thinks the location is perfect for a nine-hole course and clubhouse. “We live in the Sunshine State, home to golf and tennis pros and amateurs,” Diamond said. “Think of the revenue a golf course could bring to the to the East End. Much more than fixing up a couple of Florida Cracker homes.”
But not everyone agrees with the progressive view.
“I’ve never understood how we became East versus West,” said Teddy Gardner, a long-time Sea Blue Beach resident and owner of a fishing charter in the West End. “I don’t want to see the Org. Homestead destroyed.”
Misty Harden, owner of Sweet Conversations, also wants more attention on the East End. “Our businesses are vital to tourism as well as the locals. We all want to succeed.”
While the West End voices are loud, Mayor Simon Caster has no plans to work with Thorndike or any developer. “Right now, our focus is on strengthening business in the East End through the Main Street initiative,” Caster said, “Which will strengthen all of Sea Blue Beach.”
9
EMERY
The first edition of theGazettewith her fully at the helm hit the street on a blustery Florida winter Sunday. And she felt a little proud. It was only four pages—with one of them being the comics—but the local content was strong.
Junie was an experienced paginator who’d started with theGazettewhen her last child went to kindergarten. Gayle in advertising makeup also had years of experience. Rex was not only a talented writer, but also a brutal editor. Emery hadn’t seen so much red on one of her pieces since her first year at theFree Voice.Made her wonder if Lou cut her too much slack over the years.
On Saturday evening, after they put the paper to bed, she was restless with excitement. She’d produced theFree Voicemany, many times, but always with Lou looking over her shoulder. If not in person, in spirit.
She slept in her clothes and set her alarm for five a.m., ready to hop out of bed, grab one of the motel’s bikes, and pedal through the cold dark toward theGazetteoffice, where the “paperboys”—about two dozen teenagers and retired couples—prepared the paper for delivery. Almost every paper went into a rack or business. None to private doorsteps. Yet.
She’d met Owen, the head paperboy, earlier in the week. When she arrived at the office, he handed her a copy of theSunday Gazettethe moment she stepped onto the wide front porch.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“I’ll never tire of holding a freshly printed newspaper.” She loved everything about it—the feel, the smell, the stories. And as of today, her name on the masthead.
